Fro
Rank: Quartet
Posts: 342
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Post by Fro on Jul 10, 2024 19:48:54 GMT
Thinking back on some of the car stereo projects I did to improve the factory stereos in my cars.... Corvette Z06 - Since I hated the crappy Bose OEM stereo, tore out the cheap paper drivers in the doors and replaced with Dynaudio separate drivers and Dynaudio crossovers (plus Dynomat deadening material in the doors). Also swapped in a Kenwood head unit. Made a word of difference!   Only thing I did to improve the audio in my Porsche Turbo TTS - Burmeister stereo, was swap out the dash tweeters with expensive Focal tweeters, disconnect the center dash speaker, and plug in an Apple Classic Ipod with my HiResolution Music Files.  |
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Post by julesd68 on Jul 11, 2024 8:04:00 GMT
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Post by MartinT on Jul 11, 2024 13:30:48 GMT
A pug ugly travesty of the original Capri and yet another anonymous box on the road.
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Post by Clive on Jul 11, 2024 15:06:47 GMT
A Saab on stilts.
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Post by Clive on Jul 12, 2024 8:38:37 GMT
Ford have recent history of mixing up model branding…ie the Mustang SUV and Sports car. They presumably see it working for them.
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 4, 2024 17:15:00 GMT
Some advice from those knowledgeable about tyres please.
I have always used summer tyres on all my cars and never thought about using anything else. But having read a little about it I'm wondering if all-season tyres would be a more sensible choice? I should add that I'm not doing any particularly demanding driving in winter.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 4, 2024 20:31:57 GMT
All-seasons tyres are good (I have used them in the past) as long as you understand that they are a compromise: not as good dry grip as summer tyres in the summer; not as good snow grip as winter tyres in the winter. For the UK, they are probably a better match to our seasons than most other countries.
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Post by rfan8312 on Aug 6, 2024 23:27:35 GMT
2.3L 2007 Mazda 3 Hatchback/ manual
transmission
This entire time I thought my car was a turbo because I could hear the extreme air intake sound and because the previous owner told me it was a turbo lol.
And because when the light turns green I'm a mile up the road in seconds while the rest of the pack is still way behind in the distance.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 7, 2024 5:46:22 GMT
Those Mazda engines are good and pull well.
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Post by Eduardo Wobblechops on Aug 7, 2024 9:33:33 GMT
Some advice from those knowledgeable about tyres please. I have always used summer tyres on all my cars and never thought about using anything else. But having read a little about it I'm wondering if all-season tyres would be a more sensible choice? I should add that I'm not doing any particularly demanding driving in winter. I have used Michelin Crossclimates on a couple of previous cars and found them excellent, particularly in the wet, which seems to be the majority of our weather these days.. As Martin says, they can't quite match good summer tyres in the dry, but they're really not far off and I think that would only be apparent on higher performance cars. For day to day driving I think they are an excellent choice, and will get you home safely on the occasional snowy day. They also give you a lot of confidence in the wet, which was their standout feature to me. |
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 7, 2024 10:28:07 GMT
Thanks for that - yes I was looking at those Michelins and they seem highly rated by owners and testers, so I'll most likely go for them.
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Post by ajski2fly on Aug 7, 2024 17:01:44 GMT
Thanks for that - yes I was looking at those Michelins and they seem highly rated by owners and testers, so I'll most likely go for them. I will second that having had them on 3 cars. One was a Morgan Roadster V6(3.7L) which I drove throughout the year, it could be tricky in the wet due to power to weight ratio and being relatively lightweight, previously it had Bridgestones which were horrible if not dangerous, I ditched them with 5mm tread left, the Michelin Cross-climates were a huge improvement especially in the wet. |
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Post by rfan8312 on Aug 13, 2024 7:19:04 GMT
I swear to god my next car would have to beat out a Mazda3 in the fun-quotient department which is why I feel like it might just end up being a newer Mazda3 that I get next.
The other night I left the movie theater and very soon was turning onto a very long and scenic winding on-ramp that eventually merges with a highway. Behind me were two sports cars (couldn't see which because it was night time) making such a racket and riding right up my butt until we got to the highway at which point I hit the gas and in 5 seconds flat I could barely see them in my rear view. Only 156 HP but this 2007 Mazda3 just hauls ass and does it in complete silence.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 13, 2024 8:10:28 GMT
Check carefully the newer one is the same or better.
Sometimes they change so much it becomes a different car, just the same name
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Post by rfan8312 on Aug 13, 2024 8:20:18 GMT
Yes true Mike but I gotta say that a while back I joined the Mazda3 reddit group. These guys are a cult. Even the newer models they love. Also, If somebody finds a 2013 mazda3 with 60k miles they're all drooling over it.
I wouldn't believe it if this old 2007 wasn't so damned impressive. But ye. I agree, gotta really make an informed purchase when I do.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 13, 2024 8:41:47 GMT
Is it a SkyActiv engine? They are very good technology. A compression ratio of 13:1 gives it the beans and much of the tech is designed to overcome knocking (which would normally destroy the engine). Until Mazda came along, my BRZ at 12.5:1 was pushing the limits, and that has two knock sensors and some very good engine management (in my case, with the supercharger, a careful tune and knock sensing is essential for preventing the engine from going bang). en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyactiv |
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Post by rfan8312 on Aug 13, 2024 9:31:23 GMT
Wow. I'd never even heard of SkyActiv till now but just went down a rabbit hole looking at specs it seems my Mazda doesn't have it.
Will be reading up on this right quick.
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Post by Slinger on Aug 13, 2024 21:38:14 GMT
The Chinese are coming. I thought this might intrerest some of you car bods who are interested in EVs.
Kryten likes the Yangwangs
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Post by julesd68 on Aug 13, 2024 23:50:02 GMT
Wow. I'd never even heard of SkyActiv till now but just went down a rabbit hole looking at specs it seems my Mazda doesn't have it. Will be reading up on this right quick. My Mazda 3 has it - insanely fuel efficient for a 2 litre engine. |
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Post by rfan8312 on Aug 13, 2024 23:55:49 GMT
Gah. That's the only drawback that this Mazda has, is bad fuel efficiency. Im always at the gas station. Feels like driving a Cadillac in that regard.
What more can you say of your Mazda/Mazda experience, Jules?
If you can manage as long of a TLDR reply as possible it could earn you up to 52 brownie points Jules. Would love to hear everything about that Mazda.
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