Just bought my MP3.

[apexlater]

Hello all. I just sold my 03 WRX and purchased a Blue MP3. I actually haven't seen any other MP3s in Atlanta ever.

I also own a Spec Miata race car with my brother and I am an Auto-X junkie. I am still running in my friends WRX to finish this season until I can finish prepping the MP3 for next season.

Godspeed.

--Wayne

 

[roni]

welcome!

is yours basically stock, or did you buy it modified?

do you have any specific plans on mods yet? want to share with the group?

 

[apexlater]

It came with a full Injen CAI and the brake calipers were painted yellow which is good for at least 10whp. The dealer also sold it to me with some 17x7 Akita wheels with 215-45-17 Kumho 711 tires, which I am trying to sell, and I have the stock rims that I will paint since the finish is flaking off of half the wheels.

First I am going to return the intake back to stock. It's not legal in stock class and its throwing a CEL. Paint the calipers, grease the bushings to get rid of some noise in the rear end. Full fluid flush with synth replacement.

I'll align the car with max neg. camber in the front and I'll start with 1/8" toe out all around. It doesn't feel underdamped so I'll prolly leave the struts alone for now unless I can get another Koni sponsorship. The exhaust is probably free flowing enough, but I might get a cat-back race pipe made.

Lastly, race rims and R-compounds. All I have to do is learn how to go fast in FWD, which fortunately displays similar characteristics to AWD.

whew, sorry so long.

Godspeed.

--Wayne

 

[thewrench]

Hey, I saw a blue MP3 recently, I think on hwy 20 above Lawrenceville, or maybe Sugarloaf Pkwy, maybe it was you. It's the first blue one I've seen around. Check out the GA section, we're having a meet at my house in Loganville next weekend.

 

[apexlater]

It could have been me. My brother lives in Larryville off Sugarloaf and 29.

I bought the car with the windows tinted and the blingy wheels and yellow painted calipers (which are getting re-painted).

How are the meets? The Subaru meets were usually at Hooter's or something of the sort. Beer, boobs, and boys always made for rowdy meets. The GA forum was me next stop. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[I_Vtec]

Yeah you should come out to the meet. Always happy to meet new people.

They'll be booze. You don't have to worry about that.

 

[MazdaDryvr]

I know the obvious answer but I still have to ask. 03 WRX to 01 MP3. Why?

 

[mp3moose]

^^^ditto^^^

 

[luckezero]

I've driven the WRX ... IMHO, it's way over-rated. I think the MP3 handles a lot better in the dry (we all know AWD kicks butt in the rain and snow), is a more comfortable car, and is certainly cheaper to purchase and maintain.

Congrats on your purchase Wayne. I wish you had bought mine tho haha. I look forward to hearing how you do with the MP3 in your auto-x class next season.

 

[apexlater]

Well, it always starts with a girl. The story goes. I sold my Ducati 748 (motorcycle) to build a Spec Miata with my brother. Then I bought the WRX AFTER I proposed to my wife. I bought a house, she has a horse, and I'm not allowed to sell the horse.

So as much as I've loved and wanted the WRX I got to have it for 18 months and then sell it. It was a wise decision for me since my payments were outrageous and the gas sucked.

The MP3 handles better than the WRX any day of the week and twice on Sundays, but only has half the power (although I don't miss turbo lag.) The build quality of the WRX wins, the WRX seats win, the WRX shifter wins, the MP3 mpg wins, the MP3 weight wins.

The mazda will be a fun car to drive and work on and the parts are much cheaper, especially with the Mazdaspeed support program, can't beat that.

 

[MazdaDryvr]

Oh I see. So you got whipped. I kid! I guess it's just that the WRX is the car I would trade my MSP for. Someday.......

 

[oliver2000]

Well, it always starts with a girl. The story goes. I sold my Ducati 748 (motorcycle) to build a Spec Miata with my brother. Then I bought the WRX AFTER I proposed to my wife. I bought a house, she has a horse, and I'm not allowed to sell the horse.

So as much as I've loved and wanted the WRX I got to have it for 18 months and then sell it. It was a wise decision for me since my payments were outrageous and the gas sucked.

The MP3 handles better than the WRX any day of the week and twice on Sundays, but only has half the power (although I don't miss turbo lag.) The build quality of the WRX wins, the WRX seats win, the WRX shifter wins, the MP3 mpg wins, the MP3 weight wins.

The mazda will be a fun car to drive and work on and the parts are much cheaper, especially with the Mazdaspeed support program, can't beat that.

What Mazdaspeed support program ?

 

[Damaga]

support??? where?

 

[stdntDrvr]

welcome to the forum...you should come out to the meet this weekend!

 

[Captain KRM P5]

the intake itself should not be causing the CEL

 

[apexlater]

I took it to Auto Zone and had them run a diagnosis and it was a MAP sensor prob. I'm hoping that when I put the stock intake system back on it will go away. The car also has a wierd idle where the rpm's will drop down to like 200 and then get back to idle ~800rpm. We'll see....

 

[Newf]

Well, it always starts with a girl. The story goes. I sold my Ducati 748 (motorcycle) to build a Spec Miata with my brother. Then I bought the WRX AFTER I proposed to my wife. I bought a house, she has a horse, and I'm not allowed to sell the horse.

That is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time.

 

[Wha'Happened]

I thought wrx to mp3 seemed weird too but you have very good reasons. I think you'll find that the mp3 is funner to drive.