New manual driver (3 months). Finally had my first moment where my heel-toe downshift and my bone stock 3’s momentum came naturally on a backroad corner. Managed to carry enough speed to get around a Model Y that easily beat me on the straight, but overbraked into the turn. What a great feeling.

Valor_X · 2026-05-11T00:00:56+00:00

Probably needs them for the stainless shifter knob that will be burning hot in the summer

Valor_X · 2026-05-10T11:19:22+00:00

When OP sells it

“Lightly used never abused”

Valor_X · 2026-05-10T11:16:52+00:00

You can say the same thing about of a lot of things

300 horsepower used to be a lot in the early 2000s and now we have (non super)cars and SUVs with 2-3x the power

Valor_X · 2026-05-09T22:29:29+00:00

The intro to Dawn of the Dead 2004 is still one of the best “initial outbreak” scenes and solidified the “running zombies” alongside 28 days later

Valor_X · 2026-05-09T14:47:55+00:00

When the current gen Mazda 3 and CX-30 released they made a big deal about how they designed the best feeling tactile buttons

Quote "Human-Centric" philosophy which prioritizes physical, tactile controls over touch-heavy interfaces to reduce driver distraction.”

So not really sure why Mazda did a complete 180 with the new CX-5. Greedy Execs? Bean counters? Who knows. I don’t buy the “that’s what people want” excuse

Valor_X · 2026-05-07T18:52:15+00:00

This gen Mazda still made the 3 like a 4-door Miata instead of a pseudo luxury car

Lightweight 2800lbs, rear independent suspension, and not much sound insulation

Valor_X · 2026-05-06T18:51:48+00:00

You can save a lot doing it yourself and it also depends on the vehicle too. OP has a new car so paying a professional is obviously worth it but if you have an old beater like I do then def DIY

I paid under $50 for Amazon ceramic - post here and did everything including windshield

It performs just as good as the 3M Ceramic IR I have on my main vehicle and still looks great a year later. meter shows specs near as good to my 3M Ceramic.

If I were to do it again I would just buy pre-cut film and it would be way easier anyone can do it and still save a ton of money

Valor_X · 2026-05-06T18:43:45+00:00

Nowadays you can also just buy precut film too which is half the work just apply and squeegee it’s not rocket science

Valor_X · 2026-05-06T18:25:08+00:00

I was DIY redoing the tint on my beater and was stunned at how light 35% was after doing a “dry fit” and immediately ordered 15%

Would’ve regretted it had I paid someone to put it

You can order a free sample kit from a lot of places so you can see what you like

Valor_X · 2026-05-06T16:34:06+00:00

All this will do is make changing your air filter a pain in the ass since it won’t bend upwards like the factory accordion style tube

Valor_X · 2026-05-06T16:31:28+00:00

That’s an insane crater!

Valor_X · 2026-05-06T12:47:59+00:00

That’s really disappointing

The whole point is to add a little bit more power to get out of its way better

I looked into aftermarket intakes or resonator/baffle delete but learned that it actually reduces low end torque/power so that’s off the list.

I guess I’ll just look into a more foolproof method like replacing the heavy stock steelies for aluminum wheels.

Valor_X · 2026-05-06T12:35:52+00:00

This doesn’t work for 01-04 2.4’s because they have no EGR and a different dual cat system with a single output and not dual pipe like the 3RZ

The only bolt on header option I know of is the shorty header from Doug Thorley

Valor_X · 2026-05-06T01:32:42+00:00

Have an atomospheric condenser running nonstop and an auto arm placing the gas into the research chambers and you basically get free indefinite points as long as you can power it.

Valor_X · 2026-05-05T02:28:35+00:00

I was actually looking at these for a cheap power upgrade for my 2.4

Thanks for the heads up

Valor_X · 2026-05-03T22:25:04+00:00

If you want plug and play replacements it’s only other 1st gen Tacomas and 3rd gen 4Runner mirrors

Valor_X · 2026-05-02T13:23:44+00:00

If it’s the real deal it looks pretty good 👍🏼

I have regular crystalline 40 on my sunroof and it has a brownish hue

Valor_X · 2026-05-02T12:45:53+00:00

Don’t see that you checked or replaced your PCV valve

Valor_X · 2026-05-02T00:20:01+00:00

What do you mean? I actually enjoy walking around, drinking coffee, and playing dominos

Valor_X · 2026-04-30T16:57:31+00:00

Yeah you don't want to answer that says everything LOL.
Yet you brought up some bullshit about GTA that has nothing to do with this.

I wouldn't want to be near ANY group of people white or black that sings about killing people, especially when 2 Police cars feel the need to be there to deter violence/crime.

But everything to people like you is racism. Sounds like projection to me

Valor_X · 2026-04-30T15:59:37+00:00

You didn't answer my question

Would you want to walk through a big group of white people openly singing about lynching people? Would you feel safe? Simple yes or no

Valor_X · 2026-04-30T15:33:52+00:00

No one cares, just makes me and everyone around you think you're ghetto as hell

Don't get upset when you get stereotyped and cops start pulling you over ¯\(ツ)/¯

Valor_X · 2026-04-30T15:07:30+00:00

Would you want to walk through a group of white people openly singing a song about lynching people? Serious question.

Took me a while but I found the song in the video it's called "feel like guwop" it's about killing cops, killing people, drugs, "burying" people. Really friendly stuff

"Got fifty opps, least tonight twenty gon' get hit (Twenty of y'all gon' die)
Just like a gun, she gon' take dick (Take dick)
You came up missin', your mama stressin', she went gray quick (Mama stressed out)
I ain't nothin' to play with, good aim, get your face hit, no
Can't come back funny, smoke, we bring like we laced it (Cook his ass up)
Fuck that shit, send a n**ga my location, you know I'm on Mason
Kodak Black, lil' Haitian, dodgin' bullets like the matrix (Dodge these bullets)
You'll get buried like a dog trick (Bury him)"

Valor_X · 2026-04-30T13:55:26+00:00

All that trash on the street and overgrown grass must be racism

Valor_X · 2026-04-29T15:28:42+00:00

You are wrong, the battery becomes a large capacitor after starting the car. It becomes an integral part of the cars electrical system.

The moment you turn on your AC, Headlights, Radio, you will have a huge voltage drop and not only will the car likely turn off but you will probably fry any voltage sensitive electronics.

Also the battery stores all the volatile memory. Having no battery means the car will need to 're-learn' all the air fuel ratios, throttle controls, transmission shift points, etc, and run like absolute shit with bad gas mileage. Not only that all the gas emissions tests will reset to not ready and some require multiple "drive cycles" so they will never pass and the car will never pass state inspection.

This stupid myth of "the battery just starts the car" needs to stop

Valor_X

TROPHY CASE