A review of the Turbo Mazda MPS

[Mondie]

Thought l would post a review l posted a few months ago elsewhere of a Black Mazda MPS l spent a couple of hours "testing" :icon_bigg since its a natural competitor of the Liberty.

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Took a Black Mica MPS for a spin this morning with 4000km on the clock. It was very bloody nice, l am impressed http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/spoton.gif

The car is classy but muscular, love the rear end, very subtle. The twin pipes are a bit pox if you look closely though hiding the smaller outlets with a larger ring was a corner that should not have been cut. The alloys are nice but would be pr!cks to clean. Front again is muscular but subtle with the bulging bonnet. Overall it looks the goods.

Interior is very schmick, this particular car had the luxury pack so had very nice high quality leather seats, a glass sunroof that made the interior feel open and airy and a Bose stereo that sounded great (even though l think Bose is crap) Controls had a nice feel, dash very nice and done in the style of the WRX Sti ie. red instruments that illuminate on power up. Steering wheel had good feel and with controls for stereo and CC, nicely done and again the quality was there. Loved the titanium finsih over the centre stack and console, better than the sprayed silver we get on the local cars http://www.fordxr6turbo.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/sick.gif

On the road l was really suprised at how powerful the car was. Heaps of grunt down low and much easier to drive than the Sti. Pulls from 2500rpm effortlessly and would leave the Sti for dead up until 4500rpm. In fact you wouldnt know the MPS was a turbo unless you were told, it feels like a strong NA six. No wheezes, BOV noises or any other hint of whats under the bonnet. In a straight line there is no doubt the Sti would eat it but in everyday driving the MPS is very torquey and easy to drive. l found the clutch to be very light and the gearbox a bit vague and notchy compared to the superb 6sp Sti box but you would expect that, the Sti box is exceptional. Brakes had nice feel and worked well, no problems there.

Overall a big thumbs up, a genuine alternative for those who dont need a big car and can settle for something a little smaller, but value quality and fit/finsh. l keep looking at the horny BF GT-P on my desktop and thinking how tough it looks. But its a bit like the blonde teenager you went to school with, tasty babe but not much between the ears.

Will definitley give this one a big consideration along with the 2.5lt Sti, Evo 9, Liberty Sti and the FPV's when update time comes.

[agctr]

Thanks for sharing yr thoughts and all the pics. You went a lot of trouble so thanks Simon.

First thing, THANKFULLY u picked up again on the exhaust, wish u had taken a bigger pic of that.... but its all good. I think Mazda to some degree has copied the Europeans and Subaru a little toooo well but that is all good, because it helps Subaru to now lift their game. Im sure this MPS will sell well considering that Mazda has such a high following with the mums and dads of Australia. Mazda are putting out some very nice rides at the moment and are certainly giving some companies a really hurry up with the products they are serving up, so well done Mazda.

Loved yr comment re the schoolgirl, extremely funny but yup it gets the point across. I think if STi offered the same engine and trick gear the EVOXi has, that would be a real winner in yr list but for the moment, Im sticking with the STi Liberty as i think it has a lot to offer for similar amounts of cashola.

Thanks again for the writeup... great stuff.
Ada///M.

PS and DAMN yr Avator is freaking me out lol....

[BDII]

*** Deleted dumb, uncalled for comment........

mccorry

[Mondie]

Bloody hell, l work with obnoxious over opinionated yanks and now l have to put up with them on forums too.

Take your one-eyed thread crapping elsewhere.

[Mondie]

I think if STi offered the same engine and trick gear the EVOXi has, that would be a real winner in yr list but for the moment, Im sticking with the STi Liberty as i think it has a lot to offer for similar amounts of cashola.



l bought a Liberty GT Sti today so l guess l agree with you :icon_bigg

Yes the exhaust is crap, l didnt take a pic of it although l did mean to. The exhaust and alloys which l am not that keen on are really the only 2 "problems" l had with the car.

Cheers

[powbmps]

How about some pics of the Liberty GT STI?

[Mondie]

How about some pics of the Liberty GT STI?

Hi mate,

It will be about 10 days before l take delivery, will post some pics then.

Cheers

[agctr]

Thanks for taking the time to do the write up especially having SO MUCH on yr STi plate today........
He SHOOTS HE SCORES....
Ada///M.

[wukindada]

Nice purchase:)

[PhilT]

Please change you avatar, makes me nausious !

Otherwise, nice write up :)

[Mblock66]

Wait they now are making a LGT sti???? I am lost

[wukindada]

As with all good things......not avail....to us Yanks:(

[elarbee]

As with all good things......not avail....to us Yanks:(

pfft - you get fritos we get the sti, hrmmm fritos..sti fritos..sti fritos!!

the fpv f6 typhoon was also on my short list along with the MPS6. but i just felt better in the liberty, hard to describe really. and yeah i agree the nice finish on the mazda interior plastic is very nice.

[dmcgowan]

Hey Simon,

I was blown away by how hard the MPS could accelerate in any gear - would definitely leave the std GT for dead. Although I think our GT STi's would be a different story...

Cheers,



Darren

[sutter2k]

On the road l was really suprised at how powerful the car was. Heaps of grunt down low and much easier to drive than the Sti. Pulls from 2500rpm effortlessly and would leave the Sti for dead up until 4500rpm.

Curious what kind of turbo they use and how much head room it has.
A Forester will pull from an sti down low as well. e.g. Mainly because it has a smaller turbo.

[Mondie]

Curious what kind of turbo they use and how much head room it has.
A Forester will pull from an sti down low as well. e.g. Mainly because it has a smaller turbo.

l am not sure Sutter, l think the low down pull has a lot to do with the direct fuel injection, FISI l think Mazda call it. Car didnt feel like a turbo at all for the most part.

[dmcgowan]

l am not sure Sutter, l think the low down pull has a lot to do with the direct fuel injection, FISI l think Mazda call it. Car didnt feel like a turbo at all for the most part.

I think the Mazda AU website has a torque curve for the MPS - goes from 100-380Nm at 1500 rpm and just stays there flat. Totally consistent with how well the thing goes when you hit the accelerator.

One big difference with the Subarus though was how it just fell away totally around ~5500rpm. I haven't pushed the GT yet but both the WRX and B4 kept on pulling to 7000rpm and at 5500 rpm the GT isn't out of puff at all. The MPS has to have the six speeder to deal with that I suspect?

Interesting that carsguide couldn't really split them and the lap / performance times are pretty dead even:

http://carsguide.news.com.au/story/0,20384,17537995-21822,00.html

Allegedly, there are some press cars amongst the 300 so hopefully we'll see a GT STi vs. MPS test with somewhat different results :D

[Mondie]

Allegedly, there are some press cars amongst the 300 so hopefully we'll see a GT STi vs. MPS test with somewhat different results :D


That review is interesting, less in the performance than l would have expected. It must be in the handling differences due to the greater pork of the MPS.

l did not realise that Subaru had released any press cars but am glad they did, l would be very interested to see how the two now compare. The Lib GT Sti is a significant step up from a stockie so l would think back to back it would be far superior to the MPS. l believe that all manual sedans are now sold so its a bit of a moot point anyhow :icon_bigg

[dmcgowan]

Simon,

It was interesting they didn't do any in-gear comparos as that's where I'd expect the MPS to really show up the std GT? At just about any speed, the MPS just felt much quicker to respond than the std GT...

Cheers,




Darren

[BDII]

**** Yet another uncalled for reply and personal attack removed. Bu11dogg2, Check your PM's

mccorry

[BDII]

wha tis this ? the 30th mazda speed thread? come on! talk about something different, doesnt australia have that crocidile hunter guy?

he should run for president, maybe he would give your country a better image.

[BDII]

oooooooooh looky here I have a mazda speed oooooooooooohh

[BoxerGT2.5]

Funny....the Aussie MP6 is suppose to be a notch down powerwise from the USDM MP6.

[melayout]

Someone should take their meds before sand gets everywhere.

[BDII]

no meds, sand deserves to fisted in this thread

[BoxerGT2.5]

Someone should take their meds before sand gets everywhere.


That reminds me............

[BDII]

I wouldnt mind taking a few skittles from your avatar....
that might calm me down

[rfd425]

I wouldnt mind taking a few skittles from your avatar....
that might calm me down
"Look Ma, no hands!":lol:

[rfd425]

Nice double post, Stephy...er, I mean Bu11dogg.:lol:

Ahh, ninja edited it, huh?;)

[BDII]

My Ninja skillz are powerfull in the aussie forum....

[BoxerGT2.5]

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y279/SteveISU/OWNEDLMFA.jpg

[agctr]

Dont be making me get Steve to lay some hurt on U boys, then U will be in for it.......

http://cyberbuzz.gatech.edu/ga/photogallery/john%20howard%20and%20steve%20irwin%20at%20the%20a ustralian%20zoo.jpg

[agctr]

Can we now please move back to topic.
Thanks.
Ada///M.

[dmcgowan]

To be honest B4, the original post is what set it off - usually this forum seems to be mostly sensible discussion but Bulldogs original scorn pour did set it off...

I'm all for debate about who likes / dislikes the MPS / anything else but Bulldog went down the "you're wrong" as opposed to the "i disagree because" route...

[agctr]

I dont believe it is The B4, hence I asked to move back to topic.
Ada///M.

[agctr]

Carn guys, enough please.
This thread is a review of the MPS not a personal attack/country attack thread.
All non car related posts will be removed.
Ada///M.

[rfd425]

This thread is a review of the MPS not a personal attack/country attack thread.
All non car related posts will be removed.
Ada///M.
Pontiacs and Chevys rule, Holdens suck.

[dmcgowan]

Pontiacs and Chevys rule, Holdens suck.

Holdens suck - at last something we can all agree on heh heh