Recent content by rccardude04

I just changed mine... Went out around 80,000 on my 2004. The check engine light code was P0126 "Insufficient coolant temperature exists for stable operation." I got a Garmin Ecoroute HD and my coolant temp was sitting around 150-160F, and would go down to 140 in cold weather on the highway. New...

Well, I went over and looked around. I don't really feel right posting on their forums if I'm not going to be spending all of my money with them though. I did find out though: 1. Got a cable. Best Buy had a cheap one. If I get noise I'll upgrade it but for now, it was cheap. I like cheap. :)...

I'm not a complete n00b to car audio or computers but this is a little different world it seems like. :D I have an '04 Mazda 3 hatch, and the factory system just isn't cutting it any more. I put speakers in the thing and now the head unit/cd player is an obvious limitation. So, I start shopping...

LOL That sounds fun. :p I don't have leather. I never have really liked leather seats anyway. Found one with the red/black cloth. :p We have our last event of the year coming up. I may go out to watch and learn, maybe get a ride with someone if I get lucky. -Eric

My girlfriend/fiancee drives an '05 Neon SXT that is apparently a DS car. I've driven that thing and it kinda handles like my truck. Loads of body roll and slow steering response. But it's supposedly considerably quicker around the cones than my 3 that feels a lot better around the twisties. :D...

I have never done any kind of performance driving other than what I pretend to do on the street. lol I don't really have any interest in winning anything at this point. I figure for a year I'll just go out to essentially drive a go-kart and hang out around cool people and awesome cars as well...

First off: I'm a n00b here, so bear with me. :) Planning to autox a bit next summer with my '04 Mazda3 Hatch and am pretty sure the car won't be too bad as-is (until I learn how to drive and it actually matters what the car handles like) but am considering a front swaybar and cat-back as appear...

Well, the car looks amazing. Seems like $8,600 is a bit high though given the current market. NADA and KBB seem to have different opinions so I'm going to try and talk him down a bit. Hopefully I can get him down to my budget and make it happen! -Eric

I read through the TSBs and the "issues" thread but I know a few owners will be able to give me some better insight as to what to look for. I just looked at a Protege5 that I got some great advice on from the guys in the Familia area of this forum, but it was just too questionable for me to...

Found a Mazda3 Hatch close. Going to look at it tomorrow. Maybe this'll be the one! -Eric

Thanks for the advice guys. I'm going to pass on this particular car and keep my eye open. I'd REALLY like to find an '04-'05 Mazda3 Hatchback but they don't seem to ever be for sale. It's like nobody wants to get rid of them. If I find another P5 closeby though I'll sure go look at it. That...

That's what I'm afraid of. If they constantly ran into stuff, maybe they were also bouncing off the rev limiter trying to slalom light poles? lol who knows... Yeah I was thinking if I do keep going, try to knock him down closer to 3000 :D The body is more than just scrapes though. The...

Went and drove the car today and absolutely loved driving it. Needs a little more power but oh well. Took it down a curvy road. Engine noise is great while you need to hear it but quiet when you don't. Steering response is awesome. 900000x better than my g/f's '05 Neon. Power windows, locks...

Plus, you'd think after 130,000 miles that it'd have failed by now anyway eh? I'll still get ahold of the dealership. I always get nervous buying from tiny "cash-only" (no financing) places like this. But if the car seems good enough, it's worth a shot! Thanks again, I'll keep y'all posted. :)...

Tunerpro5: I called the dealer and they seem to be a VERY small place, almost like buying it from a private seller... Hopefully that's why the price is so low. I always check the oil, coolant, look close for leaks, suspension, etc. Timing belts suck. :p Scorch03: Rust on an '03? Wow. My '93...