lemacfar

Wow I just noticed that I'm a super lurker and OG at the same time ;-)

Costco

and you made a recommendation after OP already bought a car.

fail.

myron

iTrader: (4)

I just built and priced a MS3 on their site in canada and it came out to 36k. I can't believe there is that big of a difference between US and Canadian prices. OP nice car, I always liked MS3

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

It IS very huge.

I was thinking of gettting L O L or something else. and yes, black is way less noticeable than the other colors.

Yes, I will start modding it after 1 year. It's my first MT car anyway.. I suck. But not to the point where I stall the car, I've traded my TL with my friends MT cars for couple of occasions. But yeah, I definitely won't touch the engine's department for probably 1 year.

Thank you, Mark! :thumbup:

I can definitely see that Mazda spent a lot of time on the interior for this generation. It looks really great.

It has the built-in boost gauge in between speedometer and rpm too! It's pretty cute and neat, but I don't even know what's the purpose on putting this thing... When do I really use this?

Yeah.. I heard that there are so many cheap and easy add-ons that I can put on this engine for a great return, but again, I just gotta get used to this engine.. It is just so.... different from my TL.. It'll probably take me 1 year huh..

Yeah.. I think '09 can be considered as a handsome car. This new one is just..... so happy. It sounds and drives like a crazy little rat though. It pulls really hard...

I'm too tall for a S2K anyway. but wait........... wat?

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Alright, I just took off the front plate and noticed that the dealer just drill holes on the front bumper.

Is there any good way to get rid of that?

Also, sometimes, after driving this thing, I smell some burning substance or something. Is it clutch? Is it because I suck at driving MT? What am I doing wrong? and what is the purpose of the turbo boost gauge meter?

Costco

The bumper holes - you're stuck with them. You can use plugs, but it'll just cover up the hole... you're still going to see the two plugs.

Is it an rotten egg-like burning smell? That would be your clutch, but as long as you don't ride the clutch it shouldn't smell. It could just be assembly lube or manufacturing grease that's stuck on the outside of the engine or transmission that's burning off. If it doesn't go away after a while I'd check with your dealer.

Moog-Type-S

boost meter displays how much PSI the turbo is producing...the more you put your foot in the floor, the more the turbo charger "works"

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Moderators, can you guys kindly add *2010 Mazdaspeed3 Purchased, Pictures in Page 4* please?

Thank you very much.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Oh, I guess this MS3's turbo kicks in around 2500 rpm.. because the car pulls really HARD when it passes around 2500 rpm.. interesting.. so from stop to around 2500 rpm, that's the turbo lag period?

JBONN

Dam, I thought I could delete that before anyone saw it...lol, I better check the last thread before posting next time!

Hope you enjoy the MS3, personally I would have kept the TL!

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

So, here's the dyno result of the stock MS3. It seems like the turbo dies before 6000 rpm, but the car's redline is around 6700 rpm. I'm kinda confused. I should say I'm curious to know why this is like this.

JBONN

p.s. I heard from someone that Mazda's with power locks have a defect where if you hit the door in the right spot (somewhere above the handle) you can pop the locks!? I also heard it can leave a nice dent in the door too so don't try it!

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

hehe it's cool. I corrected my response to your original post. Nobody saw it.

I was going to keep the TL but it was finally starting to give me some electrical problems and was due for some major maintenance stops. I just didn't want to deal with it. blah blah though, it's all excuses. I was pretty much bored with it even though it was fairly modified, and I always wanted small afforable pocket rocket with a manual transmission. I did a lot of preliminary research and pull the trigger on the new MS3. I got it for $23,100. It's afforable. Plus, I'm saving 50% of my annual income, I guess I can have some fun while saving money right?

Welcome to the AZ, JBONN. Acurazine is the best forum, really.

JBONN

Thanks JS+TL, yeah after reading through the thread it sounded like you were getting bored and needed to switch it up...I think cars have a shelf life of 3 years and then its time for a change! I just picked up my TL a few weeks ago and I love it...I am on AZ pretty much every day looking for ideas so I figured I may as well go ahead and join up!

Moog-Type-S

I hope you don't have that much turbo lag....but the reviews I read of the
MS3 did talk of turbo lag issues. Sux if it's that noticeable.

Costco

most people get a boost gauge to monitor the PSI in case of boost spike or boost creep among other things. as far as the dyno chart goes it looks like torque starts reaching the peak at around 3000 rpm, so that's when I imagine the turbo is starting to really spool. 2500 would probably be the way its winding up. By the looks of it the MS3 must have a smallish turbo or compressor wheel because the power starts to really taper off at right around 5700 rpm. Solution is... bigger turbo! and along with it, a lot more money.

That's not too bad turbo lag, though it's not necessarily quick spooling or anything for a stock car. You want to talk about bad turbo lag though.... I know this guy who had a MK. III Supra with a 1JZ (JDM 2.5L turbo engine) in it with a HUGE turbo, and it didn't start boosting until 5,000 RPM. It was just plain dangerous on the street but he drove it anyway

charliemike

Uhh, what's going on with the extra 40hp and 32lb-ft of torque in the second set of data points?

Costco

TBE + tune

boost controller, upped the boost?

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

quoted from CorkSport. and that dyno chart is from CorkSport too.

Only with $388!

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Don't count on my words though, I don't even know what the turbo lag is anyway.

There are several magazine reviews that state that this generation really minimized the turbo lag, some say it is more like non-existence. So I don't know.

Moog-Type-S

That's good to hear.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

From a lot of magazine reviews, what I thought it was funny is that it's basically the same engine from the 1st generation, but the car itself is much slower 0-60 and faster 1/4 miles. It's like 5.9 0-60 and 14.0 @ 100 mph.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Just received my HID kit for the low beam (6K).. I'm going to install it tonight after work. I'll upload the pictures with it tomorrow. I was going to order a set for the fog light as well but going to wait a little to see some example pictures from other MS3 members. I'm still contemplating on the choices between 3K and 6K. Which one should I get!?

Still have 250 miles on the car.. can't wait to go WOT after the break-in period.. Do I really have to break-in the motor for the first 1000 miles?? or should babying 500 miles be alright? Never had a MT car so..

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Congrats on the purchase man! I really like the new MS3, I saw one yesterday just like yours

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Thanks alot. I love it...

Whenever I drive out to the streets, a lot of people notice my car and shout "nice car"...

But one annoying thing is that so many WRXs, Civic Si, and GTIs want to race me..

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

^Haha I bet. Do you regret not getting the Si at all? I love both cars to be honest. I couldn't pick between the two

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

You know, the Si and the new MS3 are priced about the same. I spent a lot of time comparing Si, MS3, and GTi.

However, the brand new MS3 gave me the most for the same money in terms of everything. Probably because it is the brand new generation. The new MKVi is coming out next month and Si should be revamped by next year.

I don't know, I read a lot of reviews of MS3 and they said MS3 does not belong to any segment. Speaking of value, Si is not really a competitor of MS3. MS3 can be fairly compared to WRX or Lancer Ralliart, but MS3 is priced at thousands of dollars less than them. So that puts MS3 in a very niche position, it is in its own segment.

Also, after having the hatchback for the first time, hatchback > ***. If I put down the backseat, it provides more cargo space than my previous car TL does.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

^Good points! I never thought I would say this, but hatchbacks are really practical. I never thought about getting one.

alexSU

iTrader: (3)

If only the GTi had more power! Then it would compete very nicely with the Mazdaspeed 3

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

^ Yep, for sure.

cp3117

WTH...you didnt take any of our advice on page one did ya.....j/k.

I just saw you pics and WOW what a nice car. Nice job on the color also.

I didnt realize you where still saving half of your income towards the house etc and still having a car payment. I wouldnt have sounded so anal if I had known that....(ahhh no i probably still would have).

Anyway great price and congrats again on a nice car. I actually looked at one in 2006 but in the end i needed something a little bigger and went with 2.0T/GLI. If it wasnt for that I might of had one in my garage.

cp3117

I agree, it still produces good power though being its generally the smaller engine of its competitors.

I wish for the GTI/GLI's they would slightly upgrade the power compared to the base 2.0T models (non-GLI's) as it would give the car a little more seperation from the base 2.0T models.

I saw the new MkVI "R" model over at Vortex and damn i hope that comes to NA. It has 270hp (137hp/litre is damn nice), AWD etc. Im sure the Mazdaspeed 3 will be a better value compared to this "R" model (mostly due to the value of the Euro) but still it will be a very nice ride.

http://www.vwvortex.com/artman/publi...cle_2660.shtml

I love the photo of the rear 4 door model of this "R" version.....it just looks plain ANGRY (not to mention the wheels are awesome too).

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

^Damn that looks sooooo sick!

Yall need to stop putting these pictures up of all of these hot cars. Yall make me want to trade in the TL

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Do it. Ditch the TL. Like me.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

I can't afford to. I'm driving my TL until it dies haha.

If I were to trade it in, it would be towards a G37 coupe or 370Z

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

You know those white license plate LED.. Which website do you order them? It's been so long since the last time.. Is the LED one the brightest for the license plate? Is there any other option for it?

Also, should I get 3K kit or 6K kit for the foglight? I can't decide.. I've already installed 6K kit for the lowbeam and it looks 1000x better. The cut-off looks pretty decent as well.

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

^I got mine from superbrightleds.com. They have a huge selection and shipping is crazy fast.

As for the license plate lights, I have LEDs which look awesome, but they are a tad more blue than white (I ordered white). Some have opted to go with a cold cathode set up, but I have no knowledge of what all that includes.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Some updated pictures.. 6K HID installed..











Loving my new car

Should I get 3K kit or 6K kit for the foglight?

CLtotheTL32

iTrader: (3)

Lookin good man

I would do 6k for the fogs, but that's just my

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Hmm.. so just match the fog to the low-beam huh?