Pure MPS. Mazda MPS forum.

http://fwd.five.tv/fifth-gear/videos/ot ... azda-3-mps

another typical response to the MPS

she's about right on the price and secondhand its even better. They always give it such a hard time and pick up on its faults. I'm sitting in leather seats, aircon, bose stereo, going faster than a R32(£36k)?? surely the red trim on the leather is minor?
Ok the interior isnt plush but to rattle on that the ride not comparable and that a focus RS (25k+) is much better when its nearly the same car is hard to believe. Surely running 250 hp+ through the front wheels ford and mazda worked together?

Par for the course. Motoring journo's have a penchant for German handling (don't like it overly myself) and comparing the MPS to a Golf gti is like comparing a 1.6 to a 1.9 pug 205 gti. One is well balanced and the other a bit barking... And hey, if you want to be boring and spend loads of money on a slower car - buy the vee-dub. Not that it will be as reliable or anything, but hey...

And what's with the interior comment? The interior in the Focus RS may be sort of OKish but the ST in comparison is utter rubbish! And the Golf isn't much better unless you go for the leather in which case you're comparing a £21k car with a £30k car. The new Megane RS250 is the best in the segment - until of course it falls to bits

If she thinks the ride is rough, try a Leon Cupra or (God forbid it got slated tho) a BMW with M Sport suspension...

One thing i have noticed is the Dunlop SP Sport 2050 tyres are rubbish. A decent set of boots will probably transform the drive and would have done Mazda a few favours in reviews like these.

is this standard on the mk2 then?

I agree with what you say, seems trying to be the best in your class doesnt really cut it and you get compared to the cars 10k+ higher. the appeal changes to suit - sometimes its the raw sharp response and ragged handeling next they want it refined and smooth??? they need to make up their minds what they want

Yep, thet are standard tyres on the mk2. Had Veredstein Ultracs on my 6 and the way the tyre behaves is light years apart. The Dunlops have no bite and just seem to scrub really easily. But then there is the:

Sport 9000
Sport Maxx
Sport Maxx TT
Sport Maxx GT

All above the 2050 in the Dunlop range, so it's not surprising it's not the most accomplished performer.

Most of us know that some tyres are much better than others on particular cars and that price is no ultimate indicator. If it is true that the standard fit tyres can be easily bettered then prospective owners need to be aware of this so than can negotiate a change of rubber with the dealer. One wonders how many new cars have been compromised by bad OEM tyres.

Back to topic. I sometimes wonder if some journos actually drive the cars they are testing. It would be dead easy to take 2 previous reports, pick and mix the comments and paraphrase. With this in mind, the only way to compare cars is to drive them yourself once you have determined what sort of car you want, how you want your car equiped and how much you are prepared to spend. I have somertimes been amazed how different my own experiences have been to journos.

Good points Foxy.

that is that tom boy on about plastic interior it looks really good

If you read any reviews from Aus or US then this car wins all the time and scoops awards like
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ward%27s_10_Best_Engines
I know these countries arent known for finesse etc in terms of car building (cadilac, holden etc) but with a fresh impartial look at a different style of car you'd like they prob come up with a fairly straight forward conclusion
i guess they might be looking for some of the trait from their old holdens and caddies in the car but they compare them to the golf etc and are fairly consistent. Top gear is a global program but it doesnt seem to influence local reviews

strangely different countries have different choices when it comes to cars and they dont all have an outright winner globally. I was in belgium and france recently and you wont really see a mazda, not a hint of an mps but at the same time focus's are slim pickings too.

I thought that was quite a positive review.
You guys are right about the opinions of a the tester being too big an influence on the verdict. I like firm ride, I like torque steer, I like lairy. My car has all of these and I've made it worse through modifications. 2,500rpms no boost... 3,000rpms 1bar, it's waking up... 3,500rpms, 1.4bar and then wallop! Torquesteer left, then right after correction, bang into third as it bounces off the limiter wheels still spinning, and it's away in third on to 105mph. I love it, and it's so much more predictable than rear wheel drive on dodgy cambers (like exiting roundabouts).

I think the MPS is the most similar to mine in this regard being just about the only modern hothatch with a proper diff. Relying solely on electronic traction control like the Golf and VXR do is just an example of penny pincing. I'd be keen to get rid of the torque limiter in the first three gears on a 3MPS though, to really let the thing rip The FIAT Coupé 20vT (sorry to keep harping on about it) has a boost rise limiter as standard that cuts boost back if it rises too quickly. This has the effect of limiting torque in the lower gears (though power is largely unaffected at higher rpms). Removing it can unleash 60lbs/ft in 1st and 2nd and that makes a HUGE difference when it comes on boost (this is accomplished with a £30 chip).

I have to wonder why they never compare it to the Astra VXR or Megané though. The Golf appears to be in the next performance category down... I reckon a straight-line drag race with a Golf would put things in perspective as this ridiculous 0-60mph obsession just doesn't do it justice.

Car looks great in white though