Hello all,

First, I'll start off by saying I've always been a Honda fan, and got into Audi since I previously owned an A4. However, after driving my '08 Mazda 3, I kind of fell in love...almost! Being a drummer, I had to have a hatchback to fit whichever kit I need for a show. It has plenty of room for that and handles very well. As for complaints:

1. I have a tiptronic auto. Is there any way to change the quickness of shifts?

2. Is there any way to put paddle shifters on the car?

Thanks for any help offered!

 

I admit that I have only ever had two experiences w.the so-called tip-tronic trans, and they were loaners from my dealer.
Personally, I was unimpressed. Tip-tronic is nothing but a more accurate way of "shifting" the automatic into the next gear, as opposed to the old school notch method. The transmission itself is nothing more than your average slush-box.
I am not aware of any aftermarket company that has thought enough of them to produce a shift kit or a reprogram for the trannies PCM. So IMO, no, you're stuck with what ya' got. Put it in Drive and leave it there, 'cause shifting it manually produces nothing but noise and bad fuel economy.

Paddles might be done, but I am a dyed-in-the-wool standard shift driver. I have seen "universal" paddle kits available. As for what they fit or how easy they are to install on a 3, I can't say. But the fact is that you will still end up with the same slow reaction time from the tranny. Why bother?
Save your money for some new Zildjians!! (Yes, I too have been a drummer in a former life.)

 

How about converting your car to a real honest-to-Jones three pedal manual transmission? That's probably the only way you'll ever be able to change the shift speed of your transmission. Yeah-yeah, I know, "not practical"; well, I tried.

 

AS far as speeding up shifts I think you're SOL. AS for paddle shifters it can be done. Hit up upashi from mazda3forums..... he retrofitted the paddle shifters from the RX8 onto his car.

 

As you already indicated Dale, modern cars are not as easy to convert as they were in the old-school days.
You still need all the same parts, bell housing, clutch assem, pilot bearing, flywheel, 3 pedal assem, shifter and some way to activate the clutch (linkage, cable or hydraulics,) but now you also need a new PCM and wiring harness too!!

 

As I'm not so happy about being able to change shift times, I am slightly excited about the paddle shifters. Regardless, out of all the cars on various lots I saw and drove, the Mazda3 was by far the most fun, even in automatic form. Just a few examples:

newer eclipse - this car is really heavy and easily noticable, plus visibility was terrible. Trying to back it into a parking spot was an act of God

scion tC - decent looking car and interior. the trans was simply not comfortable at all.

'09 Pontiac Vibe GT - I won't lie, there wasn't anything really wrong with it. In fact, I almost bought it. However, the Mazda3 is infinately better at everything.

Virgin1, I'm more of a Paiste guy, but I do have some Zildjians. Thanks for the help.

 

Unfortunately, I know a number of Mazda3 owners that after living w/the tip-tronic for a while wished they had gotten a 5-6-speed car. Some did by trading theirs in for a newer one. 'Must be nice. I couldn't afford to do that because of the transmission choice I had made.

I too have both in my kit, and I do like Paiste cymbals, but they are so bloody expensive these days!!!!
Years ago (and I do mean YEARS) I traded two Ludwig badged Paiste cymbals, a 16" thin-crash (more like med-thin in Zildjian terms) and an 18" med-ride, for a real 20" Paiste ride. It's been in my kit ever since. I LOVE the bell tone it has.
But I also have a couple of Zildjian crashes that I bought new back in the day.
I don't play that much any more though. Life, marriage and responsibility have finally caught up with me.
This was me in my last band... c1994.... Oh and there's the Paiste front and center. The two Zildjians are on the sides.

Enjoy it while you can, my friend, because you never know when life may take it away from you.

 

Geez Richard,

I had hair about like that (straighter but just as long) back in that era, and when I joined Uncle Sams Misguided Children they gave me, as my "Welcome to the Corps" gift, a Mohawk in reverse.