Mazdaspeed MX-3

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » February 12th, 2005, 12:38 pm

David Witherow wrote:and what do they class as a mazdaspeed mx-3 cause as far as we know they never existed other then that pic of the red one in the main banner and i think that was just an mx with mazdaspeed parts never really a mazdaspeed mx-3 more so mazdaspeed's mx-3

I'm with the same frame of mind also. This brings me to similar issues when it came to limited production motorcycles (Ducati's). In order for them to be recognized in an international arena for competition there had to be a minimum number produced by the factory that still fell within DOT (country regulations) specifications with regards to safety, emissions etc. For the most part those Ducati's were full blown race bikes with headlights, turn signals, horn, etc and the factory only did that so their bike could be entered into various racing venues. In the case of the MS MX3, I'm not aware that there was a limited run production of this beast. Then again, other parts of the world aside from NA was blessed with some interesting and mostly better versions of our MX. Don't want to rain on your quest, but perhaps there was a Mazdaspeed promotional venture that upgraded a select number of MX's. If so, did they make enough of them to be recognized by insurance companies. Whichever the case, it would probably be in your best interest to contact some insurance organizations and confirm that their books or database has a MS MX3 listed in it first. It would be quite unfortunate for you to assemble a "Mazdaspeed MX3", only to find out that it's not a recognized vehicle and end up paying a fortune for insurance.

Another $1.50.......LOL

PS. IanL, a very knowledgeable countryman is also on this BB and may be able to shed some light on the subject. Try PM'ing him.

atlantamx3 · Post by **atlantamx3** » February 12th, 2005, 6:00 pm

Yeah Mazdaspeed never MADE an Mx-3... they only made parts to upgrade one.

The red MX-3 in the Banner was the one they used to show off all their stuff.

Any Mazdaspeed item on the MX-3 is considered an aftermarket part and in your case, will make your insurance go up.

Famine · Post by **Famine** » February 12th, 2005, 6:53 pm

jschrauwen wrote:Whichever the case, it would probably be in your best interest to contact some insurance organizations and confirm that their books or database has a MS MX3 listed in it first.

That's a very good point.

Lordy, I've contacted so many people about this now...

jschrauwen wrote:It would be quite unfortunate for you to assemble a "Mazdaspeed MX3", only to find out that it's not a recognized vehicle and end up paying a fortune for insurance.

Yes - I have no intent of going ahead with this until I have concrete information - preferably corroborated by multiple sources

jschrauwen wrote:Another $1.50.......LOL

PS. IanL, a very knowledgeable countryman is also on this BB and may be able to shed some light on the subject. Try PM'ing him.

A countryman of yours or mine?

Your $1.50s are welcomed, believe me.

Well, as long as you don't send me a bill...

atlantamx3 - Whilst I agree that it MAY look that way, I'm not totally convinced of that. The EU market - with the UK in particular - is closely linked to the Japanese market in a way the North American markets aren't. We do get the odd nicety dropping our way - like the R32/33/34 Skylines which were officially sold in the UK but are not street legal in the US (unless you pay $50,000 to one company who "legalises" them for road use). Then again, we only get the Toyota Yaris (Vitz/Echo) hatchback, and Canadians get the saloon. Lucky Canadians...

If you have any definitive information though, I'd be pleased to receive it.

atlantamx3 · Post by **atlantamx3** » February 12th, 2005, 7:10 pm

I have been around a LONG LONG time, and after doing many many hours of research on the MX-3 and on Mazdaspeed, I am POSITIVE that Mazdaspeed never issued a "MAZDASPEED MX-3".

They used to be an independant tuning company, & they only made parts for them.

Famine · Post by **Famine** » February 12th, 2005, 7:28 pm

Yes - they only became "in-house" in 1999 - a year after the MX-3 ceased production. But there is enough information out there to at least hint at the existence of such a car.

Hopefully Mazdaspeed Japan will get back to me...

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » February 12th, 2005, 11:38 pm

atlantamx3 wrote:I have been around a LONG LONG time,

OH PLEASE.....23 and your an old man.....LOL. Now I really feel old.
Tuning specialists, that's the word I was looking for.

Famine - IanL's posts indicate that he is in the UK. Try a search, perhaps in the Europe section for old threads and PM him for some hometown specifics.
I may have been a bit abrupt, but I think it was because you remind me of me. Sometimes I get too focused on something that if I just slowed down a bit I usually find that there are other options, other possibilities, which in the long run, usually turns out even better than my original plan. I wish you much success in your quest, after all I think we're all on a journey (the persuit of the perfect mod / ride) of sorts.
Hey, and no charge for the $1.50.........LOL, happy if I could help.

John

Flashpoint2 · Post by **Flashpoint2** » February 13th, 2005, 2:51 am

Wouldn't it just be easier to pilfer all the needed parts from a MS Protege?
I've been a BIG fan of the MX-3 for quite a while, and I will agree with AtlantaMX3, Mazda never released an MS MX-3, regardless of whose market you are talking about. I can't count how many hours I've spent looking for products for the MX-3, and i've NEVER heard anything about a factory MS version.

johnnyb · Post by **johnnyb** » February 13th, 2005, 9:08 am

I'm with atlantamx3. I've done research on this and Mazdaspeed NEVER put out an mx3. It wouldnt be in their interest to do so. The mx3 never sold enough cars around the world to warrant a mazdaspeed version. Any mazdaspeed mx3 thats ever been made is a custom job by an mx3 owner. This would include (but not limited to) the ms bodykit, the ms adjustable struts, the ms wheels, the ms catback system (which I might add is far overpriced), and more. Those I would consider to be the main pieces, however as you can see on this website there is many ms parts made for the mx3. As for the EU market being closer linked to the Japanese then the North american market, that is a totally false statement to make. If you were to look at the north american market we have received many japanese cars that have been renamed over here. Just because you get the exact same name doesnt mean you have a closer tie. Different markets call for different cars. For instance Honda, they now have an SUV and a pickup, this is all to compete in north america. I'm sure with japan almost being right beside north america it would be easier to bring things here.

Famine · Post by **Famine** » February 13th, 2005, 10:28 am

johnnyb wrote:As for the EU market being closer linked to the Japanese then the North american market, that is a totally false statement to make. If you were to look at the north american market we have received many japanese cars that have been renamed over here. Just because you get the exact same name doesnt mean you have a closer tie. Different markets call for different cars. For instance Honda, they now have an SUV and a pickup, this is all to compete in north america. I'm sure with japan almost being right beside north america it would be easier to bring things here.

Japan is "almost right beside" North America?

*throws atlas in the bin*

Besides which, how far does Nissan, Honda or Toyota have to ship a car to Europe, when they're built in Sunderland (UK), Swindon (UK) and Wales (UK)?

I am fully aware of US market cars of Japanese origin often carrying a different name - Mazda Miata, Toyota Echo and the entire "Acura" and "Infiniti" brands, for example. But in the terms of sportscars, you just don't get what Europe does.

I believe this is primarily down to what used to be California state emissions regulations - which are far more stringent than anywhere else on Earth. Rather than attempt to strangle the cars to death in order to meet these emissions rules, or churn out 4 or 5 different versions to meet emissions rules in different states, some cars were simply never taken to the US. After all, the costs of redesigning exhaust systems for low-volume cars wouldn't make it economically viable.

These are the same rules which have, until relatively recently, prevented the Lotus Elise and ANY TVR from reaching US shores.

European new car emissions rules - until 1999 - were pretty close to Japan's. So, revisiting my earlier example, we had R33 and R34 Skylines sold, from new, at Nissan dealerships. In the case of the R33s, they were sold to a maximum of 100 per year, thanks to European-type SVA approval regulations, which were scrapped in 1997. In the US, if you want a Skyline, you have to import one and then have it converted to legal road use by... a company whose name I forget... and you'll be lucky to see any change from $100,000. For a 10 year old R32. The Toyota Supra and Mazda RX-7 were killed off in Europe 3 and 4 years respectively short of their final model years due to the new emissions regs which came into effect in 1999.

Anyway, I digress. Heavily.

As I said, I have no concrete information which would hint at the definitive existence of the car - much less 24 of them - I'm just working on a bit of heresay and some logic. Hopefully my Japanese contacts will get back to me - having learned Japanese to a moderate level a couple of years back has finally come in handy...

Flashpoint2 - That's a startling suggestion that I hadn't actually considered. There is a minor problem in that the Protege (or 323 over here) never got as far as a Mazdaspeed version here either. Which is somewhat of a pity, as Ford have somewhat stolen a march now in the "prepped" mid-range family hatchback market with their ST models.

jschrauwen - I didn't consider you as being abrupt. You've been very helpful thus far. Mind you, I went and had a look at an Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon GTA yesterday and am very tempted to throw my chequebook that way instead

johnnyb · Post by **johnnyb** » February 13th, 2005, 11:03 am

well I didnt mean it that way. But it would be far easier to ship cars to north america due to the fact they put them on a boat and ship them over. However that being said theres many japanese car makers with plants here. And really who cares if the skyline was in the UK that doesnt mean anything here. Theres also plenty of cars here that you dont get. Comparing what sports cars are avaliable is a bad argument due to the fact that every market demands certain cars. They dont sell SUV's in japan because nobody over there would need one. Dont forget the car makers over here have designed their cars with high torque and HP at low RPM which means you dont have to rev your car to 6k to get full power out of it. If you try and compare italian sports cars with north american really who's buying italian cars? Those are the most overpriced garbage cars ever. If the mazdaspeed mx3 was ever made it would be sold in the North American market.

jschrauwen · Post by **jschrauwen** » February 13th, 2005, 11:41 am

johnnyb wrote:well I didnt mean it that way. But it would be far easier to ship cars to north america due to the fact they put them on a boat and ship them over. However that being said theres many japanese car makers with plants here. And really who cares if the skyline was in the UK that doesnt mean anything here. Theres also plenty of cars here that you dont get. Comparing what sports cars are avaliable is a bad argument due to the fact that every market demands certain cars. They dont sell SUV's in japan because nobody over there would need one. Dont forget the car makers over here have designed their cars with high torque and HP at low RPM which means you dont have to rev your car to 6k to get full power out of it. If you try and compare italian sports cars with north american really who's buying italian cars? Those are the most overpriced garbage cars ever. If the mazdaspeed mx3 was ever made it would be sold in the North American market.

After a number of tours to the middle-east, western and eastern Europe and numerous vacations to the US, I can say with reasonable certainty that by far the European market has and may very well be a much better place for the sports car market. Less governmental hurdles to jump = greater availability. You'd be surprised how many container ships I've seen in the Gulf and the Suez canal carrying japanese vehicles destined for the middle-east and european market. Having been an owner of an MG Midget, Fiat X19, Toyota Corolla and Celica and driven in the afformentioned countries (except UK - sorry famine) - Ya, I can say, the European driving experience (cars and roads) is much better, IMO. There is nothing compaired to the experience of driving a finely tuned car on the Autobahn or in the Black Forest. While doing 180kph, seeing the flash of high beems in the rear view mirror of a vehicle nearly 1/2km behind you saying....get out of the way...I'm coming through, and in the blink of an eye, I move over and an exotic european car passes by (german police in a porsche) like I was standing still. Horsepower, gearing, accessories and just plain overall specs - Euro's got us beat. Sure we get some different stuff (some of it nice), but they get all the "fun" stuff. There's a good reason why most of us try to get the E-spec this or the J-spec that.
Sorry, did I just hyjack this thread?....LOL

Just my $1.50..again...LOL, cheers
John

Famine - Almost bought a new TVR in London, Ontario back in '79.........I shoulda...shoulda.....shoulda.

johnnyb · Post by **johnnyb** » February 13th, 2005, 3:10 pm

regardless of all this the topic got off hand and there was no mazdaspeed mx3 ever produced for consumers to buy.

But who really needs to be going 180 km/h man is it that important you shave maybe 10 minutes off the commute that you go that fast?

DavidOS · Post by **DavidOS** » February 13th, 2005, 4:09 pm

johnnyb wrote:regardless of all this the topic got off hand and there was no mazdaspeed mx3 ever produced for consumers to buy.

But who really needs to be going 180 km/h man is it that important you shave maybe 10 minutes off the commute that you go that fast?

Its important to me:)
considering they have some awesome driving roads over there.
Mazdaspeed as far as i know it did not have a mazdaspeed MX3, I know they had every part for it just not a specific production release.
I spoke to Mazdaspeed in Australia and they did not know of a Japanese release and also did not release that version down under.

When I emailed Japan about Mazdaspeed MX3 components or parts that we would never know about over here as we dont speak their language and tuning over there is a huge thing (ppl take massive loans for it) they never replied back.

If your planning on upgrading your mx3 its could be tough. THen again if you have the cash to buy a Lotus ... upgrades should be simple enough Mazdaspeed or not.

PS. THere are always insurance loopholes you can find if its to much.

PPS. i know you can convert skylines, evos etc.etc. in the USA from right to left hand drive for 7000US $ not $50000

Famine · Post by **Famine** » February 13th, 2005, 6:53 pm

Don't forget that some stretches of Autobahn around Stuttgart are derestricted - meaning if you can go at any given speed, you're allowed to... (tyres permitting).

180km/h is, frankly, nothing on an Autobahn. You'll be continually flashed out of the passing lane by guys in Mercs and Beamers sitting on their 155mph (250km/h ish) limiter - and they'll be shoved out of the way by people in Porsche 996 911 GT3s running at 300km/h+. Because they can...

DavidOS - So, you got pretty much the same response from Japan that I have so far then?

DavidOS · Post by **DavidOS** » February 13th, 2005, 9:26 pm

Famine wrote:Don't forget that some stretches of Autobahn around Stuttgart are derestricted - meaning if you can go at any given speed, you're allowed to... (tyres permitting).

180km/h is, frankly, nothing on an Autobahn. You'll be continually flashed out of the passing lane by guys in Mercs and Beamers sitting on their 155mph (250km/h ish) limiter - and they'll be shoved out of the way by people in Porsche 996 911 GT3s running at 300km/h+. Because they can...

DavidOS - So, you got pretty much the same response from Japan that I have so far then?

That is correct i never got a response from Mazdaspeed Japan.

Maybe if you called them do you speak japanese? if you do id recomend even calling them.