[PoppinBC]

Just out of curiosity... I know there are reasons why everyone flocks towards Miata's / Civics, but I was just curious. I got a Mazda3 as a commuting car for college, but I figured when I graduated I could trade in / sell.

But I was just curious... anyone ever tried it / know anyone who's tried it? I still want to get an old Ford van, some videos of it floating around, guy gutted, swapped, and tuned it... it's a monster!

[OMGHIyori2U]

I'm sure there are some, but I haven't heard or seen any modified 3's in my area.

The Mazdaspeed 3 on the other hand, is a different story.

[Laxntiga]

Just out of curiosity... I know there are reasons why everyone flocks towards Miata's / Civics, but I was just curious.

28+ MPG, car costs under 3k, low maintenance costs, reliable and dependable.

I woulda got a Mazda3 as a daily if I had the money.

I bought the Miata because I wanted to have some fun in the sun, great car hands down. Congrats on the Mazda3, just drive it forever and pick up a fun car after you graduate.

[boost]

28+ MPG, car costs under 3k, low maintenance costs, reliable and dependable.

I woulda got a Mazda3 as a daily if I had the money.

I bought the Miata because I wanted to have some fun in the sun, great car hands down. Congrats on the Mazda3, just drive it forever and pick up a fun car after you graduate.

did you even read his post?

[kelvin6]

Some people choose their cars based on the aftermarket performance availability to them. Of course the Civic for example will have many options and performance items to choose from instead of something less common.
Of course when there are more aftermarket items available to the car and more and more manufacturers making them, prices are cheaper too, making the it a more desirable car to tune (for less $$$).

I'm almost certain there is more aftermarket items for a Mazda 3, then lets say my Volvo. Even the simple enhancements (looks or performance) costs so much since there are very little people making products for our cars and not as many performance upgrades. It costs $900 for a ECU reflash (chip) for my Volvo. Your Mazda 3 has a bigger performance market than my car... i'm pretty certain about that.

[Laxntiga]

Woops, I swore he said he DOESN'T know why..... My mistake, sorry poppn.

So many haters on Miatas, I'm always defending my princess.

[PoppinBC]

Some people choose their cars based on the aftermarket performance availability to them. Of course the Civic for example will have many options and performance items to choose from instead of something less common.
Of course when there are more aftermarket items available to the car and more and more manufacturers making them, prices are cheaper too, making the it a more desirable car to tune (for less $$$).

I'm almost certain there is more aftermarket items for a Mazda 3, then lets say my Volvo. Even the simple enhancements (looks or performance) costs so much since there are very little people making products for our cars and not as many performance upgrades. It costs $900 for a ECU reflash (chip) for my Volvo. Your Mazda 3 has a bigger performance market than my car... i'm pretty certain about that.

Good to know, that's what I figured... I just hadn't seen any tuned Mazda3's before (not even mazda3speeds in my area), and hadn't really looked into the after-market for availability. Just thought it might be interesting to try.

Yeah, Miata's are all over... some are tuned well, some are... yeah. If it was an option, I'd get an RX-7 and tune it, but those are so hard to find clean (I'd like to start fresh).

I have an '08 Mazda3, and 28+ is actually more like 35+, I typically get right around 36, and I drive small city. Insurance is low, high reliability, repairs are cheap, it's a pretty good deal.

I might have to do some research on the body / performance upgrades for a Mazda3 now...

[Laxntiga]

Why tune the Mazda 3? Why not just keep it the way it is and keep it the dependable beater it is?

Pick up a miata, you can find em under 3k!

[OMGHIyori2U]

I got a Mazda3 as a commuting car for college, but I figured when I graduated I could trade in / sell.

I might have to do some research on the body / performance upgrades for a Mazda3 now...

wasting money if you're just going to sell it in 4 years.

[phantompc4]

because mazda3 werent meant to go fast

[mroh]

so ZOOM ZOOM is just false advertisement? lol anyways my guess was that civics and cars alike are just easier to find dirt cheap especially the older ones. and i guess they just have a reputation for tuning now so they have an easier backing. and no i dont know anyone personally who tuned a normal mazda3, just speed3s

[PoppinBC]

wasting money if you're just going to sell it in 4 years.

The idea is that I would do one of the following:

1.) Trade it in, then get a new car (supposedly RX-8 is being phased out soon for a new sports car)
2.) Keep it, and tune it

Not tune then sell in 4 years.

[v8subie]

or keep it as a beater and buy a used sports car? best solution.

[PoppinBC]

or keep it as a beater and buy a used sports car? best solution.

I'm trying to get a job in a city (and most of the jobs for my field will be in large cities), if that works out then I'll be taking primarily public transportation, and would only really need one vehicle; this is my #1 option if I go to a small city / suburbs, but in a city trying to keep 2 cars is a pain.

Part of the reason trade-in was such a good deal for me is the dealer guarantees 50% returns on trade-in if you buy from them. So if there really is a new rotary sports car in 2013, then I could get around $9,000 off its sticker price, plus I will barter the living crap out of them (I saved around $2000 on my car plus I got them to give me free floor mats, free sun screen, and free oil changes for 3 years).

[Laxntiga]

What is your definition of "tune" ?

[OMGHIyori2U]

What is your definition of "tune" ?

my guess is tune = modifying any part of the car whether it be cosmetic or performance

[phantompc4]

The idea is that I would do one of the following:

1.) Trade it in, then get a new car (supposedly RX-8 is being phased out soon for a new sports car)
2.) Keep it, and tune it

Not tune then sell in 4 years.

your gonna have to wait until at least 2010 for a new rx, that's even optimistic. I'd say 2011 for the new one. 16x baby

[PoppinBC]

your gonna have to wait until at least 2010 for a new rx, that's even optimistic. I'd say 2011 for the new one. 16x baby

Which is convenient, given I'm going to graduate probably in 2013 given grad school... which is why I'm thinking through these options =)

[InfiniteTime]

I personally wouldn't tune a Mazda 3, if I had a family I would buy that car if no van catches my eye. I think it;s pretty comfortable. You can try though, I have a friend who got it in stick. Donno what else he done to it though.

[heyitzthatfc]

Why don't you just go into it with a the idea of "modding things to your preference, but not expect much out of your car"?

I don't see what's the problem of changing a little bit of cosmetic features here and there, or maybe get a few extra horses, but you shouldn't try and go overboard and try to make your car into something it isn't.

I've seen one MS Mazda 3, only slightly tuned and used as a DD, it looked nice, but was average at best.