Hi Folks,
Never thought I'd be saying this but I'm a new MPS owner....and have been amazed!!
Amazed because despite having owned many performance cars over the years, I didn't really consider the MPS as a serious contender until I drove one for the first time.
I won't bore you with the whole story leading up to this but on Thursday morning I got up out of bed with the objective of working through my shortlist of choice cars and pick the winner.
The list was (in no particular order) Impreza WRX Hatch, Lancer Ralliart Sedan, Focus XR5, Mondeo XR5 and the Mazda 3 MPS.
I had a look at all of them on the Thursday. The only one I ruled out before driving was the Focus XR5. The idiots put the cruise control on the bottom left of the steering column and I couldn't find a comfortable seating position where my leg wasn't touching this stupid thing.....a damn shame.
Friday morning, I started my test drive sessions. As fate would have it, I drove the MPS first (Luxury). WOW! This thing is so wierdly wonderful, I can hardly take my eyes off it! Like sitting in a jet fighter plane. Took off with the sales guy and he took me into some side street with about 4 consecutive roundabouts. Well fook me....it went like a scalded cat. He handed me the keys and took me back the long way to where we started. It drives like a pussy cat until we got to the roundabouts. Dropped it back a gear and gave it some welly. Jesus, this thing is possessed....the chassis was stunning, I'm fighting the wheel which is tugging and pulling every which way but it's tracking exactly where I want it to go. The beast is alive! Pulling back on to a main road, we continue back to the dealership like nothing had happened, the car giving no indication of the maniac that lurks beneath the surface.
What I found most impressive was the torque in 3rd and 4th gears while tootling along in the traffic. It "responds" like a big cube V8 and I was absolutely stunned that this torque delivery was coming from a 2.3l 4 cylinder.
I'm not being over zealous here because my daily drive for the past 4 1/2 years is an R33 Skyline GTS-25T with 220Kw at the treads.
Next was the Lancer. Plenty of go, but just not as torquey and responsive as the MPS. Interior is "poverty pack" compared to MPS. The SST sequential box is nice when operating manually, but in auto mode it shoots up to top gear in no time and it is gutless in traffic unless you drop back a few cogs. Who ever though of putting fixed flappy paddles on the steering column that don't turn with the wheel, should have their head read. But I do like the look of the front end......NEXT.
Hmmmmm, I'm now sitting in a WRX. Even though it looks like a riced-up Daewoo from the outside, I was confident that the dynamics would win me over. Well, what a suprise! The power delivery is basically the same as the Skyline. If you kick it in the guts from standstill, it's quick....very quick. But when you're doing 60kph in traffic and just want to slip into a gap in the fast lane, you either have to boost it (clutch in and out) and/or drop back a gear! My last experience of performance four wheel drive was when I bought the new KF Laser TX3 when it came out in 1990. The handling is addictive and controlling your position, angle and attitude mid-corner with throttle alone is just heavenly. However, 90% of my driving nowadays is suburban, with the very rare country drive. So my assesment is that although in reality, a WRX would beat the MPS on a race track purely as a result of it's traction and drive out of corners, I reckon the MPS could hang on to the WRX just about anywhere else in the real world. WRX interior is better than the Lancer but still very plain and not worthy of comparison with the MPS in any way. Externally it is just plain I'm afraid, unlike the STI which is pumped out and looks like its on steroids.
Booked my next drive in the Ford Modeo XR5. The trip to the Ford dealership took me right past the Mazda yard. I stopped in the Mazda dealership on the way and they talked me into another test drive. It was already 3pm Friday afternoon at this stage!! When I returned, they offered me a great deal and by 5:30pm, I drove away the proud owner of the brand spanking new Celestial Blue MPS Luxury I originally tested.
So there you go, for anyone looking at the current crop of performance cars on the market in the $40k bracket, I would say to them "do yourself a favour". Drive all of them, but take out the Mazda FIRST. If you are unbiased and looking for a stunning road car first and track weapon second, I can almost assure you that the others will leave you cold in comparison.
Damn, I think I'm going to sleep in it tonight!!
The best thing about owning the Skyline was the Skylines Australia forums. For the most, They're a great bunch of guys and more than willing to help out and share their experiences, knowledge, tips and contacts.
I trust that the OzMPSclub forum will be no different and I'm looking forward to getting to know many of you over time and sharing what I hope will be some fantastic and fun experiences.
Cheers and "viva le MPS"
Mike