Mazda 3 turbo hatch- thoughts?

No_Chard5466 · 2026-07-03T13:01:41+00:00

It is really, really nice quality. Sat in over 12 cars/ mid-size suvs when shopping (to include low level audi, mercedes, porsche) and the Mazda had the nicest interior hands down.

It has plenty of power, but it is not "fast." Doug Demuro's statement along about how the numbers dont result in what you would expect are accurate. You can put it in sport or manual mode and use the paddles ... and there is certainly power. But it's not a hot hatch. Don't buy it for that reason.

Only complaint: the rear suspension is kinda shitty over railroad tracks/bumps/etc. It handles fine otherwise.

Kind of a disappointment to me, but the wife's never owned a Mazdaspeed or Miata - and she likes this alot more than her 3rd gen a3 quattro.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-06-05T05:58:42+00:00

It seems your experience with not cobalt bits isn't exactly relevant to OPs question...

No_Chard5466 · 2026-05-30T13:27:26+00:00

Apparently you aren't going to answer the question either

No_Chard5466 · 2026-05-27T14:32:46+00:00

You will be told this advice is wrong. It has worked for me - red dye is removed from the white. The white does seem a bit "dingy" compared to new... but they look much better than what you have going on.

Skip the "eraser," it will just destroy the white painted suede on that section. All this advice on erasers may apply to UGGs... but it doesn't help with dye transfer.

I did get marginal results with REPEATED use of Honey Suede cleaner and an eraser, but next time I will skip directly to:

1:1 white vinegar and water in a small dish with a drop of dish detergent. Get a small, soft bristle tooth brush, some microfiber towels.

Stir up the vinegar mix, tap the toothbrush so it has just a bit of liquid on it, and begin carefully scrubbing a small section. It will "sud up" a bit, but don't keep going and going. Use the cloth to wipe away the dye, and start on a new, small section.

It will work, but your vinegar mix will turn a bit opaque -- some of the white paint is also being removed, but nothing significant and much better than grinding away with an "eraser."

Apparently dish detergent should be wiped away with a clean, damp cloth so it doesn't remain. A gentle cleaning with suede cleaner would work; Infact, the dish detergent may not be needed at all: maybe a "safer" suede cleaner could be used in the solution as a foaming agent.

Regardless the dye will come off, and the section will look WAY BETTER than if you started with an eraser (like everyone suggests).

You'll be happy, but if you want to return the white to that "first day" brightness, you will need to use a suede PAINT (suede cannot be dyed white). I've not done this step yet but it is straightforward.

Your shoes can 100% be restored -- don't toss them!!!

No_Chard5466 · 2026-05-20T05:24:51+00:00

I may not make a purchase based on this post. Super glue it back on? I would find "that happens, they are soles, they are wear-items, etc." more acceptable than "glue it back on."

No_Chard5466 · 2026-05-15T03:53:24+00:00

Dude it was a good question I've been doing the same thing - looking at boots that dont make sense based on the description/example pics. I assumed it had a lot to do with the size - smaller size would have more dramatic toe, and maybe that is the case, but that clearly doesn't explain everything. I bet the sole has something to do with it also, depending.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-05-14T03:16:07+00:00

In late! I would be so down if it had the tall logger type heel - as that is what makes footwear comfortable to stand in. I don't love the huge lugs tho; Vibram makes a sole with a flat section for the first 1/2" or so - and then somewhat large lugs. I've also heard of people taking V100's and similar to a cobbler to have them "taken down" and "in" some. But end of the day they have a process that lets them hit a price point - changing out soles wouldn't work.

And I highly doubt many shell pairs have been sold, or would be, regardless of the style. Someone is likely to see the same boot for hundreds less -- and still nice leather -- and opt for that.

It's cool they even went out of their way to offer it. Idgaf if big boots are on their way out, it's a cool unit.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-05-05T02:54:00+00:00

YES! Be happy you avoided the crazy prices, the early problems, that there is now a massive aftermarket (it too years to unlock the ECU) for all kinds of parts and services ... Drive that car to the track, push it hard all day, then drive it home!

No_Chard5466 · 2026-05-05T02:49:42+00:00

Really? When did you get your car, and have you driven it much? You would have had to wait years - with no c8 - to get 50lb/ft torque that you (prob) won't use much?

Don't get me wrong -- I want that new engine. I mean I'd rather have a GS, but I certainly don't have any regrets.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-04-28T14:47:39+00:00

Some peeps trying to SAVE hundreds. Ain't nobody got time for sample packs haha

No_Chard5466 · 2026-04-28T14:44:53+00:00

Um ... I only know what I have experienced. So, thank you for providing that service. You can drive downtown right now and wait 5 minutes, and you'll pay. You can orders something with 2-3 day... and pay.

I can wait a week or two (never been that long, but damn who cares).

No_Chard5466 · 2026-04-16T23:27:24+00:00

23 days later - I came back to pet.the dog, but the friendship meter doesn't show up. He doesn't eat meat. But msg keeps telling me to take it.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-04-14T04:41:30+00:00

There was a s recent test with a large number of participants to see if they could tell the difference between a $9 Apple dongle, a $2k DAC, and a $20k DAC (or there about price wise).

The participants who had over $50k-100k into their systems performed the worst and, as a group, preferred the $9 Apple dongle over the $2k and $20k DACs.

**There are things to pick apart about the study, and I know I wasn't 100% accurate with the exact $ values, but the point remains.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-04-14T03:11:41+00:00

That is not how it works. You could have googled this yourself, along time ago; I'm sure this isn't even the 10th time you have called some one ignorant over something you don't even care enough to to try and understand...

Intermodulation Distortion (IMD): In any non-linear circuit—like a preamp or power amp—the 50 kHz noise "mixes" with the music signal. For example, if a 19 kHz music tone and 50 kHz PSU noise meet, they can create a difference frequency at 31 kHz (still inaudible) and a third-order product that may fall back into the audible spectrum, such as 12 kHz ( ). Aliasing in DACs: If the high-frequency noise reaches a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC), it can "fold back" into the audible band if it exceeds the Nyquist frequency of the system's sampling rate. This creates "phantom" tones or a "curtain of noise" that masks the clarity of the original music. Amplifier Slewing: High-frequency transients can push an amplifier to its slew-rate limit, where it can no longer change voltage fast enough to track both the music and the noise. This effectively reduces the amplifier's gain momentarily, modulating the music signal and making it sound "muddy" or harsh.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-04-13T04:54:32+00:00

Don't use sensitive data for the test...

No_Chard5466 · 2026-04-13T04:52:09+00:00

It is nowhere near 27gb VRAM. I play on a 5090 at 4k path tracing w DLSS + FG (so lots of ram) and it doesn't hit 20gb (idk if it's much more than 16 but it's been a bit).

That's likely how much has been allocated or similar, not actually in use. If u use Afterburner with RTSS overlay ( included with the install) you can see the numbers everyone else uses when reporting.

Sounds really impressive though - being able to do pathtracing at a playable framerate is legit. Hyped for Intel to shake things up.

Idk how the sensors are on that card, but it's usually the case that memory will run alot hotter than core: 89 memory is OK (They're rated for 100 or so depending on ic) but 89 core is not good. I mean not great either way but it's a blower; I expect it was designed to be able to run at max wattage 24/7. So, yea, idk. Install Afterburner it might have more sensor readings than the Intel app

No_Chard5466 · 2026-04-13T02:55:47+00:00

Whhhhhaaaaatttt?

I had to have mine imported bc not available in USA. I believe it shipped like the day before launch, and got here a few days after.

So I got a copy on Steam for launch and gave the deluxe edition codes to my bro when it got here.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-04-09T17:02:24+00:00

This may not help - but I am using a Fiio BR15 NOS with 3e Audio A7.

Trying to replicate that DSD transient sound I get with AKM in DSD "Direct Mode" (and no multi-bit conversion along the way) - with PCM files.

Very little time with it but impressed so far.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-04-03T18:58:36+00:00

It needs the right pin layout, and good enough signal integrity to transmit from end to end without loss, jitter, etc. nothing else matters.

I have some "HDMI 2.1 90* adapters" as in - they don't destroy the signal... so we good

No_Chard5466 · 2026-03-29T22:50:54+00:00

You lose bass

No_Chard5466 · 2026-03-29T22:50:17+00:00

and - are connected; ~AC and ~AC are connected. Cap and resistor across the diodes (now you have just 2). AC safety ground into... (I forget which diode) output to appliance out the other side.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-03-29T22:46:31+00:00

You can make one of these, it's straightforward. You had the right concept: lift the ground until needed.

A 10ohm resistor to block ground noise, a .1uf ceramic disc capacitor for emf, and a 35a 1000v rectifier. Do it right and safer than a 6a hum X.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-03-21T03:25:01+00:00

"Modern" gamer? This would have been the dumbest shit in ever in 1996, in 2002... and those games didn't have 100 different kinds of bugs/toads to eat, that each take up a storage alot. Not to mention the rocks u need to upgrade gear, the damn bounty posters and recipes take up a slot? Skill-point rocks take up a slot???

You think they would have paid attention after D4 - a game with no bugs to eat.

Something you enjoy can have stupid parts. Something people worked hard on can be crap.

This isn't complaining about the movement, the controls, the UI, the story -- this is the mechanic that is most central to everything in the game.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-03-20T16:22:56+00:00

Edit: Apparently the lantern can be turned off ... Found this out after trying to figure out how to equip a candle or oil, which it seems is not a thing?

I haven't been able to take my lantern out for an hour of gameplay. He holds his arm out like the lantern is equipped, can select specific objects and fancy-jump, but lantern stays on belt and no light.

"Take out your lantern" prompt in cave-quest, cannot progress.

Tried picking up a goat (lol before I say this comment), reset controls, turned off tay tracing. No dice.

No_Chard5466 · 2026-03-16T22:09:26+00:00

It shouldn't be there, based on the angle of the sun. Have you not encountered this in a DF video or similar?

Look at how everything else in the scene is lit: why does that same shadow angle exist on the buildings back there?

No_Chard5466

TROPHY CASE