yeap, PPF isn't the "end-all" solution of LSP because PPF itself isn't maintenance or hassle free per se. it has its cons too. the one that drove me away from applying PPF is that it HAS to be replaced at the end of its tenure otherwise it will either crack, turned yellow etc.

for coating, it just simply wears off.

what do you mean by "is it advisable"?

my mechanic once told me "oem parts are the best and that includes paint, no matter how thin it can be" and i've been living with that notion since and he's not wrong never replace anything that comes stock with the car unless necessary.

i think MAZDA Malaysia doesn't currently have the facility to paint Polymetal Gray yet but if it does come in the future then i guess it would be OK if the color fancies you but only if you can live with the fact that you'll notice the different color at the door frame because the re-painting doesn't carry over into the interior.

no. unfortunately, I don't.

ask for the TSER %. that should be a better indicator of the tint film heat rejection in real driving conditions.

no, there's no difference in terms of ground clearance between the sedan and the liftback.

yes and according to MAZDA, their ATF should practically last for the duration of the car's lifetime.

i'm no expert in automotive engineering but if MAZDA says there's no need to change then i'll just have to rely on them. I don't think MAZDA will purposely suggest something that would ruin their gearbox if they weren't sure about that.

it's good practice to change every 20,000km but if changing the ATF voids the warranty then i rather not take the risks.

will definitely change it AFTER the warranty period is over though.

TSER stands for Total Solar Energy Rejected which is basically the unit for actual heat rejection so the higher the %, the better. Once you have determine this then you dwindle down to the other specifications (eg: IRR, VLT etc).

High TSER rating films usually have high IRR % so these 2 come hand in hand. what you need to look out for perhaps is the VLT because bad quality tint films achieved high TSER % by inducing low VLT whereas good quality films are the opposite.

So in essence, just look for a film with highest TSER % with the highest VLT - the rest is negligible.

it's not that the car breaks down after the warranty period ends, it's just the usual wear and tear. it's normal to have some minor parts replaced after 5 years of usage (eg: spark plugs, brake pads etc).

yeap, the liftback turns head but i noticed that there has been an increase on the road as of late so, it won't "turn" as much heads as it used to.

This post has been edited by shaniandras2787: May 4 2021, 12:40 AM

Black, Silver and White are the least desirable colors (amongst buyers) but they are quickly becoming one of the few ones that are distinguished from the rest.

Red is just somewhat, "oversold"

what do you mean by "hows the M3 performs compared to m2?"

is it NVH? is it power?

Mazda 3 Listing 2013 - 2015

Here you go, plenty to choose from.

mounting a 225 onto your stock rim shouldn't be an issue at all because it's a 10mm difference only anyway - and you gain 5mm in sidewall height so there's your cushion

from the numbers, you can already tell that it won't matter at all whether you are running on 215/45 or 225/45 therefore my advise is to stick with the 215/45 so at least when it comes to warranty, there's no dispute.

the rationale behind the "one step / two step" ignition process dates back where cars were still on "manual" mode wherein they needed that "prompt" to get all the essential fluids going to the right places before actually igniting the engine and this is done by turning the key to the "INT" position until all the stand by lights on the dashboard is turned off.

we have progressed very far since then - at the moment when the car is unlocked, your car is already getting all the essential checks done behind the scenes so don't be troubled by going with the "two step" process.

it's just inherently Mazda. those 18" tires + torsion beam on the back just amplifies the effects and especially more so if you are coming from cars like Hondas/Toyotas.

These are water spots you are seeing.

Did you leave your car under the sun after rain or leave your car to dry itself after a wash?

Coatings allow water to bead on the paint so while it makes car washes effortless, it also accumulates dirt/dust/road grime etc and concentrates them on one spot. The shape of water beads also intensifies the heat from the sun allowing the impurities to "baked" onto the surface of the paint. These cannot be removed with normal car washes - you'll need something acidic/alkaline (depending on the nature of the spots) but be warned though, this will also remove the coatings partly/entirely so reapplication is required.

If your coating package has "warranties" then best not to do anything to it yourself else you may void them. Just go back to them and have it rectified.

yeap, water spots are inevitable unless you have a shaded parking bay both at work and at home however proper weekly washes should reduce the chances of water spots from developing.

for the sedan, unless you are considering the 1.5 otherwise go straight for the High Plus. the additional RM10k is worth every cents.

the reverse sensors can be installed by GS Auto, Bermaz's authorized accessory shop so it will not void the manufacturer's warranty but you cannot get the blind spot monitoring and the autonomous braking retrofitted.

you NEED to get the Signature light package for the sedan because unlike the Liftback, the rear lights for the lower variants are really the front is acceptable.

the other safety suite systems are negligible and 70% of the time, they deactivate themselves when it rains heavily.

GS Accessories

this - it's located nearby Mazda's Federal Highway SC.

i think someone here had it installed and if I remembered it correctly, it's about RM550 +/- and I also remember that person was quite happy with the workmanship.

just have the RM10k factored into your loan amount - you wouldn't even noticed the additional payment every month. It's really a wasted opportunity since you are already in the budget for the High variant.

This is not new by the way, I first noticed this in the E-class.

mounting 235s on stock rims is a no-no and besides, mounting 235s would already hit the diminishing return mark. too much road contact, not enough power.

you might end up going slower and having poor FC unless of course you have a reason for going higher than 225.

it's not that Bermaz is not bothered in bringing in these additional features, more like trying to keep the pricing down to be relevant in the market - even now, people are raving with the price of the High Plus variant. the Mazda3 being a CBU would hit the low RM200k mark if Bermaz spec'd them up.

Little people know that the pricing of the Mid-spec variant was increased by RM2,000.00 as keyless entry now comes as standard across the range.

What i like to see however is the ability for customers to personalize their options for the cars - I personally know some people who prefers trading off the sunroof for the Bose speakers.

As for the facelift, I would not be surprise to see a new Signature Illumination since the new CX-5 also adorns a new "BMW-esque" DRL.