Ok, I am looking at trading in my 2005 (mk one) Octy VRS after almost three years of enjoyable driving. After "HOURS" of research, I can only really come up with the Mazda 3 MPS as a replacement...There is nothing wrong with my Octy but I feel the need to change. So, Mazda 3 MPS? Hit me...any other suggestions welome

Edited 17 August, 201015 yr by Woo7dy

Been in one as a passenger, very fast as stock and comfortable.

As said, I think the owner didn't like the fuel costs, or just had a sudden hankering for old skool RWD fun.

Yer I've seen Neo_VR is a 'previous owner' of one, hopefully he will give me some advice. Looking at spending £8-9k max on one, this one has caught my eye...

http://www.arnoldclark.com/used-cars/mazda/3/mps-aero-sports/2007/ref/arndm-21416/

Hit launch gallery and expand, looks pretty tidy...2 previous owners 'front..?!' and rear parking sensors but unfortunately no cruise. Any opinions on Arnold Clark, googling them has returned some pretty shady reviews :(

R26R would be nice or R32 but both £10-12k and no where near as much on offer...

If you need it, cruise can be retro-fitted. Somehow it seems to have been ommitted from the original spec of the first models and wasn't re-instated till the MY08 model.

That would be ace if a retro-fit was possible, I thought it was standard but unfortunately not on that one :( Cruise is quite high on my 'long' wish list! I see you have a 3 already, did you have a spin in the MPS, any opinions?

That would be ace if a retro-fit was possible, I thought it was standard but unfortunately not on that one :( Cruise is quite high on my 'long' wish list! I see you have a 3 already, did you have a spin in the MPS, any opinions?

A few of the guys with 56/07s have done it, the only difficult bit seems to be getting the right parts.

Me? MPS? I've had my 1.6 since before the MPS was released and I avoid driving cars I'd like - I'm just not going to spend the sort of money required to run one.

I had a 6MPS and found it to be too uninvolving for the money I was paying out every month. I've since gone the way of the blue and white propellor and although it's still expensive to run, it's worth it.

So how about a 130i? A lower milage model will cost you more like.

Autotrader

I too liked the stats and looks of the MPS when looking for my present car....then

I found how much it cost to run one!!

They are fast and plenty of kit as standard, but your in big engine Audi or BMW running costs.

You could get either fully loaded second hand at that price, worth looking at or maybe Civic Type R if u want a

Bit more fun, but not the cost.

I too liked the stats and looks of the MPS when looking for my present car....then

I found how much it cost to run one!!

They are fast and plenty of kit as standard, but your in big engine Audi or BMW running costs.

You could get either fully loaded second hand at that price, worth looking at or maybe Civic Type R if u want a

Bit more fun, but not the cost.

I don't know if that is entirely fair. Yes the tax is top band and servicing is a tiny but more frequent than usual but otherwise it seems fairly typical for its type. I object to paying hot hatch costs in general, not just the MPS.

The biggest restriction/cost is likely to be modding. Not many options and most are very expensive.

opinions on Arnold Clark, googling them has returned some pretty shady reviews :(

Arnold clark are huge in scotland I know here in Bradford they "lost" the franchise for Lexus

Edited 2 July, 201015 yr by bluvrs2

Any opinions on Arnold Clark, googling them has returned some pretty shady reviews :(

We dont call them "Arnold Sharks" for nothing you know..

Loads of bad experience of them up here.

A few of the guys on scottishvag have worked for them as Salesmen, and even they admit they're awful !

Sales experience may go smooth, but don't expect any after sales service !

Hmmmmm, Arnold Sharks doesn't sound promising....putting aside the after sales service (which hopefully I will not need) what are the cars like they buy in?! Think this one is 2 previous owners,the first being Mazda so was probably a demo,what are your opinions on ex-demos....think the second owner was a local. I always get nervous with buying,especially with their reputation.

I had a 6MPS and found it to be too uninvolving for the money I was paying out every month. I've since gone the way of the blue and white propellor and although it's still expensive to run, it's worth it. So how about a 130i? A lower milage model will cost you more like. Autotrader

So is the 6 MPS very similar to the 3 MPS? I know they share the same engine but surely the handling would be better as smaller etc. I do like beemers, very much but they are just soooooo expensive for similar spec to that Mazda, if I was gunna get a BMW tho it would probably be this:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201009353976719/sort/priceasc/usedcars/transmission/manual/seller-type/trade_adverts/price-to/10000/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/model/z4/make/bmw/postcode/bs328bd/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

or this for cheaper insurance:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201025361973402/sort/priceasc/usedcars/transmission/manual/seller-type/trade_adverts/price-to/10000/maximum-mileage/up_to_60000_miles/model/z4/make/bmw/postcode/bs328bd/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

I too liked the stats and looks of the MPS when looking for my present car....thenI found how much it cost to run one!!They are fast and plenty of kit as standard, but your in big engine Audi or BMW running costs.You could get either fully loaded second hand at that price, worth looking at or maybe Civic Type R if u want a Bit more fun, but not the cost.

Well yes, the tax is unfortunate, especially as VXR, ST and even the new RS have managed to keep it down to the £200 and something price, tis a very annoying leap up to the £400 and something one. MPG I think is average for hot hatch, slightly more than other but then it is the quickest!! Civic Type R.... Too chav for my liking, two mates of mine have them, no kit in them and no turbo!! Still a good car tho I agree but just not for me :no:

I don't know if that is entirely fair. Yes the tax is top band and servicing is a tiny but more frequent than usual but otherwise it seems fairly typical for its type. I object to paying hot hatch costs in general, not just the MPS.The biggest restriction/cost is likely to be modding. Not many options and most are very expensive.

Why would you wanna mod an already 260bhp car with an LSD...? More than enuf for me....

Edited 17 August, 201015 yr by Woo7dy

Theres always room for more powaaaaa