I'm new here, saying hello

[BAC5.2]

Hey all,

I'm new here and I've been considering picking up an 07 MS3.

I've been around and in Subaru's all my life, so the decision is a tough one. I'm not totally sold yet, but I'm close. I'm currently in my 4th Subaru (one was a parts car though). It all started with a 95 Legacy (FWD and automatic). I got pretty sick of that, so I replaced it with a 1994 Legacy Turbo. After toying around with it, she spun 235whp and 265lb-ft at the wheels. I blew the tranny, and tossed in a dogbox (straight cut gears, no synchronizers) and would spin all 4 tires on the 1-2 shift and the 2-3 shift (with a dogbox transmission, you don't need the clutch to shift. Just barely lift the throttle and pull on the shifter, and it'll pop into gear faster than your mind can comprehend). I also converted it to RWD for a while, and it would spin 235-45-17 RA-1's through 3rd gear. The Legacy Turbo was turning into a race car, so I bought a 98 Forester for a daily driver. From that point on, the Legacy just sat in my driveway, so I sold it. The owner immediately put a 50-trim on it, and it spun just under 400whp. I've been in the Forester since, and while I love it, the boost bug is creeping back.

I was hoping to get some advice from those of you with MS3's to help my purchase.

Who has the OEM NAV option? Was it worth the $1800?

I'm torn between getting the OEM NAV, or getting a Double Din install kit and getting something like an Alpine Nav unit or a Pioneer AVIC D3.

Otherwise, I've pretty much got all the options figured out. I want a Silver Grand Touring package MS3 with an auto-dim/homelink mirror.

I am also interested in the Mazdaspeed forged 18's, which I might roll into the purchase. I haven't found my dealer yet, but the one I did talk to seemed reluctant to roll the wheels into the purchase price. Does anyone know the retail on the mazdaspeed 18's? And how wide a tire can you stuff under the stock fenders?

I'm also interested in the Mazdaspeed catback and the mazdaspeed intake. I figure it'd be safe to stick with Mazdaspeed to maintain the warranty. I haven't been able to find any sound clips of the Mazdaspeed exhaust though. Anyone have a clip?

I was also interested in the Mazdaspeed coilovers, but I want to hold off. On my test drive, I could feel the stock suspension bottoming out on a few road dips.

I live pretty close to TurboXS, and at my old job (at Andrewtech Automotive) I spent a lot of time working with TXS on various projects, and the owners MS3 is one reason why I decided to consider one.

Thanks for any help you all can give, and from what I've seen on here, there is a lot of knowledge out there! I can't wait to learn more!

 

[SwampAss]

NAV = a nice $400 option for $1750. Forged 18s are $$. Cheapest I've seen has been over $1600 a set.

 

[jbiird317]

Who has the OEM NAV option? Was it worth the $1800?

way overpriced option, the flush mounting position is very nice compared to having something sit on the dash, but is it really worth $180

I am also interested in the Mazdaspeed forged 18's, which I might roll into the purchase. I haven't found my dealer yet, but the one I did talk to seemed reluctant to roll the wheels into the purchase price. Does anyone know the retail on the mazdaspeed 18's? And how wide a tire can you stuff under the stock fenders

Those wheels are very expensive but very nice. I think $450 apiece if i remember correctly. As for tire width, i think i saw someone with a 245 or 235 on their ms3, but dont quote me on that...(i am currently having a mental blank as to what size the stock tires are)

I'm also interested in the Mazdaspeed catback and the mazdaspeed intake. I figure it'd be safe to stick with Mazdaspeed to maintain the warranty. I haven't been able to find any sound clips of the Mazdaspeed exhaust though. Anyone have a clip?

The Mazdaspeed intake is very nice. It is by far my favorite mod to the car so far. The sound and performance are both well worth the money. The catback is way overpriced IMO. I think they are asking ~$900 for it? I heard a sound clip, I think if you send a PM to rontonkin (anybody know his exact forum name?)

I was also interested in the Mazdaspeed coilovers, but I want to hold off. On my test drive, I could feel the stock suspension bottoming out on a few road dips.

I think the coilovers would be an awesome addition to the car. I have my car lowered on RoadMagnet springs (new company for mazdas, check out roadmagnet.com) and I dont have any problem bottoming out. Plus this way, you could get a lowered stance and improved handling on your car and keep your warranty intact.

 

[BAC5.2]

Good to know about the nav. Looks like I'll opt to not have it, and go with a double-din touch screen unit on my own. That'd be closer to $1200 than the $1750 OE unit.

$1600 for a set of wheels? I've seen some expensive wheels in my day, but damn. That's a rack of dollars. I'd rather roll them into the purchase price than the NAV, but I don't know if it's worth it. It would mean I'd have a second set of wheels for winter tires though.

Anyone have the forged wheels on a silver MS3?

 

[whitey4311]

I have the NAV and love it since I do home health and use it daily to find patients houses. What I dont like is that its in direct sunlight so I have to use a window shade every time its in the sun to protect the screen.

They say it holds up to a fair amount of heat but I still dont like how hot the dash gets in the sun.

I would much rather have it built in and no wires running over the dash ect and also it will help resale. It may not be worth what they charge based on features but the way it mounts and looks is worth it to me.

Besides it plays over the speakers and lowers the music volume when it talks which is much nicer then a small built in speaker for a porable unit.

 

[BAC5.2]

The Double Din adapter plates I've seen look fairly clean. I've never seen the OEM nav setup, so I can't really compare the two. I really prefer a touch screen nav unit, and I prefer XM radio to Sirius.

I'm torn on the coilovers. I want to auto-x the car, and the coilovers would definately help. But street comfort is very important to me. I've done the race-car thing, those days are done. If the coilovers limit suspension travel, I might have a problem. I drive a lot of bumpy roads, and I drive in Washington DC quite often. I haven't heard any reviews of the coilovers, and I haven't compared them to other units. Suspension is a big deal to me, so I want to do it right.

 

[BAC5.2]

I have the NAV and love it since I do home health and use it daily to find patients houses. What I dont like is that its in direct sunlight so I have to use a window shade every time its in the sun to protect the screen.

They say it holds up to a fair amount of heat but I still dont like how hot the dash gets in the sun.

I would much rather have it built in and no wires running over the dash ect and also it will help resale. It may not be worth what they charge based on features but the way it mounts and looks is worth it to me.

Besides it plays over the speakers and lowers the music volume when it talks which is much nicer then a small built in speaker for a porable unit.

I don't want a portable unit. I'd use a Double Din adapter plate and have an aftermarket NAV unit in-dash. It would replace the factory radio with an aftermarket head unit.

Do you have pictures of the OE NAV setup?

 

[jbiird317]

The Double Din adapter plates I've seen look fairly clean. I've never seen the OEM nav setup, so I can't really compare the two. I really prefer a touch screen nav unit, and I prefer XM radio to Sirius.

I'm torn on the coilovers. I want to auto-x the car, and the coilovers would definately help. But street comfort is very important to me. I've done the race-car thing, those days are done. If the coilovers limit suspension travel, I might have a problem. I drive a lot of bumpy roads, and I drive in Washington DC quite often. I haven't heard any reviews of the coilovers, and I haven't compared them to other units. Suspension is a big deal to me, so I want to do it right.

I have my XM rather than Mazda-installed Sirius as well, smart choice. The OEM nav setup has the screen above the radio on a pop up screen in the dash. The double din setup is nice and clean, but you lose the functionality of the GT options like climate control and onboard computer because your flip up touch screen will block the existing LCD display

 

[BAC5.2]

I would be interested in something similar to this...

 

[jbiird317]

The double din setup is nice and clean, but you lose the functionality of the GT options like climate control and onboard computer because your flip up touch screen will block the existing LCD display

i retract this statement, a setup like the one youve shown would be very nice

 

[BAC5.2]

I won't use a flip-up. I'll use a unit like the one above. I found a slightly nicer looking plate though, but I don't know if I can retain the GT options. I should be able to keep them with a little mod work.

 

[CTGrey02]

Subscribing.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

I like the Nav- enough to get it twice!

NAV = a nice $400 option for $1750. Forged 18s are $$. Cheapest I've seen has been over $1600 a set.

I think it depends on what you value. I certainly think paying mega bucks for wheels is a waste of cash- unless you care about weight. Wheels get beat-up after a while. On teh other hand I love Mazda Nav. I have it in my 2004 MZ3 and ordered it in my 08 MS3.

All depends on what you value. Personally the cool factor of the collapsable screen is a huge selling point for me. I also find the Mazda Nav MUCH easier and more intuitive to operate compared to my wife's Garmin 2610.

Whitey4311 have you tried using the "tilt" feature? That always works for me.

 

[BAC5.2]

Does anyone have (or can you take) pictures of the OEM NAV unit?

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Here are some picts from my car.

Does anyone have (or can you take) pictures of the OEM NAV unit?

Here is a picture of my 2004 Nav screen. The 2007 MS3 has updated software and screen graphics. It looks like they made some nice updates between my 2004 version and the 2007 version. I also believe edmunds has interior picts of the nav.

 

[BAC5.2]

That is a pretty slick display. How intuitive is the controller? That's what I am worried about. My Fiance's mom has an 07 BMW X3 with Nav, and it's really inconvenient to toggle a joystick to enter an address. My mom's Buick is the same way, really inconvenient to enter addresses. The Nav system in the Prius, however, is touch screen and EXTREMELY easy to use (espically when you unlock it so you can program while driving).

 

[whitey4311]

I think it depends on what you value. I certainly think paying mega bucks for wheels is a waste of cash- unless you care about weight. Wheels get beat-up after a while. On teh other hand I love Mazda Nav. I have it in my 2004 MZ3 and ordered it in my 08 MS3.

All depends on what you value. Personally the cool factor of the collapsable screen is a huge selling point for me. I also find the Mazda Nav MUCH easier and more intuitive to operate compared to my wife's Garmin 2610.

Whitey4311 have you tried using the "tilt" feature? That always works for me.

You misunderstood what I was saying. Its not the sunlight that makes me not see it, I see it perfectly fine in all lighting. When parked in the sun the dash gets so hot I worry about the screen baking in the car. I use a foil type sun shade to help deflect heat off it.

But yes I would buy it again and it looks much nicer then that after market stuff. With these cars you cant preserve the head unit and keep all the temp displays ect if you start replacing things.

If I am not mistaken that guy from the picture of that touch scree display was able to some how rewire s*** to keep some functions of the display but not all. Either way its not something that you can take to BestBuy and get a kit for. Its either going to have to be all custom by someone that knows their s*** or look half ass.

 

[whitey4311]

As far as using the joy stick it get some getting used to but a touch screen would be worse since its not really in arms reach for a comfortable use.

PS tell me how to unlock this damn thing while driving that woudl be great. I have to pull over to use it sometimes. Any tips on where to look to do that?

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Locking is new...

As far as using the joy stick it get some getting used to but a touch screen would be worse since its not really in arms reach for a comfortable use.

PS tell me how to unlock this damn thing while driving that woudl be great. I have to pull over to use it sometimes. Any tips on where to look to do that?

My 2004 does not lock me out when I'm in motion. Damn that is something I won't be looking forward to. Damn federal regulations

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

You're right...

You misunderstood what I was saying. Its not the sunlight that makes me not see it, I see it perfectly fine in all lighting. When parked in the sun the dash gets so hot I worry about the screen baking in the car. I use a foil type sun shade to help deflect heat off it.

But yes I would buy it again and it looks much nicer then that after market stuff. With these cars you cant preserve the head unit and keep all the temp displays ect if you start replacing things.

If I am not mistaken that guy from the picture of that touch scree display was able to some how rewire s*** to keep some functions of the display but not all. Either way its not something that you can take to BestBuy and get a kit for. Its either going to have to be all custom by someone that knows their s*** or look half ass.

I did misunderstand, sorry. probably read through it too fast.