Thinking about a 2010 MS3

[vinnyMN]

I am a novice manual driver and I'm thinking about picking up a 2010 MS3. A 2010 M3 Hatch is my fallback.

Any thoughts about having that as a manual to learn on?
Any tips on which dealer around town is best?

 

[Workdawg]

The clutch on the MS3 is pretty tricky, very small engagement point, pretty hard to push in, but if you can learn it, you can do fine with it.

As for dealers... Morrie's Mazda in Minnetonka. Talk to Jesse Howard, tell him Dan sent ya. He's an awesome guy and he'll take good care of ya.

 

[WhiteSpy9]

I never drove a manual prior to test driving my 2007 MS3.
I took the MS3 the same day as the test drive.

So it certainly isn't impossible or anything. If it is the only reason for not going for the MS3 over the M3, I have a feeling you just might never be satisfied with an auto M3.

Do your research. If it is the car you want, I'm sure you won't have any issues.

 

[mndsm]

I can teach to drive it... ask Andy.

 

[Picklz]

The clutch is a little tricky, but it's not horrible. The car has reasonably okay torque so it's not that bad to learn on IMO. If you think you really want a manual, you'll likely kick yourself later if you end up buying an auto.

The MS3 was the first manual I owned, though I drove some now and again prior to it, FWIW

 

[mndsm]

On a not picking on Andy note-

The ms3 is my 3rd owned manual, about my....... a lot more than that driven. With the exception of the 67 GTO with the clutch throw the size of the St. Louis Arch, this is the trickiest clutch I've driven. Engagement is right now, but as Matt says, the torque is helpful.

 

[Picklz]

I want to buy that Car Tom (the 67).

 

[mndsm]

Hehehehe, that car is a lot of fun....

 

[AJ]

Take it for a spin and if you end up with a "man! I could rock this for a few years minimum" feel, then go for it. If not, test drive a few other whips.

I'd also suggest Roy Woodstrom at Brookdale, we've bought a few cars from him, always great to deal with.

I wouldn't advise anyone go anywhere by Brookdale or Morries imo.

 

[ij1889]

well first of all if the fact that its a fugly car IMO doesnt turn ya off the performance its packing will turn ya on, so idk its your decision

 

[YSOSLO]

I'd also suggest Roy Woodstrom at Brookdale, we've bought a few cars from him, always great to deal with.

I wouldn't advise anyone go anywhere by Brookdale or Morries imo.

I had the total opposite experience with Roy, but Luther Brookdale was the lowest bidder when I was shopping and Morries is a sponsor of the site and has been great about hosting detail days for us from time to time, so AJ's dealership recommendations are solid in my book.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

I personally like Walser for both buying and servicing cars. I have just found them the most attentive to my specific requests. All in all, it's a matter of where you feel the most comfortable and what dealer's philosophy fits you best, so I recommend trying them all and picking the one that you prefer the most.

My experiences are that Brookdale has gone to crap since it changed from Ryan to Luther, and you can't get service from Polar to save your life.

 

[JohnnyT]

My first car was a manual, lasted all of a few months 'til it broke down. I was stuck with an auto for 5 years 'til I picked up the MS6 a year ago. Give it a week or so of variable driving and you'll be just fine - the torque makes this car much easier to start too.

Also, I have my idle set to 900rpm so it's honestly easy as cake to get this thing in gear. I went back to the stock set rpm and it was so funky driving it for a couple days.

If you can get over the styling, I think you'll enjoy the car quite a bit. I'd also recommend test driving a used 1st gen MS3 (or maybe they have some new ones still on the lot) for comparison.

Let us know how it all plays out, and good luck!

 

[dmention7]

See, the thing about driving a manual transmission is that here in the states, there is a misconception that it takes some kind of special talent, like playing the piano, and it makes people nervous that they might buy a manual and never really learn.

Realistically though, it's something you'll pick up in a day or two of driving, and will feel completely comfortable with in a week or so.

That said, there are bad habits one can develop, so it's probably wise to have someone experienced take a look at your technique early on.

 

[ZoomZoom Diva]

It's interesting that people are saying here that lots of torque makes a manual easier to learn... I always though it was easier to learn on something with adequate but not large amounts of power... something like a 3i MTX would be ideal.

 

[dmention7]

I think lots of torque makes it easier to be a bit sloppier, but I do agree that something with more "adequate" torque is easier to learn on. Burnouts are fun, but they aren't something that inspires confidence when learning. Something that won't die on a sloppy launch, but also won't slam you into your seat when you give it too much gas would be my ideal choice.

But again, I don't see any real problems learning on the MS3.

 

[Workdawg]

I find having a sufficient amount of torque a good thing. I think a 3i is probably the easiest car I've driven.

When teaching Jenny and her sister, I started them both out with no gas. Just learn the clutch, let it out SLOW and you can feel in the pedal when it engages and the car will creep forward (this only works with enough torque, otherwise you just stall.) Once you've got that down THEN add using the gas pedal.

 

[dmention7]

When teaching Jenny and her sister, I started them both out with no gas. Just learn the clutch, let it out SLOW and you can feel in the pedal when it engages and the car will creep forward (this only works with enough torque, otherwise you just stall.) Once you've got that down THEN add using the gas pedal.

Nah, I taught my sister to drive a stick in my old escort using that same method... maybe 100 ft-lb of torque in that car. It's actually a very good starting technique for any car... As long as the motor is running correctly, you should be able to creep a car on a level surface using just the clutch.

I found it's also useful to engage the e-brake and have them practice getting the car rolling with that drag... gives a little more sense for how to manipulate the gas and clutch simultaneously.

 

[Schmitty]

I find having a sufficient amount of torque a good thing. I think a 3i is probably the easiest car I've driven.

When teaching Jenny and her sister, I started them both out with no gas. Just learn the clutch, let it out SLOW and you can feel in the pedal when it engages and the car will creep forward (this only works with enough torque, otherwise you just stall.) Once you've got that down THEN add using the gas pedal.

That's how I learned.

 

[mndsm]

I learned in an AWD car, I had to be careful lol, first time I launched it hard, it scared the living shit out of me.