From Polo Gti to Mazda3 MPS

[PeterHBne]

From what I've read they are fast but fundamentally flawed. The package just doesnt quite work as a serious performance car. Really, any car that addresses chassis problems by limiting power in the first 2 gears because of torque steer/gear box probs has REAL issues. And what a pathetic solution from the engineers. "Nah stuff ëngineering it properly - just boost the grunt and try and save the first coupla gears by power limiting!!!!

I drove an SP23 a few times before the Polo and found them quick, very well made and very adult and family orientated but..........blandly boring.........just sooooooooooooooo.............adult.

[Swallowtail]

I have to say I find comments like that from people who've never driven them quite amusing. An SP23 is NOTHING LIKE an MPS3.

Go take one for a LONG drive, then provide an informed opinion instead of "from what I've read". How can you say "the package just doesn't quite work" when you've not driven it??

As to serious performance car - how many $35K - $40K hot hatches are serious performance cars? They are all a bunch of compromises.

The MPS3 is one of the most smile-inducing hot hatches I have ever driven, and are a HUGE amount of fun on fast twisty roads. Certainly not boring...

[kaoticice]

ill say the mazda 3's are generally a fun car .. the steering on those cars are just brilliant and sharp, matched with good chassis it's one hell of a fun car. And im comparing it based on my gti with a standard baseline neo, cant imagine the mps

[PeterHBne]

I have to say I find comments like that from people who've never driven them quite amusing. An SP23 is NOTHING LIKE an MPS3.

Go take one for a LONG drive, then provide an informed opinion instead of "from what I've read". How can you say "the package just doesn't quite work" when you've not driven it??

As to serious performance car - how many $35K - $40K hot hatches are serious performance cars? They are all a bunch of compromises.

The MPS3 is one of the most smile-inducing hot hatches I have ever driven, and are a HUGE amount of fun on fast twisty roads. Certainly not boring...

I've religiously read pretty much every car mag you can name since I was 16 back in '81. Quite a few of these scribblers (some of who still get around) know what they are talking about. And I tend to trust their opinion based on their 10/20/30+ years of driving every car imaginable flat out.

Every review I've I've ever read says the same thing - really quick in top end but just not thought out. Typical Jap car of a decade or two ago - lots of grunt - chassis can't handle it.

However I read a review of the new one and those probs are fixed.

A car in 2009 that has to have power limited in the fist two gears because it was seriously dangerous - that is just stupid! Sounds like the turboed Piazza Holden (an Isuzu what??) from the 80's that has the rep as being one of the most dangerous cars ever made. Wolud literally change a few lanes under acceleration in 1st and 2nd. Pity power retard wasnt around then......

[DeanB]

A car in 2009 that has to have power limited in the fist two gears because it was seriously dangerous - that is just stupid! Sounds like the turboed Piazza Holden (an Isuzu what??) from the 80's that has the rep as being one of the most dangerous cars ever made. Wolud literally change a few lanes under acceleration in 1st and 2nd. Pity power retard wasnt around then......

You can add the Mitusbishi Cordia Turbo to a list like that !

[Swallowtail]

The number of car magazines you have read makes not 1 iota of difference to your ability to pass informed comment on a car you have never driven. Do you buy your cars without driving them based on what Wheels magazine says? You are making assumptions based on other people's preferences and ideas. Do you believe everything you read / watch? If you research well you will find just as many "reviews" that love the MPS3 as that don't. By its very nature it polarises drivers.

Regarding limited power in the first 2 gears - do you have any more scientific appraisal than that it is "stupid"? "sounds like" the Piazza... but you've never actually driven it so don't really know?

I repeat - until you have driven it, and driven it well, you cannot pass informed comment. Comments based on "what I've read" are the domain of forum keyboard warriors.

And no, I have never owned one. I drove one and decided that I preferred the MPS6 as it is more sophisticated and I loved the awd. However since then I have driven them extensively, and have many mates with them, many of whom have made many different mods to them, with varying degrees of success. As to the "chassis can't handle it" - again, how would you know? They have been raced very successfully, both at Bathurst and in the Targa Tasmania. I have spoken to the drivers. They love them.

They are not perfect cars - they are a compromise, like any of the really 'hot' hatches, and yes there are some concerns with some components, I had several warranty issues with my 6 - but they are a fun car that goes like stink, and handle surprisingly well.

[noone]

Think the MPS would make for a better track car, some years from now I might pick up a second hand 3MPS (new version), I like the styling from the few photos i've seen.

Think the Polo makes for a good suburban driver (I don't get above second gear in the back streets).

[Chipped]

From what I've read they are fast but fundamentally flawed. The package just doesnt quite work as a serious performance car. Really, any car that addresses chassis problems by limiting power in the first 2 gears because of torque steer/gear box probs has REAL issues. And what a pathetic solution from the engineers. "Nah stuff ëngineering it properly - just boost the grunt and try and save the first coupla gears by power limiting!!!!

I drove an SP23 a few times before the Polo and found them quick, very well made and very adult and family orientated but..........blandly boring.........just sooooooooooooooo.............adult.

..well hey I am 37 but I go Zoom..zoom..zoom...
The stock susp. feels like my polo gti with Bilstien and H&R springs. It also comes stock with and LSD, front strut brace and rear sway bar..not bad, not bad at all for stock. Chassis is fine. its just as fun as a APR'd Polo gti in a different "adult" way.

[Timbo]

Enjoy it, mate

[Chipped]

well one week into the MPS and hmmm..well I kinda miss the chipped Polo gti.
If the 3 MPS is 6.1 sec 0-100 then I gotta say I reckon my APR'd Polo gti was quicker.
Polo Gti gears..1st gear upto 55kmph then 2nd gear to 105kmph..redline in both
The MPS having 6 gears not 5 the ratios are different.
1st gear to about 40kmph....2nd gear to max 85km...then 3rd...upto 100kmph and above (we have take off).
Just the mere time wasted in a 3rd gear change in getting from 0-100 HAS to make it slower than and APR'd(or other) Polo gti.
Plus the Polo is sooo much lighter and its noticeable pwr to weight it definately has the advantage.
Given the MPS from 3rd gear and above is a monster..no doubt and it can get to higher speeds on the track 140kph an above in a flash.
But for me on the street 98% of the time I reckon the PoloGti reigns...not only feeeeels quicker but surely is?? and is possibly more FUN being smaller.
Not regretting the decision as it was more about a "family" car BUT I'll be watching very closely for the release of the 2010 Polo Gti and APR tune...for light, fast, fun!!!