I started looking at a Ford XR6 Turbo with around 7kg per kW of weight-to-power ratio.
but that was too big and I wanted something smaller but still with the same power to weight ratio... so the 3MPS came at the right time and it is nice and compact with 4 doors, versatile as a daily drive.
Plus I like Mazda reliabiilty - drove my 626 close to 400,000 km and it was still going...
did a couple months of research on it and reading various good reviews about it from the US and on the forums
also liked the GTI at the time coz it had a good engine but it was built in SA and I was concerned about that. 3MPS is built in Japan!
VW couldn't give a hoot about booking a test drive while I got one right away with Mazda... so bought it same day.
I still love it... and will start modding the suspension after the warranty runs out...