Advice Needed - Considering an MS3

Congratulations on the car, man! (drinks)

It is a wonderful machine, and it will treat you very well if you take care of it! Enjoy!
 
Since you picked True Red, you're forgiven for that goofy-ass pose. Just don't tempt fate twice.
 
Since you picked True Red, you're forgiven for that goofy-ass pose. Just don't tempt fate twice.

Somehow I started reading about hand gestures one day. I don't remember which region, but someplace the thumbs up is actually an insult (FU-sort of thing). In this "someplace" the picture probably looks pretty cool...like someone flipping the bird.

Probably not though...(uhm)
 
Congratulations on the car, man! (drinks)

It is a wonderful machine, and it will treat you very well if you take care of it! Enjoy!

Uh yea... about that. I've been pretty brutal on the clutch/tranny for the first few days (even started it up and let the clutch up really fast with the damn thing in reverse + hand brake up). That was when I was about to show it off to some co workers... trust me, I looked really cool spinning back and bucking to a stop. They drive modded 330ci's and Lexus IS350's and they respect my car. That's pretty cool.

I've been overall as good as a newbie can be to it. I will certainly observe all mazda-recommended service and wash it at least once every two weeks if not once a week. How reliable are these bad boys? Too early to tell?

Since you picked True Red, you're forgiven for that goofy-ass pose. Just don't tempt fate twice.

Haha! Thanks man! I was very tipsy off that bottle of champagne the dealer gave me. Couldn't drive the car in that state of course, so I took a few pictures and tried to insure I looked like as much of a douche bag as possible.

Actually, he's forgiven for having some bad ass mutton-chops. But he better not tempt fate twice.

Man, I've been rocking the mutton chops since 1995. People wouldn't recognize me at all without them.
 
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so I took a few pictures and tried to insure I looked like as much of a douche bag as possible.

bush-mission.jpg


hahaha
just playin man!

congrats on the fresh ride!
 
nice car...red for the ******* win...

you seem to have done well. i'm curious to know what they actually booked your car for and whether or not they stole the trade.

you picked it up on the 1st?

i'm just being an ass about the trade...

I just might do that. Or bring my wife along since her previous car was a 626 with a stick. A MAN being taught by a woman how to drive a stick? Blasphemy right! Haha!

my ex wife taught me how to drive a stick. that knowledge and my kid were the only good things i got out of her
 
I feel I got a fair trade. The guy was pushing for $7500 but I refused until he went up to $8000 (and that was sight unseen but I assured him the car was perfect). Keep in mind, sales tax where I live is 9%, so the trade knocked $8720 off the bottom line.

Kbb put the trade around $6500-$7000. Edmunds put it in that range as well. I know could have gotten more for it selling private party... The dealer even pointed that out.

Yea I took delivery on the 1st. We got all the paperwork squared away the day before though ;)
 
Sounds like you did well for yourself with the trade. Good job. (drive2)

In terms of reliability, generally the only people who run into problems are the ones who mod their cars a substantial amount, and even then, it tends to be more because they try to add too much power without preparing the car for it.

If you are fine with a stock MS3, you probably won't ever have any problems with it. Just change the oil regularly (and use synthetic oil after the first few thousand mile), and keep everything clean.

What are your goals for the car?
 
In terms of reliability, generally the only people who run into problems are the ones who mod their cars a substantial amount...

Installed within the next month:
Tein SS Coil Overs w/ upgraded 8kg front springs, Tein EDFC controller and motor kit, DBA 4000 series brake rotors, Hawk HP brake pads, FTP SS coated brake lines, FTP SS Clutch line, Motul RBF 600 Brake Fluid, SPC rear camber arms, GTSPEC rear lower tie brace, GTSPEC V Brace, GTSPEC Link Panel, GTSPEC ladder brace, GTSPEC mid brace, Eibach Sway Bars, Synapse BOV, AEM Cold Air Intake, SU Rear Engine Mount, Defi-Link Control Unit II, Defi LM BF 60mm PSI Amber Boost Gauge, Defi Link Display, Defi Oil Pressure sender, Defi Water Temp sender, Defi Oil Temp sender, Defi Fuel Pressure sender, Defi EGT sender, PLX Air/Fuel Ratio Sensor Module w/ Black 52mm Gauge, GReddy Full Auto Turbo Timer

lawl. :)
 

I know, right?? haha. (thumb)

Anyway, for me, it's a risk worth taking. Plus, I'm starting with the suspension and engine monitoring as opposed to so many people who go straight for power. I think my route is a little safer than the "I am putting a GT turbo, exhaust, boost controller, etc." route. (smash)

If you add significant power to your car, please at least upgrade the suspension and the block first.
 
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What are your goals for the car?

First mod is going to be tint. Then I'm just going to enjoy it in stock form because it's a monster out of the box.

Honestly, I can't imagine wanting more power out of this car, but I know that will change when I become more proficient with the stick.

All I really want right now is to lower the exhaust note a touch while increasing the turbo sound. I'd rather hear the turbo than the exhaust. It's not annoying me though... I had the mazdaspeed axleback on my Protege5.
 
Cool. That sounds good. It is a great car no matter what you do with it, and I know you'll enjoy it.

Resist the mod bug as long as you can, because once you start, you honestly can't stop (as you can see by my signature. haha)

As far as lowering the exhaust note goes...I think stock it is pretty quiet..and I'm not exactly sure how one would make it quieter. Most of the Mods out there strengthen the exhaust note.

If you want to hear the turbo a little better, but don't want to go crazy with mods, you could just do the COBB SRI or a cold air intake of some kind and then throw a new by-pass valve on. That should get you about where you want to be.

Either way, good luck, and again, it's a great car no matter what you do with it.
 
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I'm just going to enjoy it in stock form because it's a monster out of the box... but I know that will change when I become more proficient with the stick.

am i the only one who thoroughly enjoyed those completely out of context 'thats what she said' lines?
 
Yea man even better my wife taught me to drive stick. Take that to your Freudian levels.
 
Yea man even better my wife taught me to drive stick. Take that to your Freudian levels.

Damn...wives like that are a rare find. It must have been hard at first when you found out she knew how to work your stick better than you.

(cricket)


Either way, you're a lucky man.
 
Haha thanks! She's also very beautiful which makes me even more lucky.

At first she was against me getting a fast car. Now that she's driven it, we're gonna get rid of her automatic 3i sedan and either get an MS3 or Civic Si. She's got the need for speed! And a manual!
 

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