Mazda 3 MPS
July 11, 2006 by Alborz Fallah
July 2009 Update: Read our Review of the new Mada3 MPS.
The Mazda 6 MPS came to Australia earlier this year with a price tag of around $49,000 and caused little to no drama. Sure it was powered by a 2.3 Litre Turbocharged engine producing 190kw of power and 380Nm of torque, and sure it could give a Subaru WRX a run for its money, but it was boring. It seemed almost like Mazda had gone out of their way to make the Mazda 6 MPS seem less of a sports car than the normal Mazda 6! The spoiler was reduced in size, the wheels looked like they came out of a old Ford’s “do not use” parts bin and essentially the car failed to inspire.
Understandably, the car is aimed at the executive types who love to watch Rally cars and Formula 1, the ones who would also consider buying a Subaru WRX STi if the bonnet scoop wasn’t so massive and if the spoiler could be smaller, so infact Mazda had thought it through, they wanted a car they could sell to middle aged men who wanted a fast turbo with AWD while having no need to let everyone know about it.
The Mazda 3 MPS is another story, no longer aimed at middle aged businessmen the new 3 is set to put the hot hatch market on fire as the new Mazda 3 range prepares to make its return. The Mazda 3 MPS starts from $39,990 for the standard which Mazda claims will represent 70 per cent of Mazda 3 MPS sales (expected to start at 130 cars a month). For those who really want to spend, an extra $3,700 will get you the Mazda 3 MPS Sports Pack Model at $43,690.
“With class leading power and dynamics, the Mazda3 MPS is the ideal flagship for the hugely successful Mazda3 range and a great addition to our MPS stable,” Mazda Australia managing director Doug Dickson
The Full list of standard features for the Mazda 3 MPS can be found at the end of this article, however the highlights of the standard Mazda 3 MPS package include:
- climate control
- cruise control
- dynamic stability control
- six airbags (dual front, side and curtain)
- 18 inch alloy wheels
- fog lamps
Optional extras include the half-leather trim for the sports seating and xenon headlights. If you are willing to, you can also get the BOSE sound system upgrade which I wouldn’t recommend as you can get an after market system with better sound, installed, for less!
The Mazda 3 MPS uses the same 190KW 2.3 Litre Turbo-charged engine from the Mazda 6 MPS, however given that it weighs nearly 200kgs less than the Mazda 6 MPS, the 3 is slightly faster to 100km/hour at 6.1 seconds and has a top speed of 250km/hour. However it gains this weight advantage not just because of its size, but due to the fact that Mazda 3 MPS is still.. front wheel drive. Yes, shock horror. If the 2.5 Litre Turbo charged Ford XR5 wasn’t scary in a front wheel drive platform, this one is sure to scare a few drivers. Or maybe not?
The good people at Mazda noticed that strapping a turbo charged engine to a Front Wheel Drive car isn’t the smartest idea in the world if you don’t have all the gadgets that will insure the car’s safety. So they strapped the gadgets along as well, so you get limited slip differential and electronic control of engine torque, as well as stability and traction control. You also get steering angle sensors to reduce torque steer in tight cornering, alongside the torque-sensing limited slip differential (also found in the Mazda RX8 and Mazda MX5) to send power to the inside wheel while cornering.
The interior of the Mazda 3 gets a dark trim with red stitching in the sports seats and the leather-wrapped steering wheel and the gearshift. Plus the addition of the aluminium pedals and stainless-steel scuff plates. And in case you forgot what you were driving, there are MPS logos on the seats.
Full Specs
Mazda 3 MPS
Price: $39,990; With sports pack $43,650
Engine: 2.3-litre turbo-charged four cylinder
Power: 190kW at 5500rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 3000rpm
Performance: 0-100km/h 6.1 seconds, top speed 250km/h
Fuel usage: ADR 81/01 – 10 litres per 100km (city and highway)
Fuel tank: 55 litres
Weight: 1415kg
Wheels: 18″ MPS alloys
Full list of Standard equipement found on the Mazda 3 MPS:
- 18″ Alloy Wheels
- 6 Speaker Stereo
- ABS (Antilock Brakes)
- Adjustable Steering Col. – Tilt & Reach
- Air Cond. – Climate Control
- Air Conditioning – Pollen Filter
- Airbags – Driver & Passenger (Dual)
- Airbags – Head for 1st Row Seats (Front)
- Airbags – Head for 2nd Row Seats
- Airbags – Side for 1st Row Occupants (Front)
- Armrest – Front Centre (Shared)
- Armrest – Rear Centre (Shared)
- Body Colour – Bumpers
- Body Colour – Door Handles
- Body Colour – Exterior Mirrors Partial
- Body Kit – F&R Spoilers
- Skirts
- Rear Apron
- Body Side Mouldings – Colour Coded
- Bottle Holders – 1st Row
- Bottle Holders – 2nd Row
- Brake Assist
- CD Stacker – 6 disc In Dash/Cabin
- Central Locking – Remote/Keyless
- Chrome Door Handles – Interior
- Chrome Exhaust Tip
- Clock – Digital
- Control – Dynamic Stability
- Control – Traction
- Cruise Control
- Cup Holders – 1st Row
- Disc Brakes Front Ventilated
- Disc Brakes Rear Solid
- Door Pockets – 1st row (Front)
- Drive By Wire (Electronic Throttle Control)
- EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution)
- Engine Immobiliser
- Fog Lamps – Front
- Footrest – Drivers
- Headrests – Active 1st Row (Front)
- Headrests – Adjustable 1st Row (Front)
- Illuminated – Entry/Exit with Fade
- Illuminated – Key Ignition Barrel/Surround
- Illuminated – Switch Panel (Window/ Locking)
- Intermittent Wipers – Variable
- Leather Gear Knob
- Leather Steering Wheel
- Limited Slip Diff
- Map/Reading Lamps – for 1st Row
- Metallic Finish Inserts
- MP3 Player
- Multi-function Steering Wheel
- Pedals – Sports
- Power Steering – Electro-Hydraulic
- Power Windows – Front & Rear
- Rear View Mirror – Manual Anti-Glare
- Rear Wiper/Washer
- Remote Fuel Lid Release
- Scuff Plates (on door sills)
- Seat – Height Adjustable Driver
- Seatback Pocket – Front Passenger Seat
- Seatbelt – Adjustable Height 1st Row
- Seatbelt – Load Limiters 1st Row (Front)
- Seatbelt – Pretensioners 1st Row (Front)
- Seatbelts – Lap/Sash for 5 seats
- Seats – 2nd Row Split Fold
- Spare Wheel – Space Saver/Temporary
- Spoiler – Rear Roof Mounted
- Sports Instruments
- Sports Seats – 1st Row (Front)
- Stereo – Aux Input socket (MP3/CD/Cassette)
- Strut Brace – Front
- Sunvisor – Vanity Mirror for Driver
- Sunvisor – Vanity Mirror for Passenger
- Tacho
- Tail Lamps – LED
- Tinted Windows
- Trim – Cloth
Print it: 
0 
0 
Not bad…not bad…
However, without AWD I will remain unconverted, as will many (I’m guessing over 75%) of Japanese performance car enthusiasts. Even RWD would be a far more popular option.
Sorry Mazda, but FWD just won’t cut the mustard, even with traction control… I’m afraid this combo will end up on the long list of unsuccessfuls :(
I couldn’t agree more mate,
this car has more power than a WRX! Yet without AWD, whats the point? You can’t put that power down! What a shame, maybe the Mazda Speed version will have AWD…. maybe.
Have you driven it?
Nothing is more irritating than somone saying “NOT FWD, I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT IF IT WERE AWD” No you wouldnt have bought it, becaus chances are you are a dreamer. The DC2R Integra IS an awesome beast, it killed the all paw WRX, it has a limited slip diff in the front, and it works out to be a damn good steer. (MOTOR mag rated it aboce the WRX on more than one occasion) The difference between the Integra Type-R and the New MPS 3 is not so much the kW’s 147 compared to 190, its more so about the tourque, 380 throbbing newton metres…. this is where you need all the aid you can get. Torque is limited in the first two gears, it also features an torque sensing LSD, as well as switchable DSC and TCS, yes there is a hint of torque steer, but on the whole all that power is very usable. The fact of the matter is the MPS 3 is quicker from 80-120 than a 911 carrera…no mean feet in itself.
I can tell you from personal experience driving…nah, flogging the MPS 3 its accelration in 3rd gear is frightening, I can tell you that the garage door was open, abd the brown limosene was about to slip out on more than one occasion.
Beware all you knuckle dragging HSV drivers, and as for the stero typical WRX I-like-to-wear-my-hat-backwards brigade… LOOK OUT! theres a new kid in town.
I am actually test driving it this weekend! Believe it or not its actually hard to get your hands on the MPS.
However one of the people involved on this site has driven it and I have taken a lot of what I said from his test drive.
And for the Integra Type-R I know first hand that they are an incredibaly excellent car, Honda has always set the bar with FWD sports cars, they make excellent cars.
And I have nothing against the Mazda, its a fast car, in a straight line, I never said otherwise, but the fact remains, 0-100 a WRX will beat the Mazda 3 MPS, around a race track a WRX will beat the Mazda 3 MPS. On the road a WRX will beat the Mazda 3 MPS. I can say the same about most HSV cars against the MPS as well (even though I am not a big fan of HSV cars) What other sort of proof do you need?
Furthemore given that the Mazda 3 MPS costs nearly the same as a WRX, why would you bother! And for that “iliketowearmyhatbackwards” brigade, I can’t say I have ever worn my hat backwards or ever intend to, its a bad stereotype mate.
Alborz, I think that you would find that the MPS3 would beat a wrx around the track. Also why would you bother buying a WRX. Scince the 1997 update the WRX has not really changed that much inside. They look old and out dated. The WRX doesn’t have half the features that the MPS does for the same money.
I would say that the MPS has better value for money than the wrx, golf gti, XR5 and i have driven all of these cars for longish periods of time.
Well actually in 1999 the WRX got bigger brakes, more power, more torque. in 2001 it got EBD, again more power.. in 2003, it got even more power and more torque, in 2006 it got eeven more power (with a bigger engine) and again.. more torque
You say it goes faster around a track than a WRX? ! I can’t believe you’de actually think that mate, the WRX is a race car, built to take corners with perfect handling! The guys in Top Gear put a WRX STi against a Mazda 6 MPS and the WRX was 3 seconds faster than the Mazda 6 MPS, and they are both all wheel drive! The Mazda 3 MPS has absolutely no chance on a track against the 6MPS or the WRX (STi or not).
Well today i figured i would take the wrx my06 for a test drive. Now this is hard for me to say from someone that is a car fanatic and has alway wanted a WRX from the day they were produced. All i can say is i was extreemly disapointed in the car. Yes the car handles fantastically at speed but that is all it really has going for it. To reaffirm what i felt i had friend which races formula ford to come for the drive and he also was expecting alot more.
Now to compare the MPS6 with the STI is a bit of a funny comparision. Of course the sti would be faster. When the sti is 206kw compared to 190kw for the 6. there is 13 more Nm torque for the sti and it’s weight is almost 200kg’s lighter than the 6.
After owning many performance cars over the last 25 years i recently went shopping for a nice stealth type pocket rocket car for around town.
I tested everything from WRX’s, Honda’s, BMW 1&3, VW and a coule of others.
I ended up buying a car that was streets ahead in grin value, money value and put all the other in the similar price range to shame.
What did i buy? Mazda MPS 3.
As a finished complete package, the others dont even come close in value.
Hello All
I just bought a red one today and will be deliverd hopfully in the first week of october, I tested one today and it is brutal, put a good driver in this car and we will have a totally different story regarding wrxs and v8s,
Cheers
Hi there, knuckle driving 300kw HSV driver here…
Going back a couple of years – after test driving a few WRX’s I ended up going for a HSV… I really could’t see what all the fuss was about with the WRX’s once i finally drove a couple, and it took the grunt of a 300kw v8 to impress me.
Then again, about a year ago i had another urge to satisfy my turbo 4 curiosity so I test drove the 05 STi… thinking that maybe this was enough to blow my doors off… but again I still left very unimpressed and still refused to give up the v8.
Anyway, sadly today I have given up the HSV and purchased the new Mazda MPS 3. To me it had everythig the WRX and STi’s lacked. It actually had a torque surge that really impressed me.. this thing REALLY accelerates! I read somewhere that the 6.1 0-100km/h was actually under-exaggerated… and after a good drive in one today I could actually beleive that!
It has everything the subaru’s don’t have – style, comfort, looks and PERFORMANCE.
The only way a rex is quick is when you dump the clutch with 5000rpms…. the MPS is just plain quick. No clutch abuse required.
To be honest though there is one downside… this car is not license friendly!
Boys,
Unless you’ve driven one of these you have NOOOO idea what a kickarse car they are. The MPS3 makes the WRX old news. I dropped a bundle of cash on one the day I test drove it !!!
Yes not license friendly !!!!
After owning 2 wrx’s and 02 sti I bought MAZDA 3MPS, the botton line for me is that this is not only faster but better car all round except for track use.
Cheers
Well, as a current WRX owner (MY03), I drove the Mazda 3 MPS some weeks back and yeah, okay, it was fast, it accelerated like all hell, but… and this is a big but, it felt like crap around corners, I was actually scared!
Perhaps I am comparing apples to oranges and simply expected the AWD in the subbie do the work but either way, I am not too fussed, it costs the same as a brand new WRX and although the interior is sooo much better, if you are after a performance car that is about handling AND speed, get your self a WRX.
Not only is the wrx faster to 100 but, it has far more potential for modifications than the MPS as well.
I understand the scarey feelings around corners. Naturally, coming from a WRX you probably lack many essential driving skills.
I drove the WRX, STi and MPS as many others did before purchasing. You my friend are the only one that is biased and defensive as you’re the only one that has already made the decision to buy the wrx and is stuck with it.
There were no performance modifications available for the rex when it first came out either… were you slagging it out back then ? telling people they should still be driving souped up Datsun 200’s as they had more mods available ??
The subura is ugly inside, outside, has no class and doesn’t have any smarts and is yet to introduce direct injection…
And NO if you are after a real performance/track car you would purchase an STi. The WRX is meant to be a daily driver like the MPS. It’s just a shame it’s looks so povo.
Keep saving your dollars and one day you will be able to afford the MPS ;-) Then you will no doubt be accusing WRX drivers as being defencive.
Mate, the MPS is a nice car, I never said otherwise, I just dont think for the money its worth it! If Mazda had made it an AWD, it would have been perfect.
Even the Mazda 3 SP23 has a better interior than the wrx, most cars do, Subaru is very cheap when it comes to interiors for the rex.
The problem I have with the MPS is simply the FWD drive train, I am not a fan of not being able to let the car do the work when going around corners. I dont mind rear wheel drive as you can have some fun, but front wheel, no thanks.
Guys,
I have spent the last two days testing the MPS6 and MPS 3 at Sandown Raceway with Dick Johnson.
The MPS6 with AWD is a good car. The MPS3 is damn awesome. If it needed the AWD, Mazda are smart enough to bolt it on. It doesn’t and the whole set up of the car is integrated to work without it.You cannot lose this car around a corner…..the low down torque is awesome….90degree corner…..100k per hour and it handles on rails in 3rd gear.
I had 10 laps around Sandown and it is pure class – as DJ said to me, when I asked…..”this thing shits on a REX “. I went along to buy a 6 and will be selling my S4 – pocketing the change and enjoying an MPS3 very soon.
I think the biggest problem alborz is that you were probably driving the 3MPS into corners like an AWD, which just doesn’t work and would explain why you felt a little uneasy. AWD, FWD and RWD all require different driving styles when cornering to get the most out of them. When you drive the 3MPS like a FWD should be driven, it corners quicker than you would expect and is very stable. I have owned high performance RWDs (E36 BMW 325i coupe and old maz RXs), AWD (modified 323 turbo AWD) and FWD (my current ride, a 3MPS) plus have driven a group N Mitsubishi Gallant VR4 rally car and other performance AWDs/RWDs etc and I can put my hand on my heart and say that when driven correctly, the 3MPS just as competent around bends (much quicker than 323 AWD) but would absolutely slaughter the others on open sweepers and on the straights. BTW, if you think a WRX handles well, drive a 6 cyl BMW 3 series coupe or Mazda MX-5, then you will see what true handling balance is like. The BMW was better balanced around a corner at the limit, but the 3 would be almost as quick around tight corners, much quicker on open corners and give you a much bigger grin all around. Everytime I hop out of the 3MPS after any drive I have a huge grin on my face, which at the end of the day isn’t that what it is all about?! :-)
You know, your probably right mark, I haven’t had the greated deal of FWD experience. But anyway, If I had the choice.. I’d buy the Golf R32 over the WRX or the MPS anyday!
The R32 is a very, very nice piece of kit, but I can’t come at the $$$. That DSG gearbox is a revelation though!
Hello Aussi’s,
I am very jealous. You can drive a 3 MPS and the thing isn’t yet available over here (Netherlands).
I have read all you’re comments and must confirm that here in Europe it is the same with the Soebs, all the wrong people drive them, my ladyfriend doesn’t allow to buy one and after having looked at one a few weeks ago I must confirm that along with the power and the fwd there isn’t anything to get enthousiastic about (cheap materials, ugly design since the last facelift).
No I think after having read the positive points about the 3 mps, I will buy one this weekend, without being able to see one in real life or to drive one, the car will be available in the Netherlands in January 2007.
Rohan convinced me as some other gus, thanks for you’re comments on the car.
By the way, after haven driven French GTI’s for 20 years I now have a 3 Active sport (2.3 SP with a 2 litre engine, until now the strogest in Europe).
for those who wants to put their mouth to the test, please go to the track and battle it out. get the fact correct that way and please bring some guns to battle it out on the field as well
My 3MPS arrives today. Can’t wait, it’s a stunning machine on the road and on the track.
I am 40 years old and yes i have owned about 46 cars the past 21 years i guess its more than a hobby my wife thinks there should be treatment ha..ha.. however after Lancer 7 and 8 a couple of 911 and 968 S 2000 and Integras Renault Cup V6 etc i had to really make the effort to buy a car and keep that thing for quite some time i was looking for driving thrills and some space to drive the in laws around sooo my dear car friends the MPS 3 is 100% of all that i had a chance to take it to a race track and trust me cars that cost three time as much had no chance against the mps3 so drive one and you will be caught up how that thing goes and please whats the deal with that ugly WRX ps…0 to 100KM 5.7sec recorded at the track in Dijon Switzerland
Can’t wait for up-grading, I know is early days but better exhaust/ECU tuning will take this baby to another level again.
The more I drive it the more Ilike it !!
Is there a forum for this car yet?
Nice wheather is around the corner, perhaps We can organise a cruise somewere???? or join a club day with /wrx/hsv/ford or any club
Anyone intersted?
Cheers
PAP, im glad you enjoy the car. you can join the mazda oz club, and there are plenty of MPS owners there, have fun!
http://www.ozmazdaclub.com/for......php?f=208
Cheers Perry
It looks to me like there is in fact very little difference between the WRX and the 3MPS around a track. In the recent Motor Magazine BFYB test, the Mazda was in fact 0.1sec quicker round Oran Park – that’s too close to call but shows that the two cars are pretty evenly matched.
I’m planning to buy a 3 MPS soon. I considered the WRX for a while,but can’t get round the looks. The original was a little beauty, but since then Subaru have beaten the thing to death with a large ugly stick. Coming from the UK (but now in Oz), I was brought up on FWD, and I know that they can be bloody quick. As a lad, I can remember seeing Jaguars and big Fords being beaten by the Mini Cooper S – on racetrack and rally stage. AWD is obviously better these days, but the weight penalty means that you need another 50kW or so just to compensate. That’s fine if you’re a capacity junkie, but I prefer revvy, lightweight, technically advanced engines in lightweight chassis. My current drive? A Mazda MX5. Handles very well up to a point, then the rear lets go with very little warning. That sort of behaviour can be accomodated on a track but it’s not so great on the road.
I just bought a 3 MPS. It was a test between the WRX, SSV and the MPS. I have to say that the power of the 3 shocked the pants off me. I was a person not so sure about the traction of a FWD with 190kw’s but this thing does it with no drama’s. Drive one and i can guarantee you will be impressed and it will change your view of cars. As far as speed, it kills the XR6 ute i traded in to get one. The WRX has nothing on it as far as in gear acceleration (i don’t really care much for dumping my clutch at 6000 just to beat someone at the lights), the SSV in my opinion had poor power delivery and nothing happened until 3500rpm. Maybe the one i drove at the dealership was a lemon as it definitely didn’t match up to the expectations that MOTOR magazine set.
The build quality is better than both those cars aswell. For $40k you get a bloody quick car that also feels and looks good on the inside (unlike the REX). Not to mention you won’t be cop bait in one of these. In the end it’s all personal preference and also what you want to do with the car be it maybe track days. For me, i just want a car that can sit in peak hour traffic for an hour every morning but then have the guts for me to flog someone else from the traffic lights when i get bored. I just think more people are turned off because it’s a FWD but have actually never driven one to find out that’s it’s actually a fun car to drive.
BTW I gave it a squirt in front of a VX Clubsport today and after that he backed right off. It’s not often you see a small car give a big V8 such a scare that he doesn’t want to play in case his ‘Muscle Machine’ gets blown to pieces with everyone watching.
I was driving the V6 VW Bora, 150KW 4Motion and thought it was a very hot car…. until i drove the MPS.. the only thing i didn’t like is that it is, as unfair as it seems, a ‘rice burner’. However, i think that this issue is quickly disappearing with newer models such as this.
Cornering was not as good as i would have hoped, however, price wise you can’t beat it.
Not sure what sort of discounts people are getting off them, but i went to my local dealer in Sydney (Euro Cars in Artarmon) and was given $1800 off. I engaged a broker type website, http://www.betterdeal.com.au and ended up with $3700, the only downside was that the dealer was in Wollongong, however they delivered the car to me, so all good.
I love this car, fuel is sweet as….
I think they are on to a very good thing here!!
Enjoy
Ok have had the car for about 3 weeks now and met quite a few cars on the road wanting to smash it into the ground. Even though the car looks very sedate it somehow attracts other fast cars, perhaps the drivers think it’s a normal SP23 and go for an easy win?
Anyhoo the argument that a REX is quicker accelerating is over. Just took a REX with exhaust mod (not sure what else) from the lights. I botched my start (thanks to traction control cutting power, shoulda turned off that damn control next to the wheel) but so did he… had him in 1st, 2nd gear started pulling away, 3rd gear bye bye and he was back to my boot before he gave up. So in gear acceleration in the 3MPS is faster than a REX no 2 ways about it. It’s only the launch that will get you providing the driver wants to hear his gearbox crunch when he dumps it at 6000. Against an STI with rolling start? Well apart from me short shifting at 4500 in 1st gear by 90km/h my passenger door was back to his rear doors…this was with the short shift, 3/4 tank fuel, A/C going and wife as ballast on passenger side. Needless to say i’m surprised i wasn’t smashed more. This is stock MPS3 vs stock STI. In the end how many stock Skylines/REX’s do you see going around? I don’t think stock skylines even exist LOL.
how u goin guys, mazda 3 mps is a nice car and rexy s good as well, i drive a nissan pulsar ST, it’s 245kws and beats rexys and mazda , i bought the car for 15 500 and spend 8 000 on mods, so thats $23 000 a lot cheaper then mazda and a lot quicker. 4.8-100km/h heheh , welll its around 245kws all up turbochargd four cylinder. bye bye maza hehe
Jason
Good to hear that people like you would like to spend $23000 on a car that is worth 15k when it is writtn off.
We are talking about unmoded here. Can you imagine the 3 MPS with 8k of mods? BTW you can Mod the Mazda # MPS to AWD. Cost 8k.
I kid you not! Some of you may not like the look or the spec of the vehicle, “FWD just wont cut the mustard”. Its early days for the car and being someone who has driven the vehicle, I believe its a little beauty for the money and performance. And much more fun than the AWD 6. As the old saying goes don’t judge a book by its cover….
Whoever is leaving comments without driving the MPS 3 is a damn fool.
Ive had mine for 7 months now and it still goes like a dream. It is absolutely impossible to fault this car. By the way, for all those losers who think that FWD cant handle, I have tried time and time again purposely trying to throw the car in every direction possible to make the car lose control, but even in the wet, the MPS is composed…..
DRIVE ONE BEFORE YOU UNEDUCATED COMMENTS
I agree with many of the comments above. I know many people that say “I would buy a 3 MPS in a heartbeat if it was AWD” and don’t even actually take one for a proper test drive. Personally I think these people are missing out on one of the most fun little cars out there atm. When driven like a FWD should be driven, it is quicker than it has any right to be. I have had mine for about 7 months now and have driven it in all kinds of conditions on all kinds of roads and can put my hand on my heart and say it doesn’t need AWD. I could count on one hand the amount of times I have thought to myself that AWD may have been handy. AWD is not the be all and end all, it just allows all the bad drivers to be able to drive faster! Once you work out how to tame the beast (drive it properly) it is blindingly fast on your favorite mountain/coastal road. One of the members of the ozmazda club made 4 13.9sec 400m passes at WSID with a std 3 MPS with half a tank and all his gear in the hatch. Thing is that was the first time he has EVER driven at the drags…….
Well guys and girls, we will finally see just how these little jiggers go at Bathurst in the 12hour at Easter.
With no mods we ran the car on the dyno and got 175kw at the wheels before we even started on the exhaust and computer as allowed in the Production Car Association of Australia rules.
The car will be driven by Steve Briffa David Ryan and myself Allan Shephard and will be competing in the Hot Hatch class against such cars as the BMW130i and Vauxhall (Holden) Astra VXR and it should be a great contest.
The Thrifty Motorsport team has over the last 5 years competed in DC2 Integra Type R , Toyota Celica ZZR and VS Commodore and has been very successful, so if you truly beleive in this Mazda 3 MPS get behind us at Bathurst and wish us luck.
If you happen to be at Bathurst that weekend drop in and say hello , we will be running the Celica as well with an all girl driving lineup
Shep
Great to see Big Al, will be keeping an eye peeled for your results!!
Would be nice to hear what mods you have made, tyres you run etc.
Good luck!!!!
Likewise, can’t wait to see the results at Bathurst. Have had my 3 MPS Sports for the past 7 months, after trading in my MY05 WRX. Apart from being much more nicely appointed, the big thing for me is that it is genuinely quick, without having to wring it’s neck to make it go fast.
I agree that the MAZDA is quick and it looks alot better in side and out than a WRX. My friend had the joy of going for a drive in 190kw and said it would give his 03 SS and my WRX a good run for it’s money.I have done 5.2sec 0-100 times without all the 4-6000 rev drops that i have read about here. I agree the WRX feels flat once your in 3rd and above but when you only have 300 odd NM’s (Verses 380)to play with thats what you are gunna get.But i still held a 01 255kw clubsport to 180k,s then he was leaving me behind so im happy with that from a 2 litre with a small turbo standard car. But at the end of the day 2.3 V’s 2.0 (maths say’s if the WRX was 2.3 it would have 195 KW) just does not make it EVEN and it will never be EVEN.
This car is excellent
Had mine for two weeks now and I love it, I make every excuse known to man to drive it and my wife is jealous. Had a serious downpour in my area today and the car performed admirably in the wet (if just a little twitchy) and felt very stable and safe (normal caution observed). This car is a SERIOUS drive and I have to admit it’s hard to not to drive it hard. I’ve left quite a few head shaking V8 and boy racer drivers in my wake. Looking forward to hearing the results from Big Al.
Anyone compared the 3 MPS against a Liberty GT Spec B? Just wondering what the thoughts are, as I want to upgrade from a 2001 WRX. Liberty seems to suit the wife and executive look, and I found the 6 MPS a bit underdone in comparison. Was trying to move on from the hot hatch, but if the differential is too great, might have to try it.
Blah blah blah, AWD/RWD still would have been better than FWD. Yes I have driven one, and I am by no means saying it is a bad car. However, just because alot of people claim it holds its ground the corners and in the wet, doesn’t make it true. Maybe if you stay under the speed limit it does, but unless you’re going to gun this thing, then don’t bother buying one. Viva la VW R32.
I think you guys are forgetting something.
re: comments around the wrx feeling cheap. If you are wondering what the reason for existence of FWD cars – let me tell you, its because its “cheaper” to manufacture. It exists purely as a result of cost cutting. How many FWD formula one cars do you see? How many FWD world rally champions do you see? I don’t see any. Mazda should have spent the extra bucks and set up the MPS 3 like the MPS 6. But then the car is 10k more, mmm , who would you sell it to then at over $50k? I have driven one and many a wrx/evo and the mazda MPS 3 is sketchy under power. Do you guys know what the cheapest feeling in the world is – torque steer.
the MPS 6 however – that is a car!
As for style, the MPS 3 looks like a girly hatchback to me, do you see that blob looking good in race trim… as for a rexy dumped on some buddy clubs, now that’s tough.
Mark M is thinking of buying the Liberty GT B Spec. I was thinking the same thing until I drove the Liberty – it was so damn slow! a 2.5 Turbo AWD should go so much faster than this. They have an awesome interior and go ok off the mark but the mazda 3 mps left a huge smile on my face (despite the annoying torque steer). I bought the mazda, saved $15k, and leave most stock cars for dead. What a weapon in the hills too! Oh, and my forearms are nicely toned now due to holding on to the steering wheel for dear life lol. What a fun car.
To all the people who doubt what a good FWD chassis can do look no further than the Targa Tasmania that just finnished yesterday. The 3MPS came 10th outright and was the FIRST production/showroom car of the field. The 9 cars above were race prepped and/or rally cars.
Now the real clincher, the best stage position it reached over the event was 5th during one stage on day 4. Thing is, it was the wettest stage, I will say again, the WETTEST stage. This was against a plethora of AWD EVOs/STIs and HiPo RWD cars.
Sure it is not perfect, that much power and torque through the front wheels will do that. However if you drive to suit the ‘characteristics’ of the car, it is unbelievebly fast and can also be used as feedback on how much power to feed in. It is surprising when driven correctly how hard it can punch out of corners. Personally I think Mazda have done a stirling job reducing torque steer to such a relatively small level considering the grunt of the thing. I have driven 1.8L N/A Corollas that torque steer more than the 3MPS. It is no-where near as bad as the old Turbo Mazda MX-6 from the late 80s. Now THAT was torque steer!
you obviously didn’t see how the 3 mps went in the bathurst 12 hour.
That was through no real fault with the design of the car Peter. They only had a few weeks to set the car up with no proper testing, it was still quite green. To the point of the car been driven to the race and then driven back home at the end! Plus during the race the CAMS mandated self sealing fuel tank leaked foam into the fuel system which is not a good thing to have happen and is not a quick and easy fix. That could have happened to anyone. Even then it was still one of the quickest cars down Conrod. I think the Thrifty boys did a great job in such a small amount of time. Give them some more development time it should be up the front of their class. Don’t forget the BMW 130i (class winner) has had 12 months of development in prod car racing.
The STIs were not much better being beaten by a car that started from pit lane! Not to mention the fact that it was the world racing debut of the 335i as well as not being tested before the race, unlike the years of development/testing spent on the STIs. I will not even mention the fact that the BMW didn’t have to change brake pads for the whole 12 hours yet the STIs needed between 3 and 5 pad changes!! Do you see any AWD F1 cars, DTM cars or many other circuit racing cars?? So much for AWD being the be all and end all, they can understeer just as much as a FWD car, especially earlier WRXs.
Note TVFPIC!!! ;-)
if i was goin 2 buy a chiks car then id probly condider this or the astra vxr.. but id rather a big v8 spacious commodore/hsv.. go the aussie beast… i dont think ull b hooning around in one of these wuld look pretty gay