XCLR8TN's 2011 Mazda 2 Touring

[XCLR8TN]

Well, sold the Neon and got a 2 in May. I'll be turning just over 25k on it this week It's a ton of fun to drive! I've had it on track in MI and OH and it was a blast stock and slightly modded.

The goal here was not really a project, but a DD. But everything turns into a project. This one will just be a lot slower since I'm trying to complete the Miata haha.

Pics:

Stock but I had to put my used R1Rs on





Did a few little things, blacked out the side turn signals, rear reflectors, and emblems:





Random comparison to a jet engine:


Took it to Nelson Ledges completely stock except the R1Rs and a Corksport rear torsion bar... then Gingerman with the Koseis and lowered on H&R's, and then Nelson again with 15x9 6ULs.

The Koseis/Star Specs:









Also, tried the 15x9s that are destined for the Miata on it... they also hit, but they hit the strut. Need spacers AND extended studs. I ran them one track day after installing Miata extended studs.

[XCLR8TN]

Also dynoed it with the only mod being a muffler (from a BMW):


Versus my friend's totally stock 2:


HOLY RICH!

[XCLR8TN]

For reference.... I got bored and for S&G I tried this:


They need spacers, the rim hits the caliper bracket lol. Worth a try!

Got awesome gas mileage on each track day but the last one took the cake:


Since these track days I've installed a AWR rear motor mount which helped a TON with shifts and a lightweight CS crank pulley. It didn't make a huge difference but you can definitely tell it's there as far as throttle response.

[★ smaeda ★]

Damn makes me want to get one.

[Maikeru]

Damn makes me want to get one.

Right? Me too. Be a good new daily.

[iRoadster]

133 miles on one tank during a track day is freakin' amazing. I'll have to add that to the list of why I want one of these.

[XCLR8TN]

For you guys saying you want one, go drive one! I took the turns slow on my test drive and still scared the sales guy. Wtf mate? But anyways it's a blast. The first day I had it I did a valley run... It was lightly raining and I was only 10mph off my normal "quick" pace that I ran that road in my Neon with sticky tires and full suspension.

I'll normally come out of on-ramps at the speed of highway traffic I'm merging with, 55-60mph. It's a BLAST. Not a ton of oomph but if you keep your cornering speeds up you shouldn't have any issues

Here's a video of me running a road in the very top part of the valley... it's in a park so I'm going way over the speed limit but it's on my way to work in the morning before 8am and there's no one around.

Top of speedo marks 60mph and I wasn't REALLY pushing it hard through the turns and definitely not on the straights. Probably mid 40's as far as temps, and I'm back on OEM wheels with 185/55/15 Yoko tires.



A little oversteer action at 0:53ish

Eh. Here's another but really only gets going around 4:20 but I couldn't edit on the iPhone... some wet 2 cornering o_O

[Caoboy]

Informing my dad of the motor mount and the torsion bar. Was it hard to install that rear motor mount?

Hopefully I can pick it up from him.

[JSanker]

Very cool Mazda 2!

[XCLR8TN]

Informing my dad of the motor mount and the torsion bar. Was it hard to install that rear motor mount?

Hopefully I can pick it up from him.

Noooo not at all! It took less time than an oil change. I did it and the pulley at the same time. It's 2 bolts.

The torsion bar helped A LOT with understeer issues. Now it's pretty neutral. You push it past the point of grip and the rear will come out but you REALLY have to push the car hard on a sweeping turn... the only time I've ever had it come out on dry pavement (without leaves/wet/etc) was where I was already at the limit of grip and turned the wheel further to avoid something. And then it was a controlled 4 wheel slide at 60, lol.

[XCLR8TN]

Very cool Mazda 2!

Thanks!

[psulja]

Looks like a really fun car!

Noticed your post about Nelson Ledges, I just found out my older sister lives 15minutes from there so I'm hoping to make it out sometime this spring/summer.

That road in the first video looks like tons of fun!

[XCLR8TN]

Looks like a really fun car!

Noticed your post about Nelson Ledges, I just found out my older sister lives 15minutes from there so I'm hoping to make it out sometime this spring/summer.

That road in the first video looks like tons of fun!

I'm about 45 minutes from Nelson, if you head out there shoot me a PM! They usually have fundays on Saturdays for ~$120.

It is a ton of fun, I try not to run it too often for fear of attracting attention.. but it's on my way to work haha

[Zed CZ]

Really cool, I'm fan of new Mazda models and this topic made me thinking about having one as a daily..these little fwd's are damn addictive, has more sporty feeling than my IS200 which is rather boring than exciting

[Skinny]

I didnt think you liked it due to last posts on FB about it being an intefering asshole while driving in the snow?