8 replies to this topic

[Samwise]

Well I've left the Subaru world again. This time I've entered the world of FWD turbo hatches.

I spent a good month looking at turbo hatches and checked out them all, just about... XR5, ST, GTI, Megane RS, WRX..

After considering budget, service costs and available mods (was leaning heavily on the Megane), but it had to be 5 door.

Welcome my 'new' 2012 Mazda 3 MPS.

Stock as a rock with 53,000 km on it.

Has so many options as standard, which was a deciding factor. GPS, proximity key, reverse sensors, rain sensing wipers, Xenon lights, 11 speaker Bose system blah blah blah blah.

It's an awesome little pocket rocket. Handles and goes really well in stock form.

Plans so far include:
- zorst
- tune
- wheels
- springs / coilovers

[Liberty]

I like them. Good buy Sam.

[Jimbo]

I've always had a soft spot for these. Not as good as the previous model MPS as they got a bit heavy and less wild, but none the less, I'd have one.

Did you test drive the XR5, Sam? Identical chassis underneath as the Mazda.The 5 banger in the XR5 is a total charm, bit down on power to the MPS but the XR5 has a lot of modding potential. 

Only thing about the XR5 is mods are expensive as there's practically nothing local, all just about sourced from the UK.


MPS looks like a good steer and anyone who bangs on about torque steer has either never driven one or has puny girly man arms.

[Barbbachello]

But does it skid?

[Bumpty]

How is the ignition at blast off? 

[Sven Smergberd]

[Samwise]

I've always had a soft spot for these. Not as good as the previous model MPS as they got a bit heavy and less wild, but none the less, I'd have one.

Did you test drive the XR5, Sam? Identical chassis underneath as the Mazda.The 5 banger in the XR5 is a total charm, bit down on power to the MPS but the XR5 has a lot of modding potential. 

Only thing about the XR5 is mods are expensive as there's practically nothing local, all just about sourced from the UK.


MPS looks like a good steer and anyone who bangs on about torque steer has either never driven one or has puny girly man arms.

 

They mildly de-tuned this model, as previous one was snapping bits left, right and center.

 

Yeah, I test drove one. I did quite enjoy it, but it just seemed cheap and the Interwebz told me that the 5 banger is un-reliable with Ford components. May not have helped that my Cousin just bought one and the engine lasted about 2000km on him after buying it haha.

 

But does it skid?

 

Not yet. The later model they limited torque in 1st and 2nd, as early versions were throwing driveshafts and snapping engine mounts.

 

Hoping a tune will change that.

[Liberty]

Ew, red rocket.

[Bumpty]