The MX6
 

I introduced myself, I should introduce my car as well ;)

I drive a 1997 Mazda MX-6 LS with the USDM 2.5L DOHC V6 with a 5 speed manual. I bought it in 2008 with 179,000kms and now it just about has 238,000kms. Such a fun car, very reliable and was very easy to learn Manual on, very forgiving. I haven't done too much in regards to aftermarket performance. Mainly I have just kept it maintained and changed whatever gasket needed to be changed, etc etc. I did a major tune up when I first bought the car along with an entirely new cooling system, end links.. etc. I think that decision saved me a lot of money.

Last year I did some slight mods, nothing fancy. Aftermarket slotted & cross drilled rotors, my muffler had a massive hole in it so I used that as an excuse to replace it with a Magnaflow and then do some cosmetic stuff like remove the v6 badge, paint the tails all red and then lightly tint them, new shift knob, paint some of the interior black, new deck, speakers.. spark plugs, wires stuff like that.

This year I went ahead and grabbed some PGT 16" rims with Falken 912 Tires, and grabbed Dual angel eye head lights and added a Ractive superflow filter and replaced the catalytic converter.. One of my ball joints decided to break so instead of just fussing with the ball joint I replaced both lower control arms, bushings and ball joints and did the outer cv boots at the same time. Was great fun.

Stock in 2008 - First winter wash

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._2795065_n.jpg


Most recent:
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._4953281_n.jpg

Here is a list of everything I have done so far:
- V6 Badge delete
- Custom flat black emblems
- Custom gloss black side mirror's
- Custom gloss black sunroof (did a bad job)
- Custom gloss black Probe GT Rims (did a good job)
- Custom deep red lugs
- Custom black dash
- Custom black center console
- Replaced rear tan leather seats w/ 93 MX6 black leather seats
- Replaced rear panels w/ 93 MX6 black panels w/ leather door cards
- Black floor mats
- Ractive CF Shift Knob
- Custom shift boot
- Custom gloss black "A" pillars
- Dual angel eye head lights
- Custom all red tails, tinted
- Custom magnaflow muffler
- Custom flat black ractive trq exhaust tip
- Lower front control arms replaced (bushings, ball joints)
- Front sway bar end links replaced
- Rear end links replaced
- CAT replaced
- Radiator & all upper, lower hoses replaced
- Timing Belt, Waterpump + all pulleys replaced
- Bosch Plat+4 Spark plugs
- NGK blue wires
.. I think that is about it.

Big changes are coming for 2011. I already have my paint & body work booked for April. Will be original sprayed the original colour. Here are my future plans. Focusing on Suspension/Handling mainly in 2011 (plan on seeing a lot of track time)

- Custom CAI setup w/ Apexi' Filter
- Battery relocation
- NGK Plugs & Wires
- SSAC Headers
- Remove AC
- King6 Motor & Transmission Mounts
- Exedy Stage 2 Clutch
- Lightened MX3 flywheel
- Custom HKS Carbon-Ti Exhaust (2.5" - Random Tech. Cat.)
- SS Clutch, Fuel, Brake Lines
- DE Grind Colt Cams
- Ross forged Pistons
- Eagle Rods
- P&P
- Turbocharger (Still researching size, etc.)
- FMIC (Still researching)
- Greddy Type-S BOV
- 07" Mazdaspeed6 "Big Brake" Conversion
- RR Racing STS w/ Bushings
- Hawk HP Pads
- Sprint RacingHart 17x9 +22 Rims
- BF Goodrich KDW 235/40/17
- Full Lip Kit
- Seibon CF Hood
...

and much more. I have kind of a mock up of what I'd like the car to look like by next summer. A few things are missing.. like the side mirror's... and the headlights won't be yellow..

http://i54.tinypic.com/2u4mouo.jpg

If anyone has any suggestions, Feel free to chip in! I am new to this, my first build.. :)

Welcome to tcc! thoughs rims give the car a nice look, good luck with your build!

sweeeet ride buddy. welcome!

btw how wide are those rims/tires?... in for rear shot

I'm not a fan of those cars, but the car in the last picture looks really good! I hope you achieve your goal! :)

I forgot to add, but yours looks real good too!

Car looks great mandu! :)

Northern tuners eh? You might know Arris? He drives a black eg hatch... He and a bunch of us race at the autocross events in Barrie all the time.

I must also admit, not a big fan of the mx-6, but you've done a great job with it. Also love the colour. Those rims finish off the look very nicely. Is that a cage/roll-bar I see in there? Do you track the car much?

the last picture isn't her car, it's what she'd LIKE it to look like. but i agree, i'm not that big of a fan of these, but you sound like you've got some big plans for it. and that last picture looks great!

^Oh my bad for "skimming" lol.

Her car still looks great and I still like the colour. :)

i thought the same thing Mike. thoughs rims set the car off tho and then make it a Boost Machine!

They are 225/50/16's and I don't have any direct rear shots.. I actually am not sure why.. I'll have to fix that.

I may have seen him around. I have only been to a few meets so far :P I'll be doing autocross next year. :) As for the photoshop, I know someone already corrected you but i am planning on a 4 point cage at some point in the near future. It's not going to be my dedicated track car, I am going to get an EG Hatch for that most likely.

If you don't mind me asking, What is it about the mx-6 that turns you off? Just out of curiosity... I won't be offended.. everyone is allowed to have an opinion :)

I'm not sure, exactly. I'm just not too fond of the lines and sedan-y look [IN MY OPINION, i don't mean to offend AT ALL] of the Mystere.

adding to that, I've seen so many of them incredibly riced-out and that may have ruined the car for me.

Oh no, No offense taken what so ever. Everyone has their own likes and dislikes. I agree with them being riced out.. I am in it for the performance but the clean look. :) Their have been times I have gone to some car shows over the summer and seen some MX6's being judged and I just shake my head.. I mean okay, if the owner likes it.. fine.. but why have a kit that is meant to cool your rear brakes when you have drums? :rant:

I won't make you suffer with a riced MX6 at TCC meets. I swear :P lol.

Thought I would throw up an update :P

Been chatting with someone who is selling JDM tail lights. They look almost identical to the stock ASPEC lights but mine are all-red and tinted. I want to go back to stock, but I'll most likely be grabbing these Jspec tails. You can hardly tell the difference.. but if curious..

Aspecs - M Edition (All red)
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._1917416_n.jpg

Jspecs -> Love at first site.
http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/2404/pb308453ih6.jpg

--

:)

Oh.. this is also probably going to be turned into a build thread. Not sure if it needs to be moved..?

is the first pic your car?

If so, me likey :) :thumb:

Yep the first pic is my car at Wasaga beach this past summer :)

I was browsing through the forums looking for a video only thread, couldn't find one? Unless I am very blind.. that could be true.. but since this is a build thread, thought I would throw up some exhaust clips.

Then -> Axle-back Magnaflow muffler - Stock air box, Stock catalytic.
YouTube - Magnaflow Exhaust

Now -> Same muffler - Ractive Super flow Short ram Intake, New Universal Catalytic.
YouTube - Summer 2010 Exhaust

To be honest, I don't have a great answer for that. I guess it comes from a bias preception initiated at an earlier stage of my life. The MX-6 and ford probe are (essentially) the same car. I used to LOATH ford and everything connected to it.

As I've gotten older and moved on, I've come to enjoy and learn about all different kinds of cars and why other people like them. I strive to be un-bias and look at

As for the mx-6, Some of them... a lot of them, have been 'riced' and imo, they look HORRIBLE...lol. But I must commend you. You've kept it clean and tasteful. I'm a very 'function over fashion' type person and I like things on a car to have a purpose. Such as wings on the back of a fwd car... doesn't make sense, especially if you don't even track the car. lol. If it doesn't have a prupose, it doesn't need to be there.

So anyways, I guess it comes down to the fact that I've never really paid close attention to them.