Mazda Speed 3 VS ST Winding Road

[FunWagon]

I raced go karts with one of the guys from winding roads yesterday lol! He had one of the lexus wagon hybrid things he was test driving... He seemed pretty into the ST though.
But after driving 3700 miles on mine, i can understand what they are saying about the torque steer and such..

[KingZee]

I get the article but it doesn't give much credit to the Mazda 3 in my eyes. Just a matter of priorities for each individual. I bought fun/engaging/exciting/snappy 1.8 lock to lock steering before "more practical daily driver", but that's just me.

[Rising Sins]

This is so funny..... REally the corrections isn't that bad in all honesty I do see it, much worse then most other cars I have driven, but at the same time, it so much easier to correct it. I honestly can drive the st with my thumb now since that's how I do on the way home from work at 3AM. The ST is really easy to drive even for its constant correcting. But I think alot of it has to do with its pretty damn good handling. You can't even turn the steering wheel a full 360 so to me its understandable.

Anywho artical kinda pointless in my views, It does not prove anything, yet says MS3 and ST are good cars..... NO **** Sherlock!

[arcorim1]

i dont honestly think it really needs correction more than it feels like it does. i live in a college town and that means when you are driving home anytime between 10pm and 4am you need to be very careful and steady. i am always paranoid about going straight so it feels like im correcting a lot but i feel like i don't really because i have yet to be pulled over for a suspected DUI or anything like that

[mrjbousquet]

I have to agree the MS3 was easier to drive as a daily driver...throw it the highway at 80mph and the car tracked straight with no steering corrections. My ST requires near constant steering corrections. Same commute, same roads. Still love the ST, but there's something to be said for set it and forget it, and the MS3 is great in that respect

That's weird seeing as how I have no effort with the wheel when shooting down I71 in Columbus Ohio. 80mph is just keeping up with traffic so I know from hitting 85-90 even 100 there is little correction needed when the road is straight.

[STenthusiaST]

Agreed... my ST is amazing on the highway at any speed. The only time this car is "laboring" or takes work is when you want it to... full throttle. I would rather be engaged when i'm pushing it to the limit rather than have it be unnoticeable to be honest. Thats my personal taste I guess... I like that the ST has a Dr. Jeckel and Mr. Hyde personality disorder. Goes from commuter car to pavement ripper in a split second. Hard to compare the ST, MS3, GTI since they all are the best at something, I just think the ST's average is higher... plus its American... and a Ford... Winner for me.

[STGuy]

"The only drawback of the strong power delivery in the Focus ST was that it exhibited a lot of torque steer. Combined with the snappy steering, it made it a bit difficult to remain pointed dead ahead under wide-open throttle."

I get on mine frequently full throttle from a stop - difficult to control? Are you freaking kidding me? Do you people have baby arms or something? Seriously, WTF!?!?!

[Vader]

^^That

And here is a better review of the ST. Some very good points made.

Top Gear - [19x04] - 2013.02.17 by husyk - Car Videos on StreetFire

[zippy]

I have to agree the MS3 was easier to drive as a daily driver...throw it the highway at 80mph and the car tracked straight with no steering corrections. My ST requires near constant steering corrections. Same commute, same roads. Still love the ST, but there's something to be said for set it and forget it, and the MS3 is great in that respect

I think the tires have a lot to do with that. Since I put my 17" winter tires on the ST is rock solid. Can take my hands of the wheel and it tracks straight ahead, and much less tramlining too. Not that it was bad before, but the tires have definitely made it more stable at speed and under acceleration.