MP3 in GS Auto-X

i'll be running no more than one event per month, im not in it to place i just want to have some fun and improve on my driving skills, but be somewhat competitive in the process
 
I think the RSX got moved down because enough people bitched about it and wrote letters and such to get it moved down. Are there cars, in EVERY class that aren't competetive, yes, will they get moved down, probably not unless it was a mis-classed car for it's debut year. I imagine locally I should do well and we have quite a few Nat'l drivers here in Atlanta and we have about 200+ drivers every event. I obviously compete in class, but I also like PAX because it helps me see how I am compared to some of the top drivers.

I am considering staggering the tires. Hoosiers in the front and Kumhos in the rear so they don't rub. But I'm afraid there will be too dramatic a difference in the grip levels for me to make it work. I'd love to run Hoosiers all the way around, but not if they are going to rub in the rear. I guess I'll have to do more research. Otherwise the V700s in 205-40-17 is how I will probably go....unless the car needs a 225-45 for more of a contact patch....hmmm...

what do you guys think?
 
put the widest rubber you can up front. i ran 205/45/16 Ecsta V700s on my ES for a season, and i don't think 205 is enough (and my car is ~150 lbs lighter than the MP3).

if you can fit 225s, go for it. i've heard that the advantages of the hoosiers are limited on stock Pros b/c of our lack of camber. either way, let us know how it goes.

you might also think of changing your front sway bar out for a smaller ES/P5 or even an LX/DX bar.
 
I am starting to lean more to the 225-45 instead of the 205-40, as long as I don't rub in the rear.

As far as the FSB, I'm leaving it stock. 25mm baby! I would have gone at least that big if the car didn't have one so big. Since we have strut cars, under heavy cornering we loose camber, therefore, we loose grip. A larger FSB allows the strut to hold its line longer and maintain the camber. It also reduces body roll. I ran a 27mm in my old WRX, and it made a WORLD of difference in turn-in and transitions. It's too bad I can't mess with the rear bar. I'd at least like to get better bushings and endlinks, but not allowed to in stock class.

I'm considering front endlinks, and maybe adjustable ones so I can "pre-load" the bar, but I have no idea what the advantage of that is. I guess I'll just have to see how the stock links hold up and if they break I get new ones.
 
i suppose if you feel the car is rotating enough, then leave it. i personally like a really loose rear (ha!).

if you really want to maximize your transitional ability, maybe swap to a 27mm MSP bar. :) i know that neons get better and better with larger fornt bars, contrary to most strut cars. maybe ours will see similar results. keep us posted.

when i stiffened the rear in comparison to the front, it worked beautifully to cure my rotation and (especially) inside wheelspin problems. even with the 205 r-compounds, it was awful trying to keep that inside tire from spinning if the wheel was turned even a little bit. now on 205 Azenis i barely ever light up the inside, even on tight corners. my setup is the MSP suspension w/ the ES front bar.
 
I believe the MSP front bar is 25mm also, at least the 03 is, maybe they changed it for the 03.5s. If so I may have to try and get one from somebody, or even trade.

I am concerned with wheel spin since there is no LSD. I drove a Type-R at the last event and I could just stomp on the gas and it would GO! I'll just have to adjust my driving and throttle application a little.
 
The MSP in fact has a 25mm front bar.

The 225/45-17 Victoracers fit with NO rubbing on 17x7 wheels with +50 offset for what it's worth...
 
that is VERY good to know. I was going to go with a 50 offset or get 48 and machine them to 49 to make them legal. So in theory if I wanted to stagger the tires I could run Hoosiers in the front and Victos in the rear...hmmmm....
 
Looking at the preliminary spec sheet released by Mazda prior to the MSP sales release shows the spec of the front bar is 27mm, the rear bar is 20mm. I think these are correct for the production 2003 vehicle, but the sheet is preliminary.
 
dmitrik4 said:
i suppose if you feel the car is rotating enough, then leave it. i personally like a really loose rear (ha!).

the mp3 oversteers like crazy with bone stock suspension
 
TXMazdaSpeeder said:
the mp3 oversteers like crazy with bone stock suspension
i have that suspension (exc for the front bar as mentioned), and i didn't get that. definitely rotates better, but not up to my taste. maybe i'll try the bigger front bar.

OTOH, that stock suspension is good enough to be regionally competitive in STS. got my butt spanked at Divs though. :p
 
Well, I'll be taking the MP3 on it's maiden voyage tomorrow. I'm running 1/8 total toe out in the front and 1/16" total toe out in the rear. And I got as much camber as I could in the front (not much). I have the 205-40-17 Kumho MX's and I guess I'll start the pressures at 36 in the front and 34 in the rear. The car rotates nicely now with those so I can adjust from there I suppose.
 
Well, it has been done. The first event in the MP3, and let me just say. Kick-ass. The dang car just did what I told it to, I could dance the back end wherever I needed and just took off. It certainly is the epitomy of a "momentum" car. And really working the throttle to keep the inside wheel from lighting up wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

The car definitely needs more rubber on the ground, this should help with the wheel-spin and also the weak point was definitely the 205s. The kept telling me, "this is all we got....go WIDER if you need more!"

225-45-17 it is....and I suppose it will have to be the Victos since the Hoosiers don't fit. (the car or my budget)
 
man i wish i could have came sunday.. i have so much to do this week i desided it was best with finals and such this week to stay home and study.. i had SO much fun on sat, and was really supprised how well i did. and man did you kick ass in the ITR... even had time to honk in the corners..haha

Oh and how do we get the final results of the day sent to us.. i never got one from last time either... i really wanna see how i did on the pax list
 
There is a list that you can get on, and I can't remember it right now, I'll have to go to my e-mail and work backwards and I'll let you know.

The horn buttons on the ITR are right where I put the heel of my thumbs so I managed to honk a few times. I forgot to use the blinker on the sloloms like I wanted to :)

I'm curious about the PAX as well, I think I may have done pretty well on Sunday in the MP3, but we'll have to see.
 

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