First ever praise for stock MS3 shifter!!

[FWD FTL]

Torque steer, yes.. Double clutching.. no.. HELL no.. that's Fail

 

[LukeP]

Torque steer, yes.. Double clutching.. no.. HELL no.. that's Fail

You've never driven a car with damaged syncros. Feels the same as this car in -25C - just won't go into second. At all. Double clutch and it slides in smooth as butter. Once the engine gets hot it doesn't need it anymore.

 

[eg6motion]

EDIT: Why the hell would you ever dbl clutch this car, you need to stop watching the fast and the furious..

try saying that when its 0 Degrees outside and your shifter feels like it's plowing through chewing gum to get into 2nd... I shift REALLY slow into 2nd to avoid any grinding so I can see where it might help to double-clutch until the tranny fluid has reached a liquid state.

 

[LukeP]

try saying that when its 0 Degrees outside and your shifter feels like it's plowing through chewing gum to get into 2nd...

Yeah I think Mazda used a thicker more protective trans oil in this car for performance/racing applications. On a really cold morning (-30 and down) the car will actually stall if I let out the clutch quickly in neutral - trans oil frozen solid.

I'd switch to the synthetic stuff but I heard you get noisy diff issues and other nonsense I'll just rather avoid. The collar bushing squeek is actually more annoying than the trans oil stuff. All the "racing" application swap outs seem to be noncooperative at bitter cold temps.

 

[eg6motion]

Yeah I think Mazda used a thicker more protective trans oil in this car for performance/racing applications. On a really cold morning (-30 and down) the car will actually stall if I let out the clutch quickly in neutral - trans oil frozen solid.

I'd switch to the synthetic stuff but I heard you get noisy diff issues and other nonsense I'll just rather avoid. The collar bushing squeek is actually more annoying than the trans oil stuff. All the "racing" application swap outs seem to be noncooperative at bitter cold temps.

yep, had that happen, now I hold the clutch for about 30-60 seconds hehe. I am assuming that -30 is C not F, otherwise DAMN.

 

[kaganb]

No the motor mount and bushings won't void the warranty. In fact when I discussed it with the lead tech at my Mazda dealer both he (who owns one) and the service writer, who has driven the techs MS3 with both new bushings and MM, said they recommend me getting them. Neither will affect your warranty. That is unless you fubar something up when installing them.

Good to know. I'll have to look into getting this done. Unfortunately, I know nothing about modifying cars and am clumsy to boot, so will most likely have to find someone to do this for me.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Redlinez]

You wouldn't believe how well 93-up Fbody 6 speeds shift, especially with a Pro 5.0 shifter. The thing I felt with the MS3 was that it didn't have very defined "gates" or whatever you want to call it. I'm sure the bushing/shifter idea would fix it up right.

 

[kvndoom]

Good to know. I'll have to look into getting this done. Unfortunately, I know nothing about modifying cars and am clumsy to boot, so will most likely have to find someone to do this for me.

Thanks for the info.

The bushings are really, really easy. I did them myself in no time flat and I'm just as car illiterate as anyone could be. I plan to do rear MM soon, but I'll probably pay someone to put it on since I don't have the equipment for it.

 

[Saskatchewan17]

I hate when he pulls out the GTI at the end and says that with a couple of grand in that it will be a couple tenths faster than the MS3. Well... the GTI is pricier to start (I think? idk) with and if you put that money in the 3 it will be a good deal faster than the R32 & GTI. Granted it might chuck a rod through your front grille but at least you will have a smile on your face up untill that point! Unless the turbo starts smoking... or the rear struts fail. Well, I think I proved my point.

 

[SBSPEED3]

after a MM and shifter bushings i actually really like the shifter in this car. i like the notchy-ness of it. i think its really nice for a "cable" shifter.

 

[SgtP]

The stock shifter on this car feels better than any aftermarket shifter IMO. Just wish it wasnt made weak as hell. Mine snapped in half