What would you rather do?

[jmacman12]

Hypothetically speaking let's say you have a spare 15k lying around and you wanted to upgrade your ride (presumably a Mazda 3) to something a lot quicker.

Would you go out and either:


1) Sell your Mazda 3 and upgrade to one of the two:

A) An Evo IX

B) Mazdaspeed 3 (first gen)

or

2) Would you rather swap in a full Speed6 drivetrain into your 3?

[krimsalt]

Hypothetically speaking let's say you have a spare 15k lying around and you wanted to upgrade your ride (presumably a Mazda 3) to something a lot quicker.

Would you go out and either:


1) Sell your Mazda 3 and upgrade to one of the two:

A) An Evo IX

B) Mazdaspeed 3 (first gen)

or

2) Would you rather swap in a full Speed6 drivetrain into your 3?

if i had 15k, id take the speed3
but my option for you is to share some of that 15k with me lol

[loki]

1 A) costs a ton of money. Brand new around 60k. Used around 25-35K depending on what you want really. So 15K really doesn't go a long way there.

2) why put a speed6 drivetrain into a 3 when you can just buy a speed6.

best option, is just buy a used mazdaspeed3 since you can get them at a decent price anywhere between 14k to as much as 21k for a gen1 depending on condition etc.

[rzapata]

From what I can remember, isn't a speed 6 engine the same as the speed 3?? I guess, what you wanted to do is to convert the MZ3 into a AWD, 263HP beast right??

But to answer your question;

1A) 15k will not even put a dent on the evo 9 so that's out of the question (for me at least). Unless, I guess you want to finance it so to give you rough calculation on pricing, assuming it's around 60k, minus the 15k, minus the money you'd get when you sell your 3 (12k let's say for a decent 3 - hypothetically) will give you 33k to loan to the bank.. 33k financed for 60 months, will give you roughly 550 for 60 months... If you can do the ~$550 per month then good for you.

1B) The MS3 is your best bet for that money.. You can get a nice and decent 07 for 15k perhaps. You get the zoom zoom, without paying for much premium compared to the Evo.

2) Is not really something I would consider, you're basically removing the speed6 body and putting a MZ3 body instead.. A lot of things need to be considered like how the swap will work, chasis work perhaps, etc. There's just too many variables involved that you'd probably have a lot of headache in the end. Not recommended at all IMO....

Anyway, that's just my bit.

[Mr Wilson]

Several have tried with the conversion and most often run out of money or it becomes too much of a hastle.

Buy a Speed 6 or Speed 3.

[jmacman12]

I'm aware that 15k will not put a dent in an evo ix or even viii for that matter but factoring in the sale of my mazda 3(I think I did mention it in the post) which I like to think I could get at least 10k for allows me ample room to raise my eyebrows as to whether or not I should consider it.

I know I could just go out and buy a speed6 but I mean lets be honest, how awesome would an awd speed3 be I love my 3 and don't want to get rid of it since its so awesome in every way except for the fwd part. It looks the part as it is and the performance from the speed3 already tops the wrx, so why not go STi hunting?

[Mr Wilson]

There are several who have tried the switch, one even on TM3. Some difficulties with the building among other issues. DG Motorsports has the only truely functioning ones with plenty of $$$ custom work. An MSF member started and pretty much finished. Don't want to say it was a hack job by any means, but I'm sure it needed some development.

Heard some other talk about it and really nothing has come from it.

[loki]

I really don't know what you're asking.

only you know your financial situation and what you can afford.

you can go STI hunting if you want, there was no STI option in your first post.

I looked at all those options and decided to buy a speed3 because that's what made sense to me since I could not justify putting 60k into an EVo X or 55K into a new STI when I could put that same money into my house.

[jmacman12]

There are several who have tried the switch, one even on TM3. Some difficulties with the building among other issues. DG Motorsports has the only truely functioning ones with plenty of $$$ custom work. An MSF member started and pretty much finished. Don't want to say it was a hack job by any means, but I'm sure it needed some development.

Heard some other talk about it and really nothing has come from it.

I realize the difficulties with the swap and I know very VERY few have been done but this thread wasn't exactly aimed at my current situation but rather an idea I had in the back of my mind

I really don't know what you're asking.

only you know your financial situation and what you can afford.

you can go STI hunting if you want, there was no STI option in your first post.

I looked at all those options and decided to buy a speed3 because that's what made sense to me since I could not justify putting 60k into an EVo X or 55K into a new STI when I could put that same money into my house.

I refer to STi hunting as a metaphor for an Evo lol My problems with STi's is that they are banged up pieces of crap in Quebec with more rust then paint, whereas I would import an Evo from the states with little to no rust.

I'm not the kind of person who would spend that much money on a car either, you are quite right about spending it wisely in other areas!

This thread isn't for me to help choose what I want to do, I'm going to old on to my 3 for a while despite a couple bucks in the bank. It was just for fun to see what other members would
do!

[vinnierap]

I agree with you an AWD speed 3 would be awesome and would love to see Mazda offer this as a factory feature on the new speeds especially on the 2014 models (thats when my lease is up ). One can only hope.

[rzapata]

I agree with you an AWD speed 3 would be awesome and would love to see Mazda offer this as a factory feature on the new speeds especially on the 2014 models (thats when my lease is up ). One can only hope.

Yeah, that'd be good.. While they're at it, they should add perhaps an additional 40hp and keep it at the same price.. And voila, a definite evo competitor.

[Default User]

I would put a down payment on a condo/home

[boyracer]

I would put a down payment on a condo/home

+1, now that's a great idea

[vinnierap]

Yeah, that'd be good.. While they're at it, they should add perhaps an additional 40hp and keep it at the same price.. And voila, a definite evo competitor.

I like the way you think!!!

[zzz3]

I would put a down payment on a condo/home

+1 or invest it.

[r4BBiT]

+1, now that's a great idea

+2, home is way better way to spend that money then a car that will depreciate and will be worth next to nothing in 10 years

[vinnierap]

People this was supposed to be a simple HYPOTHETICAL situation. AS the very first word of the thread states. Option A, B or C.

[Booostin]

get a hooker

[hgmahaha]

1B =] I wish I had the money =[

[zoso]

C if it could be done properly

An AWD Speed3 would be so awesome.

[Booostin]

Too heavy

[klspeed3]

1 A) costs a ton of money. Brand new around 60k. Used around 25-35K depending on what you want really. So 15K really doesn't go a long way there.

didn't even think you could still buy a IX new? They stopped production in 07.

I'm sure you could pick one up for closer to 20k if you were patient...http://forums.evolutionm.net/sale-ca...o-ix-sale.html

Evos are great machines, and AWD is always a plus in this climate. If you're not patient enough to source a good deal on one (you may have to import from the states as well, seem to be less common in Canada), then speed3 is your best bet for 15k. You won't regret it

[jmacman12]

From what I found, Evo 8/9's go for anywhere between 15-30k depending on the ownership, leans, whether its been stolen, kilometers, modded...etc

But yea vinniewrap is right lol

This was supposed to be hypothetically speaking As in if you had that money for a car what would you do...

[Harbour Rat]

With 15K I'd start with swapping in a 2010+ wrecking yard 2.5L to replace my 2.0, assuming I could find one. Port the head head myself, get some mild reground cams, clean up a 60 mm pre-PZEV throttle body. Exhaust and cats would remain stock because I'm not looking to make huge peak power just a nice, solid boost in low-mid rpm torque. Also I want to pass emissions tests with no hassles and I want it stock quiet.

For the rest, I'd add a Speed3 6 speed, Speed3 front brakes, Mazda 5 rear rotors and caliper carriers with Speed3 calipers, and stainless flex lines. Suspension would get Bilstein shocks and struts and Racing Beat springs and sway bars. Wheels would be OEM 16" steelies, to stealthify the whole thing. Not sure about tires, but probably not super sticky UHP types, rather some sort of touring tire, probably something from Continental or maybe Uniroyal TigerPaw Touring.

All that assumes I would spend $15K to soup up a $19K econo box. Most likely if somebody dropped $15K in my lap tomorrow (big bills please, no bags of loonies and toonies) I would go directly to the bank and put most of it in my retirement savings, maybe keep 2-3 grand for fun money.

[Default User]

People this was supposed to be a simple HYPOTHETICAL situation. AS the very first word of the thread states. Option A, B or C.

Ok - then can I add a choice in Option 1? I say just grab an R32/R33 Skyline.