SPEED3 Owners thread - Page 17

Question to BlackDiamond -
 
How did you find out where your car is - my dealer will only tell me that my car is "on the water" and claims he will not know anything else until it actually arrives at the port (of Jacksonville). If you believe him, it is overdue by two weeks. Not that I disbelieve him, it is just that ships dont just "disappear" and that Mazda probably has some method of identifying exactly where the ship is and when it is scheduled to arrive. GPS works on water too!
 
My only disappointment so far has been that the car will arrive without the GPS. I am now researching a portable unit - anyone out there have any experience with portable GPS? The integrated stock unit costs $1700.
 
Soon to be (??) MS3 owner.

The portable ones work great, cost WAY less than the built in ones, and you can move it to your other car or a friend's car any time you want.  I don't know much about built in ones, but for the huge price and portability disadvantage, I don't see why anyone would buy one that way.   

I'm stupid...that's funny.  I'm not the one driving around in the winter with summer tires on my car.  I guess expert drivers like you don't need winter tires though right....
 
Like I said, you'll find out your own way that you need to get the tires...good luck with that...

what do you guys think about heel-toeing with ms3? or with fwd car for that matter?

quote:

ORIGINAL: Funkywinkerbean

How did you find out where your car is - my dealer will only tell me that my car is "on the water" and claims he will not know anything else until it actually arrives at the port (of Jacksonville). If you believe him, it is overdue by two weeks. Not that I disbelieve him, it is just that ships dont just "disappear" and that Mazda probably has some method of identifying exactly where the ship is and when it is scheduled to arrive. GPS works on water too!

 
The dealer may be full of crap, but he said that the ship was due into port on the 18th (last Sunday) and that it still showed "on the water."  He said that until the car actually hits the dock it doesn't change the status.  They gave me a nice loaner so if it is longer I can probably deal with it.  I was working with the internet manager and he pulled up the next two MS3s that were scheduled to arrive together.  Technically, he has no specific evidence that it has arrived in port.  They were going up the chain of command to get the car put on the "hot list" to get it delivered ASAP.

quote:

ORIGINAL: mazdasleep3

what do you guys think about heel-toeing with ms3? or with fwd car for that matter?

 
If I remember correctly, the purpose of heel-toeing is to keep the RPM up slightly during downshifting to avoid compression from locking up the tires.  I'm not sure it would be as critical on the fwd car, but I can't imagine that it would be a bad idea to match the RPM with the lower gear.  It should make the gear changes easier on the car I would think.
 
I talked to a friend of mine today that does auto-cross with his Porsche and he suggested that my wife and I take a class in October.  He said it was about $25 each and would allow us to have some supervised laps on the track with a more experienced driver to help us learn.  He said he has seen the majority of ladies go from about 30% to over 70% of the cars ability in just one day.  I don't really plan on racing my car, but I think it would be excellent for both my wife and I to get some experience pushing the limits in a controlled environment.

quote:

ORIGINAL: mazdasleep3

what do you guys think about heel-toeing with ms3? or with fwd car for that matter?

I think it works well on the street as is.  I do it before a big downshift for gear 6 or 5 going to 3 or 2, and sometimes double clutch to spin up the tranny internals and save wear on the synchros as well.   It allows you to leave the apex of the turn with power on instead of shifting beyond the apex and getting on the gas from there. 

In the not too distant future, I'll try it at the track where brake pedal may get pushed lower than the gas pedal, making it tough to reach them both smoothly at the same time.   I know someone who had to increase the thickness of the brake pedal on a Boxter S to make the brake/gas pedal geometry work at the track.  Based on how it works now under fairly light driving, I would expect to have to do the same on the MS3.

Black Diamond,
 
Just out of curiosity, you say the dealer gave you a "loaner". My dealer offered the same thing to me provided I give him my trade then. I said no - (not that I dont trust dealers, but...) and will keep my car until the MS3 actually arrives - if it arrives....
 
I asked my insurance company about that situation and they reminded me that I must cancel my insurance on my car when I trade it in and that I should be cautious about a "loaner" unless it comes with full insurance (liability especially) which may cost extra above what the dealer carries.
 
Good luck on getting your car "off the water"!

blackdiamond and vaspeed3 thanks for the info. I will be practicing heel toeing with the car turned off first, (by having the car turn off and pumpin of the gas would I be pumpin gas into ports? cause in the old cars before fuel injection u can flood ur engine.) I dont want to do it on a 90 degree corner like on a stop sign, I might inadvertently press too much gas and slam unto oncoming traffic. I need like a course where they let you go wild. Here in new jersey we have Englishtown race tracks. I dont know if they let you rent time on the tracks. I'm about to find out. I need to practice heel toeing on sharp corners.In the spring there is an autocross event for amateurs, it's held where the Giants and the Jets play, they held it on the parking lot. I'm thinkin of joining. I'll let you guys know how I fair.

Hey funky, not sure how your insurance coverage is set up but in my case it was 'transferred' to the new car.  They told me when i buy it to just get in soon after to switch it and untill then i'd still be covered under the current policy.  I have StateFarm and ironically the day i was goona be able to get into their office I checked the mail and they'd already billed me the $40 that it went up per 6mo.; compared to the Protege5!!! pretty rockin eh?  Never even went in.
 
Everyone start knocking on wood now.  I got my car back tonight.  YEAH!  No lights, replaced actuator for the intake manifold.  Hellz yes!  I did'nt realize it was hurting in the power due to the malfunction and my mileage is shooting up on the computer.  We'll see on the next fill up in a week or so.  The replacment of the transmission fluid was a good thing, it's shifting smoothly now all over the board and i'm feeling like the day I drove it home.  I should'nt bore you all with my cheesy storyline so just count me back in on the Happy Speed3 owner tally sheet.
 
I'm digging getting into a Mazda club.  I'm in the Maryland I-70/I-81 area and have a few weeks of vacation to burn!

I ordered a black MAZDASPEED3 GT and mine is "on the water" as well. He said it would be 3 to 4 weeks for delivery. I can't wait...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Funkywinkerbean

Black Diamond,

Just out of curiosity, you say the dealer gave you a "loaner". My dealer offered the same thing to me provided I give him my trade then. I said no - (not that I dont trust dealers, but...) and will keep my car until the MS3 actually arrives - if it arrives....

I asked my insurance company about that situation and they reminded me that I must cancel my insurance on my car when I trade it in and that I should be cautious about a "loaner" unless it comes with full insurance (liability especially) which may cost extra above what the dealer carries.

Good luck on getting your car "off the water"!

 
I actually called State Farm from the dealer and confirmed my coverage.  They assured me that I was covered in the "loaner" and didn't need to do anything until the new car arrived.

Earlier, I had posted a thread about my black car, and the problems I was having with hairline scratches. I am happy to report the problem is solved. I buffed it out using "Pinnacle's Advanced Swirl Remover", and followed it with their polish. Finished it off with a coat of "Meguiar's Gold Class" wax. Now, she is as slick as glass, and not a swirl or hairline to be found. I drove it to work on Monday, and everybody that walked by it stopped and looked. Makes a great car look even better.

My car is now officially on U.S. soil.
 
I'm going to be talking to a local detailer about polycoating the car.  I have seen the results on other cars and it was amazing and lasts for years.
 
Question: What are you all planning to run for oil in the engine?  My dealer offers Redline and the standard service is Quaker State products.  I know I want synthetic, but after that I'm not sure which way to go.  It seems that having Redline in the turbo would be a great ideal. 

I use Mobile One. In my mazda and used to use it in my honda also. Very good synthetic.

Mobil one has always gone in all my cars.    

Hello all. OK count me in. I just put a downpayment on a MS3 GT order. Now all I have to do is decide on a color. Arrest me red and dirty black are out. So what do you folks think. I am leaning toward cosmic blue since there are already so many silver cars on the road and I wanted something different. I have only seen the blue in pictures. I do not want to see it in person and be disapointed.
Any opinions. How about pics of your cars?
I cannot wait. Dealer said 6-8 weeks!
Thanks

Randa let me see if i can round up a few pics for you tomorrow.
RACING STORY!! >>>

I was out on the dual tonight and  could'nt find anyone to talk to, race or even look at for that matter.  Then it happened.  A pack of about 25 cars was comming the other direction (counted later on in the ride).  I catch the nxt U-turn and catch up.  We got R32's a ton of integras, jettas, two gen 3 MR2's and a yellow cobaltSS.  And me.  I hang with the pack from out west, through town and then out towards I-70.  At this point i'm toying around by myself but of course anyone looking would've seen me giddily wasting fuel.  I take the shot that someone might be interested and signal for the freeway,  Bingo.  Bagged a CobaltSS.  Ironically the same one i'd race once before.... the only race i'd made in this car.  SUWEET.  55mph, 3rd, no traction control.  I let him edge up and horn twice.  Then beep...beep...bee-go!  Even start.  I though for sure he was gonna take me the instant we started and then no, and then yes, and then 5th was my ticket to a win. 

He did quite well in hanging with me, and i was feeling good about it as a whole.  Then all of the sudden as i'm slowing from 130, and wondering if he'll come uip and talk, WHOOSH.  He shot between me and the car next to me, i was dumbfounded and did'nt realize it was a car till he was weaving into the cars ahead, eventually making it to the shoulder and continuing.  I brought it to a cruise controlled 65 and tried to wipe the astonishment off my face.  I assume he thought he'd lost with his buddy in the car, but damn he almost toook out a bunch of people in his fit of rage. 

Next exit, and back to the dual.  Got the pack again,, in a lucky timing.  meet the stock looking R32 that sounded all but stock and he asked my if i'd just raced a yellow cobalt and i'm like... "possibly"  smiling and wondering if this was like a sting or something.  It was'nt.  They were his friends and they already heard.  They asked what i'd done to the car and when i replied that it was completly stock one nodded at me and the other said 'good lord' laughing kinda surprised..

Note that the SS had intake, exhaust and a stage I kit, what ever that is

The photos are not appearing in the post.  I'll try again in the morning.

Bro,

That is why i DO NOT street race. That stupid bastard could have killed some innocent people.

quote:

ORIGINAL: zoomzoomwannabe

Bro,

That is why i DO NOT street race. That stupid bastard could have killed some innocent people.

I wish there was a cop there to take your car away.  TAKE IT OFF THE F*CKING STREET!!!

If anything were to happen to that other dude I would lay guilt on you as well for instigating the race.  Do not hink like what you did was right.  Afterall, YOU were the one that put him in that fit of rage.

I hate street racers with a passion.

hey mikems3 my check engine light keeps going on and off too. and it does at time feel like there is a loss of power. one minute the  car is a beast , then the next it seem like a civic screaming to move. It's weird and I'm sending it to mazda to be checked

I have the same problem with my black mica. The swirl and scratches are easily seen. I went to a hand car wash and when I came out I see a lot of scratches. It must have been their dirty cloth or maybe they didnt wash off the dirt before they lather in the soap. I had to call them and they asked me to come back and show them. A waste of time really. But I'll just do what you did with your black mica. Sounds like a solution. Thanks 

Well it was inevitalble that i get flamed in this forum.  Cherry popped.  Keep in mind we were staring at almost a mile of empty and well it freeway, clean clear and dry.  I was slowed to the traffic pace when i got to it.  I've raced twice now in my life.  I'll get to tieing my noose, cause it seems I should be sent to the gallows.  I am a Commercial truck driver.  I see alot of shit you can't even imagine people would do.  on 22 18 10 4 or even 2 wheels people are ignorant and suck.  And all think they are the king of the road.  In this situation It was like being at the drag strip.  Where i'm sure alot of you would like to go.  I am NOT a 'street racer'.  to the other owners of Speed3's i ask expecting no response, how fast have you confirmed you car is able to travel.  Basically the same thing.  So sure, i could have lost control and slamed into the median mountains.  I could have gotten a ticket for speeding or my car taken away.  But sao could i at 68mph in a 65mph zone. 
 
So I apologize for causing all of the illegal action that eve. And for causing someone to be unsafe.  I apologize for pissing him off.  I apologize for making him go between two vehicles in two lanes at triple digit speed.  I apologize.  And on top of the apologetic feelings, i almost don't care what you think of me, but then I do signal, i do merge, i do obey the laws, i do force my passengers to buckler up, i check my tire tread each month, perform routine maintenace, clean windows for ample view, never tailgate, slide over a lane to allow merging traffic to enter without second thought, slow instead of race to pass before the rest of the pack gets by, and so i can't help but respond when you make me out to be some peice of shit whom you despise and had to slam down in your self rightousness before knowing all the facts, before trying to take the calm and informative route of how racing is not safe and is very illegal.
 
Thanks for setting me straight. 
 
And please i've lost two good friends of mine to automobile accidents.  One was hit by a DUI driver and the other fell asleep at the wheel.  Are you going to tell me that my friend since middle school was a bad person for not resting more?  Are you going to fault her?
 
Street Raers, people who would'nt know a law if it hit them, and people who have fun are all different,  Except for one thing.  They all run the risk of an accident, and losing their life when they get behond the wheel of their 3000lb missle.
 
i'm sure you'll lob more fireballs over my castle wall so i'll say now this is all i'm going to respond and all i need to say.

Truered>  Hey man sorry you are having this issue.  Mine was never really timespans of weak or brutal power.  My issue similar to yours was a cut in power, undfer acceleration.  More likea missing all four firse for a round.  The main issue and cause of the others was an Intake Manifold Accuator.  As you can probably imagine that would'nt do anything positive for your efficiency.  Air is your friend.  In my case tyhe light was going on and off because the accuator was'nt malfunctioning all the time.  And so after a few different drives the computer would store the fault but ditch the CEL.  Does'nt mean you can't still pull a code.  And if it is that i prepare you for haveing it adjusted.  Something that may fix it forever.  And then if occurs again, and then again like me lol they'll ship it in from mazda.  But the parts very limited in number.  Hope that helps, a bit in guiding the service team. This problem is well known by mazda by the way.  If theres anything else i can help with or maybe even hook you up with my dealers info, lemme know.goodluck