It is just as easy to get a speeding ticket in this Mazdaspeed3 as it was in the last one, as evidenced by the, uh, paperwork handed over to some staff members in the last few months. But stints in traffic school took the violations off the books, and all was good again.
Senior editor Jonny Lieberman admires the engine, noting, "I just love the way it pulls. Uh, that should be, I love the way it pulls once a computer lets it pull. It's an old story that's been told many times, but because the 'Speed3 is front drive, the massive waves of torque would simply overwhelm the front wheels unless power were cut by the computer in first through third gears. As such, I'm always shocked by the mountain of shove that occurs when engaging fourth gear. Still, more all-wheel drive and less nannying would make for a better car."