FS:MS3 parts Maybe/up in the air

MazdaSweet3 · Postby **MazdaSweet3** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:14

Ok so i might be trading my MS3. Id be taking it down to centennial this weekend to re-stockify it. Id be selling my cobb ap, cobb turbo inlet, cpe sri, su rear engine mount, turbosmart bypass valve with silicone recirc tube, and custom fabbed weighted shift knob. No pics yet cuz its not for sure. But im posting this cuz ill be needing extra money badly asap if this goes down.

EDIT: srry guys the trade didnt work so im keeping the ms3

erod550 · Postby **erod550** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:14

What will you be getting?

Number2 · Postby **Number2** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:14

Do you have a short shifter by any chance with the weighted shift knob?

Dange · Postby **Dange** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:14

my roomate is wanting to get an ap but neither of us have the money right now... hes gotta replace his tires first. but his birthday was yesterday. and im really tempted to grab this for him. but alas im short on money untill my disability starts coming in... when he wakes up ill see if we can work something out

I did send my buddy a message about the intake and inlet. waiting for a response if she can get it ill let you know

plus are you trading it in with the aftermarket exhaust?

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:14

erod550 wrote:What will you be getting?

+1. What kind of car?

MazdaSweet3 · Postby **MazdaSweet3** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:14

haha well since it wont happen anymore after much negotiation. It was a 350z with 55k on it. It was an attempt to get out of my car and into this one for a cheaper payment but the numbers werent good enough. My monthly car payment went down but my insurance went way up.

Learjet45 · Postby **Learjet45** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:14

Hahahahahah. Mazda FTFMW.

erod550 · Postby **erod550** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:14

I get trying to save money, and going to RWD would have been nice for handling reasons, but a 350Z is a downgrade from an MS3 imo, at least at this altitude. At sea level it would be a different story. But even at sea level you wouldn't be able to see out of the damn thing lol. Visibility is terrible in them.

dommo_g · Postby **dommo_g** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

Just out of curiosity, how many miles on your car and what were they going to give you for it?

roninsoldier83 · Postby **roninsoldier83** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

erod550 wrote:I get trying to save money, and going to RWD would have been nice for handling reasons, but a 350Z is a downgrade from an MS3 imo, at least at this altitude. At sea level it would be a different story. But even at sea level you wouldn't be able to see out of the damn thing lol. Visibility is terrible in them.

Having owned a 350Z previously and worked at a Mazda dealership a few years back (drove numerous MS3's), I'm going to have to agree, as well as disagree with that statement. At this altitude, in a straight line, the turbocharged MS3 should pull away from a 350Z with ease, so it is a downgrade in that regard. I would say interior quality is on par in both cars, but the Z's interior is more unique/is more visually appealing IMO, even if material quality is similar.

However, in all honesty, the MS3 is a souped up FWD econobox, whereas the Z is actually a fairly purpose built sports car. The MS3 handles GREAT for a nose-heavy FWD car, but pushing them both through corners, the Z is the better machine.

On C&D's Lightning Lap at VIR, the old 350Z is the fastest "LL1" car (well tied for 1st) they've ever tested, running a full 3.5 seconds faster than any MS3 they've ever tested at that track:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q4/lightning_lap_2011-feature/sortable_times_3a_complete_lightning_lap_times_2006_to_2011_page_8

On top of that, around the Nurburgring, the 350Z ran around that glorious course a full 13 seconds faster than the MS3:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCrburgring_lap_times

Lastly, in the SCCA the MS3 is a decent D-stock car, the 350Z is ranked a class up in C-stock:
http://cms.scca.com/documents/2011%20Tech/2011%20stock%20listings.pdf

So, while the MS3 certainly has an advantage up here for acceleration (close to equal at sea level), as well as increased interior space, better visibility and more stability in the snow due to it being FWD; when it comes to being a sports car, it's a considerable downgrade from a 350Z IMO.

I guess it's all about how you look at it.

erod550 · Postby **erod550** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

Track times at sea level don't tell the story for us at altitude. Of course it will destroy an MS3 on a track at sea level, since they have roughly the same power down there. Would be a different story I'm guessing at a place like HPR. It may still turn faster laps but not by nearly as big a margin.

But yea, the MS3 plowing through turns and understeering all over the place is a big reason why I got rid of it. A "good" handling FWD car is still crap handling compared to a well-balanced RWD car. I just wouldn't be willing to also take a huge hit in power since I do like my straight line acceleration, so that's why I couldn't go to a 350Z from an MS3, again, mainly because of altitude killing the N/A Z.

roninsoldier83 · Postby **roninsoldier83** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

I hear ya, and agree that lap time margins wouldn't be as great up here, but I would still think given equal drivers, even at altitude, the Z would be able to pull faster lap times at an autoX.

With that said, I bought my 350Z at sea level, and it pulled pretty well, my traction control light would come on at sea level shifting into 3rd gear on the freeway! I then got out of the military and moved back up here.... talk about depressing

I added all the basic bolt-ons (intake, plenum, pulley, test pipes, exhaust ect), and maybe added ~10-15whp or so. The car ran great, but man did it feel gutless up here. Although regardless of elevation, it was a blast to pitch through corners! It had a rare combination of low-speed cornering agility, mixed with high speed stability (took high speed sweepers with a great amount of confidence) and had lots of steering feedback (thanks to lots of positive caster!).

With that said, since my considerably heavier G37x still seemed to pull considerably harder than my old 350Z up here, I'm still anxious to take a new 370Z for a spin.

Hschlick84 · Postby **Hschlick84** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

I'd love to get a 350z as a 2nd car for the weekend

erod550 · Postby **erod550** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

Yea I would like to try out a 370Z. I think they look much better than the 350Zs on top of having more power. The other day I was following a new V6 Camaro and a 370Z in to work in the Mustang and was hoping to get a run in with the Z but there was too much traffic so it didn't happen.

roninsoldier83 · Postby **roninsoldier83** » Thu May 12, 2011 9:14

erod550 wrote:Yea I would like to try out a 370Z. I think they look much better than the 350Zs on top of having more power. The other day I was following a new V6 Camaro and a 370Z in to work in the Mustang and was hoping to get a run in with the Z but there was too much traffic so it didn't happen.

I think both of us know your 5.0 'Stang would murder a stock 370Z in a straight line haha! Hell, even on an open track like HPR your 5.0 would likely win given equal drivers. The only place I can see a 370Z maybe keeping up with your 5.0 is either an autoX or a very tight/technical road course, and even then, I think it would be hard pressed.

With that said, if I had the spare cash sitting around, I would enjoy having another Z as a 2nd/3rd car.

FS:MS3 parts Maybe/up in the air

FS:MS3 parts Maybe/up in the air

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