Mate, for reasons I can't go into on line, it would be the end of hers!!

 

Hmmm...sounds like the bloke with two bricks knocked at your door

 

after reading taka's review I finally drove a MPS3 today. All I can say is that they are insane! it was an animal to drive and put a huge grin on my face :D

I want one!

 

For what they are they are expensive and Butt ugly IMOH , get a secondhand Mazda 3 and turbo it yourself .

Michael

 

I do think it's over priced but the white knuckel terror of not knowing where your car is going was priceless

the interior of the MPS is better than my 8, tho mazda needs to understand that an inch of leather dosn't make it a 'leather interior'

if you turboed a 2nd hand 3 you wouldn't have 1/2 the car the MPS is.

 

The 3MPS is way, WAY different to a t/c'd 3!

 

Yeah LSD, triple cog box (with 2 different final drive), beefed up suspension.

It is too different.

 

If you think it is exxy, have another look at the 130i.

I think the MPS3 is one of THE value performance buys atm.

 

since I'm looking for a sports hatch.
what is everyone's pick in the hot hatch market?

astra sri 147kW @ 35K (everything you could want but xenon lights)
ford focus 166kW? @ ~35k (expensive leather and paint)
mazda MPS 3 190kW @ 40-43K (depending on if the leather and lights are your thing)
VW GTi kW? @39K (lots of expensive options)
WRX 156kW @ 43K (very average options and interior)

some euro hatch?

 

i would go for the new british civic type r, but then again thats not coming to australia

from what u listed, i would choose mps3 (hot styling, big power) or the wrx, (butt ugly, 4wd, no torque steer) and i guess it all depends on what your car's purpose is gonna be.

 

VW Golf GTi is 147kW. 280Nm of torque.

I would love to go for that over the MPS3. They are the two winner of the recent comparo in a local motor magazine.

 

it's for my other half. she's coming from a ss commodore so the car needs to be small quick with leather and other features.

after driving the MPS 3 it made the ageing WRX look refined. the WRX can handle the power a front wd can't.

what mag was that taka?

I had a look for a comparo magazine but all I could find was a wheels VE commodore addvert.

 

I think it was Motor. Not 100% certain. I did not buy that mag. I see if my father did.

 

Easy question to answer, and you know what I am going to say : check out the Polo GTI -- you can get a nice leather/sunroof pack, all OTR for less than $35k. Use the change (from the 3MPS or the Golf GTI) to go on a nice holiday ANC chip the Polo for another 35Kw. Easy as...

One of the conundrums with Mazda's MPS series is this: IMHO, they should offer the 6MPS with the 6 hatch body (looks nicer)...and they should also offer the 3MPS in the sedan body (which, to my taste, looks better than the hatch. It would also be a differentiator against all the other "hot" hatches

 

In all seriousness though Timbo, the step from an SS Commodore down to a Polo may be too big a jump size-wise. It'd be like jumping from the Titanic into a dinghy. I also wonder about resale of smaller hot hatches - it's a much smaller market than the mid-sizers.

If she's not after the bigger power that the MPS3 offers, I reckon the Golf GTI is the best bet. A very good all-round package that is both classy and will hold its value better than most.

 

All depends on the budget
You're looking at a minimum of $45k OTR to get into that for the 3MPS...even more for the Golf.

As to resale value...well, that's a bit rich, coming from an 8 owner! hahaha

 

Agreed re: budget, but I think the extra $10K is money well spent.

And we're talking hatches, not the RX8 - I accept resale for the RX8 is not looking that flash atm.

 

The more expensive the car is - the worst is the resale value. You have not brought a Merc yet.

Or a Renault.

60% in 3 years is not a disaster. LOL.

I will go for Golf still

 

the golf is the only one I haven't tested yet. someone told me they were 60k something with all the options now I know otherwise I'll check them out. I sat in one and I did like the space and interior. the polo may be a bit to small. in the car yard I pointed to a polo thinking it was a golf. my partner would love the sunroof option

I just tested the astra SRi. it's a good package for 35K+onroads. I didn't drive it hard but it felt zippy and well behaved compared to the animal MPS 3. I'm not sure I like the SRi looks and it's not as practical as some of the hatches.

I don't think my partner will need the extra handling offered by the golf so the extra $ might not be worth it. I do like the size of the MPS 3 loads of space and practicality.

 

Golf GTI = Polo GTI + 150kg & $10k

And you are right about seeing them in the yard...there's nothing on the Polo...or the Golf...or the R32...that says they're other than a VW GTI

 

You just said it. Very clear indeed.

Same thing. Different make.

There is nothing on the Civic... or the Integra or the NSX that says they're other than a Honda Type R.

Oh BTW - there is no GTi in the R32. It is simply an R32.

 

Hmm, was this the guy who berated Michael for equating an MPS3 to a 3 with a turbo?

Your equation is simplistic, disingenuous and biased.

I'd be interested to hear Len's views on the real differences between the two (and what he intends to keep).

 

I already set my eyes on the GTR in 2008...

No I won't be selling my 8.

 

UK car mag review on Mazda 3 MPS not so impressive 2 star rating

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_d...sid=225&page=1

MPS RANGE DESCRIPTION IS FUNNY BUT TRUE

Taka there is also a writte up on your GTR

Michael

 

What a deadshit that reviewer was.

I'd suggest he prefers style to substance and has no idea what makes a hot hatch hot.

Try this for starters:

"If all you want to do is brag about numbers, the Mazda’s 255bhp/155mph/6sec combo is a winner. But tell someone you’ve got an MPS and they might ask whether the doctor has given you cream for it – there’s no brand recognition. The vaccuous engine note, non-existent image and high price make it hard to recommend over the competition."

What a tool.