planning thread for the car

I'm grabbing a 2008 or 2009 Mazda 3 2.3L hatch VERY soon. I'd like to plan ahead on the mods I'm gonna throw into it.

Goals I'd like to aim for...

Stealth - silence and vibration reduction (anything that can be done to make the car run quieter)
-- no need to chat about tires.. got that understood
-- interested in changing intake/exhaust parts and anything else to help with this goal

Economy - any small addons to help with gas mileage is a plus
-- I will research LRR -type tires
-- will be reducing weight of the car in reasonable ways
-- any other input appreciated

What can anyone tell me? Is it a reasonable pair of things to ask for?

if you are worried about fuel economy, i'd suggest getting a 2.0L instead of the 2.3L, you will loose out on a little power but make up for it in fuel economy.

buy car..take out gasoline motor and install electric motor. done..

Basically stock.

You want Acelleration to run quieter? Run it in neutral or add another resonator and muffler

I think the car comes from the factory as efficient and as quiet as possible.
But if something works out do post it. Although some of us don't care for efficiency or quietness.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thrizzl3

buy car..take out gasoline motor and install electric motor. done..

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doing this will actually achieve every goal listed lol. quiet, light weight, fuel efficient, and limited vibration!

buy a hybrid.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Thrizzl3

buy car..take out gasoline motor and install electric motor. done..

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+1 :chuckle

Buy a bicycle

yup, an electric mazda bike is the way to go

http://www.autochunk.com/wp-content/...c-X-bike-1.png
http://www.autochunk.com/wp-content/...c-X-bike-6.png

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 09ms3

yup, an electric mazda bike is the way to go

http://www.autochunk.com/wp-content/...c-X-bike-1.png
http://www.autochunk.com/wp-content/...c-X-bike-6.png

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That bike looks dope !

Take out the motor and transmission, and cut holes in the floor panel, and Flintstone it! The more passengers in your vehicle, the more HP!
HP= Human power.
Also ft-lb of torque can be taken literally :P

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 6strings

Take out the motor and transmission, and cut holes in the floor panel, and Flintstone it! The more passengers in your vehicle, the more HP!
HP= Human power.
Also ft-lb of torque can be taken literally :P

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*slow clap*....

I've always wondered, why people keep on putting performance and economy in the same shelf when they don't really get along.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 6strings

Take out the motor and transmission, and cut holes in the floor panel, and Flintstone it! The more passengers in your vehicle, the more HP!
HP= Human power.
Also ft-lb of torque can be taken literally :P

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welcome to the wiserhood. :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuScm9FZPmQ
skip to the clapping. :D in reference to phils post.

I thought it was funny :(

wow, I was hoping for suggestions for lighter wheels, aftermarket exhausts that are lighter and quieter, perhaps the SRI with the best throughput, the most effective ignition addons, etc, etc.

I figured being unique with not having the performance + economical insanity request would grant better response.

Oh and I also figured there would be negligible difference in mileage between the 2.0 and the 2.3. Turns out that if I wanna buy this car fully loaded, the 2.0L won't be an option.... ie: GS loaded or GT.

Aftermarket exhaust will likely be louder/less efficient.

SRI will burn more fuel.

I figure aftermarket wheels will likely be negligible for fuel.

No point in touching the mounts.

For quietness your best option would probably be dynamat. But that will increase weight making fuel economy worse.

Basically anything you do to the car will likely make it worse on fuel or louder. Your best option would be to stick with a 2.0 with no AC or a skyactive.

Edit.

If your like me and need AC. It does burn more fuel, so the best mod you can do is tints to lower heat within the car. Making your AC not have to work as hard.

i really dont want to get into this thread, because i think making an economy car even more economic is stupid, but....

and exhaust and intake will increase your mileage. the engine breaths easier, and the exhaust is less restrictive.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dentinger

i really dont want to get into this thread, because i think making an economy car even more economic is stupid, but....

and exhaust and intake will increase your mileage. the engine breaths easier, and the exhaust is less restrictive.

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but both will make the car louder

sometimes it all comes to how you drive it.

Avoid sudden acceleration. Also, as soon as you see a light infront of you turn red ( works better if its already red), reduce your speed ( no one in their right mind will get mad at you for doing this) and coast until you have to stop (i.e the stop line or behind the car infront of you). In some cases, the light is short enough that by the time you reach the light, it turns green. This reduces the need to accelerate from 0-60 kph again thus saving fuel ( I do this in bradford all the time).


but ya, no mods can really increase your fuel economy as far as I know.


And if you still dont like the fuel economy....sell your car and buy a prius :chuckle

Skyactiv.stock.done

Should meet all your needs. Quiet&fuel efficient

**edit

Except on start up makes that unavoidable noise then quiets downs after 10 seconds or so

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 09ms3

yup, an electric mazda bike is the way to go

http://www.autochunk.com/wp-content/...c-X-bike-1.png
http://www.autochunk.com/wp-content/...c-X-bike-6.png

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If that ever came to be reality, I'll be first in line to buy one!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by proDJtege

wow, I was hoping for suggestions for lighter wheels, aftermarket exhausts that are lighter and quieter, perhaps the SRI with the best throughput, the most effective ignition addons, etc, etc.

I figured being unique with not having the performance + economical insanity request would grant better response.

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I'll give it a shot. Racing Beat axle back exhaust is pretty quiet and offers a nice tone. Adding an SRI is nice but it will add sound. There are many good ones to choose from such as Corksport, Simota, K&N, and Injen to name a few. For lighter wheels consider 17" Enkei RPF1s. There are really quite a few to choose from. If you want 18", check out the classifieds. There are Gram Lights on sale now.
A good suspension mod is the rear sway bar. There's Racing Beat, Corksport and Tri-point. Later you may want to lower it with lowering springs such as Eibach Prokits or Sportlines, Road Magnets, H & R or Tein. Then maybe some struts and shocks such as Koni Yellows. You may need camber arms as well.
Well start with those and you'll have spent thousands in mods at the end of it.
Good luck with your mod plans.

I've since bought a 2008.5 3GT.
anyhow..
Why is there almost no talk of any of those Weapon-R intakes for the mz3 on this forum?

Because weapon r is a little ricey for most people.

OP.

if you're planning for fuel econ. Most aftermarket mods are going to create more noise (sound) in the pursuit and comprimise of hp.
Leave your car completey stock and maintain your car like a hawk. Good gas, regular maintenance schedules, drive with a light foot, maybe even up your tire pressure.
If your itching to customize, buy lighter and smaller wheels and tires.
If you're really a freak about it by a high mileage production car(hybrid). If not, start gutting your interior.....


My 2cents......

Quote:

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Originally Posted by proDJtege

I've since bought a 2008.5 3GT.
anyhow..
Why is there almost no talk of any of those Weapon-R intakes for the mz3 on this forum?

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yikes havent heard that name in years. The only suggestion that would actually make sense is Enkei RPF-1 wheels but they would run $1000 min + tires. Say $2000 that would be a lot of gasoline. Just leave the car stock.