usual help me thread - mazda or vw (or other)?

[Stuart70]

Just sold my Boxster and I am looking for a hot hatch replacement; budget £11 - 13k

I do a 55 mile a day commute and am looking for something quick and fun for weekends, but refined and sensible enough for day to day.

Saw a very clean 58 plate Mazda MPS yesterday for £12k and a Mk5 VW Golf GTi 5 dr with leather for £13k.

Mazda is higher car tax, thirstier, but cheaper to buy, newer and "different".

Help my choice? - or make it more difficult with more options...



Cheers

Stuart

[Pints]

The MPS is quicker and far less common. Not sure which will hold its resale value better, but I'd opt for the Mazda.

Although I'd do it just to annoy my FiL the Dub-fan.

Not the most helpful of posts. Sorry.

[missing the VR6]

Mazda 3 MPS is a bit of an animal, the Sports Aero kit is a must, dials out a bit of torque steer and looks a bit better. I've had MPS as company cars and really really like them, I think they're very underated, but there'll be more depreciation with them.

I've driven a few Octavia vRS with the same engine as the Golf and to be honest they're a bit slow, I've only had a quick spin in a MK5 GTi we took in PX but it still felt a bit underpowered, I'm sure if you remapped it it'd be the better car but in standard form they're too slow, which was disappointing for me as I really do love them.

[icepop]

Saw a Mazda 3 MPS t'other day, in red, with the bodykit on, and I must say it looked great. Motor is 260 bhp, so more go than the Golf GTI, more akin to the Cupra/WRX type of car, are they 4WD ? (no it isn't, just had a check, it's front wheel drive, so check for good old Astra type torque steer). Good value too, and being Mazda, should hold their value quite well, if not quite in the same league as the Golf in that respect.

Edited by icepop on Sunday 1st May 11:12

[Jw Vw]

Even though I love Golf's I would go for the Mazda over it. Great cars, not as common, and fantastic power.

[Ricky_M]

I drove a "tuned" 3 MPS recently. It was very fast in a straight line, but not too confidence inspiring in the bends.

I wasn't impressed by the interior build quality either, felt very cheap.