What have you done to your Mazda5 today?
- Thread starter Rockin03mp5
- Start date
MR6, most accidents are frontal impacts, and consequently vehicles are designed to be strongest in that direction. If there is no way out of an impact, your best bet is to hit whatever you are going to hit head on. And not on a corner, but dead center head on - see how vehicles fare in the new Small Over Lap crash test as evidence. That's how the vehicle structure (reinforcements in some areas, crumple zones in others), seats, belts, and airbags are designed to absorb/dissipate energy and protect you best. Putting the vehicle into a spin to try to induce a side or rear impact would be unwise in nearly any situation.
Additionally, I think we can all agree that the "average" driver is not as competent behind the wheel when it comes to emergency maneuvers as those of us here arguing about vehicle handling. As hard as it is for us to fathom, some people truly DON'T COMPREHEND the concept of "steering into a spin".
As a kid, I rode with a friends mom home from soccer practice (or something similar). A car pulled out in front of her, and what was her response? She took her hands off the steering wheel, foot off the gas (but not onto the brake) and screamed. My 13year old friend in the passenger seat leaned over and yanked the wheel to the right and we wound up sideswiping the other car at about 25mph (so it wasn't a near-death experience, but still). Point is, there's more of "those" people on the road than there are people who've ever been to an auto-x, probably. Car have to be designed for them, not us.
Phunky, did you have RS3s on the van when we went for that ride? I thought I would have noticed that... Or were you referring to your s2k?
thaxman, I did provide a diagram, several posts back, Gillespie fig 6.5, lol.
Also, your avatar gives me the creeps.
twintrbo, the ms3 rear bar so far has made little to no noticeable degradation in ride quality IMO. Your local auto-x club let your 3 and 6 year old kids ride along? That's cool, many clubs won't let kids under 16 ride (all passengers must also be a licensed driver), which I always kind of thought was crap. IMO driving on the street is more dangerous than an auto-x. I've never heard of a death an an auto-x, outside of a heart attack while behind the wheel.
Additionally, I think we can all agree that the "average" driver is not as competent behind the wheel when it comes to emergency maneuvers as those of us here arguing about vehicle handling. As hard as it is for us to fathom, some people truly DON'T COMPREHEND the concept of "steering into a spin".
As a kid, I rode with a friends mom home from soccer practice (or something similar). A car pulled out in front of her, and what was her response? She took her hands off the steering wheel, foot off the gas (but not onto the brake) and screamed. My 13year old friend in the passenger seat leaned over and yanked the wheel to the right and we wound up sideswiping the other car at about 25mph (so it wasn't a near-death experience, but still). Point is, there's more of "those" people on the road than there are people who've ever been to an auto-x, probably. Car have to be designed for them, not us.
Phunky, did you have RS3s on the van when we went for that ride? I thought I would have noticed that... Or were you referring to your s2k?
thaxman, I did provide a diagram, several posts back, Gillespie fig 6.5, lol.
Also, your avatar gives me the creeps.
twintrbo, the ms3 rear bar so far has made little to no noticeable degradation in ride quality IMO. Your local auto-x club let your 3 and 6 year old kids ride along? That's cool, many clubs won't let kids under 16 ride (all passengers must also be a licensed driver), which I always kind of thought was crap. IMO driving on the street is more dangerous than an auto-x. I've never heard of a death an an auto-x, outside of a heart attack while behind the wheel.
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Looks like I'm getting the bar then! They let them ride but it wasn't a serious sanctioned auto-x. A local guy from the MG club calls it a gymkhana meet and it's by invite only. There are no prizes but its a timed event through cones on a closed course. So uh...auto-x 
You don't have to give it your all but I did! The only thing that beat me was a turbo S2000.
You don't have to give it your all but I did! The only thing that beat me was a turbo S2000.
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I uploaded the video, enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQtW7CuX_KQ&feature=youtu.be
phunky.buddha
Booga Booga?
- :
- DFW TX
- :
- No mo MZ5 want MX5
BzzzZZZZT. Hello... what is my name?
The Mazda5 racevan went auto-x'ing again yesterday.
I was a bad engineer/scientist and could not resist making alignment changes in addition to the RSB I added, so I can't tell you explicitly how much the ms3 RSB contributed to the handling differences from the last event. At the last two events, it was impossible to get the car to rotate, like literally nearly impossible, even under fairly aggressive trailbraking. Last week I installed a rear sway bar from a mazdaspeed3 and was planning to make that the only mod to the car for this event. However, on Saturday I found some unexpected free time and couldn't resist revisiting the alignment. I set up the strings and added a good bit of front toe out (was 1.0mm toe in, now 1.5mm toe-out), and some rear toe (was 0.5mm toe in, now 0.25mm toe out). (Note: 1.5mm is about 1/16" for those of you used to talking about toe in inches.)
With the new RSB and alignment, the car is MUCH easier to drive (for "performance driving"). It still understeered in neutral cornering and acceleration, but much less than previous. Moderate throttle lift mid-corner would induce oversteer, making it much easier to drive the car through corners with the throttle (basically impossible before). Sharp turn-ins without any throttle would actually cause some rotation, which was nice (though I had to "catch" it on my first run, lol).
This spring/shock/RSB/alignment is probably a bit aggressive for the street - at least with the VSC off. I would like to take a run at the next event with the VSC on, to see how it handles the oversteer that can be induced more easily with this setup. I may change the alignment a bit in the interest of tire wear, I'm thinking 1.0mm front, zero toe rear.
I finished first in class, 62/138 raw time, and 27/138 PAX (adjusted time). For fun, here's the list of cars I beat simply in raw time alone (I ran a 41.903):
BMW E30 318is(42.043), Evo X 1(42.056), brz(42.07), Mazda MX-5(42.162), S2000(42.181), Miata(42.302), vw beetle(42.306), Beetle(42.309), BRZ(42.474), Mustang(42.518), VW GTI GLX(42.551), Focus ST(42.595), Boss 302(42.67), Mazda Miata(42.692), Mini Cooper(42.692), MGB(42.765), integra(42.828), EVO(42.838), Subaru Impreza WRX STI(42.839), mazdaspeed3(43.07), 2006 Speed6(43.252), mini cooped(43.297), BMW 325i(43.316), WRX(43.51), 350Z(43.518), Z06(43.538), Corvette(43.631), Volkswagen R32(43.84), miata(43.877), 911(43.914), BRZ(43.942), Miata - Special Edition(43.953), 91 Miata(44.01), Honda CRX Si(44.047), g35(44.226), Imprezza 2.5rs(44.36), Miata MX-5(44.48), 914-6(44.507), Focus ST(44.553), Camaro SS(44.696), VW GTi(44.789), Mazda Miata MX-5(44.957), BMW 325i(45.077), STi(45.344), WRX(45.405), Mustang(45.415), miata(45.587), Mustang(45.641), Honda Civic(45.777), ZL1(46.096), Camaro(46.133), Nissan 350z(46.147), Camaro(46.162), 2014 Chevrolet Camaro(46.224), Rollaskate(46.267), 1979 Corolla(46.279), GTi(46.285), 99 Miata(46.548), Camaro(46.666), BMW 135i(46.724), nissan 350z(46.771), Golf R(46.809), 360z(46.938), Porsche 911s(47.207), Trans Am(47.346), Camaro(47.362), Infiniti g35(47.423), Triumph TR6(47.518), VW GTI GLX(47.762), S2000(48.457), vw beetle(48.504), Camaro(48.597), BMW 135i(49.097), Acura TL SH-AWD(49.103), 06 Mustang GT(49.814), Corvette(51.461)
I was a bad engineer/scientist and could not resist making alignment changes in addition to the RSB I added, so I can't tell you explicitly how much the ms3 RSB contributed to the handling differences from the last event. At the last two events, it was impossible to get the car to rotate, like literally nearly impossible, even under fairly aggressive trailbraking. Last week I installed a rear sway bar from a mazdaspeed3 and was planning to make that the only mod to the car for this event. However, on Saturday I found some unexpected free time and couldn't resist revisiting the alignment. I set up the strings and added a good bit of front toe out (was 1.0mm toe in, now 1.5mm toe-out), and some rear toe (was 0.5mm toe in, now 0.25mm toe out). (Note: 1.5mm is about 1/16" for those of you used to talking about toe in inches.)
With the new RSB and alignment, the car is MUCH easier to drive (for "performance driving"). It still understeered in neutral cornering and acceleration, but much less than previous. Moderate throttle lift mid-corner would induce oversteer, making it much easier to drive the car through corners with the throttle (basically impossible before). Sharp turn-ins without any throttle would actually cause some rotation, which was nice (though I had to "catch" it on my first run, lol).
This spring/shock/RSB/alignment is probably a bit aggressive for the street - at least with the VSC off. I would like to take a run at the next event with the VSC on, to see how it handles the oversteer that can be induced more easily with this setup. I may change the alignment a bit in the interest of tire wear, I'm thinking 1.0mm front, zero toe rear.
I finished first in class, 62/138 raw time, and 27/138 PAX (adjusted time). For fun, here's the list of cars I beat simply in raw time alone (I ran a 41.903):
BMW E30 318is(42.043), Evo X 1(42.056), brz(42.07), Mazda MX-5(42.162), S2000(42.181), Miata(42.302), vw beetle(42.306), Beetle(42.309), BRZ(42.474), Mustang(42.518), VW GTI GLX(42.551), Focus ST(42.595), Boss 302(42.67), Mazda Miata(42.692), Mini Cooper(42.692), MGB(42.765), integra(42.828), EVO(42.838), Subaru Impreza WRX STI(42.839), mazdaspeed3(43.07), 2006 Speed6(43.252), mini cooped(43.297), BMW 325i(43.316), WRX(43.51), 350Z(43.518), Z06(43.538), Corvette(43.631), Volkswagen R32(43.84), miata(43.877), 911(43.914), BRZ(43.942), Miata - Special Edition(43.953), 91 Miata(44.01), Honda CRX Si(44.047), g35(44.226), Imprezza 2.5rs(44.36), Miata MX-5(44.48), 914-6(44.507), Focus ST(44.553), Camaro SS(44.696), VW GTi(44.789), Mazda Miata MX-5(44.957), BMW 325i(45.077), STi(45.344), WRX(45.405), Mustang(45.415), miata(45.587), Mustang(45.641), Honda Civic(45.777), ZL1(46.096), Camaro(46.133), Nissan 350z(46.147), Camaro(46.162), 2014 Chevrolet Camaro(46.224), Rollaskate(46.267), 1979 Corolla(46.279), GTi(46.285), 99 Miata(46.548), Camaro(46.666), BMW 135i(46.724), nissan 350z(46.771), Golf R(46.809), 360z(46.938), Porsche 911s(47.207), Trans Am(47.346), Camaro(47.362), Infiniti g35(47.423), Triumph TR6(47.518), VW GTI GLX(47.762), S2000(48.457), vw beetle(48.504), Camaro(48.597), BMW 135i(49.097), Acura TL SH-AWD(49.103), 06 Mustang GT(49.814), Corvette(51.461)
Dear lord, why do some people even come out when they suck so bad? You are obviously a good driver to begin with but to be 6 seconds faster than a 911 on a course that short in a Minivan?! Pathetic! Now lets see the list of what beat you This is better than the Top Gear time board lol
This is better than the Top Gear time board lolIn their defense, a lot of them are novices, we all (should) know that just having a fast car doesn't immediate equal fast lap times.
Here's the list of what beat me (raw times). It looks a lot like the list of what I beat, really - lots of sporty cars, with a heavy helping of miata. I added the position and class to this info. The classes containing an "X" are either experimental or exibition (for example FTD is a "Miata" but only in the loosest sense of the word - the sense that in that one point way back when, before it was a tube frame, fire breathing monster with 15" wide wheels, it was a miata) and "expert" classes, the guys that run national level events competitively with fully-prepped cars. (See, that's how you know I'm a racer, I always have an excuse why I wasn't faster)
(1)xp-MX5_36.74, (2)bm-Reynard FC_37.222, (3)xp-Miata_37.337, (4)dstr-Mazda MX-5_37.96, (5)xstr-Honda S2000_38.363, (6)str-Honda/S2000_38.408, (7)xcs-BRZ_38.564, (8)xstr-Honda S2000_38.625, (9)smf-CRX_38.725, (10.)xcs-Space Shuttle BRZ_38.728, (11)xas-Honda S2000 CR_38.843, (12)str-MX-5_38.855, (13)sts-CRX Si_38.971, (14)es-Mazda MX-5 Miata_39.093, (15)csp-miata_39.105, (16)as-Boxster Spyder_39.602, (17)xstf-Civic Si_39.784, (18)dstx-Subaru BRZ_39.831, (19)stc-Civic Si_39.849, (20)sts-MX-5 Miata_39.94, (21)ddsp-E36 328is_40.028, (22)gs-Honda CR-Z_40.04, (23)bsp-S2000_40.048, (24)ssm-Miata_40.153, (25)fp-wrx_40.175, (26)gs-Volkswagen GTI_40.276, (27)dstu-Subaru WRX Sti_40.3, (28)stu-Subaru WRX Sti_40.343, (29)ssp-911_40.39, (30)xp-Porsche 914_40.394, (31)dfp-wrx_40.403, (32)xdsp-E36 328is_40.412, (33)gs-Ford Focus ST_40.503, (34)stu-WRX/STi_40.573, (35)es-miata 10ae_40.622, (36)dstu-Evo X 2_40.635, (37)dstx-Volkswagen R32_40.655, (38)xfs-Mustang GT_40.664, (39)fp-boxster_40.671, (40)gs-Focus ST_40.798, (41)das-Corvette_40.804, (42)gs-VW GTI_40.816, (43)es-Miata_40.818, (44)es-Miata_40.847, (45)fs-G35_41.228, (46)str-Mazda Miata_41.285, (47)stu-Subaru STi_41.357, (48)es-Mazda Miata_41.39, (49)dbs-Honda S2000_41.457, (50)es-Miata_41.479, (51)bs-Porsche 986_41.489, (52)ddsp-BMW E30 318is_41.504, (53)ddsp-Mazda Mazdaspeed3_41.626, (54)es-Miata_41.648, (55)das-Corvette_41.65, (56)dsp-Mazda Mazdaspeed3_41.729, (57)cs-Nissan 370Z_41.748, (58)csp-Miata_41.774, (59)esp-Mustang GT_41.832, (60)bs-Honda S2000_41.837, (61)as-Boxster Spyder_41.842,
Here's the list of what beat me (raw times). It looks a lot like the list of what I beat, really - lots of sporty cars, with a heavy helping of miata. I added the position and class to this info. The classes containing an "X" are either experimental or exibition (for example FTD is a "Miata" but only in the loosest sense of the word - the sense that in that one point way back when, before it was a tube frame, fire breathing monster with 15" wide wheels, it was a miata) and "expert" classes, the guys that run national level events competitively with fully-prepped cars. (See, that's how you know I'm a racer, I always have an excuse why I wasn't faster)
(1)xp-MX5_36.74, (2)bm-Reynard FC_37.222, (3)xp-Miata_37.337, (4)dstr-Mazda MX-5_37.96, (5)xstr-Honda S2000_38.363, (6)str-Honda/S2000_38.408, (7)xcs-BRZ_38.564, (8)xstr-Honda S2000_38.625, (9)smf-CRX_38.725, (10.)xcs-Space Shuttle BRZ_38.728, (11)xas-Honda S2000 CR_38.843, (12)str-MX-5_38.855, (13)sts-CRX Si_38.971, (14)es-Mazda MX-5 Miata_39.093, (15)csp-miata_39.105, (16)as-Boxster Spyder_39.602, (17)xstf-Civic Si_39.784, (18)dstx-Subaru BRZ_39.831, (19)stc-Civic Si_39.849, (20)sts-MX-5 Miata_39.94, (21)ddsp-E36 328is_40.028, (22)gs-Honda CR-Z_40.04, (23)bsp-S2000_40.048, (24)ssm-Miata_40.153, (25)fp-wrx_40.175, (26)gs-Volkswagen GTI_40.276, (27)dstu-Subaru WRX Sti_40.3, (28)stu-Subaru WRX Sti_40.343, (29)ssp-911_40.39, (30)xp-Porsche 914_40.394, (31)dfp-wrx_40.403, (32)xdsp-E36 328is_40.412, (33)gs-Ford Focus ST_40.503, (34)stu-WRX/STi_40.573, (35)es-miata 10ae_40.622, (36)dstu-Evo X 2_40.635, (37)dstx-Volkswagen R32_40.655, (38)xfs-Mustang GT_40.664, (39)fp-boxster_40.671, (40)gs-Focus ST_40.798, (41)das-Corvette_40.804, (42)gs-VW GTI_40.816, (43)es-Miata_40.818, (44)es-Miata_40.847, (45)fs-G35_41.228, (46)str-Mazda Miata_41.285, (47)stu-Subaru STi_41.357, (48)es-Mazda Miata_41.39, (49)dbs-Honda S2000_41.457, (50)es-Miata_41.479, (51)bs-Porsche 986_41.489, (52)ddsp-BMW E30 318is_41.504, (53)ddsp-Mazda Mazdaspeed3_41.626, (54)es-Miata_41.648, (55)das-Corvette_41.65, (56)dsp-Mazda Mazdaspeed3_41.729, (57)cs-Nissan 370Z_41.748, (58)csp-Miata_41.774, (59)esp-Mustang GT_41.832, (60)bs-Honda S2000_41.837, (61)as-Boxster Spyder_41.842,
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Garage door bottom seal. It came 16ft and I ended up using about 8.5ft. Costs me $25 including screws.
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- 2009 Mazda 5 Touring & 2012 MS3
haha back on my ol VW forum we called that the "home depot lip" Doesn't handle driveway scrapes well though which would be an issue on my slanted driveway. looks great though!
Glad to hear that worked. That was my next try. My first try was hi-temp lithium grease which was an absolute mess to apply. I gave up after a few fingers' worth.
That's awesome. You gotta get us some videos from the audience perspective or any view for that matter. Have you tried a road course with her yet?
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MR6, when you do spray it up, make sure you get all the rollers. There is one big obvious one when you look at each slide but there are 2 more above that one , 6 in all. The big one I think is the bottom roller to keep it from popping up off the track. The other 2 are the ones the door actually rides on. I would stay away from any type of grease as its going to collect dirt and is largely inaccessible to clean properly. You must use a thin spray with a straw to hit your mark and so that it makes its way in. Everyone is re-calibrating their effort to operate it, its getting slammed open and closed by the kids since it takes them a bit longer 
Once it gets above freezing they should close themselves on level ground.
Once it gets above freezing they should close themselves on level ground.phunky.buddha
Booga Booga?
- :
- DFW TX
- :
- No mo MZ5 want MX5
Very NICE!
