brought this home this evening

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 10:24 pm

I picked up Matt's mazda 3 this evening. Fun little car. Not quite the ummmph of the mustang, but fun to toss around and probably gets a little better gas mileage :mrgreen:

Now it's time to explore the car and decide what route to go in regard to autox. Seriously thinking STF. While this doesn't have an LSD, it fit's a ton of my needs right now. It has plenty of go from that 2.3 liter motor and enough bells and whistles to make the car entertaining. The car is solid and complete, just has high miles. PO kept a great binder of receipts and Matt had already installed a trailer hitch. All I have to do now is break out my inner waxer and start the clean up.

Don't think it will be near ready for the Dec autox, mustang has to sell first so I can buy shocks/struts/sways/springs and so on. Speaking of the mustang, someone please buy it. I really don't want to post up on autotrader but the bullitt needs to find a new home now.

steve remchak · **Posted:** Tue Oct 30, 2012 10:29 pm

Welcome to mediocrity, FWD, and well another 8 months or so until you buy another car Rodney.

ADD in a most odd sort of way sir........................

Functional I suppose. If you are good with it who am I to criticize?

Peace :mrgreen:

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

You are welcome to codrive mine at the non points Rodney.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:16 am

Rodney does your 2.3 have the cartridge oil filter bullsh*t? As soon as our Fusion passed the 100K mark and was out of warranty, I switched back to a spin-on immediately. That cartridge crap was messy and twice the cost of a spin-on.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Yes, its cartridge style.

I never have understood why people hate cartridge style filters. Less to throw away, and I don't understand how they are messier. Its got a seperate drain plug in the bottom so that you can drain the filter even. I haven't found them to be any more expensive either, but maybe I just wasn't getting the spin ons as cheap as I could be.

Andrew Jonell · **Joined:** Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:43 pm **Posts:** 1350

Oh man, now I have to decide if I want to mess with STF and lay a beat down on Rodney. Decisions.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:49 am

I encourage Andrew and Rodney both to bring it to STF next year, PLEASE. It could be a ton of fun. I promise my car will be ready for 2013 :lol:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:50 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

Yes, its cartridge style.

I never have understood why people hate cartridge style filters. Less to throw away, and I don't understand how they are messier. Its got a seperate drain plug in the bottom so that you can drain the filter even. I haven't found them to be any more expensive either, but maybe I just wasn't getting the spin ons as cheap as I could be.

Once I removed the plug at the bottom and let it drain for an HOUR. When I came back, and removed the larger "nut" oil still got all over my tools. Changing an oil filter shouldn't require a 3/8" ratchet, special tool for the nut, and a Allen wrench! Does this sound like a German design or what?

The cartridge filter I was buying was almost $9 IIRC, and that's just too damn much. Now I use Wix spin-on filters exclusively because they are good and are made right here in NC (Gastonia). Also since the filter is completely vertical you can fill it with oil before installing it, which I think is a good thing.

The mod is so popular that most Mazda sites sell the kit to change it back to a spin-on. FYI, it takes four bolts, a gasket, and 15 mins of your time to change it.

BTW Rodney, I have the correct tool to remove the cartridge nut if you want it. I sure as hell won't be using it again!

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:54 am

Hmmmm the four banger in our fusion has a spin on filter. Interesting.

Matt McGrain · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:56 am

Vincent Keene wrote:

That cartridge crap was messy and twice the cost of a spin-on.

The BMW cartidges are hands-down the easiest oil filter I've ever changed though...oh the irony

At least on the E46's as they are right on top next to the valve cover.

I don't understand why they used the cartridge either and I wasn't thrilled going to Mazda to get a $35 cartridge remover as none of my filter wrenches came close to fitting.

I'm guessing the previous owner got tired of removing the splash guard. :lol:

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 8:57 am

Cash Davidson wrote:

Hmmmm the four banger in our fusion has a spin on filter. Interesting.

Yours is the newer 2.5L Duratec though right?

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:21 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

I encourage Andrew and Rodney both to bring it to STF next year, PLEASE. It could be a ton of fun. I promise my car will be ready for 2013 :lol:

man, I keep thinking of the money I'll be spending to get into STF vs just staying HS/TIR for next year. Have the think hard on this one, doubles the amount of money I wanted to spend on the car. It's going against my initial driver of wanting to limit the money burn path.

I think some of this will depend on how much I wind up selling the mustang for.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:22 am

Matt McGrain wrote:

The BMW cartidges are hands-down the easiest oil filter I've ever changed though...oh the irony

At least on the E46's as they are right on top next to the valve cover.

I don't understand why they used the cartridge either and I wasn't thrilled going to Mazda to get a $35 cartridge remover as none of my filter wrenches came close to fitting.

I'm guessing the previous owner got tired of removing the splash guard. :lol:

Well, that makes access easy!

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:28 am

RodneyWright wrote:

Ryan Holton wrote:

I encourage Andrew and Rodney both to bring it to STF next year, PLEASE. It could be a ton of fun. I promise my car will be ready for 2013 :lol:

man, I keep thinking of the money I'll be spending to get into STF vs just staying HS/TIR for next year. Have the think hard on this one, doubles the amount of money I wanted to spend on the car. It's going against my initial driver of wanting to limit the money burn path.

I think some of this will depend on how much I wind up selling the mustang for.

Bahhh, its not like any of us have a 100% prepped car. My car was way more fun than I thought it would be on just Star Specs + big ass rear sway bar.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Wed Oct 31, 2012 9:43 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

Bahhh, its not like any of us have a 100% prepped car. My car was way more fun than I thought it would be on just Star Specs + big ass rear sway bar.

Agreed.... I know the 3 needs shocks and struts, the current ones are shot. Since I have to replace those, that invites replacing springs and so on. Was planning on 2 sets of tires, but I guess I could buy just one set for now, star specs or rs-3s. Time to start looking at used stuff on flea bay.

So the next question is how do I set this car up for STF? What's the most bang for the buck in regard to sways? As for the suspension, I'm thinking just some H&R springs and bilsteins. Set and forget. That was a great setup on the 328.

Is there any adjustablity on camber on these cars? Camber plates are always an option in STF...

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