Mazda 3 MPS - Tell Me About It...

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Further to the bargain thread I looked up a NON AERO PACK Mazda 3 MPS and found this:

http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-u...odel=MAZDA3&min_pr=&max_pr=&max_mileage=40000

Seems hella cheap for such a car, the aero versions are £1500 more expensive in most cases at least.

I know the aero is basically a different kit and upgraded suspension but is it really worth it over something like the above?

How would you compare a car like this to say an Astra VXR / Leon Cupra R?
 
I was looking at some of these and even with the aero kit i've seen from dealers for about £11k for an 08 plate. Considering the amount of kit and the amount of power it seems such a bargain, however i'm not that up on its handling etc, better go read some reviews....


*goes to read reviews*
 
Ok, first things first

The mazda 3 MPS is very much mazdas own thing. People comment "isnt ist just like a focus ST" because its based on the focus platform

It uses a 2.3 litre engine, with four cylinders. This is the same one as used in the mazda 6 sport, and is mazdas own engine and nothing to do with ford.

They then turbocharged it to produce a staggering 250bhp

It got very good reviews, its a decent drive, well specc'd and plenty of poke.

Aero kit is a bodykit and suspension drop. Very similar to the astra VXR in terms of being mediocre and incredibly powerfull fwd hatch.

Leon cupra r is a different more focused animal. The MPS's shortfall is that its not the best handling car in the class. Pretty similar to the VXR really, plenty of poke, but not an ultimate handling car like say the clio 197.

Drive them and see what you think. Personally, id have the 3 over the an astra vxr though. Ony reason i didnt get a mazda 6 mps is because it was 4 door only and had no rear folding seats and thus was too impractical for me (despite being a big saloon)
 
Just had a good look into the 6, and its a pretty impressive car, in terms of performance and price etc. Pretty decent spec, although it looks pretty pap and I'd rather have the 3 I think.

Will have to get myself a test drive in this at current prices, fuel costs look to be fairly high compared to an Astra VXR / Leon Cupra R though.
 
encephalopathy said:
isn't the 6mps 4wd but the 3mps only front wheel drive?
Click to expand...

It's nominally FWD with the ability to split power with the back wheels when needed.

I was looking at how cheap the 6 MPS is compared to the 3 this morning. I'd take the 6 over the 3, and in red it looks pretty monstrous (in a good way).
 
thepharcyde said:
It is also used by Ford engine DHE-423 :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duratec#Duratec_23
Click to expand...

the text says it all though.

The Duratec 23 is a 2.3 L variant of the Mazda MZR 2.3 L engine.

Its a variant of a mazda engine. Just i've seen too many times that the mazda uses a ford engine. Its not, its their own engine. Thats so good in fact, ford use the technology elsewhere.

But it was designed in house at mazda.
 
My dad swaped his RX-8 for a 3 MPS and he loves it. It is mental fast but very understated. Nice car but personally I prefered the RX-8 he had, ok it was slower and got less MPG but I just thought it was a much nicer car.
 
I dont think it looks understated tbh.

I looked at one a while back, and tbh, I think it has too much power, you can 'feel' the computers trying to reign the power in all the time, it really could do with a proper mechanical LSD.

I'd rather have the Golf GTi or the Megane, the ST and CTR run them close tho.
 
I have an MPS with the Aero kit on it.

I really like it - woohoo I don't think youve driven it properly if you feel the computers are holding you back. Believe me, I've given it a pretty good thrashing and I have got nowhere near to the limits of the car. In no way does it feel that you are being limited by any kind of computer wizardry.

Plus Points :

-Insanely quick, especially from 3rd gear onwards
-Looks are understated - no unwanted attention at the lights from boy racers
-Minimal Torque Steer
-Surprisingly economic - currently getting around 31mpg with mixed driving
-Seems reliable so far, no issues to report
-Great BOSE stereo which I love
-Brilliant bargains over them

Negative Points :

-Car tax band - fits into the £400 (I know this is not a big deal to some, but many are put off by this)
-Depreciation appears to be more severe than its hot hatch rivals
-I've experienced a few rattles in the dash/seatbelt area which are quite annoying
-Ride is quite harsh on 18" alloys. Probably the same in all the other hot hatches, but its a little annoying sometimes!

This comes from 1 year and 12k in the car. Any questions feel free to ask!
 
Unlight said:
I have an MPS with the Aero kit on it.

I really like it - woohoo I don't think youve driven it properly if you feel the computers are holding you back. Believe me, I've given it a pretty good thrashing and I have got nowhere near to the limits of the car. In no way does it feel that you are being limited by any kind of computer wizardry.

Plus Points :

-Insanely quick, especially from 3rd gear onwards
-Looks are understated - no unwanted attention at the lights from boy racers
-Minimal Torque Steer
-Surprisingly economic - currently getting around 31mpg with mixed driving
-Seems reliable so far, no issues to report
-Great BOSE stereo which I love
-Brilliant bargains over them

Negative Points :

-Car tax band - fits into the £400 (I know this is not a big deal to some, but many are put off by this)
-Depreciation appears to be more severe than its hot hatch rivals
-I've experienced a few rattles in the dash/seatbelt area which are quite annoying
-Ride is quite harsh on 18" alloys. Probably the same in all the other hot hatches, but its a little annoying sometimes!

This comes from 1 year and 12k in the car. Any questions feel free to ask!
Click to expand...

On the contrary, I did a 'Fox' a while back when i was looking at HotHatches, and Ive extensively driven them all barr the new Megane. I was really looking forward to the MPS, I stand by my point, it feels reigned in, lets face it, 200 bhp is pushing it in a FWD car with no LSD let alone 260.

The golf is the most accomplised out of the lot imo, the ST is a little nose heavy, but is quite refined compared to the VXR,Megane and CTR
 
Add an LSD into the mix then yeah FWD can handle a fair bit of power, but without Ive not driven much with shed loads of power that has been 'fun'.
 
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