New 2015 3gt sedan owner

[Squisher]

Hello, names Justin. Just picked up a new 3 sedan gt last Friday. I appreciated all the info and reviews I was able to access through this site. It helped me make up my mind easier.

This is our(my wife and I) first Mazda but we've always had a sporty car, formerly a prelude, then a 350z. So it was important to me to still have a car that was fun to drive. Imo so far the 3 delivers.

Thanks again for the great site, I'm in Vernon BC and it's nice to find a site of this detail and participation in Canada.

[Mr Wilson]

Welcome.

[MickiWasHere]

Welcome!

[Timotee]

Welcome to TM3 Justin!

[FD22]

Welcome aboard!

[Canadianbacon]

Welcome to TM3

[Kiyomi]

welcome.

[jay93]

welcome to tm3:)

[Jackal]

Welcome yo!

[Kiewan]

Welcome.

[Noobster12]

:welcome smiley:headbang

[Squisher]

Thanks all for the welcomes. I will try to figure out the pics at some point. I can see looking around there's a lot of sweet rides on this site, really nicely done cars. I'm only looking at some factory acces to start. Door visors, sills, pedals. Those sorts of things. Already got the upgraded all weather mats and factory remote start. My dealer seems to have decent pricing on these items, much better than mazda.ca's website. Is there anywhere else I should look for these parts for a better deal?

[LndM3]

Welcome love seeing other gen 3 guys

[ottoyu34]

Welcome!

[Squisher]

Thanks again. I've been reading like crazy and really enjoying this site. So far I bit the bullet on some dealer goodies, scuff plates, visors, mud flaps, the big mat for the trunk to match the all weather mats that I got thrown in with the car. Just trying to sort out tint now. I really want to go tint on all the sides, I know, I know, I'm in BC. Can't decide though whether to go dark on the back three and just a light tint on the front sides, or a light/medium tint on all five? Decisions, decisions lol. I've got some time to figure it out, because between buying it, putting a few access on and now Christmas I need to be focusing on refilling the coffers for awhile.

[CarLadyLisa]

Congrats on the new ride! Looks like you picked some quality accessories as well. I really like the scuff plates. They goofed on the previous gen with those. When I ordered them, they didn't do what a scuff plate should.
A little advice on the tint....I got mine dark all the way around. I find it difficult to see at night through my drivers side & passenger side windows. Normally it should be 20 & 35%. I went with 20% all around. It looks wicked but I don't think I'd do it again. Dark at the back for sure tho. Helps with bright headlights in the rearview.






Thanks again. I've been reading like crazy and really enjoying this site. So far I bit the bullet on some dealer goodies, scuff plates, visors, mud flaps, the big mat for the trunk to match the all weather mats that I got thrown in with the car. Just trying to sort out tint now. I really want to go tint on all the sides, I know, I know, I'm in BC. Can't decide though whether to go dark on the back three and just a light tint on the front sides, or a light/medium tint on all five? Decisions, decisions lol. I've got some time to figure it out, because between buying it, putting a few access on and now Christmas I need to be focusing on refilling the coffers for awhile.

[Kiewan]

35% sides and 20/15% could be good. How strict are the cops on tint in BC?

[Squisher]

35% sides and 20/15% could be good. How strict are the cops on tint in BC?

Thanks for the recommendations, from you too CarLadyLisa.

The cops here ime are pretty lenient, but depends on the situation/cop I think. No tint at all is legally allowed on the front sides, but I see it around all the time. I've had friends get fined and made to remove it though. I'm 40 now so I do find cops treat me a little differently than when I was younger so I might risk it, knowing full well it could be a problem one day.

Really enjoying this car, I can hardly wait to get it on some twisty highways next spring. So far I've been very impressed with how fun it is to drive, I sold my 350z this fall and was worried that this car might really leave me wanting for more. Obviously it's a whole different animal, but still quite a sporty feel imo. I also looked at/drove most cars in this class and for me, once I drove the 3 that was it. Sold.

[TheAnswer_03]

What color did you get? Auto or manual?

I'm trying to decide between a Mazda 3 GT Sedan w/ Luxury or a base Scion FR-S. What do you think?

[Squisher]

I got white, auto, with luxury and tech. It's a daily driver for us, my wife uses it a lot, I have a 10 year old daughter so lots of kids in and out and stuff. I've never driven a fr-s but it looks to be a whole different kind of car. Rear wheel around here is going to suck in the winter, I never winter drove my z. I'd say it depends what you need/want. The Scion looks to be a lot more pure sports car than the 3, I'd say the 3 looks to be a lot more versatile for daily use and winter driving. I bought the 3 in an auto but I wouldn't consider it in a car like the fr-s, same as my 350 stick all the way. I honestly don't know much about scion though and their models.

[TheAnswer_03]

I got white, auto, with luxury and tech. It's a daily driver for us, my wife uses it a lot, I have a 10 year old daughter so lots of kids in and out and stuff. I've never driven a fr-s but it looks to be a whole different kind of car. Rear wheel around here is going to suck in the winter, I never winter drove my z. I'd say it depends what you need/want. The Scion looks to be a lot more pure sports car than the 3, I'd say the 3 looks to be a lot more versatile for daily use and winter driving. I bought the 3 in an auto but I wouldn't consider it in a car like the fr-s, same as my 350 stick all the way. I honestly don't know much about scion though and their models.

Alright thanks. Yeah the 3 is more practical and the fact that the 3 runs on regular gas is a plus.

Is the power of the Mazda 3 GT 2.5L adequate in your opinion for more performance oriented driving? And do you use the Sport mode?

[Squisher]

At 1400k in I've put about half of that on, only tried the sport to make sure it works. I find the car fun to drive and reasonably powerful. For a compact sedan the new 3 is incredibly fun to drive imo. Was my z a lot more fun performance wise? most definitely. Honestly though unless you're tracking a car, here in bc you're putting a lot on the line to 'drive' a car. I purposely wanted a car that would no longer be begging to break every speed limit by copious amounts. What I've found so far with the 3 is that there's still plenty of fun to be had but with the auto I can sit back a bit and just enjoy the car and it's features rather than going like a maniac all the time.

[Squisher]

Wife scored me the factory aluminum pedal set for Christmas, stoked. I can't exterior mod this car to much as I will be using it to quote with for my business but the factory rims will never see the light of day on this car, Atleast not the color they are. The black winter steelies look pretty mean against the white. Can't decide whether to just powder coat the factory rims black or go aftermarket?

[schmat66]

Welcome!

[Squisher]

Still loving the new 3. Unfortunately it's sat for about a week as we've been nailed with weather. Trying to get tint done here is painful, shops want three bills for the rears(they count as five window for the rear cut out windows) or $450 including the front sides. Found one place cheaper but they can't do it until March and are only fifty buck cheaper anyways. Still shopping, one of the drawbacks of living outside of a major city I guess.

[Squisher]

Still holding tight on tints, I do hate driving without them, Espescially with the giant infotainment screen. I feel like I'm in a fishbowl at lights and everyone is checking out my music selections. Lol. Ordered the interior light kit from CS. I know big purchase right? I just wanted to see how smoothly that goes first. I'm eyeing the hood strut kit and the rear anti sway bar. Winter is my slow season here and it's snowing like hell this year. Good for the pocket book as I do snow removal contracting to get through, but the hours and the watching and waiting suck.

Still can't decide on whether to just powder coat the stock rims black and give that a go, or line up a aftermarket rim. I'm still on winter steelies obviously and hate the thought of wasting the factory mag and tire set up, even though I've read the factory tires suck. Anyone got ideas on numbers if I were to sell the factory set-up?

That wheel gap too. Wife already tried to ixnay lowering it, but I reminded her that a ship can only have one captain. Lol.

[Squisher]

I was doing some practice in the test section earlier, so please ridicule me mercilessly if this isn't a pic of my car.

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag137/squisher7/7492BAE4-0B48-408E-BE86-CDDC958A7469_zpstulswdig.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/squisher7/media/7492BAE4-0B48-408E-BE86-CDDC958A7469_zpstulswdig.jpg.html)

[Squisher]

Bone dead stock. Lol.

[Kiewan]

Powder coating rims black > plasti diping rims black.

I have Mazda 6 wheels coated black as winters and I am pretty happy with them. They eventually turn white with salt but look good again after they are cleaned.

Which OEM rims do you have?

[Squisher]

I've got the silvery 18" mags that come on the gt's. Not a bad looking rim but I'm not doing the silver/chromey thing on my white car. I've got black 16" winter steelies on the car right now.

Anyone got thoughts on what the factory 18" silvery mags would be worth. New with the factory tires?

My tire shop wants $500-$600 to dismount the tires have the rims powdered and re-mount and balance. Thinking about just selling that set and going aftermarket, just unsure of what I could get out of those rims/tires?

[Pablo Vasquez]

Nice ride! I have the CS rear sway bar for my 2014 GS, makes for some fun cornering!

[Squisher]

Thanks. I think it was pics of your car that have me strongly considering just blacking out my factory mags, they look great.

[Pablo Vasquez]

Thanks. I think it was pics of your car that have me strongly considering just blacking out my factory mags, they look great.

Plastidip was the the cheapest option till I can upgrade the 16s to 18s. If you are sticking with the OEM GT wheel for spring/summer, powder coat all the way.

[Noobster12]

Makes me regret not getting a 3rd gen sedan.. :(

[Squisher]

Got the factory mags on yesterday. PC'd flat black, I'm really happy with them. I'll endeavour to get a decent pic today.

[Squisher]

Pic with the PC'd factory mags.

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag137/squisher7/1DA93BBE-2B46-4DB9-86C5-BDEA4746051B_zpso3zy0xt1.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/squisher7/media/1DA93BBE-2B46-4DB9-86C5-BDEA4746051B_zpso3zy0xt1.jpg.html)

[Squisher]

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag137/squisher7/A4942DE2-5F25-4DD7-83FA-CD4EF3AA5C37_zpsdxk2s1ef.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/squisher7/media/A4942DE2-5F25-4DD7-83FA-CD4EF3AA5C37_zpsdxk2s1ef.jpg.html)

[patrickdominick]

http://i1302.photobucket.com/albums/ag137/squisher7/A4942DE2-5F25-4DD7-83FA-CD4EF3AA5C37_zpsdxk2s1ef.jpg (http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/squisher7/media/A4942DE2-5F25-4DD7-83FA-CD4EF3AA5C37_zpsdxk2s1ef.jpg.html)

nice! where'd you get them PC'd!

[Squisher]

A local place not much help on here. Galaxie powder coating, Lumby bc. 90/rim and 120 for the dismount/remount. I'm pretty rural out here and so far I'm really happy with the quality. The dogs have pissed on them a few times with no signs of wear and tear.

[tcnumba10]

Looking good!!

[Jackal]

A local place not much help on here. Galaxie powder coating, Lumby bc. 90/rim and 120 for the dismount/remount. I'm pretty rural out here and so far I'm really happy with the quality. The dogs have pissed on them a few times with no signs of wear and tear.

Lmao! Glad they're fine after the dogs got at them.

[longlong819]

welcome!

[retd0685]

Hey I wanted to know does the tinting void the warranty?

[CarLadyLisa]

Hey I wanted to know does the tinting void the warranty?
Window tinting...Nope.