Thought I'd share my mods!
05-19-2008, 12:00 PM
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Thought I'd share my mods!
Ok, I started things out by buying a 2004 base model "sport", I really wanted a GT but there were none to be found around here. So, a Velocity Red Sport (with NO options) was what ended up coming home with me. I bought it about three months ago with only 20K miles on it and got it for a screaming deal. It was in flawless shape (not so much as a scratch or door ding), one owner, a transferable extended warrantee, all records and maintenance paperwork and even the original Window sticker!! Long story short (somewhat) I got an awesome, mint condition car for a VERY good price. No there was the question of what to do with a sport when I wanted a GT? The answer was clear.....make it into a GT. So, I set out to do so. I started by making an appointment to add a power moonroof. However, with all I have read on the subject I changed my mind the day before my scheduled appointment. So here is the list of what I have done to the car as of now:
Re-Upholstered the stock Grey and Black cloth seats with Red and Black Leather (just like the factory GT interior)
Re-Upholstered the stock Grey cloth door panel inserts (all of them) with Red and Leather (just like the factory GT interior)
Replaced the steering wheel with the OEM Red and Black Leather Wheel
Replaced the OEM Black Vinyl Shift Boot with a real Black Leather unit with Red Stitching (to match the new interior)
Added an OEM Trunk-Mounted Spoiler
Added the OEM Apperance Package (Front Air Dam, Side Aero Flares, Rear Aero Flares)
Added the OEM Front Rotary Package insert
Added the OEM Rear Rotary Package insert
Added the OEM Fog Light set-up (blue tint)
Added a Xenon Light Kit
Added the OEM Frotnt Mud Guards
Added the OEM Silver Finish Power Window Switches
Got a new set of OEM All-Weather Floor Mats
Added the OEM in-dash 6-Disc CD Changer
Upgraded the OEM speakers & added an AMP (now more powerful then the Bose units)
Added the Silver Fender Strakes
Bought a set of Racing Beat Oil Cooler Grills
Bought a Racing Beat Condenser protection Grill (lower piece)
Added a new OEM Black & Red Car Cover
Added an OEM Red Mazdaspeed Oil Cap
Whewww, that was a long list. Not too bad for three months eh? I still have a few more goodies to add in the future on my "mini-gt".
Re-Upholstered the stock Grey and Black cloth seats with Red and Black Leather (just like the factory GT interior)
Re-Upholstered the stock Grey cloth door panel inserts (all of them) with Red and Leather (just like the factory GT interior)
Replaced the steering wheel with the OEM Red and Black Leather Wheel
Replaced the OEM Black Vinyl Shift Boot with a real Black Leather unit with Red Stitching (to match the new interior)
Added an OEM Trunk-Mounted Spoiler
Added the OEM Apperance Package (Front Air Dam, Side Aero Flares, Rear Aero Flares)
Added the OEM Front Rotary Package insert
Added the OEM Rear Rotary Package insert
Added the OEM Fog Light set-up (blue tint)
Added a Xenon Light Kit
Added the OEM Frotnt Mud Guards
Added the OEM Silver Finish Power Window Switches
Got a new set of OEM All-Weather Floor Mats
Added the OEM in-dash 6-Disc CD Changer
Upgraded the OEM speakers & added an AMP (now more powerful then the Bose units)
Added the Silver Fender Strakes
Bought a set of Racing Beat Oil Cooler Grills
Bought a Racing Beat Condenser protection Grill (lower piece)
Added a new OEM Black & Red Car Cover
Added an OEM Red Mazdaspeed Oil Cap
Whewww, that was a long list. Not too bad for three months eh? I still have a few more goodies to add in the future on my "mini-gt".
05-19-2008, 01:01 PM
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Ok, here are some pictures (provided I linked them correctly). The first two show the car about two weeks after I bought it (with front and rear rotary accents, fender strakes and rear spoiler all already added). The rest of the pictures, I took about five minutes ago! ENJOY and let me know what you think of the transformation!
05-19-2008, 01:25 PM
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looks good, you must really like the OEM look though because you couldve done some cool aftermarket stuff for 4K. Prob could have kitted it out and got wheels.
05-19-2008, 01:30 PM
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yea i would have gotten the mazdaspeed body kit but thats just me.. nice jopb tho
hey one more thing!!! where did you get the leather for your seats?? did you get it at the dealership?? or did you buy a replica? did you do the installation yourself? and if not how much did you pay for it to get done???
thanks
hey one more thing!!! where did you get the leather for your seats?? did you get it at the dealership?? or did you buy a replica? did you do the installation yourself? and if not how much did you pay for it to get done???
thanks
05-19-2008, 01:38 PM
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Vtak just kicked in yo!!
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yea i would have gotten the mazdaspeed body kit but thats just me.. nice jopb tho
hey one more thing!!! where did you get the leather for your seats?? did you get it at the dealership?? or did you buy a replica? did you do the installation yourself? and if not how much did you pay for it to get done???
thanks
hey one more thing!!! where did you get the leather for your seats?? did you get it at the dealership?? or did you buy a replica? did you do the installation yourself? and if not how much did you pay for it to get done???
thanks
05-19-2008, 01:41 PM
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mine is showing some wear as well
I i would actually want to chagne my color to white on black like the mazdaspeed 6's
since i have a pearl white 8 I think it would look very sexy/ luxurious
05-19-2008, 01:44 PM
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Very nice, your seats in particular are in really good shape 
Depending on how much you paid, and if you like making the upgrades yourself, this could have worked out to about the difference versus a GT.
Depending on how much you paid, and if you like making the upgrades yourself, this could have worked out to about the difference versus a GT.
05-19-2008, 01:53 PM
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I had the leather done at an upholstery shop that I have been using for over ten years down in San Diego. I didn't car to go aftermarket on this car, I really like the factory look of the appearance package. Its subtle but sporty. I work for Mazda and this car was a One Owner lease return. Due to my position, I bought the car (cash) for well below its normal selling price. Looking at the book value on the car the worth of it is still way above the combined cost of me buying the car and all the money I put into it. So, I am still way ahead of the game here and have a better looking car out of the deal!
05-19-2008, 01:55 PM
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I had the leather done at an upholstery shop that I have been using for over ten years down in San Diego. I didn't car to go aftermarket on this car, I really like the factory look of the appearance package. Its subtle but sporty. I work for Mazda and this car was a One Owner lease return. Due to my position, I bought the car (cash) for well below its normal selling price. Looking at the book value on the car the worth of it is still way above the combined cost of me buying the car and all the money I put into it. So, I am still way ahead of the game here and have a better looking car out of the deal!
05-19-2008, 02:30 PM
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Yeah, The Auto-Dim Homelink mirror is on my list of "To-Do's". I live in the Santa Cruz area and am always up for drives or meets with other 8 owners....or Miata people (as I have one of those too).
05-19-2008, 03:09 PM
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05-19-2008, 03:18 PM
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I had the leather done at an upholstery shop that I have been using for over ten years down in San Diego. I didn't car to go aftermarket on this car, I really like the factory look of the appearance package. Its subtle but sporty. I work for Mazda and this car was a One Owner lease return. Due to my position, I bought the car (cash) for well below its normal selling price. Looking at the book value on the car the worth of it is still way above the combined cost of me buying the car and all the money I put into it. So, I am still way ahead of the game here and have a better looking car out of the deal!
05-19-2008, 03:31 PM
#25
Well, I like it. I've always kinda been a fan of upgrading a base car to a higher trim level piece by piece. Perhaps it doesn't make any sense to some but there is a certain satisfaction to be had from doing it. Everything fits perfectly, everything works right, the styling is spot on... Just feels nice.