RE: Blood Brothers: Mazda 3 MPS vs Ford Focus ST
Discussion
I was looking at buying a ST couple of years ago, a 5 door model, couldn't really find a good one in my budget so i opted for a volvo s40 T5 
same cracking engine and was fully loaded. Ok, so does not have the ''image'' of the ST, but was a wolf in sheep's clothing!! A bit alternative
same cracking engine and was fully loaded. Ok, so does not have the ''image'' of the ST, but was a wolf in sheep's clothing!! A bit alternative On the subject of FWD vs 4WD, I would like to mention the Nissan Pulsar GTI R.
It was never officially sold in the UK but is a 4WD, 220bhp Nissan Sunny. It only weighs 1200kg so was capable of 0-60 in under 6 seconds.
Of course, with the modern requirements of fuel emissions, sound proofing and crash safety a current day hot hatch weighs much more.
I would personally take the older, lighter, less powerful car.
It was never officially sold in the UK but is a 4WD, 220bhp Nissan Sunny. It only weighs 1200kg so was capable of 0-60 in under 6 seconds.
Of course, with the modern requirements of fuel emissions, sound proofing and crash safety a current day hot hatch weighs much more.
I would personally take the older, lighter, less powerful car.
I have owned a MK1 and MK2 MPS and also a ST2 last of the pre facelift shape.
The MK1 MPS was a good car after having several STIs before I wanted something a bit less in your face but quick. Overall good car with good seats but probably too bland if I'm honest for myself in the end. Spoilt mine by having someone try and tune it and ruining the car, there are not that many people who know what their doing with the MPS in this respect, although tuning devices like hypertech are now available which werent previously.
The MK2 I bought brand new and loved the car I kept it standard apart from a few basic mods to the intake. Quick car nice gearbox lots of toys on it. The seats were not as good as they should have been and really should have been more sporty for the type of car but that's my opinion.
I must have had over 40 cars and never had a Ford, I was sceptical when I went to drive the ST but the build quality and drive were a lot more than I had expected. The ST being available as a 3dr is also an option not available to MPS owners and the Recaros are a good feature. The car sounded great but didn't feel that fast to me at first. The mpg is pretty shocking and worse than the STIs I previously owned. Parts for the ST to modify and increase power are plentiful and cheaper than the MPS. I bought a Dreamscience Ultra and with the maps on there and a sports cat back exhaust and new filter I reckon the car was around 270bhp the next thing was to install a fmic but I never got round to it but I'm led to believe with this and the maps I would have been closer to 300bhp.
Both cars have excellent and friendly Forums with experts on both cars.
Out of the box the MPS MK2 I feel is the better car only let down by the seats and maybe that front end and only being available in 5dr. If your looking to modify a car the ST gives your more opportunities with lots more people selling items for it including lots of people selling 2nd hand bits for reasonable money when they decide to sell up so it really has a bigger potential tuning market and is cheaper to upgrade because of this.
Both great cars aimed at different customers, I don't think many will be disappointed by either car if owning one.
The MK1 MPS was a good car after having several STIs before I wanted something a bit less in your face but quick. Overall good car with good seats but probably too bland if I'm honest for myself in the end. Spoilt mine by having someone try and tune it and ruining the car, there are not that many people who know what their doing with the MPS in this respect, although tuning devices like hypertech are now available which werent previously.
The MK2 I bought brand new and loved the car I kept it standard apart from a few basic mods to the intake. Quick car nice gearbox lots of toys on it. The seats were not as good as they should have been and really should have been more sporty for the type of car but that's my opinion.
I must have had over 40 cars and never had a Ford, I was sceptical when I went to drive the ST but the build quality and drive were a lot more than I had expected. The ST being available as a 3dr is also an option not available to MPS owners and the Recaros are a good feature. The car sounded great but didn't feel that fast to me at first. The mpg is pretty shocking and worse than the STIs I previously owned. Parts for the ST to modify and increase power are plentiful and cheaper than the MPS. I bought a Dreamscience Ultra and with the maps on there and a sports cat back exhaust and new filter I reckon the car was around 270bhp the next thing was to install a fmic but I never got round to it but I'm led to believe with this and the maps I would have been closer to 300bhp.
Both cars have excellent and friendly Forums with experts on both cars.
Out of the box the MPS MK2 I feel is the better car only let down by the seats and maybe that front end and only being available in 5dr. If your looking to modify a car the ST gives your more opportunities with lots more people selling items for it including lots of people selling 2nd hand bits for reasonable money when they decide to sell up so it really has a bigger potential tuning market and is cheaper to upgrade because of this.
Both great cars aimed at different customers, I don't think many will be disappointed by either car if owning one.
Pentoman said:
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?Does the stilo have a love rear axle... Lol
A friend had an st mk1 with full exhaust including turbo down pipe and de cat, with Fmic and was mapped to around 270bhp with a shed load of torque, also had a quaife diff fitted.
Let's just say There was nothing in it Against my standard Ctr ep3, let's just say him and I were both disappointed.
The best bit about the car was the noise and the flames that come out of the exhaust when he let off after giving it beans and the torque it had at low revs. What let it down I think was the standard turbo ran out of puff at the top end so really the next step would have been a turbo upgrade.
Let's just say There was nothing in it Against my standard Ctr ep3, let's just say him and I were both disappointed.
The best bit about the car was the noise and the flames that come out of the exhaust when he let off after giving it beans and the torque it had at low revs. What let it down I think was the standard turbo ran out of puff at the top end so really the next step would have been a turbo upgrade.
driftingphil said:
U only. Got to look at the weight of the st to see it is very heavy. Standard o-60 in the 7s+ range iirc. So even modified ones aren't lightning quick and even a stock ep3 will be on par.
We proved it over and over, so u can comment all u like.
my old ep3 was neck and neck with my mates ST and his was standard, give him a map it wouldn't have even been close...We proved it over and over, so u can comment all u like.
you need to keep it close to vtech if you starting from a rolling start, or the st would pull a gap before high cam cut in, but keep it in the power band all the way (which can be difficult with standard map), upto 130mph there was little in it, maybe after the st would have started to pull away but never found out.
driftingphil said:
U only. Got to look at the weight of the st to see it is very heavy. Standard o-60 in the 7s+ range iirc. So even modified ones aren't lightning quick and even a stock ep3 will be on par.
We proved it over and over, so u can comment all u like.
Not that heavy. 1350kg or so, a EP3 is 1200kg. A 270bhp ST with god knows what torque would destroy a standard CTR in a roll start. Ya mates ST is broken or no-where near what he claims lol.We proved it over and over, so u can comment all u like.
driftingphil said:
U only. Got to look at the weight of the st to see it is very heavy. Standard o-60 in the 7s+ range iirc. So even modified ones aren't lightning quick and even a stock ep3 will be on par.
We proved it over and over, so u can comment all u like.
Well no the ST 0-60 is in the high 6's as is the ep3 ctr.We proved it over and over, so u can comment all u like.
My standard ST was the same pace as a mates ep3 till about 80mph and then the ST opened up a lead as the speed increased (autobahn). With 270bhp it would have been much easier.
Official statistics will back this up. I suggest your mates ST was eithet standard and he was a crap driver or it was broken.
Edited by rb5er on Tuesday 10th April 15:24
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