for those who have had modded cars before . . .

[sfalexi]

How long did they last modded? I mean pretty much the extra power mods like turbos (and maybe bigger turbos), exhausts, suspensions, tuning, etc. How long did the car last? As long as the car probably would have if it were left stock? If I can be pretty assured that my MS3 would last many years and miles of fun while still modding it, I'd be more confident and likely to mod if I knew that with a safe tune it'd still last as long (or very close to) as if I were to keep it stock. Just doing a lot of long-range planning.

Alexi

 

[Falconx84]

proper maint. and quality parts are the key to making a modded car last. I can't speak too much on longevity since most of my modded cars I had for about a year or so, but the ones I used cheap parts on didn't last as long before either the part failed or cause something else to fail.

items like quality intake/exhaust won't hurt anything... in some cases it can actually improve the lifespan of the vehicle

 

[jflo]

it's too soon to say right now. this car has only been around for 1 model year, and it's just starting it's 2nd. a lot of people have not even modified their cars that much yet.

 

[jbiird317]

yeah it is too soon to tell about the ms3. From what I have experienced from the protege, mazda's can generally handle a good deal of modding as long as you are using quality parts and are practicing good maintenance

 

[AutoXRacer]

My last Mazda lasted 204,000 miles with mods; and that was racing 4-6 times a month (autocrossing), taking road trips, and it was my daily drive. I saved all my stock parts and stripped the car of all my mods and replaced them with the stock parts. Then, I traded the car in for my new MS3... I sold all my old mod parts and bought new MS3 mod parts!!!!!

Same thing will happen with my MS3. (2thumbs)

Proper maintenance (and preventive maintenance) goes a long way...

 

[mx-p5]

Use quality parts from the start and do it right. If you do this and keep up with maintance and don't beat the crap out of the car, it should last as long as if it were stock. I wouldn't buy a car that has already been modded though. You don't know how they did it, what corners they cut to just Make it fast! and in the process cutting down the lifespan of the engine or drivetrain. Or how they drove it.

Tylor

 

[numbnuts22715]

One other thing it seems like a lot of people havent mentioned... TUNING. make sure you get a tuning solution soon and dont cheap out with getting it professionally tuned. If your mods dont exactly fit iwth the basemaps, pay for a pro tune. If you want to get the AP and you cant tune it yet, wait to install the parts until you or somebody is willing to install them temporarily to make sure theyre safe.

 

[maestro]

Definitely can't stress the proper maintenance enough. Use of quality parts/fluids usualy helps as well.
Also good sense, knowing how much power or modding is too much.
One of my last cars made it to 120K miles running N2O and stayed pretty consistent at the track, but I wrecked the car eventualy. I had about an additional 70-80 Hp over stock.

 

[3.slow]

My last Mazda lasted 204,000 miles with mods; and that was racing 4-6 times a month (autocrossing)

Your last Mazda probably didn't have enough power to hurt itself LOL. Did this "mazda" have an H logo on the front and come equipped with V-Tech and mandatory fart can exhaust? (idhitit)

 

[numbnuts22715]

Your last Mazda probably didn't have enough power to hurt itself LOL. Did this "mazda" have an H logo on the front and come equipped with V-Tech and mandatory fart can exhaust? (idhitit)

lolll

it was a miata.

 

[AutoXRacer]

Your last Mazda probably didn't have enough power to hurt itself LOL. Did this "mazda" have an H logo on the front and come equipped with V-Tech and mandatory fart can exhaust? (idhitit)

(lol) Funny... NOT!!(chair)

Yes, it was a Miata...

 

[3.slow]

(lol) Funny... NOT!!(chair)

Yes, it was a Miata...

QUOTE]

Chill out (shocked). I got respect for you. What mods did you have done to it?

 

[D_Roc7822]

yeah nothing can compare to proper maintenance and the quality of the installs. If the install is done poorly then your just setting yourself up. QUALITY AND PROPER MAINTENANCE is the name of the name. Any car can last a long time with these 2 things.

 

[AutoXRacer]

(lol) Funny... NOT!!(chair)

Yes, it was a Miata...

QUOTE]

Chill out (shocked). I got respect for you. What mods did you have done to it?

This was my CSP car for SCCA racing. I limited myself to a NA setup:

Engine (dynoed in 05/03 in 89 degree heat and 59% humidity @ 134hp and 120 ft/lbs torque):
-Goodwin Racing Monsterflow intake w/cold box
-Taylor 8.5mm solid-core silicon wires
-Torque Master plugs
-Hose Technique silicon hose kit
-Racing Beat 4-2-1 header
-Racing Beat race pipe
-Racing Beat Pulse muffler
-160 degree thermostat
-Polished intake manifold (interior)
-Gude's oversized throttle body
-Unorthodox aluminum crank pulley
-HKS Catch Can (use to filter out oil from the PVC system)
-Generic Catch Can (bought on Ebay; pretty nice actually. Used to filter out the valve cover vent port)

ECU:
-Jet Electronics ECU custom program
-Casper's Electronics O2 simulator

Drivetrain:
-Goodridge stainless braided clutch line
-Fidanza aluminum flywheel
-ACT HD pressure plate w/performance street disc
-ARP Fastners (flywheel to crank and flywheel to pressure plate)

Lubrication:
-Fully Synthetic (Redline-engine, tranny, and diff.)

Chassis/Handling/Suspension:
-KYB AGX adjustable shocks
-Flying Miata springs (previously-Racing Beat Street springs)
-Racing Beat front and rear sway bars
-Racing Beat front and rear braces
-Racing Beat front and rear H.D. endlinks
-Racing Beat H.D. sway mounts

Alignment:
-Front:
Camber: -1.0 (I used to have -1.5, but now that I am daily driving about 100 miles a day, my tires were getting worn on the inner most edge. While the rest of the tire was untouched...)
Caster: 5.8 (max caster is desirable)
Toe: 1/32 IN (1/16th total toe IN); high speed stability. For Autocrossing you want 0 toe or preferably outter toe for better turn in.
-Rear:
Camber: -2.5 (Good flat tire wear in all conditions)
Toe: 1/16 IN (1/8 total toe IN)

Brakes:
-OEM Mazda pads
-Goodridge stainless braided brake lines
-Moss Motors cross drilled and slotted cadnium plated rotors

Interior:
-Voodoo Magnum shift knob (replaced my Sparco Race knob)
-BR Performance aluminum race pedals
-Moss Motors A/C stainless steel rings
-Mazda accessory floor mats
-Autometer A/F ratio and vaccum gauges with pillar pod
-2003 Miata center console

Tunes:
-Alpine CDA-7995 XM CD player
-Sony Explod 75x2 watt amp
-Infinity Kappa 572.5cf 6x8 speakers
-Cerwin Vega tweeters
-Clarion SRV303 subwoofer

Exterior:
-Custom painted stripes
-Mazda accessory front air dam
-Racing Beat double hoop bar
-Bucks Diamond grill
-Moss Motors front clear side marker lamps
-Mazda polished aluminum gas cap

Wheels and Tires
-Buddy Club 15x6.5 racing wheels (10 lbs)
-Kumho MX (205/50/15) awesome tires!!


This car was the perfect handling car I've ever driven!! I just wish it had a few more horses in the engine bay... I'm think about another one a little later on...

 

[3.slow]

WOOWHEEEE child that is alot of stuff.

 

[numbnuts22715]

autoxracer, just wondering if you could tell me how big of a difference the ss brake lines made? and did you use any special brand of brake fluid?

 

[AutoXRacer]

WOOWHEEEE child that is alot of stuff.

I loved that car...(sad2)
But not when she started to burn oil...

 

[AutoXRacer]

autoxracer, just wondering if you could tell me how big of a difference the ss brake lines made? and did you use any special brand of brake fluid?

Oh man, the SS brake line on my Miata were AWESOME!!! (2thumbs)

You know how the factory brakes are firm, yet you feel a little squishy at the end...? Kind of like slightly spongey?

The SS brakes lines are not!! You step on the brakes and its firm all the way till the pedal stops. You can actually rest your foot on the brake pedal, not really pressing than the car will slightly brake. It just takes out all the spongey feeling. You can stand on it with both feet and its FIRM!!

Its the best brake upgrade I have ever done...

I really want to do it to my MS3!!!