I went up to Maryland yesterday to meet some friends, both of which bought new cars since I last saw them. One traded his Celica for an E36 M3 (auto, diff. upgrade, intake) and the other had a brand new 2007 MazdaSpeed 3 with the JDM badge "Axela." I had no idea that this car existed and found it hard to believe this came from Mazda. 18" wheels, navi., turbo. He told me he was on the waiting list for 4 months. He's had the car for a week and already upped the boost to 16psi. He claimed 300+ hp and 320 tq. at the flywheel. We just had to line up...

We hit the highway for a roll race. All three of us lined up @ ~50mph, me in the middle. I dropped to 2nd and commenced the honks. The instant we hit the accelerator the Mazda pulled steadily and convincingly away (i can't believe i said that ). I'd say by ~90 he had a good 2 cars on me. As for the BMW, I pulled him by the same distance or more; i wasn't exactly focused on what was behind me during the race.

Now that my pride was a little shaken, I did what every guy does; I lined back up with the Mazda for a rematch. This time though, I was on the inside of a broad curve and we started @ ~70. This race didn't last long, but we stayed pretty much even till we hit the brakes at around 100. Regardless of the outcome, that's one fast Mazda (although it's modded).

In similar fashion, my friend in the M3 wanted a rematch too. We line up at 50 twice. Both times I pulled pretty good; maybe 1.5-2 cars by 90. Later that night he interrogated me if I had done any additional mods since he last saw me, but I insisted that i have just intake and clutch/flywheel. Although, even I was surprised to see a puff of smoke come out of my exhaust on the shift to 4th. He says he raced another friend with a modded S2k and they were even. My outcome was pretty much what I expected.

 

it didnt help his m3 much to be auto, but a relatively stock e36 should always lose to a s2k. as for the mazda, i just looked it up. those numbers are impressive but i think he only took you bc he upped the boost so much. from the factory they run a 14.2 and a 0-60 of 5.9 which a lightly modded s2k should take IMO. what psi do they come with stock...12? bc 4 more pounds would definitely explain the outcome of the race

 

LOL...i think he will take the BMW back for the s2k...lol! Dude dont feel bad about losing to the Mazda. If he has 16psi and only pulled 2 car lengths you did pretty good. A boosted s2k (turbo at 8.5 psi) will destroy a non FI one....it wont even be funny! Overall you did pretty darn good!

 

A stock Mazdaspeed three puts like 265 some to the flywheel. They were suppose to be in the same level as the new Sis. I guess those things will become real monsters with a little tuning. One has to remember that it is the mazdaspeed 6 engine detuned. I think the 6 puts like 280 some to the flywheel.

 

keep in mind the ms3 is a front driver, so posting accelerating times isn't doing the car justice IMO. the first 2 gears have limited torque output to prevent torque steer/wheel spin - but the car is still pretty hard to launch being FWD with all that torque.

the 1/4 mile trap speed IIRC is about 100mph, which should render it just as quick as a stock s2000 off a rolling race.

with some increase in boost...

 

yea thats what i was getting at. since he upped the boost that def made him faster than a s2k since theyre almost as fast as a s2k stock.

 

It seems almost everyone I race claims to have beat S2k's before.

Ahh yes, torque. Makes you feel like you're moving, even if you aren't.

 

Race him from a dig.

 

you will beat a stock MS3.. boost kills though

.. and why the hell would you buy an automatic M3.. unless it's an e46 with SMG then it's forgivable

 

Auto M3 means its a E36 sedan right?