Hey all,

I did have a thread running a while back regards the Mazda 3 MPS...but thought I would get more interest starting a new one as I need some fresh opinions!

I am really keen on one that is on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2009-MAZDA-MPS-AERO-SPORTS-BLACK-/110574772548?pt=Automobiles_UK#ht_500wt_1154

Just wondering what people's opinion is on buying a car on finance, I'm a little sceptical but it all seems genuine. This is quite a rare car so its not like I can just wait for another one to come along. I want one in black with cruise control. The fact its an 09' plate is awesome, although 33k on the clock is a little disappointing. I have been looking at 07/57's with 20-25k on the clock for the same price (I think he might take £9k :yes: ) from traders so.....

HPI checks I have found online charge like £20, anyone know of a cheaper way of doing it? And again, 3 MPS - A good idea???!! :S

Cheers

Edited 17 August, 201015 yr by Woo7dy

My text check type thing are quite good. Used them before without issues.

Some where was doing 4 for £20 (so a fiver a go) which could be good if you're looking at several cars, although I still think the text checks work out cheaper.

And that's a nice looking car too.

Drove the facelift 3MPS a few weeks ago and it's a rocket! It will torque steer a bit when you boot it but that's to be expected. It is a jiggly ride but the road surfaces I was driving on were awful. The road from J33M4 to Cardiff through the tunnels for those who know it. Lovely comfy seat too and does handle well and was full of kit. The new one really looks the part. Some have even said it looks a bit like the new Impreza. The old one is more discreet and looks like a wolf in sheep's clothing. Plenty of tuning options too. Not sure on fuel economy but I would seriously consider one if I wanted a bonkers fast hot hatch.

Somethings not right with that car.... its a pre-facelift model. they stopped doing those as 08-plates. mine was one of the first of the facelift/revised versions(mk1).

also the guy has only been on ebay for a month and has no feedback...

chances are hes trying to get some of his money back without taking it to a dealer and getting stuffed from them..

As for the good idea thing.... have you tried the alternatives?

this one has sat-nav..... very very rare! PH ad

I'd go direct to a Mazda dealer who can check the UK used database from all Mazda dealerships.

Also, I'd check the road tax rate. Dad git quite a shock at his being £400+ yet jammy git got it free as he has to drive mum around and she has a blue badge.

The one I drove was the 1st of the facelifts and that was an 09 plate

I have been to see the car, it looks tidy and the guy over email comms seems very genuine, I think he will accept £9k for it, so even if I don't get on with it I can jump ship and get something else selling it for what I paid...I am almost positive that the car is an 09, I'm sure it was probably made long before 2009 but it was surely registered in 2009. It's like the 07 Mk I Octys you see around I guess?! Regards tax, yes it is in the high band But I can live with that, only £180 more a year than the Skoda, not the end of the world. Insurance only £50 more for a whole year and fuel will be manageable I'm sure. Thankfully in a way I don't have a blue badge, fair play to him though! Neo, thanks for your advice, very useful as always! I know he has no feedback but we all have to start somewhere, he needs rid of it asap and has admitted to me that he will sell to trader soon, that one on PH looks WELL more dodgey, check the Youtube video out... :S An 07 plate with 12k on the clock and mods on it which don't look good, hmmmmm. Surely an HPI check will sure everything up. In regards other cars, I'm really set on this, test drive was awesome from one at a garage!! :p

The one I drove was the 1st of the facelifts and that was an 09 plate

You mean you drove one of the ones with the bonnet scoop... im talking more about a "revision" of the mk1 which had dark-smoked alloys, better BOSE, alcantara upholstry and piano black interior accents:

(shameless pic of my old one)

Neo the one I'm looking at on Ebay does not have the revisions you mention/picture above...?! I didn't even know they had done a revised version Hmmmmm, I'm really starting to think more sensibly now, talking myself into keeping the Skoda. If I do get the MPS I'll literally be dry of any money, which is not all that sensible I guess.

Neo the one I'm looking at on Ebay does not have the revisions you mention/picture above...?! I didn't even know they had done a revised version Hmmmmm, I'm really starting to think more sensibly now, talking myself into keeping the Skoda. If I do get the MPS I'll literally be dry of any money, which is not all that sensible I guess.

TBH the revisions were the only reason i bought a brand new one and paid almost full price.. (and the white replaced that strange blue colour) at that time they were also selling the older model for 3k less.

And as above... road tax is currently £425 a year beacause its in band L - thats the killer with the MPS.. you can get cars with well over 300bhp that are in the band below

I'd look elsewhere. I mean it's a nice car and decently swift....

But the economy and road tax? You're just paying into the government coffers.

What would you recommend then Wardy...? The only thing I can think of is an R32 Mk V for about £14k, a newish Octy Vrs or just keep mine and keep moaning! The MPS just seems the most affordable for what you get...R32 would be my fave or ultimate would be a 535d M-Sport Touring, mmmmmm That's £20k though!!

What would you recommend then Wardy...? The only thing I can think of is an R32 Mk V for about £14k, a newish Octy Vrs or just keep mine and keep moaning! The MPS just seems the most affordable for what you get...R32 would be my fave or ultimate would be a 535d M-Sport Touring, mmmmmm That's £20k though!!

How can you be looking at a 535d in the same breath as a 3MPS - that's just weird

Errm, if it had to be petrol either another vRS 2.0T (in TSI form), Mk5 GTi or a RenaultSport Megane R26 (not the R26R, that's a different kettle of fish!). The last one may seem a bit left field, but go try one :yes:

In BM land the E90 330i is super smooth and drives very well. But it's a different car, target audience and a different feel and drive as a result.

On the R32 question, I thought the noise was lovely - but it felt ponderous and heavy after testing a Mk5 GTi. Didn't feel that much quicker, for all the extra engine CC and obviously a bit of mapping and tweaking with the 2.0T can reap rich rewards

Didn't do any scientific testing as I took both out one after the other and carried them over the same route, but the GTi was quicker point-to-point. More nimble and lighter on its feet. OK you get AWD with the R32, but that can only really hold a clear advantage in wet conditions in my book. Then there's the fuel issue and high tax band again, same as the 3MPS.

Steve

Beemer 335i's are starting to drop down into the 12k mark now

Lovely job. Pretty much 'everyday' M3 pace with a remap :clap:

Auto only though IIRC? Might just be the 335d that though. Even so, decent auto 'box mind

Hmmm... nice

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/1856485.htm

Hmmm... nice

http://www.pistonhea...les/1856485.htm

As above

Only reason i got rid of the i-fridge, was to save up for a 135i - however ive now got very attached to my mx5hed so ive decided to save myself 20k and keep it (maybe slap a turbo on though for torque purposes)

Guys guys guys....

Well, to start with I am not looking at a 535d M-Sport Touring, unless I can magic £10k from somewhere!!! It's just an awesome car IMO, has everything I ever want but will have to remain a pipe dream, for now. Just thought it was worth a mention tho lol :p

Have discounted the GTI, if I was going to have that engine then I would prefer it in the Octy and have a few ££ in my pocket. Very common aswell, which I understand; most probably means that it's good but I just don't like it. The R32 on the other hand, I seem to love it. Now this is most likely to driving one (my Auntie owns one, her new rich hubby bought it for her, she hasn't really taken it over 4,000rpm :'( ) but the sound is just astonshing, so different to a 4 cylinder.

BUT, it is still £14-£15k which is alot but then they don't depriciatie an awful lot. Plus it's still slower (marginly) than the MPS!

The Megane I just don't like - FULL STOP Not saying it's a bad car just not my cup of cha.

I ADORE BEEMERS, they are very well built and just generally awesome. However, I don't want a saloon.....So only option would be to have a 3 or 5 series touring. But it all bottoms down to price, that one you pasted from PH looks nice, but no mileage advertised. Looking at similar models with sensible mileages you are talking like £15-£20k. That one is blatantly well over 120k IMO, way too many miles for me. I think for the money I am looking at spending, I have to compromise somewhere, and I think it will have to be the badge...As I did when I bought my Skoda!

Hence I keep coming back to the 3 MPS...like this one:

http://www.burnagemotors.co.uk/GetDealer.do?did=27121&pageid=1

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201035367063660/sort/priceasc/usedcars/maximum-mileage/up_to_40000_miles/maximum-age/up_to_3_years_old/colour/black/price-to/12000/price-from/5000/model/mazda3/make/mazda/keywords/mps/page/1/saved-search-id/2c9218312ab35015012ae6e875bd0084/postcode/bs328bd/radius/1500?logcode=p

Has EVERYTHING I want from one (the cruise, parking sensors, the "upgraded" version (Bose, seats, alloys - as per Colin's useful tip as I didn't know they did this!) on an 09, low mileage and in black, purrrrrrrrfect!

But something is holding me back.... :think:

As above

Only reason i got rid of the i-fridge, was to save up for a 135i - however ive now got very attached to my mx5hed so ive decided to save myself 20k and keep it (maybe slap a turbo on though for torque purposes)

i fridge....?! What does that mean? Shall I just get an MX-5 then Col..?! That pink one from an old thread taking the mick out of your motor might be for sale

Ohhh, btw - I put "Neo_VR MPS" into Google (no don't worry, I'm not stalking you :no: ) and found a couple of posts by you raving about your MPS - Busted!!! Albeit there were a fare few from you saying that you didn't enjoy the handling so much :peek:

PS - That £20k will soon burn a hole in your pocket!

Edited 8 September, 201015 yr by Woo7dy

Just to add, here is an example of a similar age and mileage GTi:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201036367543476/sort/priceasc/usedcars/engine-size-cars/2l_to_2-5l/maximum-mileage/up_to_20000_miles/transmission/manual/seller-type/trade_adverts/fuel-type/petrol/maximum-age/up_to_1_year_old/model/golf/make/volkswagen/radius/1500/page/1/postcode/bs328bd?logcode=p

Just a tad more expensive then!!

For the level of equipment, age and mileage, performance and practicality I really do think the 3 MPS is a bargain. Ok, mixed reviews on the handling but most auto mag reviews give it a 4 out of 5. It can't be THAT bad surely?

In regards to the car for which I started this thread, I didnt go for that one. Tooooo many miles, 33k on an 09 plate and like you said Col, it was strange that it didn't have the upgraded bits on it? Plus it had o/s finance and I also don't like private sales for that kinda £££.

However, the new one I've put on here, that seems ace. It's in Stockport Colin, that's near Manchester isn't it??! Maybe you could take it for a spin, see if it's a good'un or not :yes:

As always, feedback welcome...

i fridge....?! What does that mean? Shall I just get an MX-5 then Col..?! That pink one from an old thread taking the mick out of your motor might be for sale

Ohhh, btw - I put "Neo_VR MPS" into Google (no don't worry, I'm not stalking you :no: ) and found a couple of posts by you raving about your MPS - Busted!!! Albeit there were a fare few from you saying that you didn't enjoy the handling so much :peek:

PS - That £20k will soon burn a hole in your pocket!

Lol.. I-fridge was the name my mates gave the MPS..

I never said it wasnt a good car lol.. and for the things the mps is good at.. ie terrorizing people on the motorway.. i do still miss it... but there are more sensible/capable cars around for similar money..

Get a FM2 turbo MX5 same power as the MPS but half the weight

Seems like you've talked your way into one Woo7dy :yes:

Oh, and Col - had forgotten about the grand 135 plan! That would be most excellent - such an amusing vehicle, well done to BM for shoe-horning that into the 1. Only available as the coupe though isn't it, which is a bit fugly if you ask me - much prefer the hatch in M-Sport spec.

Steve

Seems like you've talked your way into one Woo7dy :yes:

Oh, and Col - had forgotten about the grand 135 plan! That would be most excellent - such an amusing vehicle, well done to BM for shoe-horning that into the 1. Only available as the coupe though isn't it, which is a bit fugly if you ask me - much prefer the hatch in M-Sport spec.

Steve

Yeah... they actually look quite good value now considering decent spec golf GTI/R's are getting to be north of 30k..

if i was still in the market id possibly hang on for the M1 thing - but i am happy with the MX5hed. i can maintain it myself and its (in theory) cheap to run!... ive just bought a set of adjustable coilovers for it for 170quid!.. they can be turbo'ed/SC'ed for around a grand too