Tuesday 27th February 2007

Mazda3 goes all webby

The new Mazda3 MPS is now sold online

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Mazda3 MPS

You can now buy a Mazda hot hatch online.

It's started with the Mazda3 MPS, which it describes as "the fastest, best handling, best braking model in the Mazda3 range". . On the site you can choose between a standard Mazda3 MPS or the Sports Aero Kit version and go on to specify a preferred colour. The site indicates the anticipated delivery date for each model and you get a confirmation email acknowledging your order.

The site also asks buyers to select their preferred Mazda dealer from a list of three nearest to their location. This is presumably to keep the sales channel sweet and ensures that they retain their cut.  And the dealers haven't been cut out completely. You'll also need to make a visit to the chosen dealer to place a deposit on the new car and arrange part-exchange and finance.

Mazda describes the MPS as Priced from £18,995 on the road, Mazda reckoned the hatch occupies a similar space in the hatch market as do the Mazda6 MPS, RX-8 PZ special edition and the MX-5 in theirs.

Powered by a 2.3-litre 256bhp four-pot motor with 280lb-ft of torque that propels the car to 60mph from rest in a respectable 6.1 seconds, it's going head-to-head with the likes of the Vauxhall Astra VXR, Renault Megane RenaultSport 225, and the Honda Civic Type-R.

[sosidge]

Surely the most pointless development in car retail ever...

Who in their right mind is going to pay full retail for one of these? And if you do pay full retail, surely you would like to place the order with your dealer and get the ass-kissing you deserve?

[ianthebruce]

Thats a good idea, whilst your ordering your shopping from tescos and browsing ebay, you can get a car at the same time.

[mafioso]

Hang on... Isn't this what every other car manufacturer does!? For example, you can build your own car online etc...

[Munter]

Didn't Vauxhall do it years ago. But you didn't have to go to a dealer... That just makes it pointless. Your bound to be better off getting down to the dealer telling them what you want and then start slagging it off till they give you a sensible price. Or buy online and pay list price...

[wab172uk]

Sounds like there just appealing to the Idiots. You'd have to be an idiot to pay full list.

[irs]

defo takes the fun out of the sport of kicking the salesman again, and again, and just before you sign, one last time for good luck.

Full tax of fuel, mat's and 12 months road tax anyone???

[havoc]

irs said:

Full tax of fuel, mat's and 12 months road tax anyone???

You mean you DIDN'T get to shag his sister as part of the deal?!? Disappointing!

[bbewekim]

Went out for a test drive in one of these, It apparently was the only one of a 56plate with all the kit on. Reason for test drive was to compare it against the 06 scoobi wrs sti. Its a very nice car, the only problem is its not 4wd!! Put your foot down at 80 odd in 4th gear all you get is wheel spin, there isnt enough traction on the road to get the full potentical out of the car. Its a great car for around £19,000 mark though. No comparision to a scoobi though.

My 2 pence.

[8250]

I've got one (not via this route, and didn't pay near retail), and it actually copes with the power very well - 1st and 2nd feel a bit electronically constrained, as they have to be, but it's stunning from 3rd upwards. It's certainly the best job any manufacturer has made of putting this much grunt through the front wheels.

Never experienced any wheelspin at open road speeds, in any gear under any road conditions. 4th at 80mph? I don't think so; you'd be redlining it. With all the torque, even 5th is overkill for overtaking from that speed. Just leave it in 6th, press and go.

[redlake27]

I tested one of these for a day at Rockingham and on the road.

So much torque steer. It is like the MG Maestro Turbo, 20 years on! I can't believe it is related to the supple, composed Focus ST.

Ordering on line is dangerous. If my mouse had as much torque steer as the MPS it would have knocked my mug of tea over before being able to click on 'buy'

[8250]

Well it's putting another 40bhp & 45lb/ft odd through the front wheels compared to the rather 'polite' ST, and is noticeably quicker. I daresay a Bluefinned ST torque-steers a bit in extremis too.

Comparing the MPS to a Maestro MG turbo is just ludicrous. If you're hammering it round a wet track with your foot flat down in 3rd then, yes, it's going to torque steer. It's not a track car, and was never meant to be. Anything approaching sane real-world driving is remarkably composed, and it's way better than the Astra VXR.