z31maniac
z31maniac Dork
6/21/10 10:51 a.m.

Thursday I'm going to pick up a black 2010 Mazdaspeed 3.

Unfortunately, I've already found the Corksport website.

Anyone have any idea where the stock clutch starts getting overpowered on these cars? Looks like nearly 300whp in one of these is only ~$800 away.

fastmiata
fastmiata Reader
6/21/10 11:01 a.m.

Talk to Derek at Corksport. He can help you make reasonable mods without requiring too much work or repairs. Intake and downpipe made us happy without getting into the Cobb reprogrammer on the MS6. Have fun, YMMV.

mndsm
mndsm HalfDork
6/21/10 11:07 a.m.

Stock clutch is one of the strongest points on the car. Most seem to be able to hold between 400-450 before they're gone.

z31maniac
z31maniac Dork
6/21/10 11:19 a.m.

^Really? That's pretty impressive.

abumason
abumason New Reader
6/21/10 11:25 a.m.

Congrats on the new car.

Do you need MOAR POWAR right out of the gate though? 800 bones would pay for a decent amount of track time...and help you figure out where you really need to spend to improve to platform.

jus sayin'

ah what the hell am I talking about - full speed ahead

z31maniac
z31maniac Dork
6/21/10 11:28 a.m.

No, definitely not. I'm super hesistant to do anything to a car with a warranty.

I always knew turbo's were easy to make more power with, but an intake/inlet pipe/test pipe being good for 40whp at only $400, that's insane.

And I plan on actually getting this one out to dance with the cones and to Hallett, once the engine is broken-in and it cools down a bit.

pete240z
pete240z Dork
6/21/10 11:28 a.m.

I was standing outside church last night talking to a 16 year old and he asked me if the Mazda 3 stick shift was mine?

Not mine I said but a sweet car. There is even a hotter version which he stamped his approval on. One of those late-40's church ladies drives it and I was impressed by the car. Can we say; Satan?

2002maniac
2002maniac Reader
6/21/10 2:36 p.m.

What did you dislike about the 350z?

Woody
Woody SuperDork
6/21/10 2:44 p.m.

On a car that's known to have a bit of trouble putting down the stock power to the front wheels, I'd take that $800 and put it towards suspension or tires. Keep that warranty intact.

Strizzo
Strizzo SuperDork
6/21/10 2:51 p.m.
z31maniac wrote: Thursday I'm going to pick up a black 2010 Mazdaspeed 3. Unfortunately, I've already found the Corksport website. Anyone have any idea where the stock clutch starts getting overpowered on these cars? Looks like nearly 300whp in one of these is only ~$800 away.

stock will hold for a while at or around 280-300hp/325-350tq at the wheels. mine was fine until about 41k miles, and got the intake at like 8k, accessport at around 16k, then the downpipe at around 24k.

others had similar experiences, but you have some time to get your replacement in order once it starts to let go, it doesn't just come apart one day at least

jrg77
jrg77 Reader
6/21/10 3:15 p.m.

I bet some stainless braided brake lines and some firmer suspension bushings and engine and transmission mounts would help more than power mods to start...

Strizzo
Strizzo SuperDork
6/21/10 3:29 p.m.

oh, and the $45 for the corksport engine mount inserts are well worth it. unless you like the sound of your engine hitting the hood

z31maniac
z31maniac Dork
6/21/10 5:13 p.m.
2002maniac wrote: What did you dislike about the 350z?

Basically lack of room. It's a great GT car otherwise. You could take a weekend trip in it, but not a long road trip like we like to do.

mndsm
mndsm HalfDork
6/21/10 5:43 p.m.

Yeah, get motormounts, and do better shocks and springs. I'm about 40-50 horse above stock, and on wider tires, and that power is USELESS. Also, RSB. RSB is your friend.

z31maniac
z31maniac Dork
6/21/10 5:58 p.m.

RSB?

mndsm
mndsm HalfDork
6/21/10 6:13 p.m.

Rear Sway Bar. Should have clarified, my bad. I have a full set of Hotchkis sways in mine. The gain in the front is debatable, but the rear is a LOCK, and takes like... 15min to install.

RexSeven
RexSeven Dork
6/21/10 6:16 p.m.

I'd skip past the rear engine mount insert and get a whole new upgraded rear engine mount. I have a CP-E 75-durometer rear engine mount on my '07 MS3 and it does a great job of holding the engine in place, with only slight vibrations when the A/C kicks in while at a stop. It takes some of the slop out of the shifter and reduces wheel hop somewhat.

+1 for upgraded struts, though I've heard the stock 2nd gen. MS3 struts are much less floaty than the 1st gen. struts.

An intake will net anywhere from 7-10hp (yes, they are that choked from the factory) and gets you a nifty "pssshhhttt" sound from the BPV. I'd go with a SRI since I've heard horror stories about CAI-equipped MS3s sucking in water through the low-mounted filter. I think the Mazdaspeed intakes can be configured as a CAI or a SRI, while Corksport, CP-E, and Cobb all make SRIs.

Finally, when the warranty period is over, get an oil catch can, esp. if you start doing serious racing. The PCV system lets a lot of gunky blow-by into the intake manifold on these engines and Mazda hasn't addressed this yet.

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