MSP all broken in

[arkitek]

Babbling warning!

Well, with the MSP turning over 1000 klicks a few days ago, I have been putting it to the test a little bit to see what it can do. To my amazement, this car seems to never run out of grip even in the cold conditions of Toronto currently. When it does, its easy and neutral enough for you to correct provided youre prepared.

Having said that, I did scared myself silly tonight with the right rear wheel coming within inches off the curbs. Took a rather aggressive left turn with 2 other people in the car into an unknown street that was quite dirty with sand used from the winter. The rear started to swing out and I corrected just in time or it would have been rather ugly if the rear did side swiped the curbs. I would be crying myself to sleep tonight if that did happen. Thats twice already that the rear have gotten loose on me, the other time on a highway on-ramp, and I wasnt braking.

Note to self:
- Know your streets and their conditions before carving through them.
- Best that theyre well lid.
- Compensate for the extra weight in the car.

I can definitely see how such a car like the MSP can get you into so much trouble as Ive seen with some on this board. It gives you this sense of confidence when you get behind the wheels and that in itself is the problem. I find myself being overly aggressive with many corners and on/off ramps because I know the car will stick. But you can overlook something sometimes and that just might bite you hard like it almost did me tonight. It sure mellowed me out after that and Im not about to attempt anything similar for another while. Feeling a little bit gunshy right now. But I want, I need, more!!

Hello, my name is Arkitek and I love my Mazdaspeed!
(Feels good getting this off my chest)

This forum feels like MSPaholic Anonymous in a way.

 

[Dexter]

yah
*whistles and looks around innocently*

 

[dominoy2k1]

yah
*whistles and looks around innocently*

(thumb)

 

[murdock_]

LOL dex

 

[timrock101]

I am at 3400 miles now and it is if the car and I have become "one". Enjoy it man, as every mile passes by, the car gets better and better. Time for some synthetic at her next oil change. Rock On !!!

 

[trekv2]

damn... i got 4950 miles on mine

 

[Limited Edition]

arkitek, when did you get your car?
When i saw 4 digit reading on my odometer i released her on the freeway a bit. I revved it up to about 5000rpm flying down at 160km/h. It felt soo good i tell ya.
Slowy work your way in though. At 4600km now, i haven't even redlined it once!!

 

[spoolboy]

I just hit 1000 today . I'm at 1100 now but for the first time I pushed her to about 5500 rpm's in second, and man this car pulls so nice. Every time I get behind the wheel I get a permanant smile. I love this car.

 

[Limited Edition]

spoolboy, nice pic.
I tried to do the same while i was doing 90km/h with a regular camera. But it was so difficult i think i missed it and took '1001km' instead.
is that a digital camera you used?
2nd gear pulls very nicely over 4500rpm! DAMN
when did you get the car?

 

[spoolboy]

I picked it up April 1st, drove it for 2 days then had it parked for a week due to the snow and freezing rain. I used a digital camera to take that picture. I took like 5 but only one turned out. kinda difficult.

 

[arkitek]

Dexter, too funny man!

Timrock101, good analogy except I don't think I'm one with the MSP just yet. I really thought I was but found out that I wasn't today. Under some spirited driving, I keep screwing up my shifts and braking as I reverted to my old Honda Civic habits without realizing it.

 

[arkitek]

arkitek, when did you get your car?
When i saw 4 digit reading on my odometer i released her on the freeway a bit. I revved it up to about 5000rpm flying down at 160km/h. It felt soo good i tell ya.
Slowy work your way in though. At 4600km now, i haven't even redlined it once!!

I picked up the car on Mar. 22. Took it nice and easy for the first 1000kms hardly going over 3500 RPM. The 500 kms after that was rather enjoyable and my friends were taking turns at the MSP and they all were very impressed. And the 500 after that, the MSP will be put to the limit that's for sure. I'm at close to 1800 kms right now. Mine has seen the redline already after 1000kms, once before that as I just couldn't resist. Found the rev limiter today too after dragging a friend's chipped 18.T GTI. Those things are damn fast straightline.

Seriously eh, you should be redline it more often now to break it in at high RPMs and not let it settle in with all that low RPM break-in. There's much debates about how one should break it in but here's what I've concluded after much research.

3 steps break-in process:

1000 kms: Vary rev and load and don't go over 3500 RPM and be gentle on the gas and brakes

500 kms: Similiar to the first 1000 kms but start flooring it more and more often

500 kms: Drive it like you hate it. Be aggressive, full throttle and redline it often shifting above 5000 RPM.

After that, drive like you normally do but always redline a few times each month to clean out the exhaust system of any buildups of soot or water. Otherwise, the exhaust system will rust from the inside out.

 

[funnylittlman]

After that, drive like you normally do but always redline a few times each month to clean out the exhaust system of any buildups of soot or water. Otherwise, the exhaust system will rust from the inside out.

I don't think we'll have a problem with that.... lol

 

[RX-KEVIN]

There is nothing like doing 80 on a on ramp and passing the traffic like it's still