ahh. no wonder it has less power then the grand am. the 2.3 should beat out a grand am no problem.

 

Where did the "Grand Am" come into the equation??

 

Let me put this issue to rest with respect to the Pontiac Grand Am. I owned a new 2000 Pontiac Grand Am GT1 back in 2000. I bought the fully loaded version with Ram Air. That was a 3.4L 175-HP car with the ram air. If you got the version without the ram air, then it was rated at 170-HP. HOWEVER, the Grand Am weighed 3,168lbs and the Mazda 3s GT weighs 2,762lbs. That's a difference of 406lbs!!! The Mazda 3 also has the VVT (variable valve timing) so it would be MUCH quicker than the Grand Am because the extra 15-HP that the Grand Am has are definitely lost in the weight difference and torque due to the 3s VVT.

Nuff said,
Jason