Orange's non-orange 06-6S

[mmceorange]

Sorry, lots of pictures! Re-arranging soon!
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Hmm, ok. I guess I'll do one of these, if only for self-organization and to get flamed at.

----------=SO HERE'S THE FRIGGIN STORY=----------

The date: earlier this year. The place: Craigslist. The time: I don't remember. The color of the walls: ehhh creamy yellowish? The average air-speed velocity of a common unla... YEA. OK.

----------=Pre-background=----------

Hi. I'm Sean. When I was 14, I was taught how to drive AND how to drive manual (at the same time) in a 1986 Mazda 323 hatchback with no passenger side mirror (expensive option back then) and no tachometer. This car was later handed down to me, but by the time I got my license, it had become a potential money pit. So it was sold after I bought my truck.

----------=Background=----------

My 98 Altima had finally managed to outpace my bank account to the point where I could not immediately afford to have it inspectable. Needed lots of the things. Also, it was a slushbox. Time to go. Figured out that, with a bank loan, my comfortable budget for a new to me car would be $5000, 8000 max. Looked at many cars.. But a big (huge, really (yes, I get that a lot)) catch was that I have to easily fit my entire drumset (including rack system) into the vehicle for when i play out with the band. This REALLY limited my options, including the 2001 Impreza RS' I've been lusting over for years. So I was basically looking for either an 03-05 Forester or a Mazda 3 hatch, but I never really considered a 6. Couldn't find a single [decent] 3 Hatch in my price range, but plenty of Foresters. I like the AWD and utility possibilities of that vehicle (camping, etc..) and would be really excited if I could get one with a turbo. Anyway, while Craigslist browsing, I came across a 6s that sounded nice, but was going for much more than I was prepared to be paying for the next several years, but I kept it in mind as a backup. So later, on my way home at the end of a long day of looking at/test driving some Craigslist finds, I decide that it wouldn't be very far out of my way to take a look at the 6. Well, I suddenly lost a lot of interest in Foresters. But it was marked at twice what I wanted to spend. But I was starting to get pulled over for lack of inspection, so I had to make le decisione. Went to my bank with a list of two Foresters, with the 6 as a last resort. Welp, due to my shitty credit, it was going to be very difficult for them to approve of any vehicle over 100,000 miles without the Pope as my co-signer, so... DECISION MADE.

--== TL;DR ==--

SLUSHBOX ALTIMA BAD. MANUAL 6 GOOD. UUGGGHHH!!

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So I bought my 2006 Mazda 6s on June 8th, 2012.
The car already had aftermarket wheels and winter tires on, as well as the chrome gas fill cover.
The dealership did a terrible job detailing the car.. only wiping down the immediately visible surfaces.. only a fool wouldn't notice. I didn't notice all the dusty crevasses and such.
They also lied to me about the MPG the car got. 27MPG they said. Only an idiot would not check up on that before buying. Well I didn't bother looking that up beforehand, so I went ahead and put a deposit down, driving the car one more time to the ATM and back. Fun. I TELL YOU.

Here it is the day I took it home.. Wheel gap GALORE!

Is nice..

Tungsten Gray, V6, Leather, Auto Climate, Bose 6-disc, Factory HID, Factory fogs, Moonroof, Hatchback..














































----------------------------------------------------------=MODS=----------------------------------------------------------

I have a lot of unique ideas.. some more crazy than others...

*Dim color = stock / un-modified

<Stand
--Lighting
----Headlights
------Low - 5000k HIDawaiting TRS upgrade
------Directional - Projector-style Switchback LED
------Int. Fog as DRL- Parts Purchased! Awaiting receivement!
------High - upgraded to cheapo "HID look" bulbs... "meh".. awaiting HID
------DRL - Cross-style Super White Tower LEDs
------Effect - nothing yet
----Fog lights - Upgraded to high-end Sylvanias - awaiting 5000k HID conversion.. Projectors?
----Tail lights - The plan: cleanly open the housings so I can put some friggin' HALOS in theah
------Outer Brake - Red LED
------Directional - Red LED + Load Resistors
------Reverse - 7W Cree LEDs
------Inner Brake - Red LED + Brakelight Mod
------3rd brake - Dual Red LED strips
----Side markers - Clear lens, Amber LED - awaiting blinker mod
----Rear Reflectors - awaiting conversion to rear fog LED strips
--Bodywork
----Front lip
----Eyelids?
----External Antenna delete, Internal Amp'd antenna
----Front Bumper paint chips repair
----Hood paint chips repair
----Stupid-ass vandalism repair
----Rear Bumper repair & re-spray
----Rear bumper cargo protector
----Front Emblem - Satinized

<Sit
--Lighting
----Dome/Map - Red LED (not sure that I like the red more than the white...)
----Courtesy - Red flank LED
----Vanity - awaiting LED
----Hatch - MAXLED White LED Strip conversion
--Gauge cluster/Dashboard
----Cluster smooth/stealthificationalizationalismification
----Cluster Indicators - RED ALL THE THINGS!
----Cluster Backlighting - Gauge Cluster Backlight Mod "B"
----Center Dash dead bulb replace- awaiting time
----Trim paint - awaiting 32P paint and time
--Center Console
----Shift knob & Boot
----E-brake lever & Boot
----Console scratch repair & paint - awaiting time
----Arm Rest
----Cupholder Illumination - awaiting EL Wire, time
--Doors
----Driver Armrest replace - awaiting parts
----Cupholder Illumination - awaiting EL Wire, time
--Seating
----Repair Driver Seat Seam
----Rear Cupholder Illumination - awaiting EL Wire, time

<Zoom & Shift
--Intake - Airbox Mod +
--Plugs - Pulstar Pulse Plugs
--Cover paint - awaiting 32P paint
--Exhaust - awaiting Magnaflow system
--Shifter
--Clutch & Flywheel

<Bump & Grind
--Springs - Eibach Pro
--Shocks - awaiting adjustables
--Stiffeners
----Front Strut Upper Brace Bar - Tanabe Strut Bar
--Sway bars
--Bushings
--Calipers - Black primer awaiting smooth and 32P paint
--Pads - Ceramic Pads of Unknown Brand
--Rotors - Drilled Front, Drilled Rear

<Roll & Grip
--Wheels
----Winter: Aftermarket by previous owner - Kosei 17x7 +?
----Non-Winter: Super cheap Akita something or other 17x7 +40 Re-painted by myselves.
--Tires
----Winter: 3x Graspic 2, 1x Graspic 3 (having mis-matched tires adds about 23 mph to top speed) 215/50R17
----Non-Winter: Hankook Ventus Sport K104 215/50R17

MmmmmK?

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Please feel free to make organization suggestions.

Please feel free to make modification suggestions, but please do not criticize my personal tastes; "why would you do that? That's ugly" is a lot different than "Good job, just not my cup o' tea". Enjoy your stay!

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NEED SOME ROLLING PICTURES

[mmceorange]

Reserved.

[mmceorange]

Also reserved.

[Knupsel]

Good damn how I love that color!
Clean and nice looking 6 you got there!
Have you looked into a badgeless grille?
Those make the car lool much sportier!
And a 03-05 sports conversion also looks great!
Sent from the Desert using Psychic Abilities

[mmceorange]

I have considered the bumper conversion, but decided to stick with the facelift bumper. If it ever gets irreparably damaged I'll look into it some more. But I'd rather have the Chargespeed kit

[SonicNutrition]

Subscripted. Love the title.

[mmceorange]

I have newer pictures to post up as well. I just haven't hosted them yet.

[fallenambience]

Originally Posted by mmceorange

I have newer pictures to post up as well. I just haven't hosted them yet.

I didn't think you were actually going to do it. Post the pictures before I spam your thread j/k now make me a ride thread on here

[Byakuya]

Car's Looking good buddy. About damn time you made one of these.

[mmceorange]

Originally Posted by Byakuya

Car's Looking good buddy. About damn time you made one of these.

Well I've had one for quite a while on the other site.. In fact I literally copied the code over from that OP