SOLD!
https://imgur.com/a/4rLW0 - Gallery, more pics available on request
2009 Mazdaspeed 3 GT
~64,500 Miles
2nd Owner
Pearl White on Black Leather / Piano / Sport Fabric interior
This Mazdaspeed 3 is tastefully modified to be a highway cruiser and reliable HPDE companion. With cars such as the Megane RS and Focus ST that rotate on lift as my template I tried to build a car capable of crossing the country with tools in the back for HPDEs. The powertrain is (and always has been) 100% stock with the CPE Stage 2 rear motor mount for better shift feel. Brakes and suspension mods are the focus trying to make the handling as neutral and adjustable as possible while maintaining reasonable costs. The car has been tracked for a total of 19 hours over 2 years at Daytona, Sebring, PBIR and Homestead as well as 2 autocross events @ GCAC Fort Myers. It's only been off-track once at Sebring where I went down the paved runoff at turn 10 to avoid a spun car.
Coming from an aviation MRO background I approach the car the same way as I do the aircraft. It's my lifeline in a dangerous activity. Brakes and lines are #1, high speed stability #2. Braided lines, quality rotors and pads and the best fluid I could find. Every bolt is to spec, even the wheel lugs before each session (I'm THAT guy...). All the modifications were performed myself in my spare time and with a couple exceptions noted below are as flawless as possible. Oil has been Rotella T6 during my ownership and Mobil 1 for the first owner. Gearbox fluid is the magical (Unicorn p***) Ford Synthetic from the Euro Focus RS and Castrol SRF Brake Fluid changed every 6 months or 2 track days (never boiled or faded, that stuff is GOLD!). Tires are Michelin Pilot Super Sports with about 60% Life Remaining. If you want more detail I have the entire maintenance log since ownership along with all torque specs for everything I touched etc. available on request if you come to view the car.
The car has been a wonderful companion for long commutes in Miami, a roadtrip to canada and the Dragon and the Rally Lap of Florida where it was the "Pesky Mazda" the Carreras couldn't get away from (I can't pass them but the brakes on this car are amazing). The only track failure was a heater hose nicked by a rock @ Sebring.
Why am I giving it up? Well, my work takes me overseas to south east asia and it's been more and more difficult to come back and make sure the car is running perfectly. I keep thinking I'll take a big bonus and move home but life out there is addicting and I've gotta choose. We are selling our house / car etc.... I even got a rental car so I didn't drive the MS3 during this trip home and get re-attached during this cold florida boosting weather....
Someone please let this horse run when I can't...
$9,000 obo
239-849-7777
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Good:
Great Interior Condition
Very neutral driving dynamics due to setup and alignment, can adjust with Rear Sway Bar & shocks as desired
100% Always been stock drivetrain
Pearl White paint in general is in great condition
No Timing Chain slack
No Smoking Turbo
Bad :
Trunk Rattle (2/10 annoying) - I just cant find it... trust me I've had the whole car apart and I can't find it!
Front strut tower knock - the top nut on the Konis just wont stay put more than 1-2 months. Torque wrench it down every once in a while.
Ugly:
First Owner had a tree fall on the roof rack and it put 2 dents in the top rails (See the gallery) no paint scratched, just a small dents, cant see at 5 ft.
First Owner backed up and scraped the right passenger door area and there's some rust and paint damage (see gallery)
Other Nicks and very small dings (See gallery)
Modifications:
Castrol SRF Brake Fluid
Centric Cryo-High Carbon Plain 125 Series Rotors
EBC Yellowstuff Pads (front and rear) – On Car + Spare Set
StopTech (950.6101) Brake Lines Front, Stainless Steel
StopTech (950.61504) Brake Lines Rear, Stainless Steel
JBR 125 Rear Sway Bar (set to the middle setting)
Koni Yellows (Set to 2 front [use this to tune] and 3 [middle setting, dont touch] rear)
Swift Springs
Apex Alignment Miami - zero toe alignment setup
CPE Stage 2 Rear Motor Mount
AntennaX The Shorty (5-inch) Antenna for Mazda 3