RE: Blood Brothers: Mazda 3 MPS vs Ford Focus ST

RE: Blood Brothers: Mazda 3 MPS vs Ford Focus ST

Author
Discussion

Grovsie26

1,302 posts

166 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
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danneth said:
Are you still stalking me and the MPS threads, your strange.

Can you tell us Grov how many MPS's have you owned?

You can argue any point with me if its correct then i will say it is simple, you seem to think i make out the MPS is something else when i don't, feel free to back it up with some actual proof though ( as i always do ) until, surely you have better things to do?
LOL now your telling people not to quote fastest laps and those crappy sites. Thats your greatest source of info.

danneth

986 posts

186 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
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Grovsie26 said:
LOL now your telling people not to quote fastest laps and those crappy sites. Thats your greatest source of info.
The site i quoted was done from magazine tests, but as i said i have experience in the flesh with both cars anyway, do you?

Windlepoons

159 posts

172 months

Thursday 5th April 2012
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I have the Mk2 version and have found no issues with the car what so ever. Torque steer isn’t the big problem every UK reviewer seems to make out it is, sure you feel it when pushing it around the corner, but if you are holding onto the wheel its not a problem.

Before I purchased the car I did a lot of research and review reading, and to be honest it only seems to be the UK reviewers that view it in poor light, Australia and the US are less critical. What did amuse me when I was reading reviews of the MPS and my other shortlisted hot hatches are a UK reviewer would give the MPS a negative mark for a certain characteristic and then put it down as quirky or fun characteristic when reviewing the ford or Golf.

While the ST isn’t a bad car (I do like the noise it makes), it is by no means superior to the MPS (apart from the noise it make ), and sure a mapped ST will probably have an advantage over an MPS, but then a Mapped MPS would have the advantage over a mapped ST.

I have only ever seen 1 other MK 2 on the road, and have seen and heard a lot of people comment on how nice the car looks even if they haven't said it directly to me, its uniqueness was one of the things that attracted me to it.

The only thing I would say I'm not keen on is the smiley face, I'm tempted to attach a large cartoon style tongue to it, but then I cant see it from behind the wheel so doesnt bother me too much.

Edited by Windlepoons on Thursday 5th April 23:28

johnpeat

5,326 posts

264 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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I like the ST but the Orange is WAAAAY too popular (and it's whopping initial cost will have hurt only it's first owner I guess??)

There's a street I walk down when I'm out with the dog where 3 houses have an ST on the drive - and they're all Orange tho - so anything but that or Blue (says "I wanted an RS but couldn't afford it) - so Black/White/Red then! smile

Speed_Demon

2,662 posts

187 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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johnpeat said:
so anything but that or Blue (says "I wanted an RS but couldn't afford it)
What utter nonsense!

Anyway, personally I prefer the MPS, it's slight 'left of field'ness and the fact it is much less known does it for me.

Streetym89

933 posts

149 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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I couldn't afford to insure one never mind buy one hehe

rix

2,776 posts

189 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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Funk said:


The ST has a cracking owners' club. We had some awesome meets and weekends away. biggrin
a cracking bar bill too!

356Speedster

2,293 posts

230 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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superman84 said:
Fwd is perfectly capable for most things and I'm sure a 360bhp focus is very quick rolling on a perfect straight road but it'd be much better in the twisties if it had a proper awd system with an active diff which would be able to put all those horses down properly. You can do all sorts of fancy things with fwd to improve traction, under steer and torque steer but ultimately you can't change the laws of physics.
Well, your comments show you've obviously not experienced one, otherwise, you'd realise it's not as clear cut as that at all. I've proven the RS's grip & agility in a variety of circumstances with friends and PH aquaintances, both from stationary and around corners... in all cases, the comments from other's were that they were staggered with it's abilities. More than that, 2 people actually bought RS's themselves... and one of them came from an Audi S4 background wink There's enough argueing, name calling and missinformation on this thread and I don't wish to contribute to it. I've owned & driven cars of all configurations and can tick off Lancia Delta Integrale, RS4, Nissan GTR and Porsche 997 C4S in my performance 4WD list, so I have some data to compare against. Everyone's personal choice is just that, their choice based on a preference or a need. FWD, RWD & 4WD all have their pros & cons, but in the modern world, the lines are a bit more blury than days gone by or people would like to admit. Feel free to PM me if you'd like a shot with a physics bending FWD car at any point... the offer is always there. Right, now it's time to go and install the mid-mounted V8 & RWD transmission that waiting for me for my other car... It's broad church I worship at, LOL! Have a great b-hol all!!

superman84

772 posts

164 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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356Speedster said:
Well, your comments show you've obviously not experienced one, otherwise, you'd realise it's not as clear cut as that at all. I've proven the RS's grip & agility in a variety of circumstances with friends and PH aquaintances, both from stationary and around corners... in all cases, the comments from other's were that they were staggered with it's abilities. More than that, 2 people actually bought RS's themselves... and one of them came from an Audi S4 background wink There's enough argueing, name calling and missinformation on this thread and I don't wish to contribute to it. I've owned & driven cars of all configurations and can tick off Lancia Delta Integrale, RS4, Nissan GTR and Porsche 997 C4S in my performance 4WD list, so I have some data to compare against. Everyone's personal choice is just that, their choice based on a preference or a need. FWD, RWD & 4WD all have their pros & cons, but in the modern world, the lines are a bit more blury than days gone by or people would like to admit. Feel free to PM me if you'd like a shot with a physics bending FWD car at any point... the offer is always there. Right, now it's time to go and install the mid-mounted V8 & RWD transmission that waiting for me for my other car... It's broad church I worship at, LOL! Have a great b-hol all!!
So despite all that do you reckon the Nissan GTR you drove would be just as capable if it was FWD?

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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muppet42 said:
MonkeyMatt said:
What about this for a fraction of the price? Stilo GP
Good shout, though I'm a bit biased winkbiggrin Could tell your choice was going to get flamed though such is the way for some on here rolleyes
You are not being serious I hope?
If you are then it's like saying I'd quite like a Montaego or an Allegro or an Orion really epic cars.....junk springs to mind ditto the stilo

356Speedster

2,293 posts

230 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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superman84 said:
So despite all that do you reckon the Nissan GTR you drove would be just as capable if it was FWD?
I never said it would be. My point has always been that 4WD is not a universal answer and not needed all the time. The GTR needs all the help is can get, hence not only 4WD, but all that computer power keeping it sticky side down.... and yes, it's much rougher ride and torque steers a lot more than the RS does.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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Welshbeef said:
You are not being serious I hope?
If you are then it's like saying I'd quite like a Montaego or an Allegro or an Orion really epic cars.....junk springs to mind ditto the stilo
I just mentioned the Stilo GP as a very cheap way of getting a quick hatchback. I guess it was more of a rival to the pevious generation Focus ST170. Anyone who has driven a GP will know its far from junk!

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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MonkeyMatt said:
I just mentioned the Stilo GP as a very cheap way of getting a quick hatchback. I guess it was more of a rival to the pevious generation Focus ST170. Anyone who has driven a GP will know its far from junk!
I'm guessing the stilo is what £2.5k I'd take a 205 GTI 1.6 or 1.9 ANY DAY over a fiat stilo.

Does the stilo have a love rear axle... Lol

Grovsie26

1,302 posts

166 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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danneth said:
The site i quoted was done from magazine tests, but as i said i have experience in the flesh with both cars anyway, do you?
You might have but your an idiot, so your opinion is void.

m444ttb

3,160 posts

228 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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My wife has a pre-facelift ST and I love it. Possibly more than she does. It's an ST3 and I find the heated Recaro's SO comfy on a long journey. The 5cyl noise is fantastic too. Her car is fairly anonymous as it's a black 5dr. She would rather have an orange 3dr but I knew this would probably make more sense so bent her arm!

Just got back in having driven from St Ives to Swindon seeing family in Bristol. Cruising it at 60 trying to stay off boost got me 32mpg! Driving without worry on the way down saw 28mpg. On her daily drive my wife's only getting 19mpg though. Her only complaint is that the power delivery isn't as linear as her old Pug 106 GTi!

I do like the Mazda a lot too. The anonymity of it more than anything, though the on paper spec always looked good.

muppet42

326 posts

204 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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Welshbeef said:
I'm guessing the stilo is what £2.5k I'd take a 205 GTI 1.6 or 1.9 ANY DAY over a fiat stilo.

Does the stilo have a love rear axle... Lol
Stilo uses a torsion beam at the back, which obviously isn't the best handling solution - something Honda fans found out when the EP3 CTR gave way to the FN2. I believe the previous generation Bravo/Brava used the a similar set up to the 205 you brought up with the use of trailing arms and a torsion bar, so the Stilo was a bit of a backwards step in that respect. Personally though I think that's one of the only real flaws in the handling apart from the need for better feel through the steering. That said, it's certainly no Mazda 626 in that respect.

And I know it's not relevant in a hot hatch debate but in the event of a crash if I had to chose between the Stilo and the Pug, I know which I'd choose.

I think on a forum with such a large and diverse member base, you're always going to get a fair old cross-section of opinion - those that're open minded, take in everyone's opinions/options and willing to try something before they dismiss it OR those that'll put the blinkers on and go with hearsay and "what they've heard". But hey, forums are all about debate so it's all good smile

Oh and just to keep it relevant, if I had to choose I'd go for the ST biggrin

Edited by muppet42 on Friday 6th April 22:08

Gun

13,431 posts

217 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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I've got a mk1 MPS and it's been a good steer so far, despite the smokey exhaust/turbo issue rearing it's ugly head in the last few weeks.

It's in gear acceleration is intoxicating!

Pentoman

4,814 posts

262 months

Friday 6th April 2012
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Welshbeef said:
I'm guessing the stilo is what £2.5k I'd take a 205 GTI 1.6 or 1.9 ANY DAY over a fiat stilo.

Does the stilo have a love rear axle... Lol
Torsion beam rear (if that's what you mean) is not a problem for handling. Its superior brethren the fancy multi link rear suspension is more for making a better ride/handling balane, than it is for improving handling per se. Ever looked under the back of an e30 m3 dude?

ellisd82

685 posts

207 months

Saturday 7th April 2012
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I'd have the Mazda anyday. Really like the looks and 260bhp is nice to boot.

HairbearTE

702 posts

153 months

Saturday 7th April 2012
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Marf said:
GAjon said:
Mazda should have given a 2 door option on this latest MPS, in my opinion it would have looked much better.
Definitely yes
+1.

Would've saved a few lbs too. Win/Win.