stock msp, lookin for some mod suggestions

[adm]

i'm sure someone else has already posted this but i'm in a hurry, plus i'm new.

anyway, i've had my orange msp for about two months or so and i'm startin to think about some stuff i could save up $$$ towards. i don't want big stickers or stripes or anything like that, not that i have anything against them, but it's just a waste of money for me. if it doesn't make the car perform better it's not werth it right now.

what are some good base additions/alterations you guys would recommend? my only thought atm is to add a turbo timer to improve the turbo's lifespan, etc.

keep in mind i don't have tons of cash to throw away, but i would be willing to save up for this stuff. also, i live in the mountains of massachusetts so i don't wanna lower the car seeing as how the roads suck and everything can be covered in ice, bumpy, and full of potholes. yippeee. (also there's not really any such thing as a straight level road here, hehe)

thanks in advance.


[edit] btw, i should mention that cars in general is a pretty new interest for me, so i'm still learning lotsa stuff. this is my first car purchase, and i figured the msp was a good starting point, not to mention i'm a fan of mazda.

 

[t3ase]

Royal Purple (www.royalpurple.com) synthetic oil. Seriously. I've used Mobil 1 and Redline in my old Honda but tried Royal Purple for the first time last night. An immediate and VERY noticable difference in performance. It is quite a bit quicker off the line.. And I know this because before when I lined up with my girlfriend Firebird, she'd have me at the line.. Last night she didn't have a chance. And that was three days apart, so it cannot be my driving skills.

 

[t3ase]

Oh and a K&N filter or (if you want to wait for an unknown amount of time) the Injen CAI.

 

[adm]

cool, thanks. i actually meant to mention that i was going to throw mobile or purple oil into it soonish, but if you recommend royal purple that much over mobile 1 i'll go with that. now i just need to teach myself how to do oil changes cause the dealer here only seems to want to put castrol in. pooey.

i've got a friend in philly who's sorta teachin me the ropes of gettin the car goin fast off the line, of course he's doin all this over the net so it's goin kinda slow. i gotta say though, the msp is one hell of a fun car to drive.

 

[twiztedjeckel]

Royal Purple (www.royalpurple.com) synthetic oil. Seriously. I've used Mobil 1 and Redline in my old Honda but tried Royal Purple for the first time last night. An immediate and VERY noticable difference in performance. It is quite a bit quicker off the line.. And I know this because before when I lined up with my girlfriend Firebird, she'd have me at the line.. Last night she didn't have a chance. And that was three days apart, so it cannot be my driving skills.

maybe chevy should start putting RP in their Z06's, or porsche should start using it along with mercedes or how about Lamboghini instead of the mobile1 all these cars come from the factory with it.

i'll stick with the Mobile 1 for now myself

 

[t3ase]

maybe chevy should start putting RP in their Z06's, or porsche should start using it along with mercedes or how about Lamboghini instead of the mobile1 all these cars come from the factory with it.

i'll stick with the Mobile 1 for now myself

I'm glad you will. Any reason you chose to let us all know that or did you actually want to help adm somehow and I just missed it?

 

[ping]

1) Try a round shift knob - improves shifting feel (to me...)

2) Oil changes in the MSP are easy - but the filter is up high in back of the engine. Use tin foil to cover the axle when removing the filter and you'll have an easier time cleaning up.

3) There's significant debate on "break-in" oil in any engine, but I wouldn't change oil before 1000 miles so the rings seat and the engine "breaks in". That said, I changed mine at 1200 miles to Mobil1. Other synthetics are also good, but make sure you keep meticulous records of the oil change and make sure the oil meets Mazda's guidelines/recommendations on weight and API classification - that way you have less hassle if (God forbid) there's ever a warranty claim sometime down the road.

4) A no-cost upgrade (the best kind): re-aim the doggone foglights! Mine were only good for looking down manholes (aimed too low). You can aim 'em from under the car but it's a PITA.

I have the same problem - this car is so well modded from the factory there's not too much to do! That's good, right?

 

[adm]

hehe, exactly. it's got all the main mods already done (and under warranty). i had the oil changed two weeks ago at about 3800 miles, that's when they threw in castrol synthetic. didn't know they'd only use that till i was already in the waiting room, not that big a deal.

never changed my own oil but it's certainly an easy way to save some $ provided i do it right, from what i hear it's pretty simple.

foglights so far have been fine, maybe that's cause i'm used to drivin my brother's 2000 neon. that thing was horrible, headlights alone were almost useless. hehe.

 

[mtbjedi]

Get a MBC...but don't put it too high...9.5 MAX