Mazda 6 MPS: Spotted
Wanted a more subtle 4WD Japanese saloon? Step right this way...
The MazdaSpeed Atenza - derived from the word attenzione in Italian, and the car to become the 6 MPS - was not a car that people gave much attention. The MPS's styling was quite introverted when compared to other Japanese saloons, with only the larger twin exhausts and bonnet hump giving the slightest inclination that it could be something other than mundane. Peter Birtwhistle, head of Mazda's European design studio, was keen to reject the marking of a traditional turbocharged Japanese saloon for something more subtle and sophisticated.
The engine shared its block with the standard 6 but using direct injection, a first for Mazda at the time and now readily used in all its Skyactiv-G engines, as well as a turbo to bump the power to 260hp. Dynamically the MPS was sharp too, with proper rally-style oversteer on offer if you were brave enough to push beyond the initial understeer. Well, so we've heard... Inside, much like the standard 6, the ideal driving position can be found quite easily thanks to some well-set pedals and plenty of adjustment from the steering. The only way you will know you are in an MPS from the interior are some better quality dials, a leather steering wheel and blueish metallic finish on highlight panels.
Speaking of which, HowManyLeft says just 642 MPS 6s are left on British roads, making it truly scarce in 2018. Combine that with its considerable ability and the 6 MPS looks more tempting than ever.
SPECIFICATION - MAZDA 6 MPS
Engine: 2,261cc, 4-cylinder turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Power (hp): 260@5,500rpm
Torque (lb ft): 280@3,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2006
Recorded mileage: 73,000
Price new: £23,950
Price now: £4,495
See the original advert here.
[Source: HowManyLeft]
Rust is a major issue on some of these as Mazdas rust protection on the 6 is very poor. (Rear arches especially)
Its a very comfy long distance cruiser and subtely quick. I like the looks, its very understated. Was brilliant on the open road in Scotland, and installing the B12 suspension has transformed the handling and ride. It handles really well for a big car and the AWD is great in the wet and snow.
If your buying one tuned avoid BBR and go for a J Tuned one. Pretty much the only person (Justin) I would trust in UK to do a tune.
Ensure revised VVT has been fitted or factor in £600 to get this done. Rear diff mounts are made of chocolate and can fail, and air con pipes corrode. My power steering cooler just failed too .. it corroded and I replaced it with an aftermarket one.
Brake calipers are known to seize, both of my rear ones seized this year.
Turbos can fail too especially if tuned though mine has done 110k and is still fine.
Parts for the car can be expensive especially for the rear end. It works out cheaper to get some from the US. Lots of tuning potential and the MPS has a large following in US and Australia.. Corksport, Cobb, Damond, JBR and others offer excellent aftermarket parts. Consumables like tyres and brakes are cheapish, oil change recommended every 5k, 5w 40 Shell Helix Oil is peanuts.
Combined MPG around 25mpg, 30ish on a run. Only runs on 98 octane petrol. Roughly 350 miles to a full tank to fumes.
Dave Hastie in Lake District supposedly best MPS mechanic in uk.
Lots of horror stories of ZZB mainly due to bad tunes. You need to keep an eye on the fuel rail pressure and upgrade the HPFP internals if the pressure is too low. Also need to keep off full throttle apparently in high gears under 3k revs as the engine really doesn't like to labour and you can put a rod through the block ..
I like it but probably wouldn't buy another due to money the pit it has become !
Rough ones start from £1500 up to several thousand for one thats been fully forged.
Rust is a major issue on some of these as Mazdas rust protection on the 6 is very poor. (Rear arches especially)
Its a very comfy long distance cruiser and subtely quick. I like the looks, its very understated. Was brilliant on the open road in Scotland, and installing the B12 suspension has transformed the handling and ride. It handles really well for a big car and the AWD is great in the wet and snow.
If your buying one tuned avoid BBR and go for a J Tuned one. Pretty much the only person (Justin) I would trust in UK to do a tune.
Ensure revised VVT has been fitted or factor in £600 to get this done. Rear diff mounts are made of chocolate and can fail, and air con pipes corrode. My power steering cooler just failed too .. it corroded and I replaced it with an aftermarket one.
Brake calipers are known to seize, both of my rear ones seized this year.
Turbos can fail too especially if tuned though mine has done 110k and is still fine.
Parts for the car can be expensive especially for the rear end. It works out cheaper to get some from the US. Lots of tuning potential and the MPS has a large following in US and Australia.. Corksport, Cobb, Damond, JBR and others offer excellent aftermarket parts. Consumables like tyres and brakes are cheapish, oil change recommended every 5k, 5w 40 Shell Helix Oil is peanuts.
Combined MPG around 25mpg, 30ish on a run. Only runs on 98 octane petrol. Roughly 350 miles to a full tank to fumes.
Dave Hastie in Lake District supposedly best MPS mechanic in uk.
Lots of horror stories of ZZB mainly due to bad tunes. You need to keep an eye on the fuel rail pressure and upgrade the HPFP internals if the pressure is too low. Also need to keep off full throttle apparently in high gears under 3k revs as the engine really doesn't like to labour and you can put a rod through the block ..
I like it but probably wouldn't buy another due to money the pit it has become !
Rough ones start from £1500 up to several thousand for one thats been fully forged.
David Hastie isn't the only person who can work on these. There are a few places in the Midlands and South as well.
https://www.pitstop-motors.co.uk/used-cars/search-...
Decent cars, a quick remap on standard internals will produce about 290bhp, but they are heavy compared to scooby/Evos
We've had ours since 2012
Upsides: Cheap performance, low depreciation, decent handling, awd, discrete, reliable.
Downsides: Rust, MPS-tax (umpteen parts unique to it), odd size tyres (relatively expensive), turbo oil seals, vvt issues, air-con pipes. Inlets clog up (common GDI issue shared with some Mini's, Audi TFSI's etc), Tricky to tune without going pop.
Struggling to think of anything to replace it with that is as quick but equally decent to drive while also being practical.
In 6 years ours has had a new air-con pipe, track rod end and exhaust *but* its had a warning on the last MOT of rust. When the weather warms up I'm going to get under there and deal with it but I'm not looking forward to what I'll find.
performance. If 93 [ (R+M)/2 method] (98RON) is not available, 91 or 92 [ (R+M)/2
method] (96 or 97RON) gasoline can be used. In case 91 or 92 [ (R+M)/2 method] (96 or
97RON) is not available, gasoline as low as 87 [ (R+M)/2method] (91RON) can be used
temporarily for emergency purposes. Use of gasoline lower than 93 [ (R+M)/2 method]
(98RON) can decrease performance during its use
Was a heavy old Hector and a bit thirsty, but my OH just was never really a fan. Thought it was a bland lump of a car and regularly commented that it looked really boring after the RX8 and Golf GTI I'd had previously.
Good car tho and was pretty damn quick in the day. (I know the game has moved on A LOT in the last 10 years)
To add - I owned mine for around 3 years. Started off completely standard and ended up with a fully forged engine (built by hastie), big turbo and all the other trimmings, i've got a readers car thread on it somewhere. Ended up around 400ish BHP before I sold it to..... Justin of J-Tune fame!
I would concur - the B12 suspension kit was the best mod I did and really transformed the handling. I tried not to end up chasing power so didnt go crazy like some do. The s4 kept the driveability and low lag which helped it was brilliant fun on a nice country road..... as always punting it in a straight line gets old fast which others who went for pure power builds later realised.
As has been mentioned - rust, VVT and weak rods are some of the main downfalls. My power steering cooler went too but it was a £80 fix and easy to do. It carted the family around well and mine wasn't as bad as others have made out, but I had to move it on for a car that can tow. Only other issue I had was an AC compressor bearing collapsing on the way back from Le Mans.
All in all I liked mine and found it enjoyable for a family car
Great fun to drive, really good stereo but the decision I had was throw 100% of the cars value into a rebuild and then worry about all the suspension and other bits falling apart (it was 10 years old by then) or replace it. Similar performance saloons from the germans were more like 15k for 70k mile cars, so it was a hard call but I need a car I can depend on and I had extra income to cover a new car so in the end I joined the PCP train.
With more space and a more understanding wife, I would have one in my collection again in a heartbeat
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