New to the Mazda Speed3 Fam

[norco4hun]

Have had a honda accord for 9 years with 200k miles on it and just
traded it in, will be picking up a 2009 Mazda Speed3 today after work. All black, just had them tint the windows, psyched! I'll try to get some pics up of it within the next couple days.

Out of curiousity, never have owned a higher end car like this before. If anyone has some suggestions for a new guy who isn't too mechanically inclined on keeping this maintained and running well I'd appreciate it. For
example, should i stick with the every 5k oil change they recommend or should
I add an extra one in between? Just things like that, I plan on hopefully putting 200k on this just like the Honda so whatever you have to recommend to keep it running for a long time, I'd appreciate the advice.

~Ryan

 

[Hank3]

Congrats on the new ride and welcome!

 

[blackmica08]

Have had a honda accord for 9 years with 200k miles on it and just
traded it in, will be picking up a 2009 Mazda Speed3 today after work. All black, just had them tint the windows, psyched! I'll try to get some pics up of it within the next couple days.

Out of curiousity, never have owned a higher end car like this before. If anyone has some suggestions for a new guy who isn't too mechanically inclined on keeping this maintained and running well I'd appreciate it. For
example, should i stick with the every 5k oil change they recommend or should
I add an extra one in between? Just things like that, I plan on hopefully putting 200k on this just like the Honda so whatever you have to recommend to keep it running for a long time, I'd appreciate the advice.

~Ryan

one suggestion, do lots of praying that it wont go boom boom instead of zoom zoom, leave it stock save yourself some headache.

 

[Hyun]

stick to regular maintenance period on the owners manual.. atleast i would.
I wont bet my money that this car will last till 200k without something major but atleast im sure you will enjoy driving this sporty wagon.

Btw, congrat for getting the undisputed best color for ms3 when it is clean.

 

[RocketScientist]

Welcome. I've heard of some recommendations to change the oil right away, lots of sharp edges and stuff during assembly. Wish I had done that to mine but it's coming apart for some forged rods/pistons. Also, keep and eye on the hose clamps on the intake side. Lots of talk about them getting loose over time and you loosing some boost. Best of luck.

 

[RocketScientist]

And don't run synthetic until it's broke in.

 

[oaklandopen]

Have had a honda accord for 9 years with 200k miles on it and just
traded it in, will be picking up a 2009 Mazda Speed3 today after work. All black, just had them tint the windows, psyched! I'll try to get some pics up of it within the next couple days.

Out of curiousity, never have owned a higher end car like this before. If anyone has some suggestions for a new guy who isn't too mechanically inclined on keeping this maintained and running well I'd appreciate it. For
example, should i stick with the every 5k oil change they recommend or should
I add an extra one in between? Just things like that, I plan on hopefully putting 200k on this just like the Honda so whatever you have to recommend to keep it running for a long time, I'd appreciate the advice.

~Ryan

if you don't plan on doing any maintenence yourself just follow what your manual says according do where/how you drive (schedule I, schedule II) and have the dealer do it

but....if you plan on doing some maintenence items (which anyone can do), you can easily check all the vitals of the car yourself. it's not hard to check fluid levels (ie coolant, dipstick, brake/clutch fluid, power steering), and for a few measley bucks you can get a tire pressure and tire depth gauge at your local auto store. all these can be easily checked by the owner, so that you don't have to wait until something catastrophic happens before you get something topped off or fixed or flushed or whatever

and....if you eventuallly do plan on doing some stuff yourself, check out the how-to section. you can find out how to change the oil (pain in the ass aerodynamic shield under the car), check your brake pads, change tranny fluid, whatever

 

[Wurf]

I'd take how you drive it into consideration when deciding how often to change the oil. My car is about a month old with only 1800 miles on it and I'm going to change it at 2K. These cars go pig rich when you're in the boost and significant fuel ends up in the oil. The harder you drive it, the sooner you should change it IMO. I'm only doing this one at 2K because it's the factory stuff and has been in there a long time. After this oil change, I'll be changing mine every 3k AND running synthetic.

 

[my3needsaname]

In the beginning, I didn't drive it hard at all no matter what. Well, the day I bought it I had to drive home during 5pm traffic on our most congested freeway that was under construction so on the on ramp I had to floor it or get eaten by a truck in my brand new car.

Otherwise, don't keep it at a constant speed for too long and let it break in easily over about 1000 miles. Then change the oil at 1K.

Generally (across the board) these are good cars. Don't let generally scare you, my car is like the only one on here that acts up and stalls and does crazy things an 08.5 with 5600 miles shouldn't do. But don't worry, yours will be great fun!

Congrats!

 

[Hyun]

i know some people went straight to the strip after they picked it up.

 

[Redlinez]

Using Motorcraft semi-synthetic oil as most all Mazda dealers should use, you should be fine going 5000 miles. Motorcraft semisyn oil is fantastic. I would also highly recommend you rotate-rotate/balance those tires every visit as well. (That is is you want them to last). Like others have said, keep it as stock as possible, and you should see the least amount of driveability related issues. A cold air intake, catback exhaust, shifter, minor mods like that shouldn't cause you any problems. If it says premium fuel, run premium.
I have been a service advisor for 11 years, just trying to help you out.

 

[BillTheCat]

http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm

One of my favorite links ever. Oil change intervals & break-in procedures are a subject of much heated debate on any & every performance car forum. I'd break it in something like that links suggests (VERY informative read, worth spending 5-10 minutes to read it in its entirety & soak it in).

After that, if you want 200k from this car, don't mod it too much. If you drive it hard, you may want to consider slightly more frequent oil changes. But regardless of how often you do it down the road, I would recommend changing the oil at 100-200 miles to get all the miniscule metal shavings & such out of the crankcase ASAP. Next change, around 1k miles, use conventional oil. After break-in, feel free to switch to synthetic blend or full synthetic and whatever interval makes you comfortable. (I like full synthetic every 3.5-4k, but again, there's all sorts of opinions on those details)

Beyond that, follow the recommended maintenance schedule, watch for excessive smoke from the tailpipe (possible indicator of turbo seals breaking down & allowing oil blowby). Stock turbo is prone to this, as I understand it.

Oh, and pay attention to the part in the owner's manual where they say to let the engine cool down after driving. They recommend letting it idle, I think 30 seconds for daily driving & 60 seconds after a hard run. For me, since it takes me about a minute of 20-25mph slow cruise driving to get to my house, I use that as my cooldown period. When my destination is a shopping center, etc., I will absolutely sit & let the car idle so the turbo can cool a bit.

 

[Hank3]

I thought it was 30 seconds idle after a hard drive or extended highway driving? Idling is not needed if regular driving was done. And the smoking turbo issues were more common in modded cars (i.e. aftermarket downpipes, turboback exhaust).

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

I read 10 second cool down after highway driving. Not a big deal just turbo maintenance.

everyone else has more than elaborated on maintenance schedules. You will be fine. Not sure where you are from but if you have winters with snow/ice you will need to start shopping for winter/snow tires. They are cheap right now so you might pick some up early.

 

[ElGaspo]

Welcome aboard, Ryan, and i hope your new MS3 will last as long as you want it to. i had a 91 crx si and kept it for 91k mi, ran as good as new, only reason i sold it was to get the MS3. hondas are reliable as timex watches.

you've already had some great advice, to which i'd simply add: get a magnetic oil plug when you 1st change the oil; the magnet will trap fine metal shavings and get them out of circulation. if you live in a warm area of the country, consider switching to a 5w40 oil, it might hurt mpg by 1 gln, but it'll offer more protection against the high temps generated by the turbo.

i'm a great believer that if you treat any object right, whether it be computers, electronics or cars, they should last a long time. don't use it to run a lot of silly errands that can be combined in 1 trip is my mantra. i absolutely loathe short repeated trips.

other than that, you've obviously done something right by reaching 200k in your honda, so i'm guessing you'll be ok w/ the mazda. cheers! (thinkbeer

 

[Antoine]

Welcome Ryan! (hi)

Enjoy the forums and your new MS3...

This is an excellent example of a great welcome thread...Friendly, helpful and informative...Just awesome...Keep it up everyone! (2thumbs)

 

[LukeP]

Welcome! I remember picking mine up short of a year ago, that was fun times.

Keep the mods light, if any (nothing that starts fartin' with the fuel mixture or reprogramming the ECU) and you won't have to worry about anything else except changing the oil frequently, especially if you use the dealer's dino juice. Follow the owner's manual instructions: that way you will check the dipstick often to make sure your dealer screwed the damned cannister on right (they didn't on mine, leaky leaky on driveway driveway) and keep your tire pressure even.

I think if you just follow what the owner's manual states thats pretty much good.

I recently discovered motorcycles so my enthusiasm has waned significantly on cars Probably won't be around here much anymore.

 

[norco4hun]

much appreciated everyone for the helpful and kind responses. whoever posted about the snowtire deals, thank you, i live in new hampshire so i'll be looking around for those shortly. also on the magnetic plug, will do that as well.

got to drive it home from the dealer last night.... well my dad got to drive it... i broke 2 bones in my left foot and dislocated 3 toes in a mountain bike crash a month ago so i can't friggin shift and had to move back home for 2 months while it heals because my apartment is on the 3rd floor. but i can tell you i had a friggin grin from ear to ear as we drove it home, the power in these things is insane! I've got another 4 weeks until they pull the metal pin out of my foot and then the fun begins.

thanks again for all the comments.

A pic I took before they tinted the rear windows... you can see my crutches in the reflection.

And for the guy that posted about motorcycles, got that covered too

And this is what is keeping me from driving the Mazda

 

[ecniemann]

much appreciated everyone for the helpful and kind responses. whoever posted about the snowtire deals, thank you, i live in new hampshire so i'll be looking around for those shortly. also on the magnetic plug, will do that as well.

got to drive it home from the dealer last night.... well my dad got to drive it... i broke 2 bones in my left foot and dislocated 3 toes in a mountain bike crash a month ago so i can't friggin shift and had to move back home for 2 months while it heals because my apartment is on the 3rd floor. but i can tell you i had a friggin grin from ear to ear as we drove it home, the power in these things is insane! I've got another 4 weeks until they pull the metal pin out of my foot and then the fun begins.

thanks again for all the comments.

A pic I took before they tinted the rear windows... you can see my crutches in the reflection.

And for the guy that posted about motorcycles, got that covered too

And this is what is keeping me from driving the Mazda

Did you break the heads of the 1st and 3rd metatarsals?

 

[Hank3]

Man, what a bummer that you can't drive it yet. It's got to feel like when you were a little kid and anticipating Christmas morning. Hope your recovery goes smoothly and fast!