Hi from Taiwan!

[Kaidao]

Hello everyone.

I'm Kai..and currently living in Taiwan. I'll be moving to Santa Monica, California in mid-August, and hopefully purchasing my MS3 soon afterwards. It'll be my first car, and I hope they'll have one in stock when I get there. I'm hoping to purchase a Crystal White Grand Touring model. I do have a few questions though..

1) I've driven a Audi A3 here in Taiwan, and was pleased with the performance...how's the MS3 compared to the A3?

2) What would be the mods that should be purchased first? The "essential" mods I guess? Or is the MS3 too perfect of a machine to mod any further?

Well anyways, just wanted to introduce myself. And hopefully, soon will be able to be considered as a MS3 owner. It better be soon..this damn car is taking over my dreams...

Kai

 

[intak3_bLkMs3]

my buddy has an a3 ive never raced him but ive ridden in his car and i think id pull during 3rd and 4th would be by by... must have mods? ur lucky cause theres a back order on the cobb short ram intake until late augast get one as soon as u can! and prob forge bpv or hks bov kit from pg. and love the color choice i wanted white but had to buy used cause im only 17 and could only afford so much..

 

[Kaidao]

Haha yeah I am lucky to be able to buy this car new, especially as my first car. I've been saving for a while..that and a couple of nice relatives got me here. I've heard mixed opinions about the shifter bushings. Should that be changed?

Kai

 

[NCZ13]

ni hao!

my bosses are both tawainese, so ive picked up a phrase or two ( i work in a boba shop)

 

[controlo]

Haha yeah I am lucky to be able to buy this car new, especially as my first car. I've been saving for a while..that and a couple of nice relatives got me here. I've heard mixed opinions about the shifter bushings. Should that be changed?

Kai

yeah man, i'd recommend changing the bushings first thing. it's cheap and easy.

 

[Kaidao]

yeah man, i'd recommend changing the bushings first thing. it's cheap and easy.

Are there any recommended ones?? And I'm also having a really tough time deciding between the White and the Black...the only thing that's making me lean towards the white is that I've heard the black is a b*tch to keep clean.

Kai

 

[coteyma]

There's a post in the how to section on how to stiffen up your shifter by modifying the stock bushings.. I did that on mine and have compared it to a friends with the TWM aftermarket bushings and there isn't that much of a difference (The TWM being *slightly* better)

 

[3.slow]

Welcome! Maybe I will see you at one of the meets after you get settled in santa monica

 

[rmcat]

Hi there~

I'm a chinese living in Canada,and I own a crystal pearl white ms3 which I enjoy driving so much(是的,很享受...(yes)).An intake is a must on this car and small stuffs like shifter bushings/engine mount are also recommended.I don't know about what you wanna do with this car,I thought I would just do some minor mods when I first got it since it's pretty fast outta the factory but I've done Intake/Turboback/Front Mount Intercooler/Engine Management/etc. until now,just can't seem to stop modding it cuz it's so much fun

my previous car was a black mazda 3s and yah it's hard to keep it clean,but it's the most sleeper color IMO

welcome onboard!

 

[Kaidao]

@coteyma : Thanks for the tip. I'll be running on a tight budget for a while after I arrive in the States..so maybe I'll just do that instead of buying an aftermarket. Although I'm sure shifter bushings don't cost all that much.

@3.slow : I'm sure you will. Do you live in Santa Monica also?

@rmcat: Haha I have a feeling that that'll be my case too. At least until..I run outta money. How much did those aftermarket parts cost you in total, an estimate?

 

[coteyma]

@coteyma : Thanks for the tip. I'll be running on a tight budget for a while after I arrive in the States..so maybe I'll just do that instead of buying an aftermarket. Although I'm sure shifter bushings don't cost all that much.

Yep, they run about 40$ retail.. not expensive at all but I'd suggest giving it a shot.. I'm happy with the results enough to save the 40$ and put it towards other mods, at least for now

 

[dandydaniel]

I'm guessing rmcat spent in the upwards of $2,600-2,800 to get all of those parts on his car. But like others have stated just start slow with smaller mods such as shifter bushings and a rear motor mount. Then after getting to know your car a bit better, move on to an intake, bpv, dp/rp, fmic, cobb ap and such. Just get to know your car before anything I think thats the key point.

 

[rmcat]

I'm guessing rmcat spent in the upwards of $2,600-2,800 to get all of those parts on his car. But like others have stated just start slow with smaller mods such as shifter bushings and a rear motor mount. Then after getting to know your car a bit better, move on to an intake, bpv, dp/rp, fmic, cobb ap and such. Just get to know your car before anything I think thats the key point.

Autally it's much more than $3000...
Intake:$200x2(I got a SRI at first and replaced it w/ Cobb SRI afterwards)
TBE:$1200+$240(installation)
CobbAccessport:$700
Cobb FMIC:$1000
TXS BOV:$200
ADR 17x7+winter tires for winter:$700+$500
other stuffs like boost gauge,HID fogs,engine mount,bushings,spark plugs,roof overlay:$600

And add 13% tax on top of most of them,as well as the insane custom duties/commissions to ship them to Canada,I believe I've already spent $6000-$7000 and I'm still eyeing more such like new wheels/tires/suspensions even though I keep telling myself to stop...(boom06)

The most ridiculous thing is we're paying $32,000+taxes for this car in Canada and $6ish/gallon for 94...(bang)

but like I said I'm really really enjoying this car and the process of modifying it with a lot of things learned meanwhile,I definitely agree that getting to know the car and what you want outta it first is the key

 

[Kaidao]

Well..s***. I would love to start getting to know my car better...but first I actually have to make it my car. Leaving Taiwan and my friends is sad and all...actually getting this car is one of the main things that's making me want to get to the States. Sad, huh?

Kai

 

[3.slow]

Well..s***. I would love to start getting to know my car better...but first I actually have to make it my car. Leaving Taiwan and my friends is sad and all...actually getting this car is one of the main things that's making me want to get to the States. Sad, huh?

Kai

Welcome to america. Material items are VERY important to us,lol

 

[sunny4201]

uhhhh hi there buddy, lol taiwan

 

[djthom]

Hello everyone.



1) I've driven a Audi A3 here in Taiwan, and was pleased with the performance...how's the MS3 compared to the A3?

2) What would be the mods that should be purchased first? The "essential" mods I guess? Or is the MS3 too perfect of a machine to mod any further?


Kai

1) I have a 2006 A3 and a MS3. The A3 is much better fit and finish wise. The MS3 is more fun to drive though. No contest the MS3 is more powerful and sporty out of the box. In terms of comfort I have to go with the Audi...
when wifey and i go on long trips we take the A3 because of the better MPGs and comfort.

2) from what I have seen here...the MS3 has two bottle necks when it comes to power...the air intake and the exhaust system (specifically the down pipe)
the other "essential" mods would be rear motor mount and shifter bushings to reduce the disconnected shifting feel.

 

[djthom]

uhhhh hi there buddy, lol taiwan

really? you think so?