Comments on: 2008 WRX vs. Mazda MPS3

By: MegaByte

MegaByte — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:35:36 +0000

The new Subi body shape is the best looking car they’ve made since the original WRX. Finally a good looking WRX again. Shame Mazda beat them to it by a few years. I have the mazda, but next car will be a tougher decision.

By: Boost-Juice

Boost-Juice — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:54:21 +0000

I definitely will always stick with Subaru. I had an MY08, just put some 18×8 with 225′s on it and lowered it just 1.5inch all round. Handles great and has a “chuckability” to it, but now sits flat enough to smoke any MPS.. as for racing.. the MPS is a battler with FWD.. sort of like a camry but better?

RWD or AWD = only way I roll.

By: Kev

Kev — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:46:57 +0000

Seriously guys you have to take the cars for what they are, straight out of the showroom with similar prices. I cahnged from Suby to MPS3 (because I can’t afford aa Audi RS$)& haven’t looked backSure if you change the WRX’s suspension & upgrade this & that it will beat the shit out of most cars but why not just buy an STI or EVO.
The MPS3 is restricted off the start but once wound up will eat up almost anything on the open road…bring on a rear wheel drive version.

By: THE_BAR

THE_BAR — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:28:16 +0000

This road test proves ONE thing very clearly. In this situation, the Manual MPS3 out performs the AUTO WRX.I wonder how the results would change if the WRX had a manual transmission. I have heard/read the AUTO gearbox in Impreza’s are quite ordinary. Anyone car to comment to that?

By: Nath

Nath — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 12:13:21 +0000

I test drove all the comparables to the 08 WRX because I have read all the reviews like this one that said the new WRX is soft. At the end of the day for everyday driving and the occasional spirited drive the WRX came out on top so that is what I now have in the garage.
I also believe that the WRX will come up trumps with a few relatively minor supsension tweaks.
As far as the looks are concerned they have grown on me, and I know a lot of people that hated the new look now after getting used to the shape think they look mean.

By: victory

victory — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:33:30 +0000

wrx’s glory days are overr

By: maximum.boost

maximum.boost — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:31:46 +0000

Hey Guys,

I’m loving both these cars, both have great performance. On the tarmac the mazda wins over the wrx, but the reason I ended up choosing the WRX over the MPS is because once you start to modify and unleash the true potential of these cars, the WRX I believe will dominate. The suspension and handling of the WRX aren’t what most people expected from the car, but throw in some stiffer suspension, some bush kits and upgrade the sway bars and gone is the body roll, gone is the soft rear end and onto some performance. Mazda did a great job, but setup the WRX with some handling mods and we’ll soon see who the king of the slalom is, 4WD vs FWD…seriously!
What happens when you decide to throw some more power into the equation as well? How are you going to get it to the ground? What about the WRX’s 2.5L engine capacity? Few mods to get the engine breathing better and the WRX I believe will eat the MPS for lunch.

So in conclusion, sure the MPS wins, but as for all round hot hatch potential, I went with the WRX.

Cheers

By: Joseph K

Joseph K — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:19:06 +0000

Guys,
I am a Subaru owner and I was a Mazda owner. Doesn’t matter MS3 is faster in the video. Subaru reliability is incomparable with the Mazda’s. While in 40000 km Subi requested gas and oil change Mazda was a pain all the time starting from 3000km. And how will you compare the two on other than dry pavement? I remember when the first WRX came years ago… Everyone had a bad comment for its design. Now everyone loves that model.

By: 08rexie

08rexie — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:55:47 +0000

I drive a 2007 2litre impreza R (non turbo) and yesterday went shopping for a new car since the impreza R is dissapointing to be honest. I’ve test driven a 2005 STI, 08 WRX, Golf GTI and a Mazda 3 MPS (all in parramatta). Honestly? I loved the STI it certainly did feel like it had the edge over the rest but then again it had clocked 70,000km… So I was left with the GTI, WRX and MPS and in all fairness they are all great cars, similar performace and price but I chose the WRX. Regardless if how the new rexie looks, it’s still a rexie and that is why I chose it. No 4 cylinder produces a better engine noise than subies iconic flat 4 (music to my ears). I’ll loose 1 second on a 1/4mile or 0-100 anyday to listen to free music while I drive. Can’t wait till I pickup the car next week!

By: The Truth!!!

The Truth!!! — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:45:36 +0000

I’m a ex my03 wrx myself and now drive a mps 3.

Look guys, I was wrx 4 life but honest to god the mps 3 is such a better car in every way. From performence to build, sure the wrx has awd, but we all no the 2.5L aussie spec wrx engine dies in the ass over 100km. Where the mps 3 just keeps going.

All this talk about torque steer is just crap. Sure it will if you rev it’s guts out then lift ur clutch up. But I dont think u’ll be dumping the clutch at 5500rpm at every set of lights.

The fact of the matter is, there are alot of jelous *hot hatch* owners out there that can’t handle the mps 3 is faster. So they pick shit out of it. * points finger at gti golf drivers*

Just take one for a test drive, When the pedal drops the bull shit stops……..