Comments on: Mazda 3 MPS

By: Robbo

Robbo — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:25:01 +0000

Bought an 07 MPS with 3,000km on the clock for $33,000. Awsome car with crazy power. Torque steer isn’t really a problem if you can hang onto it, and who cares if it takes off like it does. Own an 07 wrx aswell with turbo back exhaust and only takes the MPS off the line, then its the MPS all the way. Handling is awsome and matches the REX in most corners. Great car all round. If ya find a good deal BUY ONE!

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:30:39 +0000

Well. based on the production car racing i was watching on the weekend at Eastern Creek, an MPS and STi are about evenly matched around a dry track.

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:30:07 +0000

For my 2 cents, the ART of driving is where the pleasure is derived and most similar aged and priced cars perform comparably with little nuances that one driver will prefer over another. To really test yourself grab a 60’s stock VW beetle and find a really windy road and see if you can really drive, I present this from a fond memory I have of following a beetle up Broke Road in a GSR Lancer (non turbo) I threw everything at this damn beetle but he still beat me in corners and with skinny cheese cutters and inward wheel camber. Got to my mate’s place and said beetle turns in across the road. Asked my mate what the hell he had under the bonnet..stock 1500cc beetle..oh and the driver was a rally driver of some note..stil impressed by this over 10 years later! Ok quick rundown on some of the memorable cars I’ve thrashed:
- 68 Beetle with 8inch rubber – most fun in the dry – think driving a roller skate!
- Early big turbo WRX – blistering to limit but no feel at all when near the limit – why so many end up in trees!
- Gen 4 VW R32 – nicest sorted car for under 60K i’ve driven – not the most powerful but always put a smile on my face. Awesome on the track but so good that it’s the car doing all the work not driver skill – lovely to drift though
- BMW 330 – beautifully balanced
- Gen 5 VW GTi DSG – traded R32 so wife could drive auto, still miss R32’s racecar feel but effectively the GTi outperforms it – faster and can be thrown around corners just as well although have had the back end out way further than I thought possible in a FWD car – much better value than the R32 it’s still a fave
- 350Z – rear wheel drive fun!!!!
Look really guys unless you are going to buy a second set of rims and put racing tires on your car at track days then any of the new breed of hot hatches is going to outperform your talents so test drive them all and buy the one that makes you FEEL best when you drive it.
Oh and with the GFC and bankrupt bankers everywhere you can pick up a nice late model 911 AWD turbo for around 140 grand, now that’s bang for your buck and certainly worth my consideration – just have to convince the wife (yes she is the boss!)

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:03:00 +0000

I went with a mate when he test drove a WRX and 3 MPS. We drove the MPS first and I was really surprised by the in gear acceleration. Then drove the WRX, *yawn* after the MPS. No where near the acceleration of the MPS, the WRX felt very flat.

Stupid mate bought the WRX, don’t know why. 2 months later he was really regretting it, said he should have bought the MPS (as I suggested). Since then he’s been trying to sell the WRX.

They are a great little car, surprisingly fast, and I’ve owned some fast cars in my time. Just to clarify, never owned a rex or mps so no brand loyalty clouding my view.

By: Adam

Adam — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:06:07 +0000

James, I have the same model and have had no probs at all mechanically, etc. I would warn anyone thinking of this car to consider running costs though. services aren’t too bad so far (mine’s almost due for it’s 50 000k), but tyres are expensive. we got newies just before last xmas (Pirelli p-zeros – factory size), and they were $350 each. the original Bridgestones are almost $400 a pop (and not as good as Pirelli according to the tyre dude) and it can even go up from there. I still love it though, and don’t regret the purchase at all. mine was $32500 with 16000k’s on the clock in early ‘08, so 25 grand doesn’t sound too bad. cheers.

also, Geoff……torque steer has never really been much of an issue for me, only when it’s really tramped does it get like that. and really, how often are you going to drive it that hard? hardly ever is my guess. this car is still fast without ripping the piss out of it.

By: James

James — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:34:29 +0000

I am considering buying a 2007 Mazda 3 MPS – 2nd hand of course. Around 42,000 kilometers – for $25,000. Do people out there think this would be a good idea? Any problems/greivances with their MPS 3 that I should know of? Any comments would be appreciated.

By: Geoff

Geoff — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 13:55:34 +0000

With all the ridicule the first two guy’s got after their comments,I have to agree with them.
Most of the arguements I have read so far are mostly from people who believe that the car/make that they are driving is probably the best.
Therefore tend to exagerate a bit in defense of their choices.
Thats human nature ,and I have been guilty of the same myself.
In my case I have been looking hard to replace a Japanese turbo 2 ltr that I have owned for 9 yrs, albeit with very few problems. Its been fantastic,but time for a change.
However good the Mazda3 MPS may be ,its shortcomings come down to the fact that it is FWD & a turbo. Yes…I know this will stir the pot again.
Sure FWD turbo’s win ralleys etc…they are light and fast.. but in the real world I dont want to be competing with a vehicle that wants to pull to the right every time I flog it… it’s just something else to concentrate on when you already have enough happening.
FWD vehicles have come a long way as far as reliability,safety,appearance & economy, but after a test drive in the MPS with a salesman who allowed me to push the vehicle to answer my questions. I found that old demon still lurks….torque steer….bolt a turbo to a FWD and ,so far, there’s no escaping the TS results.
I loved the car in general ,but even with the gadgets TS was very evident,at speed,on every bend in the Adelaide hills.
My last car was RWD, and for a turbo driven hard was a great vehicle to drive.
I really dont know where to turn now as I have tried the Focus XR5 with same results,so I guess that I will persue either RWD or AWD in a turbo configeration.

By: WAYNE

WAYNE — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:29:47 +0000

Yeah and a much higher price tag. But i guess you get to wave at the other 50 GTI drivers you pass on the way to the supermarket, so that’s something.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 05:09:14 +0000

The answer to this debate is stuff all cars and buy a GOLF GTI Mk 5 better handling response and build quality.
Not as much power as the mazda but a much better package in terms of balance and engineering.

By: Svolo

Svolo — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:13:50 +0000

After testing coutless cars and reading all of the above, I purchased an MPS 3. In a word, Awesome.

Now, if I was ever to look back, it would only be to check out the losers in my rear view mirror. End of discussion !

By: mike

mike — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:03:32 +0000

sven mazda claims that 6mps does 0-100 in 6.6, and this is a number they got from a number of tests not just one, and they claim 3mps does it in 6.1, either way less wait and same power means mazda 3 is faster and not tryin to put your car down but my mazda 3 sp 23 stock kept up with 6MPS up to 115km/h when i slowed then, 6 times offf traffic lights he was never infront of me, i happend to be half a car length infront in second gear, but once i raced a 3 MPS and it completely destroyed me, especially in second and third gear. not to say your 6mps is slow , its a great car but a bit overweight for the power its got

By: Sean

Sean — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:31:08 +0000

i’ve driven my friends’ 04 standard wrx and a 02 heavily modified wrx hatch. and to be honest, i don’t really like them. they don’t feel as solid as the 3mps, i guess it’s because they were older models compared to the 3mps. the build quality of 3mps is very impressive.
wrx has a blokey, aggressive image, and, who doesn’t like the sound of a boxer engine??? the 3mps has a trendy image. but i would strongly recommend black if ur going to buy a 3mps. it looks a bit meaner..
a car says a lot about the owner, so image is also very important.

By: Sean

Sean — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:20:04 +0000

i own a 02 sti, and my ex owns a 3mps… b4 i bought my sti i was actually considering 6mps or 3mps. 6mps was too expensive and i didn’t like hatch.. i thought it was a bit girlie. but i got used to it and i think it actually looks better than the sedan. i can’t really compare these 2 as they are for different purposes. 3mps is cirtainly more stylish and comfortable. better fuel consumption. oh, one thing i really love about my sti, is the gearbox, it’s so smooth and precise. the heavy clutch could be a pain in the traffic, but you’ll get used to it and it makes u feel like you are driving a real performace car. 3mps is good everyday car with extra performance… which is fun.
it really depends what u r after.

By: Sven

Sven — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:48:44 +0000

I own a 6MPS. Thats quite funny how they did get 6.6sec 0-100. I tested with G-tech PRO about 4000rpm easy launch 3 peoples onboard and i did 0-100 6.1sec. With only myself onboard i did 5.8sec with about 5000rpm launch and then i didnt have good traction and my clutch was quite dead at this time(60ft 2.0X, possible to do 1.7X ish times). I am sure that 3MPS cant compete 0-100 with 6MPS on street tires. I think that with good traction the stock 6MPS can do 0-100 5.5-5.6sec.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:51:52 +0000

Another satisfied 3MPS owner here, I just love this little Mazda. imo, it has the perfect blend of power and sensibility, where if you want to drive it nicely it’ll do it all day, but the minute you give it a boot – she’s off!

It may sound shallow too, but I’ve never had so many compliments on how nice my car looks (I have the True Red). I’ve had people stop and ask me all about it on several occasions, and when people find out it’s a 190kw turbo monster, they love it even more!

But that’s not the reason to buy this car. The reason is the DRIVE. To punt this rocket along your favourite road, or give it a quick squirt out of a round-a-bout and feel it bite into the road and do exactly what you ask of it never gets old….ever.

By: mike

mike — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:14:46 +0000

I agree with most of the people on here about 3 MPS . its got a lot of potential and if it was all wheel drive it would add another 100 kilos to the car and therefore reduce performance, I mean just look at mazda 6mps awd. same power , 190kws same torque 190kws . but 6 is all wheel drive and does 0-100 in 6.6 seconds, which is pretty quick for a car of that size but 3 mps does it in 6.1 and some sources say it did 5.8 in perfect conditions. so thats half a second quicker then 6MPs, its the fastest mazda produced to date including Rx8, but ofcourse a bit slower then the old turbocharged Rx7. and its the fastest front wheel drive hatchback in the world. i own one and i love it, but i d still trade it in for the new RX-8 because you just cant beat it around corners,

By: nathan

nathan — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 17:00:34 +0000

how much did you guys pay fr your mps,im looking to buy 1 i got offered 43k drive away on a new 08 model after looking around this seemed pretty decent

By: Frugal One

Frugal One — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:45:43 +0000

Rather one of those bizzare looking Renault Megane 225/R26 jobs…

Cheers

F-0

By: Frugal One

Frugal One — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 13:30:15 +0000

SHIRE BOY -

Mazda still show it on there website, still for sale…!

Cheers

F-0

By: No Name

No Name — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:56:40 +0000

Hi Dean from a fellow Pohmm. Yep a fairly exclusive car here, but I would have bought the Focus or Leon personally.
Hope you enjoy it with the 08 plate.