OT...Lovin' my New Ride!

[NanoKat]

Well, the PT was a little 'long in the tooth,' so I had to break down and get something else. Recently it had a strange electrical problem and it really scared me into thinking that it's an american car with 124k on it...lots o miles for that little puppy. I know that I needed tie rods, brakes, maybe catalytic converter or manifold, and other assorted things to be repaired, so it certainly added up and I would rather put that $$ into something else to get me around.

I had been admiring the Mazda3 from afar for quite a while. Even had one as a rental when the PT was getting painted after hurricane Wilma. Loved it! Reminded my of my good ole Protege. Anyway, recently I looked into the Mazdaspeed3 GT which is my dream car at the moment, but only that, just a dream as it's $24k! Then I found a special edition 3 that was put out in 2005, the sp23...but those are few and far between, so I settled for the 3s hatchback (5 door). Found one at a dealer yesterday with 42k for a great price. It's super clean and really fun to drive. The s model includes the 2.3l engine which is quite peppy and fun. It has the 4 speed auto tranny with the manual shift option which adds to the fun. The auto will also leave my commute easy as it has been in the PT. At least this car can get out of its own way as the PT couldn't!

Are you lovin' your ride? If so, post a pic here!

Here's mine:

 

[bawla47]

i like!

ive been driving a grand cherokee for a few years and absoluetly love it, just gas SUCKS! i get around 215 miles to 17 gallons

been looking for a mazda 3, black on black auto for a good price, ill prob post and bring this thread back from the dead when i FINALLY find one!

enjoy it, let us know if you have any problems

 

[macawmagic]

don't have a pic of my car...but its a 2004 volvo s60 R. deff a sweeeeet car! my fav part about it is that nobody knows anything about it! 300 hp inline 5 turbo AWD. full luxury, but still super fast stock. I wanna go testdrive the mazda 3 and 6, but the speed versions. rumor is they've got some get-up. but congrats on the new car!

 

[NanoKat]

Yeah, as I said the Speed is my dream car. Just couldn't justify $20k for a used one which someone has already driven and probably hard at that. Or it would be about 24k new. Sweet setup with over 160hp turbocharged 2.3l and 6 speed manual. Also couldn't see driving that in traffic every day.

I figure there's enough aftermarket stuff out there for me to tweak this one as I like. Looking for a cold air/cone air filter setup for it. Later on might change out the exhaust for some form of high flow system. At least it is still fun to drive already though...the PT was very lacking there.

Those Volvos are sweet rides too...Randy had a rental in California and loved hitting those mountain roads in one. Europeans usually have a good combo of power and handling in their vehicles. I like Mazdas because they have the Japanese reliability and decent power.

 

[reefsahoy]

i got one of those mazda 3 2007 for my daughter and i love it! the only thing is the milage is not that great for a small car but the performance is really nice! i had my eye on the civic coupe and test drove it. then i test drove the 3 and that was the end of the competition! mazda 3 hands down.

 

[racermike27]

Nice ride Kat!

Here is an older pic of my integra LOL. It has some get up and go...

 

[NanoKat]

What kind of mods do you have on that Integra? I see something inside that front airscoop that looks aftermarket!

I also need to work on my other ride that is my "pleasure" vehicle. It's a 1989 Ford SHO...w/ Yamaha v6 and 5 speed manual...super fun car, just needs some tlc since it's been sitting for a while. The last time we drove it, it overheated. Think it needs a thermostat.

Now that I'm on the subject, does anyone have a good mechanic to work on these more performance type vehicles that not outrageously priced? The SHO needs lots of work and I'd like to do a little at a time with a mechanic I like that appreciates the nature of the vehicle.

 

[macawmagic]

haha...racermike's car is everything but stock! LOL.

 

[racermike27]

Hey Kat,

I unfortunatley don't know of many mechanics that would give te same tlc we would give to our own cars LOL. I do most of wat I can myself for my car.

The integra has some mods done to it. It is a fun drive when it is not giving me a headache LOL. The aftermarket piece in the front is my intercooler.

If I can find a pic of the 350Z I'll post that up too. Gotta check for a recent pic though.

 

[NanoKat]

Intercooler...sweet! Turbo, huh?

That's the tough thing with older cars. I love working on them, but we live in a condo and I can't do any work here. Can't wait to have a house with an actual garage to put the SHO in so I can work on it.

 

[ReefWreak]

Nice new ride Kat.

My g/f has the non-hatchback sedan Mazda3 in bright blue. I love driving her car. It's the same chassis as my S40 (since Ford owns Volvo and Mazda3, the S40, M3, and Focus [i believe] all share the same chassis) but her car is much lighter than mine, but I've got tighter suspension.

Very nice car though, and enjoy it in good health

 

[smchais]

Nice car.

 

[Ding2daDong]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12051662#post12051662 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by racermike27
Nice ride Kat!

Here is an older pic of my integra LOL. It has some get up and go...

How about a 20 roll to 70mph? You will be spinning the whole time.

Now if you took out the Z to make me feel bad then that wouldn't be good for me.

Nice ride Kat!

-Matthew

 

[racermike27]

Hey Matt, I'll run you on a 20mph roll to 70mph! LOL.

Low boost baby.........with radials.

Thats just one gear, so I don't even have to shift LOL.


The Z is even worse, it is all over the place and it is on low boost LOL. If you stomp it from a 5mph roll the back ends gets too happy. The VQ is a real torquey engine to begin with.

 

[Lacy]

Nice car Kat!!
Mike and I just drive the typical autos. He drives a BMW and I drive a Chevy Avalanche. We both still prefer flying a plane than driving. Nothing else like it. :thumbsup: Granted, we do a h*** of a lot more driving than flying. Plane rentals are so expensive.
Renee

 

[pedromatic]

Congrats, Kat. I had a PT for 4 years and couldn't wait for the lease to be up. It's an extremely practical car, but slow and boring. I'm lovin' my CX-7, but it requires premium gas.

 

[AquamanE]

Love my ride!! This one tops my Beemer!
:rollface:

 

[macawmagic]

haha...I was told I was being disowned if I ever bought a bike. I WISH!!! I still wanna build one...well more piece it together with a little customization, but that'll have to be in the future.

 

[jeffbrig]

Congrats on the new car NanoKat! Hope you enjoy it, I've heard a lot of good things about the Mazda 3 overall.

Here's my ride:

240hp, 9000rpm redline, and a sweet 6-speed manual. Amazingly impractical, but an absolute blast to drive.

I bought it new in 2002, and I like it just as much today as the day I drove it off the lot.

 

[racermike27]

Hey Jeff,

Where did you get your volk's? Also what size did you get?