Nice job Marc, looks like several tins of elbow grease have been used.

Fitted a new aerial today

This one is carbon fibre, with a retractable shaft, so it's shorter than the old one to look nice, but longer when you actually want some reception

looks good Marc, just not sure about the chrome bits on it, might be better if they were black or 'not chrome'.
just my opinion though

Marc, is that a 'self retractable' aerial (by that I mean do it YOURself) or an electric retractable one?

I am looking for a stubby short aerial myself...

Just what I was thinking...reckon it'll go graphite, along with the badges




none of that electrickery ...this one is marc powered

Noice, but I'm with jason on the chrome.

alright alright, give me a bit of time...it'll get sanded and painted tomorrow

Just what I was thinking. Isn't marc powered a bit difficult to do on the move?

Nah, If you stand on the door sill facing the car, you can just about reach the aerial with your left hand, whilst steering with your right foot...easy

I painted the aerial today, it does look a whole lot better

Nice!

I also treated the front end to a magnet bra, not sure on the looks, but it'll hopefully do it's job - as I'm plagued with stonechips








Big thanks to offshore for posting the link - I would never have found it otherwise

looks good but whats it like under the bonnet?

is it the same depth underneath?

and ive just realised that your car is the reason wht i didnt lose my temper today
same colour as the mazda3 that ruined my drivers side front lol

i actually really lik eit on your car budd..

normally these look stoopid, but i think it really goes well on your car...

good job

she's coming on very nicely

Normally I dont like these at all... BUT this I do like,
that is a VERY nice look now.

Have you considered a Protege Grill?

BJ's can be pretty too!

Your paint is absolutely mint Marc. It's terrible outside but you make it look like summer

Never been fan of those bug/stone deflectors. Still don't like them.

The trim that holds it secure is the same underneath as it is on top - a couple of mm thick I guess? - and at the side edges the bra folds underneath too, but it's pretty slim, and doesn't cause any fit issues at all.




Thanks Will, yes, it rained 5 minutes before, and 10 minutes after I fitted the bra, was dodging the weather, as I had an extension lead and hairdrier out there

I know what you mean, I'm in two minds about the look of it myself, but it is purely functional, so as long as it does it's job, it can stay

Why is it called a bra? What a stupid name. Sounds wrong...

cos it protects the good bits

Another addition today, a pair of headrest cushions, embroidered with the mazdaspeed logo



and a Meguiars Lanyard for my key

*nudge nudge

Cuz its makes the car look sexy... > lingerie

Fitted a US style mirror decal, you know the ones that usually say objects are closer than they appear or whatever

Nice decal

Car is looking fantastic mate, I remember when we first went to look at it, when you were considering buying it, and neither of us were that kean on the colour, how wrong we were, its perfect in that colour

Marc, something completely differt and perhaps I already asked once.
Did you notice any difference in sound with the window wind deflectors on?

what wind deflectors would those be? If you mean the set I have in the shed, still in the original Mazda packaging...no, haven't made any difference to the sound of the shed

lol. Thought you had at least fitted them

original Mazda you say...hmm...
Only the front you got right?

Had been db-measuring the car yesterday, needs to be quieter inside on the highway

yep, genuine mazda ones, and just the fronts, cos the back ones look nasty anyway, they just sit at the top, looks wrong...

True true. Looks better on the saloon, goes all the way to the back. We don't have have that extra window hatches have.
To the garage it is then! Perhaps they still have them tucked away. Probably cost a fortune...

Yeah, they'd look ok on the saloon

you can get them from ebay mate, cheaper than a mazda set - I was lucky with mine, mazda dealers were having a clearout One day I'll make a decision as to whether I'm going to fit them or not