Hello,

I'm new to the forum, imagine that, considering I'm posting in the newbie section.

Anyways, I just recently bought my first car and I love it. It's an 08 Mazda 3 Sport HB, white. It's amazing. Just figured I'd join in case I needed some help.

There is a lot of really nice Mazdas on here.

 

Welcome to the family timk125!! Good choice of body style and of colors too!!
V V V
Is it auto or 5-sp? Any other options? Do you have any pics you can post yet?

For a minute there I thought you might be an old friend of mine who might also go by timk on the web... but alas, you are too young.

 

Just an automatic, unfortunately

It's the sport edition it just has cloth seats, all the fancy steering wheel controls, six disk changer, sunroof. BIG upgrade from my Civic. I was actually looking at a 07 Si but I am really happy I ended up in this Mazda.

 

OK, I'm not wishing any bad luck on you but be aware that the 6-disk changer is more susceptible to problems than is the single CD player. I was going to convert and searched hard for a take-out HU for a while, but am now glad I stuck w/the single disk player.
Cloth seats? I LOVE cloth seats!! I prefer them to leather, which is hot in the summer and cold/clammy in the winter months, and requires constant attention. Good move there, imo.
SUNROOF!!! When shopping for the Mazda I told my wife, " My next car HAS to have a factory sunroof!" (I can't stand the aftermarket alternatives.) I wanted a sunroof so badly in mine, but in '04 when I bought mine new the only car in town left w/a sunroof was yellow, which was OK by me, but also had (black) leather interior, an automatic trans axle and was $2k more!! I still want an sunroof, but not that badly.
The Mazda has more torque to begin with. The Honda doesn't make anything unless you rev to 7k rpms, but then it screams!!
The Mazda will also sound better (i.e. not ricey) if you decide to put an exhaust on it. A Honda will always sound w/an exhaust.

 

I'll keep that in mind.

The cloth seats are definitely okay by me especially with our long hot humid Texas summers.

Sunroofs are definitely an amazing option, I loved the one I had in my old Civic.

I am absolutely happy with my decision on the Mazda, its soooo quick and insanely fun to drive. The handling is incredible. I feel like I'm on rails and the car goes exactly where I want it to.

Exhaust and maybe a CAI are in the future. I'm not sure about the CAI because I ended up having to replace the motor on my old Civic because it sucked in water. One of those freak Texas thunderstorms and somewhat poor judgment on my part.

 

Ah, what part of Texas? The South? The East?
As you can see, we are near the Austin area where it isn't usually too humid, but the sun and +/-105* summer temperatures can rip the hide right off the back of a black angus!!

There is a debate going on here, and on other forums too about whether or not a CAI/SRI is really worth the money. I have the Mazdaspeed, but frankly didn't/don't notice much difference, if any at all. No noticable power increase and no increase in fuel mileage either.
I bought mine new/used from another member that got two and decided to go w/the F5 instead of the MS. Since I was looking at the MS and the AEM (one in the same) I bought his for a nicely reduced price and still don't know whether it was worth it or not.
The Injen is one of the very best according to the numbers others have posted, but it is pricey too. (+/-$263 for a piece of pipe, some silicone connectors and an air filter?)
If nothing else, it does clean up the engine compartment a bit, but make the filter harder to clean/change. And you get that slight sucking sound when you get on it.

If you want what I consider to be a really nice, non-ricey exhaust, consider the Vibrant. It is pricey, but if you consider that is comes w/a high-flow cat as part of the system, and the system bolts together (instead of clamps) w/3-bolt flanges, I felt it was the only choice for me.
Add to that I work very early in the morning and have neighbors plus I didn't really want that "open header" sound. It's makes enough noise when you get on it, but is reasonably quiet when pulling out normally. You always know its there though.
Adding a header, which I have no plans to do, would make it even louder.

 

I live in the North. Just north of Dallas actually.

I'll look into the exhaust for sure, thank you for the recommendation. I work early in the mornings too so anything too loud would be a negative. I wouldn't be happy being woken up by some kids car, so why be that kid?

So headers aren't really anything to write home about? Or just something you personally don't like?

Also. Intake manifolds? Is it worth getting an aftermarket one or would just a polish and porting be just as good on the stock one?

 

Headers are possible and some really like them. I would really like them if they weren't such a problem legally.
They often cause CELs, but there are ways around that. They often do have that metallic ping-ping sound, and they do make any exhaust a bit louder.

As for intakes, there aren't many option that I know of, and the ones that are are very expensive, hard to come by and still require modification in order to fit/work correctly.

If you aren't planning an all-out show or race car, and this will primarily be your DD, I wouldn't waste your time and money. Port and polish if you must. Perhaps you might find some mods that can be done to the OE intake that will make a difference. We would all be interested in that, I'm sure. But also keep in mind that with all the electronics controlling everything in cars these days, you might also open up a can 'o' worms, if you know what I mean? Are you prepared to take that chance? Are you feelin' lucky?

 

Hahaha nice.

I have a 2003 Protege 2.0L (as my name might imply). I got a Vibrant Short Ram Intake (SRI) for around $100, shipped to my local machine shop. It was simple to install and looks nice in the engine bay, but I didn't notice any big improvements to power. It does reduce pumping losses a bit. Didn't throw a CEL either.

The only issue was that it came with one too few hose clamps, but I picked one up at Princess Auto for a couple $ (you can get them at many stores for cheap).

I'm not sure how different a SRI would be for your 3, but if you are considering one I'd recommend looking into a Vibrant.

 

Based on the title of this thread that Tim chose, perhaps I should have said, "Are you feelin' lucky, (new) Kid?" ROFL!!!!

Based on the port 'n' polish comment, I assumed that he meant intake manifold, not just a CAI/SRI.
The only one I know of that will fit the 3 series, and again not w/o some mods is the Cosworth from europe. I have read that it has been discontinued and is VERY hard and expensive to acquire. $600 would be a good deal. They go up in cost from there, so I have read. I'm not sure it's really worth that just for a DD or weekend warrior car?

BTW, here's a link for a look: http://www.cosworthusa.com/store/pc/...&idproduct=304



CAI/SRI's are everywhere, but I am not familiar w/any from Vib that fit a 3 series... only their exhaust, which I have (and love) on mine.