Gen 1 vs Gen 2

[chriscarron]

I'm sure this isn't the first thread like this. But today I brought my car to the dealer (gen 1) for warranty fix and I thought why not, I wanna try the new speed.
The car feels smoother in general, but really doesn't seem to pull as hard. I have SRI on mine but didn't think it would make that much difference. On the plus side, the engine seems smoother, especially under 3000rpm.
Anyways that's just a first impression I might be wrong, but I could get a pretty good deal on one (2010) and trade in mine. Those of you who got a gen 2 after a gen 1, can you tell me what your overall feeling is on the car? How does the car respond to basic mods compared to the gen 1?

Thanks for any insight

[Amazon]

Had gen1 before my gen2. Gen2 handles better, is smoother, and has less rattles than my gen1 did. Gen2 will be a little slower because it has longer gearing than the gen1.

That said,

gen2 > gen1

[kpacker51]

I didn't own a 1st gen, but I have driven them.

The new gen seems like a "newer" car. But no different than when you drive the newer model of any model. In most ways there is improvement, but it's matter of opinion and preference in the end.

The interior of the new car is really nice. If you get an 08.5-09 GT, that is just as good. The older sport models, a distant 3rd.

[ZoomZoomPSSH]

take a few steps back and look at the outside of that gen2

then take a look at the inside...

after throwing up in ur mouth u will see that

genWON > genPU

[ClutchEngaged]

I think genpu looks pretty awesome, especially the back. The front is kind of strange, but it grew on me. I also love the interior of the 2nd gens.

[rodrigo]

i wonder if the fucker could have felt smoother because it has no miles and yours has 30k?40? 20k? insiert sarcasm here >>>> <<<<<<<

[chriscarron]

30k lol and I don't think that kinda mileage makes a car less smooth...

[ZoomZoomPSSH]

Originally Posted by lenny127 i wonder if the fucker could have felt smoother because it has no miles and yours has 30k?40? 20k? insert spell check here >>>insiert<<<sarcasm here >>>> <<<<<<<

fixed

[emag remrofni]

As long as you can put up with that cheeky grin it's a better car. I test drove one as well and it definitely feels more refined. But I couldn't get over just how stupid and Asian it looks.

[Simoli]

Personally,I hate the front end of Gen2 but like the look of the dual exhaust. Good and bad.

[forcedinduktion]

also the 2nd gen is 300 lbs heavier

[08.5MS3]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomPSSH take a few steps back and look at the outside of that gen2 then take a look at the inside... after throwing up in ur mouth u will see that genWON > genPU

THIS!

I don't see what you guys see in the interior of the PU's, but I personally think it looks cheap and cheesy. Too spaceship-like. The 08.5-09 GT models have very classy and well appointed interiors.

[chriscarron]

300? no way.....where did you see that? did you mean 30 lbs?

[08.5MS3]

Quick Google

2009 - 3,153lbs
2011 - 3,272lbs

Specifications - 2009 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 Sport 5-Door - Yahoo! Autos

Specifications - 2011 Mazda MAZDASPEED3 Sport 5-Door - Yahoo! Autos

[rodrigo]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomPSSH fixed

well, fat fingers begets tripping on keyboard strokes sometimes....

[Amazon]

Originally Posted by forcedinduktion also the 2nd gen is 300 lbs heavier

And you're also chalk full 'o shit

For a more accurate weight, why not try Mazda factory spec sheets?

Gen2: http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/...s_MS3_2010.pdf
Gen1: http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/..._specs_MS3.pdf

[chriscarron]

Originally Posted by Amazon And you're also chalk full 'o shit For a more accurate weight, why not try Mazda factory spec sheets? Gen2: http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/...s_MS3_2010.pdf Gen1: http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/..._specs_MS3.pdf

Yeah that's what I was looking at too....100lbs, not all that bad!
I did some thinking, and imo it's not worth it, I don't feel like i'd be getting more car with the gen2...In fact I'd be getting less options, no bose speakers, imo a worse looking less refined interior (I mean just look at the seats compared to an 09 GT). I liked the idea of getting a brand new car for just over 5000, but I'm not so sure about this anymore.

[Kydizzle]

love hate with those genpu's .. you can make the outside look pretty decent... but as for the seats.. wtf were they thinking

[essejkcamraw]

jesus, another gen1 vs gen2 thread.

[ZoomZoomPSSH]

Originally Posted by chriscarron Yeah that's what I was looking at too....100lbs, not all that bad! I did some thinking, and imo it's not worth it, I don't feel like i'd be getting more car with the gen2...In fact I'd be getting less options, no bose speakers, imo a worse looking less refined interior (I mean just look at the seats compared to an 09 GT). I liked the idea of getting a brand new car for just over 5000, but I'm not so sure about this anymore.

thank you for coming to ur senses...

hope u noticed that when u smile back at a genpu its not b/c u like it...

its b/c u like laughing at it...

no but 4 real imo not worth it...for what? same motor...like u said less options...not so hot lookin interior...gettin stuck w/ another car payment for what?

u should be wanting to upgrade to something better...not downgrade/stay the same...

[chriscarron]

Originally Posted by ZoomZoomPSSH thank you for coming to ur senses... hope u noticed that when u smile back at a genpu its not b/c u like it... its b/c u like laughing at it... no but 4 real imo not worth it...for what? same motor...like u said less options...not so hot lookin interior...gettin stuck w/ another car payment for what? u should be wanting to upgrade to something better...not downgrade/stay the same...

Ha you're mostly right, probably also about me laughing at it...I only find the silver nice, all other colors not so much, whereas I find all colors of the gen1 nice!!

Alright then no new car, maybe throw down for some mods or/and a dirt bike!
Top Mount?

[BlueDmnSpeed]

i like them both. only real reason i wanted the new one was cause i absolutely didn't want another beat up used vehicle. had a used S-10 and person before me beat the shit out of it. so for myself at least i don't think i'll be getting another used vehicle..

that being said there are things good about both models. like y'all said with the seats they should've stuck with the design like in the 08.5 gt model with mazdaspeed stitched in it and all. i do like the dual exhaust on the Genpu's.. do wish they had at least tuned the engine to the Mazdaspeed 6 's specs since they discontinued the speed six.

[chriscarron]

Originally Posted by BlueDmnSpeed .. do wish they had at least tuned the engine to the Mazdaspeed 6 's specs since they discontinued the speed six.

I have thought of that before, and really cant figure out why they didn't use that tune for the speed 3 to start with. 10 more hp? why not...maybe it's cuz they didn't want people bitching about "torque steer" man I still don't get what the big deal is about this torque steer issue, do people not hold the steering wheel? When a rwd vehicles loses traction and goes sideways, do you not need to counter with the steering wheel? I remember some review even saying that the speed 3 had too much power...What are they smoking? more power please!!!!

[TheHitman]

gen1 > gen2.

The gen1 is nicer looking, lighter, better interior, and more raw.

The gen2 is more refined thats about it.

[chriscarron]

Originally Posted by TheHitman gen1 > gen2. The gen1 is nicer looking, lighter, better interior, and more raw. The gen2 is more refined thats about it.

HAHA yes more raw, that's exactly what came to my mind and it slipped out of my mouth during the test drive. The sales man was like WTF looking at me like I was nuts!
Also, the only thing he was saying to me the whole time was "yea as you can see the car was redesigned, look at the front end grille, the fog lights, see the rear has 2 exhausts" wow really? thanks for that, he didn't mention anything else, even failed to point out the hoodscoop!! But he did show me the dual climate control which I was in awe of!
And of course "so tell me, what stops you from buying this car today?"

[Nataphen]

I like both. Personally, I like the 08.5-09 GT in CWP the best of all the MS3s as far as looks. I like the rear about the same on either, sides of the gen 2 better, and the front of the gen 1 better. I don't dislike the front of the gen 2, I just like the gen 1 better. I like the dual exhaust outlets on gen 2, so I guess that sort of balances out.

I can't speak from a lot of experience on driving the two different cars, but what little that I have driven a gen 1, I can say:

Gen 1, I like
- the shorter 2-5 gears better for around town
- the look and feel of the seats better

Gen 2, I like
- the build quality of the interior better, minus the seats
- the driving position better somehow. Maybe just because it's mine and I'm more at ease in it.

The gen 2 is ECU nannied more in 1st-3rd in stock trim. A good tune will fix that though.

I wouldn't switch from one to the other if I had either car. I've considered switching to an MS6, but the support for it is dwindling since it's been out of production for so long.

[Tokay444]

Originally Posted by Amazon Had gen1 before my gen2. Gen2 handles better, is smoother, and has less rattles than my gen1 did. Gen2 will be a little slower because it has longer gearing than the gen1. That said, gen2 > gen1

By slower, don't you mean faster, because of longer gears?

[SgtP]

Originally Posted by emag remrofni As long as you can put up with that cheeky grin it's a better car. I test drove one as well and it definitely feels more refined. But I couldn't get over just how stupid and Asian it looks.

lol he said cheeky...

[Amazon]

Originally Posted by TheHitman gen1 > gen2. The gen1 is nicer looking, lighter, better interior, and more raw. The gen2 is more refined thats about it.

Gen2 handles a good deal better than gen1 and has a better holding interior. There is more to performance than straight line roll racing. Need I mention the clock rims that come on the gen1?

Originally Posted by Tokay444 By slower, don't you mean faster, because of longer gears?

No, longer gearing will slow a car down.

[_Toxic_]

I come from a gen1... i think its big different of the 2 cars. As someone said gen1 felt more raw, but now (after a year) and with catback and SRI my gen2 feels like its pulls as hard as my gen1 did.

I like all the tech stuff gen2 comes with, and alot quiter than gen1, no rattles! drove me crazy! and the gen2 handling is alot better than gen1. Feels like an whole new car compared to gen1.

Only gay is the color choice of the interior.. red dots... why? And no MPS logo on the seats etc. the seats feels the same to sit in tho. And the "smile" isnt there any more.

Overall i dont regret trading my gen1 at all.

[Moose]

I haven't driven the genpu yet, but I have sat in a ton of them. Having an 09, the styling of the genpu inside and outside turned me off (mainly inside, and that stupid grin), don't get me wrong I love the hood, but everything else kind of turned me off. Yeah the dual exhaust is cool but it's a 4 cylinder, does the dual exhaust do anything except look cool. If I never had a gen1 i would probably have gotten a genpu without even comparing it to the first gen. But everyone has their own opinion and this was mine.

[Tokay444]

Originally Posted by Amazon Gen2 handles a good deal better than gen1 and has a better holding interior. There is more to performance than straight line roll racing. Need I mention the clock rims that come on the gen1? No, longer gearing will slow a car down.

At equal rpm, a car with longer gears is going at a faster velocity, everything else being equal(tire rollout diametre).

[forcedinduktion]

my bad i meant 30, i was roughly estimating. its 92 to be exact, all of you didnt have to get butt hurt about it and jump on the fukin wagon

and the 2nd gen is faster

[amoosenamedhank]

Plus a longer gear will create more load on the engine... which turbo cars love. In most applications where you take an N/A car (i.e. mustang) and you probably started off with a 4.10 final drive gear because your car was slow as balls and you wanted something to help mask that. When you go turbo, you'll probably go down to either 3.55 or back to stock 3.27s.

[char181]

Wasn't crazy about the pu grin either so I got a black one and the grin disappeared.

[predapio]

Nate said it best, CWP gen1> other color gen1's> any color genpu.

Then again, I'm partial, so fuck off.

[Amazon]

Originally Posted by Tokay444 At equal rpm, a car with longer gears is going at a faster velocity, everything else being equal(tire rollout diametre).

That would be true IF the rpm's were equal, but they aren't. We're talking about speed3's here. The gen2 trails the gen1 rpm's by a little over 200 rpm's on your 3rd gear 40 mph roll race. That's a disadvantage. Yes, its going faster per rpm than the gen1 does, but thats not how one races. "I'll start at 3500 rpms and you start at 3500's rpm's." This would be unfair because then gen2 would have 2 - 3 mph lead.

Yes, I know the finals drives and gear ratios of each car, use a calculator if you don't believe me.

[BigJimMs3]

Ive own both and gen1 feels raw the first 2 gears..where the genpu feels like a tamed beast...
but to be honest 3rd-4th gear feel alot better in the genpu...smoother...handles alot better....i like the rims better than gen1....
obviously the smile is gay but i can deal with it...
the seats in the genpu feel more comfy...but doesnt come close looks wise..genpu fails on the seats(looks wise)
dual exhaust, single exhaust doesnt really matter to me... i like the hood scoop...and the curves on the genpu are really well put together....
HUGE difference is that people dont notice the gen1 and its a sleeper...the genpu is like hey look at me i have a big goofy smile and want to play....lol ive had more cars pull up next to me in the genpu and try to race....
no one ever really paid attention to me when i was in the gen1

[drenkel]

Both cars have advantages and disadvantages. Why does all the hate continue? We should all be on the same team here.

[Tokay444]

Originally Posted by Amazon That would be true IF the rpm's were equal, but they aren't. We're talking about speed3's here. The gen2 trails the gen1 rpm's by a little over 200 rpm's on your 3rd gear 40 mph roll race. That's a disadvantage. Yes, its going faster per rpm than the gen1 does, but thats not how one races. "I'll start at 3500 rpms and you start at 3500's rpm's." This would be unfair because then gen2 would have 2 - 3 mph lead. Yes, I know the finals drives and gear ratios of each car, use a calculator if you don't believe me.

So then what you mean to say is that the car is faster, just not as quick?