Mazda 3 MPS

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Discussion

rpla102

Original Poster:

333 posts

221 months

Tuesday 21st March 2017
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I have a new addition to the stable, so thought i'd share it on here with you.

Having started off with a proper PH classic as a first car (205 1.9 GTI) my 4 wheeled history since has been rather uneventful, bordering on woeful. Still lingering are thoughts of betrayal and shortsightedness from my parents for selling the Peugeot back in 2003 for £700 (it had only done 45,000 miles) and i'm not sure i have recovered since.

Spells in London followed with no automotive aid, further periods dominated by a singular lack of cash ensured train travel, and then I bought a TVR.



This was relatively short lived as I procured a wife, and then a house and now apparently I need a new bathroom, and a kitchen and some expensive paint for the walls.

In the intervening period, I've had a 320d (economical/boring) a Golf GTD (not so economical/still boring)a Alfa 147 (terminally rusty) and a Jag S Type (terminally broken from the start).

Anyway, why not spend money on something that costs £500 a year to tax and according to the forums will probably go bang? Seems like a sensible choice if you can blithely unconcern yourself with the whiff of chav this car emits. That said it does go quite well....






If anyone is interested in a write up of actually what the car is like to live with please let me know and I'll indulge. And yes i know in this day and age pictures should be better...sorry!





DaveH23

3,234 posts

170 months

Tuesday 21st March 2017
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I love mine.

Fantastic cars. Nowhere near as bad as some reviews suggest about being bad in corners or torque steer etc.

whytheory

750 posts

146 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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Looks nice, these seem like great VFM

rpla102

Original Poster:

333 posts

221 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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whytheory said:
Looks nice, these seem like great VFM
VFM, yes i believe so. Paid pretty much top end of market value for this one, couldn't really think of much that offers what the MPS does for the money.

Hub

6,431 posts

198 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
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The horsepower war has moved things along a bit now, but at the time I think these had bragging rights of being the most powerful of its hot hatch peers. I quite like the mk1 understated looks, and admire the left field choice... though the Focus ST has more character I think, and the top tax band would rule it out for some (well it did me!)

rpla102

Original Poster:

333 posts

221 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
Hub said:
The horsepower war has moved things along a bit now, but at the time I think these had bragging rights of being the most powerful of its hot hatch peers. I quite like the mk1 understated looks, and admire the left field choice... though the Focus ST has more character I think, and the top tax band would rule it out for some (well it did me!)
Agree with the above - however haven't been anywhere near a Focus ST so can't compare. This thing is still pretty quick, through 3rd and 4th it really gets going. Traction however even when its marginally damp is laughable. I have no doubt that a modern HH will grip and go far far better.

I haven't got it past 32mpg (computer) even when sitting on the motorway at 70, but thats not the reason i bought it. If you like pointing and shooting it works well.

Great in car audio system, hides the wheezy engine noise!

DaveH23

3,234 posts

170 months

Thursday 23rd March 2017
quotequote all
rpla102 said:
Hub said:
The horsepower war has moved things along a bit now, but at the time I think these had bragging rights of being the most powerful of its hot hatch peers. I quite like the mk1 understated looks, and admire the left field choice... though the Focus ST has more character I think, and the top tax band would rule it out for some (well it did me!)
Agree with the above - however haven't been anywhere near a Focus ST so can't compare. This thing is still pretty quick, through 3rd and 4th it really gets going. Traction however even when its marginally damp is laughable. I have no doubt that a modern HH will grip and go far far better.

I haven't got it past 32mpg (computer) even when sitting on the motorway at 70, but thats not the reason i bought it. If you like pointing and shooting it works well.

Great in car audio system, hides the wheezy engine noise!
Ive never had any problems through 3rd and 4th with traction even in the wet. Have you got it on slicks?

A decent pair of tyres should sort that.

I put 4 new Falken ZE914's on around this time in 2013. The rears still look new and the fronts recently got an advisory on the MOT so will be replacing them soon.