The AFE short throw shifter is amazing you will absolutely love it. It took me a couple days to get used to it, and it seems to "break in" because at first the shifts were really choppy, but they soon become smooth, metalic and crazy accurate. I went for a 150 mile back-road ride last weekend and the shifter really showed itself off. Just be careful when you take the plastic cover off to install it because it has some very sharp pieces underneath and you can cut yourself.

 

To be honest, I think the AFE shortshift is overrated. That's why I ended up selling mine. Then again, it's not for everyone.

 

BTW, if anyone is interested in the Mazdaspeed shiftknob, PM me. I'm looking for locals.

 

Sorry I haven't replied, I was on vacation for a while. Ourisman Mazda is located in Laurel down 198. It's an awesome place to go.

 

Welcome back Brandon. Where did you go for vacation?

Ourisman is between route 1 and 295 on 198. Heading east, it is on the north side of the road.

 

I just stayed local and straight up did absolutely nothing lol. I just mainly needed a break from work.

 

General question here......I got pulled over for the first time in my 8 in 3 years of driving it over by rt. 91 and rt. 32. Saw the guy well before he saw me so I was cruising at about 45 mph in 6th gear (whats that, like 1,900 rpm) and right when I passed the red and blues came on. Baffled, I had my license and registration ready and he got me for no front tag. No ticket , just a warning and he was cool about it but said if he sees me around there again without it I'll get a ticket. Anyone had this dilemma of whether to put the tag on or not?I hate to put a tag on it, especially since I bought it in PA and no holes are in the front. Just don't like the look.

 

I took my off last year and put a billet grille on the front of mine. I live in Charles Co. and "Knock on Wood" I have not had any problems so far! I agree with you though I don't care for the look of having the front tag either!

 

I've been pulled-over many, many times for no front plate. Was it a city, state, or county cop? County cops rarely hassle me, usually just warnings. City cops never hassled me. Troopers never hassle me. But the wanna-be-state-troopers-but-couldn't-make-the-cut Maryland Transit Authority a-holes always hassle me. I've had three no-plate tickets, and two were from Transit Authority cops. I guess the tolls don't pay the bills. Whenever I go anywhere near the tunnels the plate goes in the windshield.

The last no-plate ticket was a couple of months ago when a BA county cop really could have given me a ticket for speeding, but chose the less painful option of the no-plate ticket. I was grateful for that! I was disappointed to see it's gone from $50 to $60, but it's still no points, and I'd gladly pay that yearly for no front plates if they gave me the option at registration.

Anyway, since I've been speeding way too much lately (the 8 makes it easy), I finally snagged a speeding ticket for 24 over by another BA county cop. He almost gave me a ticket for no plate, but I had a good story worked out and got a warning instead. Or maybe he figured a 24-over ticket was enough pain.

Until I get that speeding ticket worked out (hired a lawyer. never, ever take the hit!), I've stuffed the plate into the right side of the dash. "Legal" and a bit white trash, but not as offensive looking as attached to the front, IMHO.

 

Are you allowed to have the front tag on the dash or is that illegal? I always wanted to know.

 

Not to the letter of the law, but so long as you don't do anything to anger Mr. Policeman or attract his attention, they usually consider it "good enough".

The relevant law:
http://mlis.state.md.us/asp/web_statutes.asp?gtr&13-411

 

no such luck with the tag on the windshield for me. i've been pulled over so many times for not having my tag in the proper place. there is no way around it. HOWARD COUNTY BLOWS!!! Anne Arundel Co., Balt. Co., Montgomery Co., i don't have a problem anywhere EXCEPT HO. CO.

 

It was a younger state trooper......early 30's. Nice about the situation and only gave me a warning. I initially thought he pulled me over for my tint (20%) but luckily had the story for the front plate ready when I heard thats what it was for. I definitely wasnt speeding (45mph tops in a 50 mph zone). I guess my major concern was how common this was accross the state. This was right over the Carroll County line which, if you know Carroll County, the cops have nothing better to do. I saw there was a petition site out there for getting the front license plate requirement banished from MD. Here's the website.....not sure the validity of it but I went ahead and threw my name on there.


http://www.petitiononline.com/mdplate/petition.html

 

I am frequently down in Maryland, but I bank on the fact that MD cops -probably- don't know that Rhode Island requires a front as well. Heck, most of them probably have never seen a RI tag, with everyone in this tiny state being an isolationist and hating travel. (We just went ALL the way up to 6 digit license plates BTW... finally ran out of 5-digit ones, to give an idea of how few cars there are here)

Counting time until I get ticketed for it in RI, but I've got my story prepared too. But still worth the tickets to avoid the drilling, bracket, and general mess it makes of the front end.

 

Agreed! I'll pay the $60 or whatever it is. I live in Owings Mills so Baltimore County cops dont really pay attention since they have other stuff to worry about and my parents live in Hampstead so when I drive up there the cops dont pay attention since its so close to the PA line. Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

i will never put a front tag on. i just think of it as a monthly fee to drive plate free!

 

ha thats pretty funny Dan,,, since I cant send pics in a PM heres some of my Photoshops we talked about

 

ohhh aand did someone say custome Liscence plate... been pulled over twice since I made it but never issued a ticket...

 

and my latest photoshops

 

Nice photoshops Rotr8. I like the "Euro-Maryland" plates!

 

Rotr8, nice mod for the license plate. Too bad my Mazdaspeed bumper doesn't have room for the front accent.

 

beatiful license plate mod. Too bad it would cover the front rotaty accent. small price to pay for not having it stuff up the grill though.

 

IT actually replaces the metal accent. The left most pic is the accent piece's 3D scan data, then I took that data and used it in the model of the plate mounting bracket.... yup does look much better than the buck tooth look...

 

Just saying Hello to all MD people..

 

hello and welcome.....