Every now and then I trawl Parkers for candidates to replace my 06 Fabia VRS sometime late in 2012. I've never been keen on the Mazda brand (those godawful Zoom Zoom adverts!) but having purchased a Mk1 MX5 my appreciation for the brand has risen a lot. The Mazda 3 2.2D Sport seems on paper to be a perfect upgrade from a VRS as I'm either planning on cutting car costs completely and going down to a boring, cheap to run low power hatchback or slightly going up in performance while not going so far up as to have silly high running costs on a daily drive. The 3 has either 150bhp or 180bhp, nearly 300ft/lb torque so on a par with a well remapped Fabia Mk1. The spec list is truly impressive too with all mod-cons, even up to electric seat level, and the welcome return to a heated windscreen! The styling is a bit fussy, and doesn't do too much for me but I suspect it's a grower. Tax band is just one up from the Fabia and insurance is actually to groups below the Mk2 VRS which it sounds like people are getting good prices on. I've been a bit underwhelemned by VAG group reliability, my VRS has on average caused me the most extra maintenance costs of nearly any car I've owned whilst the MX-5 is proving truly impressive for a 17 year old car. The 3 will certainly be on my shortlist for test drives! Anyone got one / driven one?

Edited 26 May, 201115 yr by TeebsVRS

Check out Tom VRS blogs and members car thread.

I think the summary is good but heavy on tyres and oil changes due to peculiar dpf behaviour plus a very restricted upgrade path.

Edited 26 May, 201115 yr by 'daiking'

Not driven one but its on my list of potential replacements too. On paper its second to a 123d. At present though I just can't justify getting rid of the fury. So cheap to run and isn't depreciation is so much lower than on a newer car. Damm my meanness stopping me from upgrading.

If you have not done so already ?..might be worth a look at.....www.mazda3forums.co.uk

I agree with thee, styling is a bit "different" but never the less a nice car..

I have the Mazda 6 with the 2.2d engine in it, slightly older revision with 185 BHP.

Love the car to bits, so much we are thinking about buying it from the leasing company once the lease comes to an end.

Only problem I have is how common they are but that's not really a problem with the 3.

Done 37k from new with absolutely no problems at all.

The 3 should feel properly quick as my car does (to me) and the 3 is quite a bit lighter!

I have the Mazda 6 with the 2.2d engine in it, slightly older revision with 185 BHP.

Love the car to bits, so much we are thinking about buying it from the leasing company once the lease comes to an end.

Only problem I have is how common they are but that's not really a problem with the 3.

Done 37k from new with absolutely no problems at all.

The 3 should feel properly quick as my car does (to me) and the 3 is quite a bit lighter!

Out of interest, what Octavia did you come to the Mazda from? An Octy VRS would be on my shortlist too.

Mazda are exactly mid table in owner survey ie JD Power.

We sold our 2009 2 litre MX5 for the TSI VRS. Power roof was cool but engine had to be revved hard to get much out of it. TSI VRS and 1.8 TSI are way quicker and better engines.

Biult quality better in Skoda/VAG than Mazda.

BMW continue to win the engine awards for their biturbo diesel ie 205 hp 2 litre and you get 60 mpg but their prices are silly.

VAG are finally bringing out a biturbo 2 litre diesel but only in VW brand at the moment and we may not see in Skoda for a couple of years yet unfortunately.

I found the Mazda three and six short on headroom in the back and with me and my kids 6 foot plus that was a reason we did not trade the MX5 for a 6.

If you want a car with acceleration better than 8 second 0-62 mph then you need to go to 4 cylinder petrol or 5 or 6 cylinder diesel as a standard motor it appears to me.

Edited 29 May, 201115 yr by lol

Out of interest, what Octavia did you come to the Mazda from? An Octy VRS would be on my shortlist too.

Had a 55 plate Octavia Elegance Combi 1.9 tdi then a 57 plate Seat Leon FR tdi before the Mazda. Both times I changed cars since the Octavia I requested lease prices for the Octavia vRS Diesel from a couple of local dealers, never ever received a quote so no sale for Skoda!