does anyone have any pics of there mazda 3 lowered

[goldwing2000]

I haven't had a problem with inclined driveways but I generally hit them at an angle to minimize any chance of scrapage.

As far as the parking blocks go, you just have to back off a bit. These cars are short enough that we don't have to go all the way up to the tires to keep the ass-end from sticking out in the aisle. It'll just take some practice.

You could probably come up with some sort of skid plate to mount up there so you know when it's hitting before it actually causes any damage.

 

[m_long84]

Why are you so set on Mazdaspeed stuff. Personally I think their parts are over rated and over priced. Tokico Blues are great and they make an entire kit for the Protege for 500 bux. I'm sure they will eventually make a kit for the 3. Not only that...but come on...you would set your ride height, rebound and compression dampning and never touch it again. Unless you are a serious autocross nut, fully adjustable suspensions are not needed. Save your money on the suspension and spend it elsewhere.

Just my $.02.

I'm not so much interested in anything else other than being able to adjust my ride height. All that other stuff is just a bonus of having coilovers. I live in "rural" Nebraska where the summers are nice and the winters are not. I want my car to sit low in the summer, but I want to be able to put some good winter tires on it and make it ride higher so I don't have that much trouble getting around. I suppose that you would expect me to switch out suspensions season after season? I think that the coilovers will do just fine. I'm not worried about spending a little extra $$$ on suspension as I'm sure that my car will endure a few track days. Better to have it when you need it than not.

 

[RED SP23]

Here is mine.. sits pretty well handles great!

Love those wheels, can they be obtained in 18"s RED SP23

 

[NZ_Mazda3]

If you really want to see what you Mazda3 (or any other car) looks like mod'ed then check out this site. It allows you to pick your car, change it's colour, wheels & drop it to the ground!!

http://www.modifymycar.com/home.html

 

[M3 5MT]

If you really want to see what you Mazda3 (or any other car) looks like mod'ed then check out this site. It allows you to pick your car, change it's colour, wheels & drop it to the ground!!

http://www.modifymycar.com/home.html

boo 5-door only. (no)

 

[shibaman]

H&R springs, Centerline Wheels

 

[M3 5MT]

wow alpine white + chrome = beautiful

 

[shibaman]

Actually the rims are polished. A little flashy for me, but I got a deal on them from Centerline direct. I would have prefered the RPMs with a painted finish but they were still 200$ ea. on sale. I had the RPMs on my Vibe. Damn lug pattern was different so I had to sell them.

 

[Grey Ghost]

I'm not so much interested in anything else other than being able to adjust my ride height. All that other stuff is just a bonus of having coilovers. I live in "rural" Nebraska where the summers are nice and the winters are not. I want my car to sit low in the summer, but I want to be able to put some good winter tires on it and make it ride higher so I don't have that much trouble getting around. I suppose that you would expect me to switch out suspensions season after season? I think that the coilovers will do just fine. I'm not worried about spending a little extra $$$ on suspension as I'm sure that my car will endure a few track days. Better to have it when you need it than not.

H&R used to carry a "Dune Buggy" Plus 1 Minus 1 coilover. It would be just perfect for you if they have the fitment for you. And no, it wasn't for dune buggys, it was for Rally cars. Don't forget to check your needs for off-sets.

Grey Ghost

 

[M3 5MT]

Actually the rims are polished. A little flashy for me, but I got a deal on them from Centerline direct. I would have prefered the RPMs with a painted finish but they were still 200$ ea. on sale. I had the RPMs on my Vibe. Damn lug pattern was different so I had to sell them.

That's some serious polish, looks chrome.

 

[rbmazda3]

I'm not so much interested in anything else other than being able to adjust my ride height. All that other stuff is just a bonus of having coilovers. I live in "rural" Nebraska where the summers are nice and the winters are not. I want my car to sit low in the summer, but I want to be able to put some good winter tires on it and make it ride higher so I don't have that much trouble getting around. I suppose that you would expect me to switch out suspensions season after season? I think that the coilovers will do just fine. I'm not worried about spending a little extra $$$ on suspension as I'm sure that my car will endure a few track days. Better to have it when you need it than not.

Na...I wouldn't expect you to do that! Where do you live in NE? Lincoln? I'm not opposed to spending $$$ on coilovers. I had them on my 2003 Accord. But I never adjusted the height once I got it set where I wanted it. It is not that fun adjusting the ride height. Takes time and a cool head.

 

[m_long84]

Na...I wouldn't expect you to do that! Where do you live in NE? Lincoln? I'm not opposed to spending $$$ on coilovers. I had them on my 2003 Accord. But I never adjusted the height once I got it set where I wanted it. It is not that fun adjusting the ride height. Takes time and a cool head.

I actually am going to school in Kearney at the University right now. Don't know if you know where that is or not? but it's about 2 hours west of Lincoln. I didn't figure that I would mind adjusting them since I would probably only be doing it like twice every year. I kinda figured it wouldn't be that much fun, but I guess that's the price that I will have to pay.

Grey Ghost,
What were you talking about off-set for? I'm aware of this terminology someone is shopping for wheeels but not coilovers.

 

[Grey Ghost]

I actually am going to school in Kearney at the University right now. Don't know if you know where that is or not? but it's about 2 hours west of Lincoln. I didn't figure that I would mind adjusting them since I would probably only be doing it like twice every year. I kinda figured it wouldn't be that much fun, but I guess that's the price that I will have to pay.

Grey Ghost,
What were you talking about off-set for? I'm aware of this terminology someone is shopping for wheeels but not coilovers.

Sorry, what I meant to say is be sure to check your wheel offset as some coilovers, when used with stock wheel/tire combinations, require wheel spacers. I checked the H&R site and they only list sport springs for a 2004 Mazda 3. The +1 -1 coilovers I was looking at were for my 98 GTIVR6 (Which I sold) and required the spacers for the stock wheels.
Grey Ghost

 

[m_long84]

That's cool man, I kinda thought that was what you were talking about. I'm actually ordering a new set of wheels before I order the coilovers. I'm getting the ROH Shift R's in Advan Gold. The only downside is that I have to special order them from Australia and they won't be here until June. Buth then again that just gives me time to save.

 

[rbmazda3]

Back on subject...I just made an appointment to get my Sportlines installed. First thing Thursday morning and it will be done by noon and I should have some pics on here shortly after. Hurray (yippy)

 

[rbmazda3]

It needs a wash but here it is. A Sportline drop!!

 

[z0iid]

Honestly - I don't see the point of lowering the 3. It looks great the way it is, and I trust the Mazda engineers as far as the handling goes. I seriously doubt that Eibach spent as much R&D when the put out the pro-kit.

Only thing I would change (my wife drives the 5-door 3, I drive an s13) - is to spend money on some advan tires. (not wheels, tires! - but good luck finding them)

Then when the mazdaspeed version comes out (hopefully AWD) my wife will trade hers in for that one, swap out the turbo for a ball bearing GT28-RS(unless it comes with one), then throw on some AO48's or AO38's (AO49's for the rain) ( http://msj.advan.com/product/index.jsp ).

Go to the track with that, and put STi and EVO drivers to shame.

 

[djltoronto]

Honestly - I don't see the point of lowering the 3. It looks great the way it is, and I trust the Mazda engineers as far as the handling goes. I seriously doubt that Eibach spent as much R&D when the put out the pro-kit.

Only thing I would change (my wife drives the 5-door 3, I drive an s13) - is to spend money on some advan tires. (not wheels, tires! - but good luck finding them)

Then when the mazdaspeed version comes out (hopefully AWD) my wife will trade hers in for that one, swap out the turbo for a ball bearing GT28-RS(unless it comes with one), then throw on some AO48's or AO38's (AO49's for the rain) ( http://msj.advan.com/product/index.jsp ).

Go to the track with that, and put STi and EVO drivers to shame.

I'm sure Mazda did spend more time and money for R&D of their springs than Eibach did. But Mazda's Criteria was not the same as Eibach's.

Mazda spent time coming up with what they considered the perfect balance between handling and comfort.

Eibach simply sacrifices some of the comfort for enhanced handling!

It's just a matter of preference.

I'm sure everyone will agree that a car that is lowered with firmer springs than factory will handle better (and ride more hash) than the factory configuration.

Mazda didn't fail in this respect. I'm sure they designed exactly the handling VS. comfort trade off they intended!

 

[rbmazda3]

Honestly - I don't see the point of lowering the 3. It looks great the way it is, and I trust the Mazda engineers as far as the handling goes. I seriously doubt that Eibach spent as much R&D when the put out the pro-kit.

Only thing I would change (my wife drives the 5-door 3, I drive an s13) - is to spend money on some advan tires. (not wheels, tires! - but good luck finding them)

Then when the mazdaspeed version comes out (hopefully AWD) my wife will trade hers in for that one, swap out the turbo for a ball bearing GT28-RS(unless it comes with one), then throw on some AO48's or AO38's (AO49's for the rain) ( http://msj.advan.com/product/index.jsp ).

Go to the track with that, and put STi and EVO drivers to shame.

All I can say is..."To each his own!" I've slammed every car I've owned and lifted every truck! I'm a tuner...it's what I do!

 

[z0iid]

my s13 is lowered...i actually don't see a problem with suspension upgrades...but my car is 16 yrs old....the technology has changed, more is available. Plus, I didn't just put tein coilovers on - i put cusco front and rear sway bars, tein tension rods, tein tie rod ends, toe control, upgraded upper and lower control arms....

when you just upgrade the springs.....or even the springs and shocks....you are only changing one part of the suspension...the rest of the suspension is designed to work with the original spring rate, height etc of the stock engineered suspension.

Not to mention, that the cars ability to hold itself together, was designed based on the bumpiness of the stock suspension setup - over time, you will begin to hear rattles.

the mazda 3 has the latest technology as far as suspension goes....until other suspension parts become available - in my opinion, you are doing yourself a disservice by lowering it.

/my 1/50th of a dollar