Mazda 3 MPS or Mazda 6 MPS

[GSDog]

I know this is an odd question as one is a hot hatch and the other a saloon, but both fall within my budget, both have the same engine, tax and roughly the same insurance. I don't mind the extra size of the 6 MPS. I just can't decide.

I would to hear your views on this. I think I prefer the look of the 6MPS but I could get a slightly newer/lower mileage 3 MPS.

I have test driven a 2010 mk2 3MPS (it's the only one my local dealer had) and I thought it was great. However, there was some torque steer when accelerating hard which has put me off the mk 1 3MPS a little. At least the 6MPS is AWD and can cope better with the power.

I'm 22 and my budget is £6.5k. Feel free to suggest anything else which you think may be suitable. I do a mix of town, country and dual carriageway driving. I have considered the Golf gti and Audi 2.0T/3.2 but I personally think they are boring and the insurance is £300+ more than the Mazda.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[NadiR]

Have a test drive in the 6 MPS and see what you prefer. The 6 will be more usable due to it being AWD and more space. I would personally go for the 6 but the 3 is a very good car, and is definitely a change from the usual Golfs.

[anonymous-user]

The 6 has blunted performance compared to the 3 due to weight and 4WD? I'm not saying it is slow, but the 3 could be better if that is what you are after.

[ArsE92]

DR10 said:

The 6 has blunted performance compared to the 3 due to weight and 4WD?

Does it?

[GSDog]

ArsE92 said:

Does it?

I don't think there's much in it at all. The benefit of the 6MPS is obviously the AWD though, so if I wanted to do some mods and a remap to get it to 300BHP+ it would handle the power a lot better than the 3MPS.

[rottie102]

Doesn't that answer your question then?

[okie592]

i love the new 3 mps, they look brilliant, but the 6 is also awesome, my nebiough had one and it made such a aggrieve burble down my street. That is unitl this happened


speical edition paint



mind you the interior is lovely

|http://thumbsnap.com/Xxs58hvI[/url]

personally i would get a 6[url]

[Scott888]

I prefer the 6, a good Q-car. I also dislike the way the new 3 looks, as the old one was a real wolf in sheep's clothing. I think the figures say that the 3 is a little bit faster in a straight line but I imagine the 6 would be a better car to live with.

[lewisf182]

How did the 6 set on fire? if you dont mind me asking?

OP for me it would be the 6. The differance in performance would be negligable yet you would have a much more useable and versatile car with it being AWD and bigger in every respect.

[blearyeyedboy]

The 6 MPS was made before 23rd March 2006. The 3 MPS wasn't.

Why should you give a gnat's fart? Because the upper limit for road tax based on CO2 only goes up to band K for a car registered before this date and goes up to M afterwards. Band L is where later 6 and 3 MPS's sit...

Cost of taxing a 55 plate Mazda 6 MPS per year? £260

Cost of taxing a later 6 MPS or any 3 MPS per year? £445

For me, that makes it a no brainer. But finding an early 55 plate example isn't that easy...

(Edited for typos- see reply below)

Edited by blearyeyedboy on Monday 20th February 00:35

[kingofdbrits]

blearyeyedboy said:

Cost of taxing a 55 plate Mazda 6 MPS per year? £250

Cost of taxing a later 6 MPS or any 3 MPS per year? £435

.

My 3MPS costs £260 a year to tax.

[Fastdruid]

We've just got a Mazda 6 MPS and its a hoot. I like that its subtle, very much a Q car. Unless you know your Mazda 6's or park it next to a 'normal' one that is!

The Mazda 3 MPS is rather less subtle, fun still I'm sure but 260 is probably a bit much for a fwd car.

[blearyeyedboy]

kingofdbrits said:

blearyeyedboy said:

Cost of taxing a 55 plate Mazda 6 MPS per year? £250

Cost of taxing a later 6 MPS or any 3 MPS per year? £435

.

My 3MPS costs £260 a year to tax.

Firstly, sorry, I should have written £260, not £250.

Secondly- how are you paying £260 for a Mazda 3 MPS? Clearly I'm missing something here...

[danneth]

Mk1 Aero MPS, im not biased either

[Fastdruid]

blearyeyedboy said:

For me, that makes it a no brainer. But finding an early 55 plate example isn't that easy...

Yes I know. They are out there though, its even possible to have a 2005 one (which we have) despite every model selector on every site only listing them for 2006 on.

Admittedly it's registered December 28th 2005...

[GSDog]

If I can find the perfect 6MPS registered before 23rd March 2006 for a reasonable price I'd snap it up. The problem is that they are rare cars as it is and I'm looking at buying in the next couple of weeks so it's unlikely that I'll manage to find one.

And yes, all 3 MPS's should be £460 a year tax.

[okie592]

lewisf182 said:

How did the 6 set on fire? if you dont mind me asking?

OP for me it would be the 6. The differance in performance would be negligable yet you would have a much more useable and versatile car with it being AWD and bigger in every respect.

Wiring fault from a doggy halfords batt apparently just went up when they parked it

[kingofdbrits]

blearyeyedboy said:

Firstly, sorry, I should have written £260, not £250.

Secondly- how are you paying £260 for a Mazda 3 MPS? Clearly I'm missing something here...

I have a Mk2 3 MPS, 224g/km CO2 so it's in the lower tax band. The Mk1 has a colossal 7g/km more so falls into the higher £460 tax band.

[ferrisbueller]

As mentioned above, AWD makes the 6 more usable, for at least six months of the year. Quick enough, nicely balanced and stealthy, too.

[Life Saab Itch]

kingofdbrits said:

I have a Mk2 3 MPS, 224g/km CO2 so it's in the lower tax band. The Mk1 has a colossal 7g/km more so falls into the higher £460 tax band.

That's a shame. I'm looking for a 3MPS for my next car. I don't like the styling on the new one as it's too in-your-face, but if the old one's that much more expensive to tax, that could make a difference.

If you fitted the BBR front mounted intercooler kit to the MK2, would you get away with a standard bonnet, rather than the one with the wart on it?