Tired of my car already...

Discussion in 'Mazdaspeed 3 General Discussion' started by Rgurleyjr, May 18, 2019.

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  1. Rgurleyjr

    Rgurleyjr Greenie Member

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    Not sure what happened exactly. Bought my car 3 months ago, and immediately starting ordering bolt on parts over the first two months. Spent a lot of time on forums, reading and posting.

    Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and I parked my car and driving my Ford ranger. I don't know, just sick of it. One thing is this is my first stick shift in years so I did get tired of that. Been off all speed forums for weeks too.

    Maybe me investing so much time in the beginning caused it. Don't know, maybe I'll come back around...just wanted to share.
     
    Rgurleyjr, via a mobile device, May 18, 2019
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  2. BioBandit

    BioBandit Greenie Member

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    Have you taken it to the track at all? I fall in love with my car all over again everytime I track it

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    BioBandit, via a mobile device, May 18, 2019
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  3. Rgurleyjr

    Rgurleyjr Greenie Member

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    No, I haven't. I suck at launching a front wheel drive and afraid I will break something, lol.
     
    Rgurleyjr, via a mobile device, May 18, 2019
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  4. BioBandit

    BioBandit Greenie Member

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    Check out the local autocross or some kind of track driving. It's a lot of fun when you can open up the throttle, I personally think drag racing is a bit boring, especially with FWD

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    BioBandit, via a mobile device, May 18, 2019
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  5. anthony

    anthony Greenie Member

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    Find a local with a fast one that is willing to take you for a ride, might change your mind
     
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  6. neganox

    neganox Feline Führer Moderator Platinum Member

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    Is it tuned or are you still rocking that hypertech in your sig?
     
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  7. mangosmoothie

    mangosmoothie Silver Member

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    I thought my speed 3 was the most fun with an intake, test pipe, hpfp, and e33 mix pro tune. I also had a tmic but I dont think that really did anything for me on e33. It feels pretty damn fast on the hit. 200 whp at 3k rpm is preeeeety decent.

    I also had a lot of fun meeting local speed guys and going to events like midwest meet and tail of the dragon. Lots of great people.

    But I feel you. I've had my speed for 3 years and I'm tired of it. Before the speed I had a '11 mazda3 2.0 for 5 years and feel like it entertained me longer.

    I'm paranoid it's going to spontaneously explode and now its really only good at 3-4 gear pulls. Spins 2nd with ease. Rattles the interior. Weird exhaust squeaks.

    I think it's time for a jeep for me. That suits my current lifestyle better.
     
    mangosmoothie, via a mobile device, May 19, 2019
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  8. aaronc7

    aaronc7 Greenie Member

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    I agree with mango! There is such a thing as going too far with a car where it's no longer enjoyable and I still struggle with this sometimes. My MS3 I took too far, especially going full motor mounts, BSD etc... it was just a harsh ride. I tried to take my lessons learned with the ST and I just have a tune, intake, and FMIC core upgrade.

    Meet some fellow enthusiasts, go on some spirited cruises, autocross/trackday and I bet you fall in love all over again. Even the drag strip, while I'm not seriously into that, to me is usually a fun time with friends etc.

    ST is my commuter and yeah it gets a little boring and isnt particularly exciting when I go WOT on a straight, flat road. But anytime I get to take it out to the mountains, or autocross or whatever, it comes alive and is a hell of a lot of fun.
     
  9. DubC

    DubC Greenie Member

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    This sort of happened to me. Have had mine since new (2012) and initially did intake, RMM and AP with some OTS tune. It was fine. Eventually did internals and exhaust but that was after 4 years. Paid the car off last year and only now in the last few months did I upgrade with some bit of seriousness with mounts, upgraded TMIC, and a tune and such. Few other random things.

    It is way different now. I do sort of miss the tunes down version. I’m sure it wasn’t efficient. Maybe a tune would have saved me some money. Honestly the harshest bit about it all is probably the catless DP.

    While I wasn’t bored with it, per se, I certainly didn’t care to mod it for a long time. Same thing with my Beretta years ago (if you know what that is, you’re an elder statesman). Put some new rims on it and BOOM! I started to love it again.

    In fact, thinking of rims for the speed. Any small thing could allow you to like it. Though if you’re only 3 months in...maybe you really just wanted a different car. Something with paddle shifting? :)


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    DubC, via a mobile device, May 19, 2019
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  10. Rgurleyjr

    Rgurleyjr Greenie Member

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    Still running the hypertech. Actually impressed with it btw. Total cost for versatuner plus custom tune is around $500 and not interested in the little gains I would get over the hypertech. Not a matter of speed, probably just burned out.
    [doublepost=1558302875][/doublepost]Thanks guys. I really think this is just temporary and I'll come back around. I drove it to the store yesterday and did miss the power. Still have to install raiders bumper fix and my catch can but definitely not in the mood now.

    Gonna drive my truck this week and maybe take the speed out next weekend.
     
    Rgurleyjr, via a mobile device, May 19, 2019
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  11. Easter Bunny

    Easter Bunny Professional Engineer Motorhead Platinum Member

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    As long as you have a hypertech you don’t know what you are missing
     
    Easter Bunny, via an iPhone, May 19, 2019
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  12. Raider

    Raider Administraider Administrator Platinum Member

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    Sheesh. 152k since December 2006,still driving nine around like it's the hotness. Dutch the Hyper fail and that will help a lot.
     
    Raider, via a mobile device, May 20, 2019
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  13. Maisonvi

    Maisonvi Platinum Member

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    You are bored of your speed, but somehow a ranger is ok? Curious about that.

    I dove my speed for 9 years before it decided to go out in all its glory, and loved pretty much every day of it. Its just a fun car. Stock to crazy built up, it was always a good time IMO.
     
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  14. neganox

    neganox Feline Führer Moderator Platinum Member

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    Versatuner and/or cobb's ATR software literally unlocks the entire ECU (for the most part) and allows for tuning the entire car in addition to the two things the hypertech changes. You're really hamstringing yourself with the hypertech.
     
  15. DubC

    DubC Greenie Member

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    I’m selling a V2 for what I think is a fair price. It’s in the sale section here. For that you can unlock the car and either use an OTS tune or get a tune. Well worth it in my opinion. I used an OTS tune for years. Just bought a tune and wow what a difference. But even an OTS unlocks some potential and deletes the torque limitation in 1st (and I think 2nd).

    And this isn’t a shameless plug for my V2...just an option for you to get into the AP world for a relatively low cost.


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    DubC, via a mobile device, May 20, 2019
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  16. Rgurleyjr

    Rgurleyjr Greenie Member

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    Thanks y'all. Like I said, it's not a Matter of speed.. that's why I can drive my slow ranger. I'll try again next weekend and get into boost....
     
    Rgurleyjr, via a mobile device, May 20, 2019
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  17. Rgurleyjr

    Rgurleyjr Greenie Member

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    Actually got in the mood yesterday...was tired of the slow ranger. Been driving it and enjoying it again. I knew it was temporary...now on to install Raiders bumper kit!
     
    Rgurleyjr, via a mobile device, May 24, 2019
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  18. PadreDave

    PadreDave The Padre who loves Speed! Greenie Member

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    Now I know why it is so hard to sell a really nicely modded car in excellent shape! My old body can’t deal with the vibration of my motor mounts and stiffer suspension as a daily driver. I bought a new Acura RDX A-Spec to be my daily driver. I bought a KTuner for it and am installing it next week. It’s a turbo 4 with a 10 speed trans and it doesn’t hurt.....but I take my Speed out at least once a week and the sound is intoxicating. The ZOOM is still fun and I come home smiling, but my back feels it for the next couple of days (I have chronic pain from my first career as a Paramedic). Since I have garage space for the summer, I am not in a hurry but when winter comes in AZ and I lose my free neighbor garage, I am gonna have to move another car out of our garage or leave it outside. Too nice a paint job for that,

    I know.....wha, wha, wha.....Rgurleyjr just got me thinking about why it is hard to find a Speed owner who might like a “done” car for more than low Blue Book value.
     
    PadreDave, via an iPad, Jun 6, 2019
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  19. InkedInspector

    InkedInspector Greenie Member

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    I am kind of where you are, well, were. I bought my speed 3 new in 2013, started with bolt-ons immediately. The truth is, I kept modifying the car expecting it to just become more and more fun, then it reached a point where I realized it wasn't the case for me. In a nutshell, the speeds strong point was being an insanely cheap, fun, practical car. What this means is it is a jack of all trades master of none. As a sports car, it is a deeply flawed platform, but is still a damn blast to drive. It is only marginally practical, but I feel like it becomes less and less so as you modify it. Are modified speeds fun, hell yes they are. But at that point the car becomes more and more of a second car.

    This is my dilemma. To me, the speed is an awful second car. If you are fortunate enough to own a second car, then there are infinite platforms you move to that do not come with the performance compromises inherent to a 4 door FWD hatchback. If I had bought one at the insanely cheap prices they go for now, maybe I would be able to stomach putting more money into it, but as someone that bought it new and sunk money into it, I am hesitant to put in anymore. Thus what I have is a half baked project.

    The result of this in my personal case was I purchased a new Miata. I enjoy it more stock than I ever enjoyed the speed. That said, I appreciate the time I had with the speed when it was newer, and did everything I asked of it as best as it could. At this point though, it is a glorified beater. It's a 6.5 year old car with many hard miles on it. I am torn to sell it for the relative pennies it is worth and I am hard pressed to sink more money into it as a half ass daily. I go back and forth on a path forward every day. I have a few months left to either put some money into it or sell it and buy a new daily before the Miata hits the garage for winter.
     
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  20. anthony

    anthony Greenie Member

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    Sounds like there's no coming back, sell it get a truck to daily and put money into the miata
     
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