At last I am posting...

[Abilor]

Hi all!

It's been a long odyssey, but after six months of lurking on these boards, I am finally getting my 2008.5 metro gray GT speed3 this Saturday morning. It's not the best deal in the world, but I finally got a new job in a new town with a new car and I'm new to the board. I will have a lot of questions soon, but for now will enjoy the new arrival.

Any essential tips on getting a brand new MS3? Things you wish you had done differently? Lemme know!

(breakn)

 

[Captain KRM P5]

welcome to the forums! you will find good people here and alot of knowledge. sounds like there is alot of 'new' in your world, but you'll enjoy the car, have no doubt about that. the ms3 is one of the best performance bangs for the buck.

 

[MikeHTally]

Welcome aboard. Treat her right and she'll give you hours of grins.

 

[djthom]

Hi all!

Things you wish you had done differently? Lemme know!

(breakn)

I would have sped up so that asshat coming out of the mc donnalds car park didn't hit me!

great color choice! its cool how it will look different in different light...sometimes blues and greens show...i love MGM


you will enjoy this car!

 

[coololddude]

the MS3 is a good deal even if you paid full sticker. if you paid MORE than full sticker you MUST transer to the prius forum!

 

[ZooMIN3]

welcome!

enjoy your new ride!!!

 

[Abilor]

Thanks. Got it today with very little dealer hassles. Even got champagne with it.

This is my first powerful car, previously driving a ford festiva, a ford focus, a beat up cavalier, and most recently, my 93 volvo 850 that was like driving the recliner in your parent's basement.

So when I pressed the pedal to pass my father in law on the way back to Baton Rouge from New Orleans, I was nonplussed/ecstatic when I burst right past him. Shot from 60 to 90 in fifth gear in like 2 seconds. I've never gone that fast in a car before. Aaaaahhhhhh.....

Now I'm trying to not do that again during the first 600. take it easy I mean. I also have to get used to the power subtle situations, like driving slowly through gas stations and reversing, etc. The clutch bites lower than anything I'm used too, but is also more forgiving because of the torque. Just getting accustomed to it...

Already people are gunning past me, and then I keep up, and an impromptu drag race starts. I have to ease back though trying not to spool up the turbo going past walmart at 70 mph in our tiny little streets. My driving life is already changing how I thought it would.

Practical note: they covered the car with all kinds of damn stickers at the dealership, and I have removed most. Tomorrow I'm really going over it, but I noticed a faint burning smell driving home. I opened the hood, and it was HOT in there, and I already peeled one sticker off of the engine cover. The burning smell was in the area there, not bad, but I think some crappy sticker or the new materials are heating up and breaking in. Has anyone else had this?

Thanks all.

More questions, but I'm too tired now...

 

[badmotorfinger]

Similar situation here regarding the smell. I think it's most likely oil/grease that's left on the various new metal pieces. On my last new car it went away after a few hundred miles.

 

[ZooMIN3]

it's more than likely your clutch breaking in. it'll go away soon with more driving. glad you're enjoying your new ride!

 

[DaleNixon]

Hey, I'm in Baton Rouge as well. We just got another registrant from here too. We really need to revive the regional section.

Did you get the car from Paretti Mazda? They gave me champagne too!

Also, welcome! (thumb)

Oh and don't worry about the smell. Everyone gets that at first.

 

[Ace Deprave]

Welcome from another Louisiana resident. I bought mine just over 3 weeks ago (in Houston, though) and already have over 4,000 miles (damn hurricane evacuations).

Oh, and yes, the smell is normal, and will go away soon.

 

[Abilor]

Yup, smell is already gone. I love having this car around Baton Rouge too, because it's quite rare to see hatchbacks amongst all the trucks and sedans. Car lovers recognize it though; I parked at the end of the walmart lot in Denham Springs today to avoid jerks and shopping carts, and when I came out, there was a gray 2009 Mustang next to me. It's nice to finally like I'm in the car "in" crowd.

I opened up a bit on South Range today heading towards I-12; I revved up to 4500 rpm through 1st and 2nd, and left people in the dust on the ramp, and then punched though to fifth. I think I did 0 - 72 in about 11 or 12 seconds, and while I'm sure others here yawn at that, I have NEVER driven so fast before. I am addicted to feeling the turbo spool and pinning me back, it's like a rollercoaster... I guess this is the beginning huh, like being bit by a vampire? I now look for stretches of road to punch it on, and I NEED to get a Valentine 1. my other favorite game is to drift down to about 50 on the interstate when there's an opening and people don't think I'm drunk, and then floor it, spool the turbo, and hit 72 in about 2 - 3 seconds. I'm speeding, sure, but it's not egregious.

How is the speed enforcement in Baton Rouge? Where are the classic traps? My wife is from here, and I've been coming down for six years, but we moved here for good right before Gustav. I'm originally from NY, and I will not miss the snow.

DaleNixon, I saw you were talking about painting that Metra kit; I'd actually like to pick your brain about that, as I am interested in going total custom audio with mine, and ultimately a carputer with an ATSC tuner so we can watch HD network games while tailgating at DV. I had 600 RMS Watts on my volvo with JL speakers and a 12" JL woofer, and while the GT stereo is respectable, I miss my "bump in the trunk." How is audio enforcement? Are tinters targeted? My wife says cops down here assume you sell meth if you look at all like a ricer, but I think she's a wee bit paranoid. Though in a month here in Baton Rouge, I've seen some weird s***...

 

[Abilor]

and what's with the side molding? Why does everyone take it off? Is it really that ass?

 

[Ace Deprave]

I don't go to Baton Rouge (I'm two hours west of you) often enough to know about how the cops are, but I do know that they are particularly strict on I-12, so beware.

I just took off my side molding this weekend. I don't think it looks terrible, but the car looks cleaner without it. (imho)

 

[Abilor]

How do they enforce in general? Radar? Laser? Coasting?

 

[DaleNixon]

I'm not much of a speeder myself so I can't really tell you. My friend Mark who loves to speed in his 700whp Z06 says the Escort Passport is the detector to get.

If you get tint I recommend TNT Tint & Trim on Coursey. Just get the legal limit all around. Cops won't screw with you. Legal tint in Baton Rouge is hard to notice as most people have illegal tint (including the windshield).

Removing the side moldings improves the look of the car depending on who you ask. If you like them, keep them! It looks ridiculously clean in person when they are gone though.

I want to do some engine mods (Cobb SRI, Forge BPV, etc.), but I'm waiting on an answer from Paretti Mazda about how those would affect my warranty.

I haven't gotten around to painting the Metra kit yet. I still need to do some research on how to get piano finish on plastic.

I hear you on the power upgrade! I went from a 1986 Ford F-150 to a Ford Contour to a Mazda Protege5. 0-60 in under 10 seconds feels super fast to me.... under 6 is just insane!

 

[Abilor]

Yeah, I am with Paretti too. Kind of hanging on every word you'd have to say about it and the warranty. Did you debadge yours?

 

[DaleNixon]

I didn't debadge mine. I really don't mind the logos at all. "Mazdaspeed3" on the back is pretty subtle and doesn't have any "Type-R" evoking red or anything.

I think the Mazda logo on the back helps even out the car as well. I am all about having my car look as clean as possible. I really wanted white, but they only had that in GT form when I was buying. I didn't feel the GT trim was worth the extra money (just my 2 cents).

The only things I've done to the outside are remove the moldings and silver out my turn signals (front and back). The front was a bit of a failure, but I've got some silver amber bulbs on the way.

I have some RX-8 wheels sitting in the cats' bedroom (yea, they have their own room in my house :/). Those will go on as soon as the stock rubber needs replacing (which shouldn't be too long from now)! (burnout)

The only thing I'd really like to add to the exterior appearance would be dual exhaust to even out the back even more (if possible), and a slight drop less than 1 inch or so.

Craig Paretti has forwarded my inquiry to the service manager to find out about whether or not they would consider an SRI a warranty-voiding part. I've got my fingers crossed on it... they have been so cool about everything so far!

 

[Abilor]

Our cats are treated like descendants from the pharoahs. THey don't have a room, they have the house. In every room there's a "kitty station" where either of them can sit. They eat higher quality meat than I do, all organic raw chicken and fish from Whole Foods.

In any case, I only asked because I saw a debadged speed3 the other day, and thought maybe it was you!

Silver out the signals? Intriguing. Got pix?

I would like to eventually add a Cat Back Exhaust, but first things first, I really want to add the Cobb SRI, a BOV, a dogbone mount, and a TWM short shifter. I really want an anodized red heavy knob from TWM so then I have a "red stick" ha ha. LOLZ FTW! Anyway...

I wonder what Paretti would think if I asked too. I have a feeling the answer is only if they install a mazdaspeed CAI there, which of course isn't an SRI. Does mazdaspeed make an SRI?

 

[DaleNixon]

They do not make an SRI and their CAI has been recalled due to emissions problems. So right now there's no intake with a blessing from Mazda

I'll post some pics of the silvered lights when I get the ones I ordered from amazon in and install them. The painting didn't work out quite like I wanted.