I bought 1 of these and cant stop smiling when i drive it. The only critisism i could possibly make is the electric windows go up or down, not half way. Woopeee dooo, small complaint for the drive of my life !!!
just driving a Mazda 3 mps around today actually, the windows do go halfway but you have to be very sensitive with your fingers in order not to press it into auto-up/down mode which brings it all the way up or down. I do agree though, it has an amazing smile factor.
as the button's got used more the windows work far better. How under rated is this car !!! on paper it beats the Golf R32 on MPH, 0-62, fuel consumption AND OTR price. It should be on Top Gear. Bet Clarkson finds something to slag off with it though ! Wonder what time the stig would get ??? !!!
Top Gear Magazine Mar 2007 "Stig Knows What's Good For You" New Type R vs Focus ST vs New Cupra Here are the Lap times Honda Civic Type R --> 1.34.3 Golf GTI EDITION 30 -> 1.32.6 Seat Leon Cupra -> 1.33.5 Ford Focus ST -> 1.33.5 Renault Megane R26 -> 1.30.6 Vauxhall Astra VXR -> 1.32.0 Mazda 3 MPS -> 1.32.0
Yeah those are times around the TopGear Track.I still have the magazine , I can scan it in and mail you a copy if you want.Might have to wait until tomorrow since its almost bedtime over here.
Fortunately my fun car is a kit car which slots into the £180 bracket. Amusing how they 'encourage' (read as tax) people out of cars, but as soon as there is a whiff of economic problems make moves to encourage us to buy new ones. They also take your road tax money, use it to narrow roads, remove parking spaces and create useless one way systems, then say there is a congestion charge for driving into or around London. I'm the wrong guy to get started on the issue of government and cars.
I looked at all the 7-a-likes but to be honest I think that too many people have them. In the end I went for a MEV Rocket. Similar idea but looks more atom-ish than 7-ish and it has the engine in the back. It cost a total of 6 grand including a quaife diff. I went drifting at Silverstone last friday in a Caterham, sad to say the Rocket is not as good at drifting however with a 113bhp unmodded zetec it still out paced a tuned 170 bhp Westfield 0-60 5 times in a row.
I think top gear has a video of Sabine Schmitz doing it in 10min and 8 secs, not under 9 min. The course record for the mazda3's class is 8min 30(ish) secs. Sabine Schmitz is a course instructor there and few people know the ring better but Mark Ticehurst came close to breaking the record on his first time out. It is about both driver and car, a crappy car with a wicked driver would not set any records just as a wicked car with a crappy driver wouldn't.
Just because there is no nurgburgring doesn't mean there are no fun race-tracks. QLD Raceway, Eastern Creek, Wakefield Park? Unless you live in buttfuck idaho, you've got no excuses :D
according to the description u put there, its unmodified, man that thing has really great handles! does that mean its really running on stock suspensions too?
Absolutely 100% standard, but I understand why people think something must have been done to them. The only thing I can say is that it just goes to show what they are really capable of when driven by someone who isn't afraid of taking it to the limits. Funnily enough though it was the first time that Mark Ticehurst had seen Nurburg and normally it takes days to get a half decent time because you need to really know the track.
have you had the chance to compare the MPS to a sedan 3 with the mazdaspeed suspension package. I'd have loved to trade in my 3 for the MPS but honestly like the straight look of the sedan better. Could you imagine a two door two seater coupe ala CRX?
Yeah I also like the 3 sedan more. Man it would awesome if they brought it out in the MPS. Went round the track the otherday in a 3 MPS (not driving though)and I was suitably impressed. I just don't like how it sounds and I'm not the biggest fan of the hatch's look but I wouldn't mind owning one :D
Yeah... your brother's bmw must be very old because there is no way in hell your mx3 (FWD)can handle better than a bmw (rwd). BMW's are known for their handling and steering feel. The only car that mazda has made that can handle as well as a BMW is the rx7. RX8 - too soft, mazdaspeed 6 - porky car, everything else - FWD. RWD > FWD. The mazdaspeed 3 is a good car but being FWD is holding it back.
my brother has a 335 i and to be honest it handels very good , i like it and it pulls nice , except it has bad throttle response . but i have never had that smile that iv had with a mazda . im not saving its the best car ever but for the price they come very well package , also mazda uses a multi link system where the rear wheel tilts towrads the directing your going
the 335i? That is an amazing car. I've driven it also and I have no complaints of bad throttle response. With an that is engine twin turbo, pushing 300hp at the crank, the car is damn fast. It feels like it's hugging the road constantly. That car has near 50/50 weight balance and it's suspension is independent with rear multilink. Mazda's offers some pretty sporty family cars compared to its competition. I can understand why you have a smile, because you love your car and that's why you have it.
i had a mazda , my mx3 transmission went out , human error , any way im looking to buy a mazda 3 but i got an offer to buy a protege 5 with a lot of nice performance add ons for around 4,500 .IF i had more money i have bought a mazda 3 or maybe a 6
i agree but its still good none the less ,just like any other maker , bmw has there problems but thing is its expensive since bmws are high end in the computer side
to see high quality version copy the link and remove the spaces... ht tp :/ /ww w. you tube . com/ w atch?v=d9T 549pb WiE
joeytwomugs 2 years ago
I've now added a high quality version of this video as youtube 4:3'ed this one and as the upload limit is now 1GB ionstead of a piddly 100mb.
It's listed by the same name but with HQ after it
joeytwomugs 2 years ago
Is this one also Mark Ticehurst?
gonerogue 3 years ago
yes
joeytwomugs 2 years ago
Just had the heads up that I might get to do another one of these Nurburgring videos soon. This time with a powerful saloon car.
Keep watching this space...
joeytwomugs 3 years ago
I want to become a test driver.....
Jarno0001 3 years ago
I bought 1 of these and cant stop smiling when i drive it. The only critisism i could possibly make is the electric windows go up or down, not half way. Woopeee dooo, small complaint for the drive of my life !!!
neilyboyuk 3 years ago
just driving a Mazda 3 mps around today actually, the windows do go halfway but you have to be very sensitive with your fingers in order not to press it into auto-up/down mode which brings it all the way up or down. I do agree though, it has an amazing smile factor.
joeytwomugs 3 years ago
as the button's got used more the windows work far better. How under rated is this car !!! on paper it beats the Golf R32 on MPH, 0-62, fuel consumption AND OTR price. It should be on Top Gear. Bet Clarkson finds something to slag off with it though ! Wonder what time the stig would get ??? !!!
neilyboyuk 3 years ago
1.32.0 is what the Stig achieved with the MPS.
djdrastic1 2 years ago
You mean on a top gear power lap right? It is impossible to do that time at Nurburg...
Actually I cant see the mazda 3 mps on the top gear powerlap chart. Are you certain?
joeytwomugs 2 years ago
djdrastic1 2 years ago
Yeah those are times around the TopGear Track.I still have the magazine , I can scan it in and mail you a copy if you want.Might have to wait until tomorrow since its almost bedtime over here.
djdrastic1 2 years ago
Fair enough. Clearly you have done your homework. I wonder why they didn't put them up on the website.
joeytwomugs 2 years ago
I did my homework a long time ago because I bought one for about 13K brand new :)
I packed the magazine into my suitcase ,and I'll PM you the scans tomorrow.
Pity you guys have that BS CO2 tax , which makes the car expensive to run over there.
djdrastic1 2 years ago
Fortunately my fun car is a kit car which slots into the £180 bracket. Amusing how they 'encourage' (read as tax) people out of cars, but as soon as there is a whiff of economic problems make moves to encourage us to buy new ones. They also take your road tax money, use it to narrow roads, remove parking spaces and create useless one way systems, then say there is a congestion charge for driving into or around London. I'm the wrong guy to get started on the issue of government and cars.
joeytwomugs 2 years ago
Haha so true.
Kit Car .... I dream every night of an R500 on my driveway.Sadly it has not materialized as of yet.
djdrastic1 2 years ago
I looked at all the 7-a-likes but to be honest I think that too many people have them. In the end I went for a MEV Rocket. Similar idea but looks more atom-ish than 7-ish and it has the engine in the back. It cost a total of 6 grand including a quaife diff. I went drifting at Silverstone last friday in a Caterham, sad to say the Rocket is not as good at drifting however with a 113bhp unmodded zetec it still out paced a tuned 170 bhp Westfield 0-60 5 times in a row.
joeytwomugs 2 years ago
top gear has a video of a woman almost getting below 9 minutes in an unmodified VAN...its all in the driver on this course.
jdoe9898 4 years ago
I think top gear has a video of Sabine Schmitz doing it in 10min and 8 secs, not under 9 min. The course record for the mazda3's class is 8min 30(ish) secs. Sabine Schmitz is a course instructor there and few people know the ring better but Mark Ticehurst came close to breaking the record on his first time out. It is about both driver and car, a crappy car with a wicked driver would not set any records just as a wicked car with a crappy driver wouldn't.
joeytwomugs 4 years ago
Wow!the more i see what this car can do,the more i want one.
8 mins 39 is insane!i struggle to get near that time when i play Forza2 on x-box even when i drive a supercar Lol!
spadgm 4 years ago
Dude It would be an honor to drive on that track.
Jaydeeman20 4 years ago
Its a shame there is no where in Australia with a track like this , so I can take mine out and play...
allanaws 4 years ago
Just because there is no nurgburgring doesn't mean there are no fun race-tracks. QLD Raceway, Eastern Creek, Wakefield Park? Unless you live in buttfuck idaho, you've got no excuses :D
captainweaksauce 4 years ago
i love that course. even though i have not been to it yet
igKNIGHTer 4 years ago
Awesome! Just Wish I could hear the engine more! It would be pumping hard for sure!
gavsta60 4 years ago
yep, it's a beast of an engine!
joeytwomugs 4 years ago
according to the description u put there, its unmodified, man that thing has really great handles! does that mean its really running on stock suspensions too?
igKNIGHTer 4 years ago
Absolutely 100% standard, but I understand why people think something must have been done to them. The only thing I can say is that it just goes to show what they are really capable of when driven by someone who isn't afraid of taking it to the limits. Funnily enough though it was the first time that Mark Ticehurst had seen Nurburg and normally it takes days to get a half decent time because you need to really know the track.
joeytwomugs 4 years ago
have you had the chance to compare the MPS to a sedan 3 with the mazdaspeed suspension package. I'd have loved to trade in my 3 for the MPS but honestly like the straight look of the sedan better. Could you imagine a two door two seater coupe ala CRX?
grnggrmn 4 years ago
Yeah I also like the 3 sedan more. Man it would awesome if they brought it out in the MPS. Went round the track the otherday in a 3 MPS (not driving though)and I was suitably impressed. I just don't like how it sounds and I'm not the biggest fan of the hatch's look but I wouldn't mind owning one :D
vuilbaard101 4 years ago
ITS A MAZDA ,lol my mazda mx3 handles way better then my brothers bmw , mazdas are known for there handling and unique style <3
xboxlivemonkey 4 years ago 2
Yeah... your brother's bmw must be very old because there is no way in hell your mx3 (FWD)can handle better than a bmw (rwd). BMW's are known for their handling and steering feel. The only car that mazda has made that can handle as well as a BMW is the rx7. RX8 - too soft, mazdaspeed 6 - porky car, everything else - FWD. RWD > FWD. The mazdaspeed 3 is a good car but being FWD is holding it back.
drumswack 3 years ago
my brother has a 335 i and to be honest it handels very good , i like it and it pulls nice , except it has bad throttle response . but i have never had that smile that iv had with a mazda . im not saving its the best car ever but for the price they come very well package , also mazda uses a multi link system where the rear wheel tilts towrads the directing your going
xboxlivemonkey 3 years ago
the 335i? That is an amazing car. I've driven it also and I have no complaints of bad throttle response. With an that is engine twin turbo, pushing 300hp at the crank, the car is damn fast. It feels like it's hugging the road constantly. That car has near 50/50 weight balance and it's suspension is independent with rear multilink. Mazda's offers some pretty sporty family cars compared to its competition. I can understand why you have a smile, because you love your car and that's why you have it.
drumswack 3 years ago
i had a mazda , my mx3 transmission went out , human error , any way im looking to buy a mazda 3 but i got an offer to buy a protege 5 with a lot of nice performance add ons for around 4,500 .IF i had more money i have bought a mazda 3 or maybe a 6
xboxlivemonkey 3 years ago
also i like the 335 but man the electrical problems blow , glad bmw has that kick ass warranty ex. covers everything!
xboxlivemonkey 3 years ago
haha exactly, they have that warranty so that when it runs up, you better have saved up a good amount of money for the bills!
drumswack 3 years ago
i agree but its still good none the less ,just like any other maker , bmw has there problems but thing is its expensive since bmws are high end in the computer side
xboxlivemonkey 3 years ago
sry bud, my MX-5 can charge down M5's in the twistys.
raisenII 3 years ago
yes... great comparison you got going there! You are comparing an mx-5 to an m5!! hahaha completely different cars!
drumswack 3 years ago
Yes and he gets smoked on the straights!
Detoyato 3 years ago