Thinking about getting a 2

[crazyDC5]

I just got a new job selling Mazdas and I've been dying getting to drive all of these cars and not being able to buy one! I wanted to get another Miata to replace my 01 I had to sell years ago for a family hauler. It's finally time again for me to get an Auto X car and Again I was thinking of a Miata........Until I drove the Mazda 2! Man this thing is AWSOME for the price! With my enployee discount from Mazda I can get a touring for $13,000 or a Sport for $12,000. I was thinking of getting the spec B kit from Mazda. My questions are:
Will Mazda let you set up an account if you just Auto X w/ the SCCA?
Is the spec B kit the best setup for track /auto x or is there a better combination?
Which model is better to get for a track car?
Will the Spec B kit be too harsh or dangerous on the street?
I've driven some "track only" cars on the street and they are allmost uncontrolable on bumpy serfaces.

I'm new to the 2. Sorry for all the newbi ?'s.

 

[CorkSport]

Question #1 Yes

Question #2 There are better things that the B-Spec kit. It is nice since it is setup to work as a package.

Question #3 If you are going to strip it out and go racing get the sport. If you want some comfort and plan on leaving the interior inside get a touring (IMO)

Question #4 I drive our B-Spec Mazda 2 back and forth to the local track with all the gear inside. I think it is fine for street driving though I get tons of looks with all of the decals on the car and the roll cage.

-Derrick

 

[crazyDC5]

Derrick,
I just looked over the stuff you offer for the MZ2 on your website. Great stuff by the way! I think I'm going to just buy the bilstein shocks and springs and intake and exhaust and be set for a fun track toy. Are the bilstein shock and springs you sell the same as in the Mazda spec B kit? What exhaust are they selling in their kit, MAZDASPEED or something else?
Now I just have to pick out a color car and pull the trigger!

 

[zoomerang2]

Mostly I agree with Corksport above (he has real-world experience of course)

But, I really looked into the B-Spec kits when I was shopping for suspensions.

Is the spec B kit the best setup for track /auto x or is there a better combination?

You really do not need the whole kit though, especially for Auto-X. You would really just need the Coil-overs, camber bolts and rear bar (front bar may be optional depending on the rest of your set-up).

My questions are:
Will the Spec B kit be too harsh or dangerous on the street?
I've driven some "track only" cars on the street and they are almost uncontrollable on bumpy surfaces.

I also read several things which made me think that 500lb+ spring rates for daily driver would be a little stiff if you have anything but smooth roads where you normally drive:

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/project-fiesta-ford-racing-coil-overs/51241/page1/

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/2012-ford-fiesta/track-testing-our-fiesta/

In the end I decided to wait for something from the high-end makers (Koni/Moton/AST/KW/eibach...ect) with compression/rebound dampening which can help by softening the response when not at the track. Until then I will stay on my progressive-rate Pro-kits...it really just depends on your goals for the car...

Just another opinion. (thumb)

 

[EconoBox]

Don't think about it - just get one. Mazda 2s kick ass!

 

[sketchcouk]

Handling is great! And with all the good stuff lying around, you can make a good car awesome. SO why get a 2? "it just keeps on going!" just like the Energizer Bunny. Its a track car but I do not drive to the track and tow a trailer, I drive the car 120km to the track and drive it home afterwards.

During morning qualifying, I hit a patch of water under braking slid and hit the wall (reverse Bryan's Corner so no run off). Bent the

lower control arm and tie-rod, broke the stab-link, bent the steering shaft, busted the headlamp casing, fender and bumper. We literally jacked up the the lower suspension arm to make clearance for the wheel and when that's done, just needed a liberal amount of duct tape to hold the headlamp and bumper in place (had to ditch the fender). Other than the steering feeling tight, it was still the same. Car was able to finish 5th from 12th on a 8 lap sprint race.

Is it fast? Yes it is for its class, this car can go through corners faster than most of the cars in the field.

Oh, and did I for get to say it looks great?

Still not sold? Drive one and maybe that seals the deal. Mine is a 1300, so if you get a 1500, even better. This is a clip from Round V, still need to upload the latest ones.

Hope that helps.​

 

[Font Motorsports]

@sketchcouk: Nice pass! Sounds good too. Sorry about your crash. Looks like you damage the front lip as well.

 

[Font Motorsports]

@crazyDC5: Welcome!

 

[CorkSport]

Sketchcouk,

Do you have a roll bar in your 2?

OP, the kit we sell is the Bilstein setup and not the B-Spec kit. The B-Spec Bilstein kit runs more race oriented springs and a little different valving.

-Derrick

 

[sketchcouk]

@sketchcouk: Nice pass! Sounds good too. Sorry about your crash. Looks like you damage the front lip as well.

Crash busted everything else but guess what, the lip was fine! Its still screwed on Awesome!

Sketchcouk,
Do you have a roll bar in your 2?

I did, though it was just a street spec cage, brought it to Velocity after the race to get the full cage

OP, the kit we sell is the Bilstein setup and not the B-Spec kit. The B-Spec Bilstein kit runs more race oriented springs and a little different valving.

Can you PM me the details? Thanks!

 

[Font Motorsports]

Crash busted everything else but guess what, the lip was fine! Its still screwed on Awesome!

Nice!!

 

[Jond63]

sketchcouk -- that was so awesome I had to watch it twice! Way to leave that Fit behind in the turn!

 

[crazyDC5]

Well I'm now the proud owner of a 2012 Aquatic Blue Mazda 2 sport! Man this car handles awsome right out of the box. I can't wait to take it Auto X ing!

 

[CorkSport]

Well I'm now the proud owner of a 2012 Aquatic Blue Mazda 2 sport! Man this car handles awsome right out of the box. I can't wait to take it Auto X ing!

Nice

If you run it stock make sure you run those rear tires pressures up to get it to rotate.

 

[PEARLSPEEDWAGON]

I just got a new job selling Mazdas and I've been dying getting to drive all of these cars and not being able to buy one! I wanted to get another Miata to replace my 01 I had to sell years ago for a family hauler. It's finally time again for me to get an Auto X car and Again I was thinking of a Miata........Until I drove the Mazda 2! Man this thing is AWSOME for the price! With my enployee discount from Mazda I can get a touring for $13,000 or a Sport for $12,000. I was thinking of getting the spec B kit from Mazda. My questions are:
Will Mazda let you set up an account if you just Auto X w/ the SCCA?
Is the spec B kit the best setup for track /auto x or is there a better combination?
Which model is better to get for a track car?
Will the Spec B kit be too harsh or dangerous on the street?
I've driven some "track only" cars on the street and they are allmost uncontrolable on bumpy serfaces.

I'm new to the 2. Sorry for all the newbi ?'s.

Hey man. I to work at a mzda dealer and own both a 2012 Mazdaspeed3 as well as a 2012 Mazda2. I drive over a hundred miles a day so it was the perfct choice for a daily. I bought the touring model, 5mt of course. I drove the car for 3 days in stock trim and really did not like it until "Derrick from CorkSport hooked me up".. Now I have a awesome fun daily driver and weekend Auto crosser. I havent even put a set of coilovers on it yet and it already kicks ass. I got the corksport SRI, Front and rear sway bars, H&R springs, braided brake lines, Dot4 Blue Audi Race Brake fluid, and a rear dog bone motor mount. The car is a blast to drive now reminds me of my old CRX from my honda days..

 

[Font Motorsports]

The car is a blast to drive now reminds me of my old CRX from my honda days..

My thoughts exactly!

 

[chumlet]

@ sketchcouk What exhaust are you running? Sounds amazing!

 

[eyeballs]

I'm pretty sure my crx was faster though. I think its funny that my 1988 crx si's 1.6 made 105hp and my 24 years newer mazda 2 has a 1.5 that makes 100 hp. But yea...as soon as I first test drove the 2, it felt very familiar. Just needs a manual rack.

 

[sketchcouk]

@ sketchcouk What exhaust are you running? Sounds amazing!

HKS Hi-Power, there's a bolt-on for the Mazda2

 

[Andy Hollis]

I'm pretty sure my crx was faster though. I think its funny that my 1988 crx si's 1.6 made 105hp and my 24 years newer mazda 2 has a 1.5 that makes 100 hp. But yea...as soon as I first test drove the 2, it felt very familiar. Just needs a manual rack.

CRX Si will feel faster because of the gearing. It has a shorter final drive. The Mazda 2 is geared like a CRX DX.