[Shawn M]

Hi all,

In the market for a new car after my Forester finally went to the great rally in the sky.
41 male drummer, photographer, model maker in St. Louis.
Long time gear head, rally driver, autocrosser, road course driver.
Fell in love with the '3 and am on the search for a manual here.
Joined the forum to get the scoop, hope to be more active once I get the car.

Shawn

 

[M3Nitro]

WELCOME TO THE FORUYM

 

[Road Trip]

Welcome Shawn M! Glad we have another spirited member here. Good luck on your 6M quest. It is worth it! Loving our manual trans Mazda 3.

 

[Rdrokit]

Welcome to the forum. Good luck on the search. Try to get a 3rd gen 3 if you can (2014-2018) as they have the Skyactiv engine and if you carry your drum a hatchback.

 

[GerryB]

Welcome aboard.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using Tapatalk

 

[mmmson]

Welcome to the community @Shawn M!

 

[Shawn M]

thanks Gang!
Spent the week reading through the forum (FANTASTIC information here).
Went out last night and got a 2018 Sport, 5 door, manual trans in Deep Blue Metallic.
Was totally hooked after the test drive, so light and nimble with adequate power to boot.
Just ordered a strut bar from Cork Sport, Rear Sway in the next week or two LOL.

 

[Shawn M]

after reading the 20+ pages on rear bars, I may go progress instead....not sure

pulled the front plate and holder, engine cover (aka heat trap) and the center rear head rest...day 1 mods LOL

 

[Matt22]

Welcome to the club.

 

[Road Trip]

after reading the 20+ pages on rear bars, I may go progress instead....not sure

pulled the front plate and holder, engine cover (aka heat trap) and the center rear head rest...day 1 mods LOL

Congratulations on your finding your great car! I went with Progress, first in the softer postion, but then a couple of weeks later in it’s firmest setting, coupled with GRP endlinks — and am very happy with that combination.

Speaking of links, my build thread in my signature has the places were I bought everything, most of the time part numbers, and pricing.

The most important mod of all, IMO (and I am far from alone on this), was getting better tires. I initially went with fantastic Michelin A/s 3+’s , and they were terrifica on all but one area, i.e., as have other members of the forum who tried them found, that that Mazda 3’s, for whatever reason, eat up the tread too quickly. My Discount Tire store took care of me completely, and I now have an like Continental DWS 06’s (also a A/S — which I need where I live). They are still far better than the factory tires mine came with.

There are also many excellent alternative summer HP tires that will make your car handle even better.

 

[Matagonka]

Nice! Congrats. Pics?

 

[Shawn M]

Thanks gang.

I was surprised to see the endlinks as the weak spot until I went back and reviewed the bar rate differential over stock....WOW. So yeah end links will be purchased as well.
Yes, sticky tires will be added when I swap wheels and tires out next year. For now I kinda like being able to slide 'er around a bit.

I will snap some pics as soon as the rain stops, its been a wet week here.

 

[Mateusz Cich]

Hello Guys!!

Nice to be here and cooperate with you!

Regards
Matt