New Mazda 3 owner, and new to the forums
 

Hey everyone. Just wanted to introduce myself, as I am a new Mazda owner, and new to this community. I recently purchased a 2004 Mazda 3, 4 door for a little over $8,000. It only has 50,000 miles on it, and is in excellent shape. It has black interior, with leather seats. And yes, that is a 2 way radio on the console. I am a volunteer firefighter also.

I'm eager to be involved, and look foward to meeting everyone. Attached are some pictures for everyone. Thanks for looking !!!!!

<a href="http://s179.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=100_0726.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...n/100_0726.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s179.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=100_0723.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...n/100_0723.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s179.photobucket.com/albums/w...t=100_0722.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w...n/100_0722.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

RE: New Mazda 3 owner, and new to the forums
 

Welcome to our Little World [8D]

RE: New Mazda 3 owner, and new to the forums
 

Welcome to the forums. Sounds like you got a great price on your car, though with 40k miles on my '05 I'd like to think I could do better than $8,000. You'll find lots of great information here and we're always happy to help out with questions.

I'm not digging the radio mounted there that much as it tends to interrupt the flow of the dash just a tad. Is the radio a single unit or is the "brain" mounted somewhere else with just the head mounted on the dash. My personal preference would be to find a radio with a modular head and mount it above the rearview mirror, then mount the brain under a seat and run the mic cable from that. Alternately kenwood might make an extension for the mic cable so that you could mount it up high and then run the extension down so that the mic comes out somewhere else. Then there wouldn't be a cable hanging across your vision. What model radio is it? Looks like a TK-690/790/890. VHF, UHF, 800Mhz?

Oh and you're going to want to move your change somewhere else. When you accelerate it's all going to fly backwards and down the opening for the e-brake. It's super easy to take the center console apart and get it all out, but just to save you the time. ;)

I realize your plates are temporaries, but in the future you may want to avoid posting pictures with your plates on them. Just FYI. Where in NC are you located/ what department do you volunteer with? I'm a paramedic in Forsyth County (Winston-Salem).

A little help for you. :D

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RE: New Mazda 3 owner, and new to the forums
 

Thanks for the responses. I'm in Rowan county, so not to far away from Forsyth. I actually used to work for Cavalry up there from 2003 - 04, but left due to some politics. I volunteer with Pooletown, little department in the southeast corner of the county.

And the radio is a TK-790 (VHF), 45 watt, with the "brain" mounted in the top of the trunk, as not to sacrifice space. I did move the change this afternoon after the pics were taken. Got tired of picking it up, lol. I checked with all my Kenwood people before doing the install, but couldn't find a way to run a remote cable for the mic because of the type of connector the 790 uses.

BTW, since you are a Medic in Forsyth, do you know Jim that used to be the director there at Cavalry? If so, tell him Daniel Said hey.

Anyway, thanks for the advice. I've had the 3 for about a week, and I love it. I've got a 2002 F-150 with a lot bigger motor, and I get more power outta my 4 cylinder Mazda. I love it, lol.

RE: New Mazda 3 owner, and new to the forums
 

nice car! welcome and enjoy the ride.

RE: New Mazda 3 owner, and new to the forums
 

I never met Jim, but I know several people that worked for Cavalry or who know him otherwise. I'll tell them to say hey..... should confuse the hell out of him. :lol: You know they just shut down this past year, right?

Too bad on the extension for the mic..... I was hoping for that one. :( Oh well.

You'll find lots of good info here, however if you're looking for local meet info. you might want to check out www.carolinamazdas.com. They're a lively bunch over there and tend to have meets pretty frequently.

And I totally understand the more power thing. My old car was a '88 Ranger 4-cyl that had 98HP when it came off the line. Trust me it didn't have that by the time I got it.

RE: New Mazda 3 owner, and new to the forums
 

My 03 F150 is still faster than my 3, but not by much. But then again it is Chipped, has an Cat back exhaust and has a CAI on it[8D]

RE: New Mazda 3 owner, and new to the forums
 

Spots,

I was aware that they were shut down by the county. Thats why I left when I did. There were alot of things going on that I didn't agree with, especially when I was asked to falsify reports. I have never & will never do that. After Jim left & went to the county, it all started going downhill pretty fast.

Anyway, thanks for the responses again, and look foward to talking more.

RE: New Mazda 3 owner, and new to the forums
 

8K was a great price. I sold my 3i 4-doora few months back with 56K miles for $10,500.