Mazda 3 mps
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: At Home
Mazda 3 mps
May have a look at one of these tomorrow ..... appeals in a kind of Q car way 
Anyone out there driven one with the sports kit / suspension upgrade ? I have read the roadtests that don't quite like it but would be intested in 1st hand experience.
They seem good value compared to a Golf GTi or Focus ST .... and yes, I know a Mazda will depreciate alot more !
Anyone out there driven one with the sports kit / suspension upgrade ? I have read the roadtests that don't quite like it but would be intested in 1st hand experience.
They seem good value compared to a Golf GTi or Focus ST .... and yes, I know a Mazda will depreciate alot more !
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From: North, no further!
Seriously uber quick car, masses and masses of torque 
Shame about the rest of it though
It feels like a traffic light hero car - you'll understand what I mean when you give it a drive.
Shame about the rest of it though
It feels like a traffic light hero car - you'll understand what I mean when you give it a drive.
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,032
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From: At Home
I went and tried the Mazda 3 mps today .... a quick test drive and then back to the dealer.
No rattles, creaks or problems - seemed well put together but yes, the plastics are more Subaru than BMW .... def OK but not if you are expecting the likes of VW/Audi or BMW quality - which is hardly surprising. Seats very comfy, car roomy, steering very well weighted but a clutch that is at least twice as heavy as the S2K and a slightly rubbery gearbox (but then we are spoilt in that area).
Engine wise - Boost limited in 1st and 2nd to try and prevent torque steer then full boost thereafter. 1st and 2nd were too short and full of torque steer - much more than I had anticipated. Not uncontrollable but not fun either when you are used to a RWD car !
The car is quick - of that there can be no doubt - but it doesn't do it in an accomplished way at all. Third gear on is genuinely quick and surprised me a few times when I looked down at the speedo to find I was doing 20-25mph more than I realised
4th gear is awesome .... but then any turbo car always seems to feel quicker than it actually is!
Would I swap the S2000 for one - No ! Would I consider a Mazda 6 mps which gets full boost in all gears due to being 4wd .... yes, I would.
I think if I go down the hatchback route it will be a Golf .... but it was worth trying the 3mps just for the hell of it. I couldn't have one. Aside from the torque steer I would end up with no licence very quickly - it just surges over the speed limit in a way you don't realise. I like a car where I at least know I am speeding !!!
No rattles, creaks or problems - seemed well put together but yes, the plastics are more Subaru than BMW .... def OK but not if you are expecting the likes of VW/Audi or BMW quality - which is hardly surprising. Seats very comfy, car roomy, steering very well weighted but a clutch that is at least twice as heavy as the S2K and a slightly rubbery gearbox (but then we are spoilt in that area
). Engine wise - Boost limited in 1st and 2nd to try and prevent torque steer then full boost thereafter. 1st and 2nd were too short and full of torque steer - much more than I had anticipated. Not uncontrollable but not fun either when you are used to a RWD car !
The car is quick - of that there can be no doubt - but it doesn't do it in an accomplished way at all. Third gear on is genuinely quick and surprised me a few times when I looked down at the speedo to find I was doing 20-25mph more than I realised
4th gear is awesome .... but then any turbo car always seems to feel quicker than it actually is! Would I swap the S2000 for one - No ! Would I consider a Mazda 6 mps which gets full boost in all gears due to being 4wd .... yes, I would.
I think if I go down the hatchback route it will be a Golf .... but it was worth trying the 3mps just for the hell of it. I couldn't have one. Aside from the torque steer I would end up with no licence very quickly - it just surges over the speed limit in a way you don't realise. I like a car where I at least know I am speeding !!!