New Guy and Future MS3 Owner

[CorkSport]

So if you guys are expecting yours in late October I should be safe in guessing the same time frame here on the west coast.
I can't get this stupid car out of my head.

I'm kind of glad I have to drive 2 hours to go get the car when it arrives. That means a spirited 2 hour return trip in my new baby.

 

[CTGrey02]

So if you guys are expecting yours in late October I should be safe in guessing the same time frame here on the west coast.
I can't get this stupid car out of my head.

I'm kind of glad I have to drive 2 hours to go get the car when it arrives. That means a spirited 2 hour return trip in my new baby.

What break in period!?

 

[CorkSport]

^^ LOL, I'll be gentle but assertive.

 

[Insurance Guy]

Finally sold my car

I got $2900 cash for it. Not too bad, as I really only want to finance about $20k on the MS3. This will put me right in that range.

Now I'm stuck driving a 97 Blazer until my car comes in. I would almost rather drive the 90 Geo...

 

[jbiird317]

hey man good work on selling the car. Small update for myself as well: I have gotten another new car!! Ok well its temporary, but still kinda exciting. Im driving my sisters 06 3i touring. I must say that driving this car is making me very glad that I bought the MS3 and also very suprised that the 3 is even slightly related to the protege. The 3 is such a solid car in comparison to my protege. Handling, acceleration, style, comfort,...the 3 wins hands down on all these things. The only thing I have felt is that the shifter (5spd) feels very deliberate when going through the gears. I dont really know how to explain this, but it just feels funny. I guess it will just take some getting used to. Anyway, the 3 is great, but im ready for the ms3!! (comes to port in 9 days and counting...)

 

[Insurance Guy]

Anyway, the 3 is great, but im ready for the ms3!! (comes to port in 9 days and counting...)

I called Mazda today to get an update (I am really going crazy now), and nothing has changed.

I do not want to wait another 3 weeks.

Oh, and the Blazer I am driving - it's not too bad. It needed a good 3-hour vacuuming and wipe down, but it's a good serviceable replacement until my rocket arrives.

I've also been pricing out a set of winter tires + wheels. Not that we have terrible winters, but I want to be prepared should I decide to make the purchase. Assuming 17s will fit, I am looking at about $900 for the package - that's with some basic 6-spoke rims from Tire Rack.

 

[kokemon23]

I called Mazda today to get an update (I am really going crazy now), and nothing has changed.

I do not want to wait another 3 weeks.

Oh, and the Blazer I am driving - it's not too bad. It needed a good 3-hour vacuuming and wipe down, but it's a good serviceable replacement until my rocket arrives.

I've also been pricing out a set of winter tires + wheels. Not that we have terrible winters, but I want to be prepared should I decide to make the purchase. Assuming 17s will fit, I am looking at about $900 for the package - that's with some basic 6-spoke rims from Tire Rack.

I have been considering this route as well. I had summer tires on my Prelude, and I spun off the road in minimal snow going well below the speed limit, so I'm definitely gonna be getting snow tires.

Everytime I try to look for a tire/rim package from them, it tells me for this car you can only order by phone. Are you just looking without entering the car (i.e. just searching by wheel size/width)?

I'm actually considering buying some nicer 18s than what are coming on the car (not crazy about them) with snow tires, then just switching the tires on both sets of rims and using the stock rims as my winter set and the new ones for the summer Anybody know the weight of the stock 18s?

 

[dread]

dont know the weight but they look extremely heavy

 

[jbiird317]

yeah ive been considering snow tires too... i have 3 options:

1-buy set of winter wheels and tires
2-buy new set of summer wheels and put snows on stock 18's
3-buy a beater truck to push around in the snow and ice

I think im leaning towards buying a set of winter wheels and eventually get a new set of 18 or 19s for the summer when i can afford them

 

[gardonani]

I was talking to someone at my job about this. He said that he had summers on his saab fwd turbo, and was fine for the winter, just to take it easy. I told him that I didn't want to take a chance. Winters can get nasty here in mass., so I think I may do the same(buy winters to put on stock wheels, then put summers on another wheel set).

 

[dread]

It may be hard to find a rim that fits the tires that come with the speed 3

 

[CTGrey02]

Stupid 7 inch wide rims. Anyone look up the cost of replacement tires? I'm used to paying 150 each for my mustangs.. these being a wierd size I'm sure they wont be cheap.

Crap... 200 each

Not Much better for winter tires

 

[jcrystal]

Will 17" fit?

How will you determine whether the Tirerack package with 17s will fit before buying them? I spoke with Tirerack and they said they don't expect to have the MS3 fitment details for several months. MazdaUSA will not provide any info directly either, even the dealer I'm purchasing from has tried without luck to learn what will fit. I've been asking on the Canadian and Australian forums to see if anyone has actually put on aftermarket tires, but so far no responses. If ANYONE has real information, please share it. I don't look forward to driving mine home from the dealer the end of this month with summers since we could easily have snow by then here in Vermont....

I called Mazda today to get an update (I am really going crazy now), and nothing has changed.


I've also been pricing out a set of winter tires + wheels. Not that we have terrible winters, but I want to be prepared should I decide to make the purchase. Assuming 17s will fit, I am looking at about $900 for the package - that's with some basic 6-spoke rims from Tire Rack.

 

[CTGrey02]

I dont see why it'd be any different from a normal mazda 3 other than fitting over the brakes, and any 17 inch rim should clear those.

 

[Insurance Guy]

How will you determine whether the Tirerack package with 17s will fit before buying them? I spoke with Tirerack and they said they don't expect to have the MS3 fitment details for several months. MazdaUSA will not provide any info directly either, even the dealer I'm purchasing from has tried without luck to learn what will fit. I've been asking on the Canadian and Australian forums to see if anyone has actually put on aftermarket tires, but so far no responses. If ANYONE has real information, please share it. I don't look forward to driving mine home from the dealer the end of this month with summers since we could easily have snow by then here in Vermont....

Honestly... I'm going to scour the boards and wait for someone else to try it. Once I have confirmation of what will fit, then i will start to make my decision on how to proceed. I may get nicer 18s and put the summers on those, like Jbiird spoke about.

Of course, all of this has to be cleared by the wifey...

 

[seanw]

Honestly... I'm going to scour the boards and wait for someone else to try it. Once I have confirmation of what will fit, then i will start to make my decision on how to proceed. I may get nicer 18s and put the summers on those, like Jbiird spoke about.

Of course, all of this has to be cleared by the wifey...

FWIW, check the MS6 threads since I think the wheels/brakes are the same size. At least a few MS6 owners went with 17's for their winter tires. Doesn't look so good on the 6, but works fine. One benefit to living in hot-as-hell TX, don't have to worry about winter tires.

 

[jbiird317]

i suck at tire specs, would these tires fit on the ms3 wheel:

Pirelli Winter 240 Snow Sport Tires, 225/40R 18 92V N3

 

[CTGrey02]

Just go to Tire rack, they have the tires for the car listed. None of them will be cheap though at the stock wheel size.

 

[Newf]

I wouldn't expect the brakes on the ms3 to be the same size as the ms6. Smaller car, less weight, shouldn't need as much to stop.

But if it does...guess what? You need 17's for winter. 16's will not fit on the ms6. The front brakes are HUGE. the caliper is nuts and the 16's bring up solid against it. Mazda6 17's fit well. I got some Dunlop Graspic II's wrapped on M6 17's.

 

[CTGrey02]

The brakes are just under 13 inches I believe. My 13 inch brakes on my GT required 17 inch rims and have no clearance issues.