billythekid

Looks interesting, 260PS, 380Nm torque, tricky diffs and all wheel drive.

Take the badge off and most people would not have a clue.

billythekid

oops

RS Grant

My friend is a Mazda grease monkey and says that its a very very quick car indeed.. Almost tempted to go down and have a go in the demonstrator.


Cheers,
Grant

sgcooby

I think it could be a performance bargain. Will probably depreciate rapidly so would be worth picking one up in a year or so. Impressive torque and seems to beat the new vectra vxr hands down and it has awd. The awd is however similar to the haldex VAG system so it drives as a FWD car in normal conditions and i remember that not being much fun in my S3. Apart from this though it looks like being a cracking sleeper as it looks bog standard. May well consider this when it comes to selling in time.

TopBanana

Dodgy steering according to Evo

billythekid

But no car is prefect..

I reckon a low miles, loaded example will fetch 16 -17k in 6 months. Its got to be worth a test drive to find out

Andy M3

I think jabba sport have come up with something to overcome this problem. A few of the Skoda AWD boys have been impressed with the results - it is an electronic control unit of some description.

Mazda sounds a good package, whereas the Vectra sounds a toss package. I read an artical in Top Gear about it. They thought it wa pretty poor and made a point of saying in a a Punch and Judy style "but its only £20xxx" - lol...... in response to it has 3.0 twin turbo ? through the front wheels and it handles like a bull rhino on a ice rink or something like that.......

billythekid

the MPS has some kind of electronic diff I think, yet to read the full spec sheet though.

Stryder

In what sense does it beat the Vectra VXR hands down??

billythekid

I suspect we will see a back to back test in Evo at some point.

chiark

Have you read the EVO back to back of the VXR against STI against EVO IX and 330i?

It holds its own exceptionally well...

This Mazda thing did look interesting until the I got to the bit about it using the same sort of system that the TT uses. I'm just a snob, but I don't like the sound of that at all.

Stryder

I for one think the MPS looks like a pile of poo! I like the Mazda 6 shape, but I think that the body kit looks quite akward on the MPS.

I must admit that I have a bit of a thing for the VXR. And although on paper performance appears to be comparible, the VXR looks that bit more purposful. As for driving. Well, I'll comment on that once I have done my own back to back test. I am not for being infulenced by Journo's who impressions on the will not cater for everyone.

Chris L

That's what they said about the Impreza too

Come to think about it, they've been saying that for years

chiark

Oh ah, I fully agree about trying it for yourself, but I tend to trust EVO's impressions more than others. Although Vauxhall does seem to be spending significant amount of advertising with Evo... But that wouldn't influence them would it?

dsmith

Like the front of the MPS. The rear looks a little odd.
I'm keeping a close eye. Mazda is on the co car list which may sway my decision making !

s70rjw

iTrader: (2)

I prefer the lines of the standard 6, think the bodykit makes it look heavy..

sgcooby

Your right there havent been any comparisons yet obviously but what i meant was it seams to produce more torque plus with a AWD system, even one similar to the VAG haldex system, it would handle that power better than FWD i would have thought. The VXR does seem to do well against the new STI though. On paper against the VXR the engine seems stronger with a better drivetrain IMO.
Might drive like poo though but ive got a thing against powerful FWD cars. Just feel they are compromised too much.

chiark

I have the very same thing against FWD - I think it's a thing that's bordering on a prejudice of mine now

R1916v

Mazd 3 mps should be good too, same engine, smaller car