From an RX8 to a 6MPS

MetzgerMeister

Hi all,

I will be starting a new job soon and I am thinking of changing my car. I've had my RX8 for 3 years now. I love it to bits but the new job requires a bigger boot and bigger car.

I have the Mazda6 MPS in mind and was wondering what your thoughts were? Any other suggestions are more than welcome.

Criteria:

c. €13,000 budget incl. sale of RX8
Performance is a must
Has to be manual
Not over 2.5ltr

I would LOVE to buy an M3 but the tax always has put me off!

einheisserschre

einheisserschre wrote: »

c. €13,000 budget incl. sale of RX8
Performance is a must
Not over 2.5ltr

I would LOVE to buy an M3 but the tax always has put me off!

Spend €10,000 on a e36 M3 (or an early 00s M5) and use the €3000 saved on purchase cost to pay the €600 extra tax over a 2.5 for the next 5 years

unkel

You haven't specified it but has it got to be either RWD or 4WD?

RoverJames wrote: »

Spend €10,000 on a e36 M3 (or an early 00s M5)

And for that money, you would get a good one.

bazz26

OP, what kind of driving/mileage are going to be doing? Running a car like a M3 as a daily mile muncher could be expensive excluding motor tax.

MetzgerMeister

RoverJames wrote: »

Spend €10,000 on a e36 M3 (or an early 00s M5) and use the €3000 saved on purchase cost to pay the €600 extra tax over a 2.5 for the next 5 years

I'm not a fan of the e36 M3 and I wouldn't really be able to afford the maintenance costs on an M5. They are brilliant cars but to be honest, I wouldn't be able to fiscally or mentally afford €1500 a year tax.

unkel wrote: »

You haven't specified it but has it got to be either RWD or 4WD?



And for that money, you would get a good one.

At least RWD.

bazz26 wrote: »

OP, what kind of driving/mileage are going to be doing? Running a car like a M3 as a daily mile muncher could be expensive excluding motor tax.

It'll be more or less the same as what I was doing in my previous job - c. 10,000 miles per annum.

unkel

einheisserschre wrote: »

At least RWD.

LOL you make that look like there is something better than RWD out there

Anyway, get a very well sorted M5 and I can't see it costing more in maintenance than an RX-8. But of course, with a car like that, you need access to a tidy sum just in case something expensive goes wrong

Wetbench4

I would buy something like this, but thats just me -> http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1993467

I have no idea how big the boot is!

MetzgerMeister

unkel wrote: »

LOL you make that look like there is something better than RWD out there

Anyway, get a very well sorted M5 and I can't see it costing more in maintenance than an RX-8. But of course, with a car like that, you need access to a tidy sum just in case something expensive goes wrong

In my mind, 4WD is better than RWD. I may be wrong though!

The tidy sum is another thing that'd put me off an M3 or M5. I had a 99 E46 318i a few years ago and even parts for that were fairly juicy pricewise.

Wetbench4 wrote: »

I would buy something like this, but thats just me -> http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/1993467

I have no idea how big the boot is!

Haha nice find! Thing is, I'm not really a fan of Volvos. Now I'm not Volvo-bashing, they are a great car but not what I'd be interested in.

Marty McFly

I presume you looking for saloon car then? Just to help narrow it down towhat exactly your looking for.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Accord/Euro-R-E/201106201187744/advert?channel=CARS

heres a nice mps
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda6/MPS-2.3-/201112201694791/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mitsubishi/Lancer/Lancer--/201020198053959/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/B4-BL5-G/201112201691295/advert?channel=CARS

pburns

The 6 MPS is great value and is supposed to be a hoot. Even Clarkson was lavish with praise. Most people have blinkers and deify the M3 though.

unkel

einheisserschre wrote: »

The tidy sum is another thing that'd put me off an M3 or M5.

People warned me off big engined premium cars more than 10 years ago. I took their word for it, but could not quite see what they were on about. I purchased an old high end V8 BMW (armoured with a very deep overdraft limit and a high limit credit card) preparing myself for financial slaughter as all the people told me. Nothing happened. Yes the car (and the others that followed) cost a bit in tax and a bit in fuel, but that was it. High end superior motoring for second hand two year old Toyota Corolla total cost of ownership money

langdang

If boot space is a VERY important part of it, check if the back seats of the Mazda flip down - they may not, think there may have been extra bracing done for the extra power and the 4wd of the MPS. Or was that the 3 rather than the 6??
Personally I'd go for the Mazda, but I have a thing for Mazdas ( ), there was a nice black MPS for sale in Dwyers Limerick. Gone now tho.

Lex Luthor

luvbulmers01 wrote: »

I presume you looking for saloon car then? Just to help narrow it down towhat exactly your looking for.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Honda/Accord/Euro-R-E/201106201187744/advert?channel=CARS

heres a nice mps
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mazda/Mazda6/MPS-2.3-/201112201694791/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Mitsubishi/Lancer/Lancer--/201020198053959/advert?channel=CARS

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Subaru/Legacy/B4-BL5-G/201112201691295/advert?channel=CARS

There is something about those euro r's that makes me want them but the mps is very discreet and great value. Why is that legacy mentioned as having the log book listed as non turbo? Is that normal?

Cyrus

pburns wrote: »

The 6 MPS is great value and is supposed to be a hoot. Even Clarkson was lavish with praise. Most people have blinkers and deify the M3 though.

Nothing wrong with the mps but it doesn't come close to an e46 m3 in any department except the how many doors do you have one

ShadowHearth

Love the Volvo candidate.

M3 or m5 is a brilliant idea. Knowing that op is coming from rx8, then high. Running costs and petrol bills wount scare him.

Spending 10k on m3 and then stoping the rest on tax sounds great.

On the ather hand I would suggest Saab aero? Big, fast, elegant.

stealthyspeeder

from your criteria, I think the 6 MPS is the one to go for! PM yop, he had one and could prob let you know any hidden pitfalls of ownership. I loved my 3 MPS, and if I ever go back to a hatch, a MK1 3 MPS is what I'll get!

The rarity factor of them is great IMO, and they are built to last!

Top Dog

Lex Luthor wrote: »

Why is that legacy mentioned as having the log book listed as non turbo? Is that normal?

Non-turbo is, quite frankly, a bull$hit term used by many sellers that means sweet FA. Aspiration of a car is NEVER listed on a log-book, so no turbo car ever states on the log book that its a turbo, unless its the model designation (like Renault 5 GT Turbo). The likes of EVO's, Subaru's and all the rest won't have it on the log book that they're a turbo.

It was a term that was over used a few years ago when people were avoiding the high-insurance premiums on turbo Glanza's and the like by saying they were non-turbo

Gary ITR

I like the idea of a 6mps, what kind of 4WD system do they have though?

I don't see why every time somebody is looking for a performance car here they are told to drop the budget and put the rest aside for the running of an M3, there are other cars.

Blitzkrieger

I was looking at a 6 MPS myself when chaning my car. They're a great car - the 4wd only kicks in when it needs to (electronically controlled) so you don't waste a load of fuel when you don't need to. It's a 6 speed manual so the revs aren't that high at motorway speeds. The boot is massive, but the rear seats don't fold down, and the wheels are a weird size so tyres are expensive. It's properly quick in the mid range - 280 ft pounds of torque at 2,500 rpm, so makes overtaking easy. The Irish ones were all sold at top spec, so will have leather seats, BOSE stereo, etc. Going from a coupe to a saloon you'll probably feel the extra weight in the corners, but once you get a bit of confidence you can push it almost as hard.

n97 mini

R34 GTR... way more performance than an M3 and less tax too.

langdang

Top Dog wrote: »

Non-turbo is, quite frankly, a bull$hit term used by many sellers that means sweet FA. ...It was a term that was over used a few years ago when people were avoiding the high-insurance premiums on turbo Glanza's and the like by saying they were non-turbo

I'd take it as an indication that lying by omission isn't a big deal to the seller. Never a good thing in the seller of a performance car really is it?

Mr.Boots

Lads! there is life outside of BMW's!!!!

coolbeans

I love the 6. I'd probably go for it on balance but the Volvo really is a dark horse. Serious turbo power, five cylinders, exclusivity, understated good looks, all wheel drive, Q bar appeal...both are favourites of mine anyway.

Mr.Boots

My 2cent

Im sure you could get this or similar close on budget,
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201114201876872

MetzgerMeister

langdang wrote: »

If boot space is a VERY important part of it, check if the back seats of the Mazda flip down - they may not, think there may have been extra bracing done for the extra power and the 4wd of the MPS. Or was that the 3 rather than the 6??
Personally I'd go for the Mazda, but I have a thing for Mazdas ( ), there was a nice black MPS for sale in Dwyers Limerick. Gone now tho.

I don't mind if the seats don't fold down, just as long as the boot itself is big. Would you believe, I saw that black one when I was there one day a few years ago. I had never seen one before that and I really liked it. That's why I'm considering one now!

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Love the Volvo candidate.

M3 or m5 is a brilliant idea. Knowing that op is coming from rx8, then high. Running costs and petrol bills wount scare him.

Spending 10k on m3 and then stoping the rest on tax sounds great.

On the ather hand I would suggest Saab aero? Big, fast, elegant.

M3 or M5 are always a brilliant idea when you have the money to run one! Personally, I'd save for a few years before buying one just in case. I've had bad experiences with a BMW I had a few years ago

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

from your criteria, I think the 6 MPS is the one to go for! PM yop, he had one and could prob let you know any hidden pitfalls of ownership. I loved my 3 MPS, and if I ever go back to a hatch, a MK1 3 MPS is what I'll get!

The rarity factor of them is great IMO, and they are built to last!

I just PMed him, thanks for that! I considered the 3MPS but struck it off due to being FWD and a hatch. I need a sizeable boot!

Blitzkrieger wrote: »

I was looking at a 6 MPS myself when chaning my car. They're a great car - the 4wd only kicks in when it needs to (electronically controlled) so you don't waste a load of fuel when you don't need to. It's a 6 speed manual so the revs aren't that high at motorway speeds. The boot is massive, but the rear seats don't fold down, and the wheels are a weird size so tyres are expensive. It's properly quick in the mid range - 280 ft pounds of torque at 2,500 rpm, so makes overtaking easy. The Irish ones were all sold at top spec, so will have leather seats, BOSE stereo, etc. Going from a coupe to a saloon you'll probably feel the extra weight in the corners, but once you get a bit of confidence you can push it almost as hard.

Thanks for this. It's all I needed to hear! The alloys are the same size as the ones on my current car - 18" so I'd be of the opinion that Mazda would say to use the same tyres (Bridgestone Potenza RE040) but they're fierce expensive! I don't really mind the idea of the extra weight but it wouldn't put me off since there's a fair bit of power.

n97 mini wrote: »

R34 GTR... way more performance than an M3 and less tax too.

The only GT-R I'd go for is the new one and I will not be able to afford that!

Gary ITR

einheisserschre wrote: »

I just PMed him, thanks for that! I considered the 3MPS but struck it off due to being FWD and a hatch. I need a sizeable boot!

I had the pleasure of being in Stealthy's 3MPS, awesome is the only word I can use to describe it, if I was going turbo I'd have one in a heartbeat. I'm 12 months or so off changing car and I'm thinking of a 3MPS

stealthyspeeder

Blitzkrieger wrote: »

the wheels are a weird size so tyres are expensive.

einheisserschre wrote: »

Thanks for this. It's all I needed to hear! The alloys are the same size as the ones on my current car - 18" so I'd be of the opinion that Mazda would say to use the same tyres (Bridgestone Potenza RE040) but they're fierce expensive! (

I think the width is the reason the tyres are so expensive, I always changed them with 45's instead of 35's, they fit perfectly, are way less (still dear) expensive and give slightly more grip at the expensive of slightly more road noise and slightly less mpg.

stealthyspeeder

Onkle wrote: »

I had the pleasure of being in Stealthy's 3MPS, awesome is the only word I can use to describe it, if I was going turbo I'd have one in a heartbeat. I'm 12 months or so off changing car and I'm thinking of a 3MPS

WTF! that ITR is approaching perfection!

But this could be good idea... :cool:



*leans back, contemplates buying Onkles 3 MPS in a few years after he has spent mortgage sums of money on it*

Gary ITR

stealthyspeeder wrote: »

WTF! that ITR is approaching perfection!

But this could be good idea... :cool:



*leans back, contemplates buying Onkles 3 MPS in a few years after he has spent mortgage sums of money on it*

The ITR won't be sold and will be my plaything, don't see myself modding another car.....


I don't even believe that myself

unkel

Onkle wrote: »

I don't see why every time somebody is looking for a performance car here they are told to drop the budget and put the rest aside for the running of an M3, there are other cars.

Some people are content with good cars. Others demand the best

Gary ITR

unkel wrote: »

Some people are content with good cars. Others demand the best

Exactly... and last weekend a Honda CR-X, a Honda Integra and a Sierra Cosworth all finished ahead of an M3 in the ITCC

Cyrus

Onkle wrote: »

Exactly... and last weekend a Honda CR-X, a Honda Integra and a Sierra Cosworth all finished ahead of an M3 in the ITCC

great conclusive proof that certain track cars driven by different drivers are better than others

look, maybe you dont like bmws, but the reason an m3 is always mentioned when someone wants a performance car in the price range mentioned is because it is the best, its reasonable to run for the performance, properly quick, handles well, and sounds savage. add that to good looks and a well put together interior, it makes a compelling argument.

sure there are other cars, but a mazda 6 mps isnt in the same league, good car and all that it is.

at 250/260 bhp whatever it is, its a rival for a bmw 330, and i wouldnt be too sure that it would win out in that comparison either

unkel

Onkle wrote: »

Exactly... and last weekend a Honda CR-X, a Honda Integra and a Sierra Cosworth all finished ahead of an M3 in the ITCC

Must have been good drivers

You'll enjoy this clip. It's a 40 year old Lotus Elan (1.6l, 120BHP) driven within an inch of its life, beating a BMW M3. Awesome driving!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OgDn0NYOcg

Gary ITR

Cyrus wrote: »

great conclusive proof that certain track cars driven by different drivers are better than others

look, maybe you dont like bmws, but the reason an m3 is always mentioned when someone wants a performance car in the price range mentioned is because it is the best, its reasonable to run for the performance, properly quick, handles well, and sounds savage. add that to good looks and a well put together interior, it makes a compelling argument.

sure there are other cars, but a mazda 6 mps isnt in the same league, good car and all that it is.

at 250/260 bhp whatever it is, its a rival for a bmw 330, and i wouldnt be too sure that it would win out in that comparison either

I made a throwaway comment to poke a bit of fun, don't loose your hair over it.

As for the M3 being in a different league, maybe it is, the OP came on here to ask about the 6MPS and he was told to forget and get an M3 so do you not see my point?

Onkle

Onkle wrote: »

I don't see why every time somebody is looking for a performance car here they are told to drop the budget and put the rest aside for the running of an M3, there are other cars.

einheisserschre wrote: »

........................

Criteria:

c. €13,000 budget incl. sale of RX8
Performance is a must
Has to be manual
Not over 2.5ltr

I would LOVE to buy an M3 but the tax always has put me off!

Yeah I can't fathom that either, it's not as if the OP is going to spend loads of cash on the purchase of a car and actually would love an M3 aside from the cost of taxing one.

The only reason I suggested it was because the chap said he would love one.

Onkle wrote: »

Exactly... and last weekend a Honda CR-X, a Honda Integra and a Sierra Cosworth all finished ahead of an M3 in the ITCC

....... and if a VVCd Metro tore all three of them a new arse hole would you conclude the Teg was sh1t too?

Gary ITR

RoverJames wrote: »

....... and if a VVCd Metro tore all three of them a new arse hole would you conclude the Teg was sh1t too?

Like I said already, I was poking a bit of fun and I never said anywhere ever that the M3 was sh1t so don't try and misquote me

Onkle

Onkle wrote: »

Like I said already, I was poking a bit of fun and I never said anywhere ever that the M3 was sh1t so don't try and misquote me

I didn't miss quote anyone.

Poking fun seems to be a one way street in this thread.

........... also the OP asked for suggestions, anything posted was just that, he was not "told" to forget the Mazda and get an M3.

Cyrus

Onkle wrote: »

I made a throwaway comment to poke a bit of fun, don't loose your hair over it.

As for the M3 being in a different league, maybe it is, the OP came on here to ask about the 6MPS and he was told to forget and get an M3 so do you not see my point?

male pattern baldness got me first

but if it hadnt..........................:o

Tea 1000

The 6 MPS is a fantastic car. It cost the same as a 316i new, but could be considered a competitor for a 530i instead, given it's interior space. And it's a far better car than a 530i.
The M3 isn't the bee all and end all that boards would have you believe, underwhelmed is the feeling I got from an E46 M3. Yep, it's an excellent car, yes it's a league ahead of the MPS, but it's twice the price new. If I were in the market for a performance car at that price range, I'd have the Boxter S far quicker than an M3. But seeing as you need space, get the MPS. You won't regret it. Drive one and you'll see, I didn't expect it to be near as good as it was, and I expected it to be good!

Cyrus

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Yep, it's an excellent car, yes it's a league ahead of the MPS, but it's twice the price new.

making the m3 better value used then no

Vertakill

I've got to agree here. Considering the circumstances, I would go for an e46 M3 every time. They emphatically tick almost every box.

I'm looking to switch to one in the very near future.

Testament1

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2047825

Power? Check
Boot space? Check
Big car? Check



I've seen this car driving around a few times and pictures really dont do it justice. It is savage in the flesh!

MetzgerMeister

Testament1 wrote: »

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2047825

Power? Check
Boot space? Check
Big car? Check



I've seen this car driving around a few times and pictures really dont do it justice. It is savage in the flesh!

Thanks but I don't like those yokes. They are too much associated with the boy racer clan around here.

Testament1

einheisserschre wrote: »

Thanks but I don't like those yokes. They are too much associated with the boy racer clan around here.

Cant imagine there are too many Laurels in the country but I can see where you're coming from.

n97 mini

Thing about the M3 is it's a very good car with a very good badge, making it a great all rounder.

unkel

I like that Laurel

I don't think I've seen one on the road. I guess they were JDM only?

Somehow it reminds me of the E38 BMW 7-series. Or is that just me?

This is Laurel ish, a Stagea RS4 lad on a Rover forum sold it recently, £1500 only :eek:





he was asking £2300 on the Rover forum, if I though he'd have let her go for £1500 I would have been very very tempted, the £800 would have covered lots of the VRT. I would have thought he'd be insulted with an offer that low.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120701806274&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

^^^^^^^^^^

very big boot

n97 mini

RoverJames wrote: »

^^^^^^^^^^

very big boot

It's the Hearse-Spec

SpannerMonkey

i would go for the E39 M5 myself but if your looking at an Mps you wont be dissapointed , a mate of mine had one for 2 years i was thinking of buying it off him but it never happened , it is a fantastic car quick with a nice turbo surge and the grip from its AWD system is savage and its a real Q car no one ever expects a mazda 6 to be that quick , but expect 23-24 mpg average

galwaytt

n97 mini wrote: »

Thing about the M3 is it's a very good car with a very good badge, making it a great all rounder.

....'a good badge' ?

What's a 'bad badge', and, how does it 'worsen' they pysics of the car wearing it ??