My formal intro....

[ovie8]

I've been on this forum since May of this year...been pretty much soaking in info as I am a noob in modding and I guess this would be my first formal intro

So I'm originally from Toronto but moved to Waterloo when I attended UW. I graduated couple years ago and have been working in Waterloo since then.

Now for the car, after three months of waiting I finally picked up my 2010 Mazda3 GS Sport CWP this past Saturday. I had actually signed the paperwork and left the deposit the first week of June. Why did it take so long?? Well dealer promised delivery in 3 weeks but of course they couldn't find one and so I had to wait for a shipment from Japan which came in first week of August. Of course I had to break my leg playing hockey (first week of July) and only came off my cast 2 weeks ago.

Though I am still limping around with one crutch and should be like this for at least another month, I'm really excited that I was finally able to pick up my car. The only downside at this time is that it's a manual. I've only driven a manual 5 times at most and it was at least 5 years ago but since then I've always wanted a manual car. This made my one hour drive in pretty heavy bumper to bumper traffic from Toronto to Waterloo quite interesting. Add to that a stiff ankle with very minimal motion, I sure got work out, along with my clutch. I think I took about 6 months life out of it already :bang..lol so I really think I need a lesson from an experienced manual driver...lol…I’m quite satisfied with the purchase. Kind of second guessing why I got manual but I’m sure that will change once I get my shifting up to par…lol…

The only mod I have are tinted windows. Don’t think I will do much this year, with winter coming. Probably just HID’s and rally armour mud flaps…also winter tires if that counts.

Future mods:
Drop – most likely on coil overs
Rims – still undecided on the look but it will between black or gold/bronze in colour
Exhaust – something mild like racing beat
Skirts – will wait to see if nextmod has some new styles coming in
MS3 – maybe but should be one of the last thing I would do

Those will be the major ones, I’m sure I’ll do minor ones along the way as well. I’ve got to say, there are many awesome rides on this forum. Particularly Floodgatez and GWN has really been inspiring. A lot of the 04-09’s are really well done too, I just haven’t really followed it as much.

Sorry about the novel I wrote. I look forward in meeting you guys at meets. Hopefully most will be on weekends, when I head back to TO.

-Vic

[raghtal]

Yay for Waterloo! I liked it so much, I went twice (undergrad and masters).

Welcome!

Wagons FTW!

[hastiej]

Welcome to the club and congrats on your purchase!!!.. sucks about the leg man...

regarding learning manual... my first advise is this, low RPM shifting like under 3k from 1st to 2nd, the two hardest gears to deal with are 1st and 2nd when your starting out, when you drive, get a feel for where your clutch release is so you get the gas to clutch release timing.

On hills, your parking break is your best friend, pull up a couple of notches to prevent you from rolling back, but not from making you go forward.. of course, until you get more comfortable.

empty parking lots are your friend, when i bought my first manual, (my dad taught me manual on a 64 ford falcon.. 3 on the tree for the win!!) I went to like an empty parking lot and practiced starting off in 1st using no gas, this helped me get a feel for where the clutch releases. takes things slow, and you'll learn fast, enjoy the ride, before you know it, driving manual will be like breathing..

J

[hit26k]

congrats on your purchase! sorry about your leg. it sucks getting a new car and not being able to enjoy it right away. as for rims, i'm being bias but i think gunmetal rims would kick ass (see sig below).

[ovie8]

congrats on your purchase! sorry about your leg. it sucks getting a new car and not being able to enjoy it right away. as for rims, i'm being bias but i think gunmetal rims would kick ass (see sig below).

I was almost gonna bite on the Rx8 rims a member here had up for sale and power coat it a dark gunmetal like you...but I didn't want to steal your look

But I really like the look of your ride...it has a really clean look to it

[hit26k]

I was almost gonna bite on the Rx8 rims a member here had up for sale and power coat it a dark gunmetal like you...but I didn't want to steal your look

But I really like the look of your ride...it has a really clean look to it

thanks! i'm aiming for clean. to me, simple is sexy. lol

as for the rx-8 rims, i say take em and get them powder coated a lighter shade or even black.

[RECREATIONAL_ANXIETY]

My Formal Welcome...
Welcome Abroad and congrats on the purchase! I'll look for you around K-W... you'll have to do something different to your car so we can spot you easier!

[gretzky]

welcome. im in waterloo right now for school so i will keep a look out for your ride.
dont worry about the manual, the 3 is a very easy car to learn on. just feel where the clutch engages and practice, before you know it it will be a habit.
good luck and congrats on the ride

[ovie8]

Thanks guys!!!

I'm definitely getting more comfortable by the day...i usually stall when i'm nervous or think abt it too much.
I find my self switching gears alot...If I know that I would be coming to a stop and say i'm in second ..but I still need to accelerate a bit cuz i'm going a slow...should I just stay on second and just run the RPM to 3 to 4K or just switch to third?

also, and this would be a very noob question, in a parking lot often I am around 4K rpm and I just want to roll to a stop, if I don't clutch and just let the car roll it keeps jerking so now I just clutch in....is this bad for the clutch? or is wear on the clutch only done at the engaging point when I am releasing the clutch and pressing the gas?

[RECREATIONAL_ANXIETY]

Thanks guys!!!

I'm definitely getting more comfortable by the day...i usually stall when i'm nervous or think abt it too much.
I find my self switching gears alot...If I know that I would be coming to a stop and say i'm in second ..but I still need to accelerate a bit cuz i'm going a slow...should I just stay on second and just run the RPM to 3 to 4K or just switch to third?

also, and this would be a very noob question, in a parking lot often I am around 4K rpm and I just want to roll to a stop, if I don't clutch and just let the car roll it keeps jerking so now I just clutch in....is this bad for the clutch? or is wear on the clutch only done at the engaging point when I am releasing the clutch and pressing the gas?

I'd say gear up when you're cruising at 3k or above, and gear down if you're cruising below 1500.
Yes, your car will be very jerky in 1st gear in parking lots... you have to be VERY smooth on the gas pedal. You can always just accelerate a bit, shift to neutral and coast until you need to accelerate again. I wouldn't drive around all the time with the clutch pedal pushed in. This puts a lot of unnecessary wear on the throw-out bearing, which is a cheap part but you need to remove the transmission to replace it. And yes, clutch wear only happens as the clutch is engaging the flywheel (at the friction point as the clutch pedal is released). Once the clutch is fully engaged (clutch pedal fully released) it turns with the flywheel and pressure plate as one unit.

[DualSoul]

:welcome smiley

[MAZDA Kitten]

Welcome! Manual will become second nature and you wont even think about it! You made the right decision by getting a standard car. You will be grateful why you did :)

[kittyangel]

congratulations in getting your car! I got the same car as yours as well (but mine is automatic). You will probably see my car as well, as I live and work in Waterloo. You will most likely see me near Northfield.

I have my car windows tinted as well. ;)

[ovie8]

I'd say gear up when you're cruising at 3k or above, and gear down if you're cruising below 1500.
Yes, your car will be very jerky in 1st gear in parking lots... you have to be VERY smooth on the gas pedal. You can always just accelerate a bit, shift to neutral and coast until you need to accelerate again. I wouldn't drive around all the time with the clutch pedal pushed in. This puts a lot of unnecessary wear on the throw-out bearing, which is a cheap part but you need to remove the transmission to replace it. And yes, clutch wear only happens as the clutch is engaging the flywheel (at the friction point as the clutch pedal is released). Once the clutch is fully engaged (clutch pedal fully released) it turns with the flywheel and pressure plate as one unit.

what about if I'm on the off ramp...should i be engaging in the gears while down shifting or just hold the clutch in? sorry...I have alot of questions about driving manual...


congratulations in getting your car! I got the same car as yours as well (but mine is automatic). You will probably see my car as well, as I live and work in Waterloo. You will most likely see me near Northfield.

I have my car windows tinted as well. ;)

Our cars are identical from the outside then...just like twins...the building im living at has another white GS sport with tinted windows too...I see more and more mazda 3's around KW now a days...

I have a scaboromazda plate cover on...and Im working at the conestoga mall area...i'm going to wave to every CWP mazda3 now..lol

[Takumi616]

glad you join the club..... :welcome smiley

[RECREATIONAL_ANXIETY]

what about if I'm on the off ramp...should i be engaging in the gears while down shifting or just hold the clutch in? sorry...I have alot of questions about driving manual...


Personal preference. Some people downshift, some people shift to neutral and brake. I usually just leave it in the current gear while decelerating, then when rpms get low enough (around 1500) I shift to neutral and brake (assuming I'm coming to a stop - otherwise I would downshift to the appropriate gear and continue driving at the lower speed).

[kittyangel]

what about if I'm on the off ramp...should i be engaging in the gears while down shifting or just hold the clutch in? sorry...I have alot of questions about driving manual...



Our cars are identical from the outside then...just like twins...the building im living at has another white GS sport with tinted windows too...I see more and more mazda 3's around KW now a days...

I have a scaboromazda plate cover on...and Im working at the conestoga mall area...i'm going to wave to every CWP mazda3 now..lol

You don't live at Parkside Drive right? I don't see another white Mazda 3 though. My license plate has a black plastic protector on it. If you see it, just say hi!! :)

You are right...there are just so many Mazda 3's in the KW area. I don't go to the conestoga mall area that much....usually only for shopping, but I can see if I can find you and your car. ;) I work near I live...so around Phillips street. ;)

[ovie8]

You don't live at Parkside Drive right? I don't see another white Mazda 3 though. My license plate has a black plastic protector on it. If you see it, just say hi!! :)

You are right...there are just so many Mazda 3's in the KW area. I don't go to the conestoga mall area that much....usually only for shopping, but I can see if I can find you and your car. ;) I work near I live...so around Phillips street. ;)

I live in Kitchener...King and Victoria. So I guess that other car wouldn't be yours then.

I think I may have seen your car before then...cuz i often head over to UW plaza when meeting with friends.

[kittyangel]

I live in Kitchener...King and Victoria. So I guess that other car wouldn't be yours then.

I think I may have seen your car before then...cuz i often head over to UW plaza when meeting with friends.

Aah...then maybe you have more chances seeing my car. I am always driving near Philips and columbia. ;) extremely close to UW Plaza. :)

[dhlwtu]

Welcome aboard!!!

[Valdi]

I'm a noob too. :welcome smiley

[billd80]

Welcome, Looks like you've noticed how many new 3's are on the road as well!, when I got mine there was not many around my town, now I have like 4 identical twins @ least!! that's why I added the yellow fogs!!

[ovie8]

Welcome, Looks like you've noticed how many new 3's are on the road as well!, when I got mine there was not many around my town, now I have like 4 identical twins @ least!! that's why I added the yellow fogs!!

I just ordered the rally armour flaps. That should set mine apart...hopefully there will be more to come...most likely next year though...

[chan7]

Congrats on your new purchase, hope you enjoy it!