jri4's 2008 Black Mica Mazdaspeed3 Sport Build Thread

[fishdonotbounce]

That would be awesome. Team Marlon/CP-e! Haha. But Marlon, I sent Storm another email asking if he got my previous one and included my dyno graph and video of the run to give to Josh. Do you have Josh's direct email? PM me so we don't crap up Chippy's thread

 

[jri4]

TWM M1 Abrams in Gunmetal with engraving:

Shiftknobtop by James Iorfida, on Flickr

M1abrams by James Iorfida, on Flickr

Interiorfull by James Iorfida, on Flickr

Interioroutside by James Iorfida, on Flickr
LOL at box of tissues.

 

[o0n8]

does your car get you that excited?

 

[Perro del Sol]

TWM M1 Abrams in Gunmetal with engraving:

Shiftknobtop by James Iorfida, on Flickr

M1abrams by James Iorfida, on Flickr

Interiorfull by James Iorfida, on Flickr

Interioroutside by James Iorfida, on Flickr
LOL at box of tissues.

How does it feel in combo with the replacement shifter?

 

[Evan9999]

Sweet shift knob! Were you using the stock one before? If so, have you noticed easier shifting now?

 

[Evan9999]

I am working on marketing stuff for him and what better way to do that than to have a video presentation of a build in progress using CP-e's products. I am going to see if Evan #2 may be interested and we are looking a new Speed 3 as well, just need to see if Lauri wants to pull the trigger as it will be for her.

I'm interested. Could you PM me with more details? Thanks Marlon!

 

[Perro del Sol]

I'm interested. Could you PM me with more details? Thanks Marlon!

Will do, as soon as I get home.....

 

[jri4]

How does it feel in combo with the replacement shifter?

Amazing. Goes right into place and stays there, smooth as butter. There is literally no movement at all in my shifter. I'm still going to look into the SURE shortcut and Counterweight to finish off my shifter combo by the end of October.

Thanks Marlon!

Sweet shift knob! Were you using the stock one before? If so, have you noticed easier shifting now?

Yeah, the M1 Abrams is not as heavy as the Big Type R or some of those, but it is significantly heavier than stock, which really helps it "engage" into gear. Very pleased thus far!

 

[hat1018]

does your car get you that excited?

Really. I just keep a small stash of napkins.

 

[Lewis7789]

^^^ Ivan has a whole roll of TP on his passenger seat. Must be an MS3 thing. Skeet-skeet-skeet...

anyway, the shift knob looks really good. Almost as good as the shift bootie. Did Justine make that for you?

 

[jri4]

does your car get you that excited?

Really. I just keep a small stash of napkins.

^^^ Ivan has a whole roll of TP on his passenger seat. Must be an MS3 thing. Skeet-skeet-skeet...

anyway, the shift knob looks really good. Almost as good as the shift bootie. Did Justine make that for you?

I wasn't even thinking that. Gosh, you are all so immature... It only happened one time...
Justine did make the shift boot. I love Redline Goods and all, but custom + free DIY = WINNING!

 

[jri4]

Today's food for thought--I have a few questions for all of you to spark debate and discussion:

1. I've driven the past two winters on All-Season tires that have progressively gotten worn. Before that I drove a winter on CX7 OEM all-seasons (albeit AWD). Before that I was in a Mustang on all seasons throughout High School (okay, that was scary). I survived, and can only remember one instance at the end of last winter in which I struggled to gain traction from a stoplight (going uphill). Since all-season tires are generally cheaper than snows, why not just find a set of all-seasons to run as a dedicated winter setup? If the weather gets THAT bad, I can borrow another vehicle or just stay in. I'm thinking of finding FD RX7 wheels and putting 225/55-16 all-seasons on them. I should be able to get the entire setup for around $450. Or, I found that 215/50-17 or 205/55-17 all-seasons can be found for actually cheaper than 16s. So I would just find a nice OEM wheel (plenty have been offered to me) and then slap those on. Again, price should be around $400-$450.

At this point, I'm going to wait until the weather hits to actually see how my car performs once I rotate the tires and get the fresher rubber up front. But at this point, I'm bracing for the worst.

2. In your opinion, what is the cheapest route to buying a track/autox specific car. I mean, that one Neon runs with NASA. I don't want to be THAT guy, but still... My guess is the miata is probably the cheapest bang-for-the-buck, but E30 BMWs, etc...what do you think! DEBATE/DISCUSS!

I'm just not sure whether to drop "track" money into the MS3 or just buy a $1000 Miata (or other car) and start from there...

 

[PrinceValorum]

I've got my summer tire set, and my winter tire set, and I like having two that are the best at what they do, without compromise. Running all-seasons in winter would be what I would consider a compromise. My summer tires are technically 'all seasons' but last year with the first dusting of snow, I broke one (open dif) loose in a parking lot slipping the clutch at high idle (cold).... Not at all confidence-instilling. On the other hand, I drove around (for fun) in that huge blizzard in December last year on snows, with snow going over my hood at some points. I stopped at a stop sign on a hill just to test it, and there wasn't a problem. Now that I don't plan to drive mine in the winter anymore, I guess I'll sell my snows.

I definitely vote Miata for the track car. Cheap, reliable, plentiful (usually), metric buttloads of info available, entire stand alone economic industry of aftermarket support, fun as heck, good mpg, vert, and hey, it's a Mazda.

 

[eprx799]

Today's food for thought--I have a few questions for all of you to spark debate and discussion:

1. I've driven the past two winters on All-Season tires that have progressively gotten worn. Before that I drove a winter on CX7 OEM all-seasons (albeit AWD). Before that I was in a Mustang on all seasons throughout High School (okay, that was scary). I survived, and can only remember one instance at the end of last winter in which I struggled to gain traction from a stoplight (going uphill). Since all-season tires are generally cheaper than snows, why not just find a set of all-seasons to run as a dedicated winter setup? If the weather gets THAT bad, I can borrow another vehicle or just stay in. I'm thinking of finding FD RX7 wheels and putting 225/55-16 all-seasons on them. I should be able to get the entire setup for around $450. Or, I found that 215/50-17 or 205/55-17 all-seasons can be found for actually cheaper than 16s. So I would just find a nice OEM wheel (plenty have been offered to me) and then slap those on. Again, price should be around $400-$450.

At this point, I'm going to wait until the weather hits to actually see how my car performs once I rotate the tires and get the fresher rubber up front. But at this point, I'm bracing for the worst.

2. In your opinion, what is the cheapest route to buying a track/autox specific car. I mean, that one Neon runs with NASA. I don't want to be THAT guy, but still... My guess is the miata is probably the cheapest bang-for-the-buck, but E30 BMWs, etc...what do you think! DEBATE/DISCUSS!

I'm just not sure whether to drop "track" money into the MS3 or just buy a $1000 Miata (or other car) and start from there...

Your cheapest way to get a track only car is to buy one already built, plenty of spec miatas out there or if you want some thing completely different then theres alway F500 . It an open wheel car with a snowmobile motor and a cvt trans. they are small enough to tow with a small car if you have it on an open trailer.

 

[WillD]

Your thinking is pretty sound when comparing new vs new as far as snow tires and all seasons. However, I'd keep an eye out for a set of used winter wheels. Even if they have a winter or two on them it'll be better than set of all seasons and lots of times they can be had way cheaper than even new all seasons.

As far as a track car, the Miata is the way to go. Cheap to get started, cheap consumables, excellent support due to the SM nation and M.net, and darn near indestructible. If you were looking to get into Spec Miata racing right away I'd say the cheapest way to go would be to buy a car that is already built for SM... However, since you've only got 1 (maybe 2) hyperdrives under your belt, I'd say get yourself a nice NA6 which can be had for under $2-5k. From there bolt in a roll bar, new brake pads, fluids, and you're good to go. Then as you progress through the HPDE ranks you can slowly put money into it turning it into a SM if you decide that's where you want to be.

 

[jri4]

New vs. new I think all-seasons are adequate for our winters. The thing is, I can get brand new all season tires on a set of junkyard OEM wheels for around $500, whereas used winter wheels/tires are going to be around $400 for a deal. I'd rather pay a tiny bit more and go new rubber.

I don't have the money to jump right into a racecar--it has to be driveable to the track for now. Although and F500 would be pretty cool! I might look into karting too. my buddy bought a chassis but doesn't have an engine and has spent all his funds on motorcycle racing.

i figured Miata would be the top answer on here, LOL. I agree, but am open to other options.

 

[WillD]

If you're looking for something else to consider... CRX, RX-7, MR2, 944, 918, maybe the 240SX. But there is a reason the folks on the GRM forum say the answer is always Miata

Edit: Here is a cool thread on track consumables: http://www.trackhq.com/forums/f2/how-much-$$$-consumables-differnt-track-cars-4178/
Check out post #47 for the GT3 Cup... $5000 per weekend in just tires...

 

[Evan9999]

If you're looking for something else to consider... CRX, RX-7, MR2, 944, 918, maybe the 240SX. But there is a reason the folks on the GRM forum say the answer is always Miata

Edit: Here is a cool thread on track consumables: http://www.trackhq.com/forums/f2/how-much-$$$-consumables-differnt-track-cars-4178/
Check out post #47 for the GT3 Cup... $5000 per weekend in just tires...

I've always wanted a 2nd gen MR2! They're on the cheap side and would be a light, mid-engine, RWD track car.





Chippy...I've been having the exact same issue as you...deciding on a track car. I really want a 2nd car for the track because I don't want to break the MS3. On the other hand, I don't have a garage or the tools to work on a 2nd car. On top of this...I DEFINITELY don't have any time to do this. I barely have time to change my MS3's oil HAHA.

The other thing I thought of is that I would have to spend A LOT of money to make a cheap track car faster than my MS3 already is. Or, I can just spend $1-2k more on the MS3 and have track beast. So I've been tossing around the idea of making the MS3 a weekend driver/track car. I would then find another cheap car $3-4k range and daily drive that. Unfortunately, I have a big issue with this. I'm very spoiled daily driving the MS3. I wouldn't have close to the amount of luxuries I have in the MS3 (or the speed!!!) in a 3-4k cheap car.


So for now, until I make a lot more money, I'm just going to spend some more money on the MS3 and do some more track days next year and keep gaining track experience and improve my skills.

I really would love to have a Miata or RX7 for the track, but I don't think this will happen for another 2 years.

 

[ajkulish]

a few things about winter tires: they are the best thing ever invented, and its better to go slightly thin with them. i have driven with summer tires in the snow which was awful, i have driven with all seasons in the snow which got me through, and i have driven on snow tires which give you an unbelievable sense of control. and when you see someone else spin their tires as yours rotate half a turn then accelerate, you feel better than everyone else. seriously, snow tires are the best investment ever! you wont believe how awesome they drive. i have mastercraft glacier grip II and love love love them for about 70$ a tire. and when i say go thinner i mean go narrow. a 215 will be great. when you put more weight on a smaller surface, your psi of the contact patch increases, and therefore makes it much easier to cut through snow and ice. it seems like the bigger the tire the better, but its not. i have 205 snow tires and could not be happier.

 

[Evan9999]

a few things about winter tires: they are the best thing ever invented, and its better to go slightly thin with them. i have driven with summer tires in the snow which was awful, i have driven with all seasons in the snow which got me through, and i have driven on snow tires which give you an unbelievable sense of control. and when you see someone else spin their tires as yours rotate half a turn then accelerate, you feel better than everyone else. seriously, snow tires are the best investment ever! you wont believe how awesome they drive. i have mastercraft glacier grip II and love love love them for about 70$ a tire. and when i say go thinner i mean go narrow. a 215 will be great. when you put more weight on a smaller surface, your psi of the contact patch increases, and therefore makes it much easier to cut through snow and ice. it seems like the bigger the tire the better, but its not. i have 205 snow tires and could not be happier.

Well said...I agree 100%!!! Snow tires are absolutely worth it IMO. Hunt around on Craigslist and forums. I had a hard time finding narrow tires for 18" wheels. I managed to find 225 Bridgestone Blizzaks. I actually somehow found 2 separate sets of the same tires for different sellers. The one guy had them on his wife's RWD Lexus IS350, only used them on the rear wheels. I picked up all 4 tires (with about 80% tread life left) for $300 and it cost about $100 to get them mounted and balanced. I put 10k miles on them last season and they still have plenty of tread (mostly because there weren't that many days where the roads weren't snow covered haha). I should get about 2 more seasons out of them, unless I drive too much.

It's fun passing 4x4 pickups (especially the ones that plow) on the highway when there's about 1 foot of snow on the road!! 4x4 trucks are good for accelerating, but when they have to stop suddenly, they have A LOT more weight to slow down than us. The e-brake is a lot of fun too

On snow...wider isn't better. With racing, you want to have as much tire contact the road, so wider tires are generally better. However, when driving over snow with a wide tire, it has a negative effect. The tire almost hydroplanes (like in the rain) over the snow. Because you have the same weight of your car over a larger surface area, the tire has a hard time digging into the snow for traction.