EP3R vs MPS3 vs XR5

[oh_lol]

Hi all, this is going to probably sound a bit silly but all of these 3 cars are around the same price and close to the same age and kms.

Which would you choose and why (I know this is a Honda forum!)

[JDM-EGG]

either ep3 or mps3 .. dw abt xr5 LOL

[oh_lol]

Any particular reason why?

I feel that the EP3R is slightly a bit long in the tooth while commanding the same price as the newer cars listed, but it appears that there are not many/if any faults or common problems associated with the EP3.

On the other hand, the MPS and XR5 are newer, have more up-to-date technology, but have similar kms on a much new platform. It seems the MPS have alot of niggley problems. XR5 seems safe.

[Stevil]

Seen too many smokey MPS when the throttle is lifted, wouldn't touch em with a barge pole. XR5 is like a sports cruiser, great dose of torque but on the twisty bits ya left feeling empty. Hell that leaves the Ep3 which I've never driven !!

[dc2r-0636]

XR5 turbo for me, coz it's a turbo 2.5 litre 5 cylinder. They boogy with simple mods

[stndrd]

Not trying to sound bias, but EP3 definitely the way to go. Mazda3 MPS lacks an LSD, combined with that turbo punch equates to a shit load of torque steer. The XR5, as mentioned above is more a grand touring hot hatch, rather than a weekend warrior. Also, EP3 is a bit cheaper on insurance from my understanding. Tho I may be incorrect with that, I guess it depends on where you live, age, driving history etc

[androo]

*flame suit on* ....... How about the FN2R? =D

[DCZ 18C]

EP3... for sure.....

MPS are nice looking but ep3 are nicer.... and ep3 are more nippy also.... and im pretty sure they are quicker then mps.... just saying from what i have expirienced.. ;p

as for XR5.. only because its the turbo .. they can sound awesome if you give a little attention to the turbo system....


and not FN2R because..... they are like the EP3 gay brother.....they loose out... weigh more.... not independant suspension.... and power increase is negligable...

[dc2r-0636]

^xr5 only comes turbo lol

[androo]

EP3... for sure.....

MPS are nice looking but ep3 are nicer.... and ep3 are more nippy also.... and im pretty sure they are quicker then mps.... just saying from what i have expirienced.. ;p

as for XR5.. only if its the turbo .. they can sound awesome if you give a little atention to the turbo system....


and not FN2R because..... they are like the EP3 gay brother.....they loose out... weigh more.... not independant suspension.... and power increase is negligable...
FK YOU MOFO!!! Jks lol

OK, I recently went out looking for a new car, and was considering the DC5S, FN2R, EP3, new Clio and briefly, the MPS. I quickly decided I didn't like the MPS after my first drive, and after looking at some Clios in a dealer (didn't drive one) I decided I couldn't stand the crappy interior,so it was down to the DC5S, FN2R and EP3. From these, I found that the EP3 definitely had the most 'budget' feel out of the 5 (arguably, I would say it's nicer inside than the Clio though). The DC5S is nice but once I jumped in the FN2R I had to have it. The exterior is only starting to grow on me, but the interior is awesome, has heaps of toys, and if you check out the civinfo forum where a lot of owners owned both EP3s and FN2Rs, you'll find (hype and silly reviews aside), most prefer the FN2R. The chassis definitely feels stiffer than the DC5S, EP3R and Clio. Only thing the EP3R has over the FN2R imo is it feels a bit more nimble. Stock for stock it's definitely down to the driver.

[cihanvtec]

mps for sure! quick little car. slapped my mates i/h/e dc2r completely stock. it does have a lot of torque steer but i must admit it adds to the cars personality. it gives it a raw feeling, which most new cars lack now days.. (still not as raw as a dc2r though) ;P

[Bludger]

I've driven none ofthem.

mps ftw

[JohnO]

mps simply for 4doors, boost and styling is decent. evo ftw/

[DCZ 18C]

FK YOU MOFO!!! Jks lol

OK, I recently went out looking for a new car, and was considering the DC5S, FN2R, EP3, new Clio and briefly, the MPS. I quickly decided I didn't like the MPS after my first drive, and after looking at some Clios in a dealer (didn't drive one) I decided I couldn't stand the crappy interior,so it was down to the DC5S, FN2R and EP3. From these, I found that the EP3 definitely had the most 'budget' feel out of the 5 (arguably, I would say it's nicer inside than the Clio though). The DC5S is nice but once I jumped in the FN2R I had to have it. The exterior is only starting to grow on me, but the interior is awesome, has heaps of toys, and if you check out the civinfo forum where a lot of owners owned both EP3s and FN2Rs, you'll find (hype and silly reviews aside), most prefer the FN2R. The chassis definitely feels stiffer than the DC5S, EP3R and Clio. Only thing the EP3R has over the FN2R imo is it feels a bit more nimble. Stock for stock it's definitely down to the driver.


ohh yer agree with you about the interior... its awesome inside and the stability control is good fun in those also haha... but as a "performance car' its lacking ....ep3 is more fun.. :)



mps for sure! quick little car. slapped my mates i/h/e dc2r completely stock. it does have a lot of torque steer but i must admit it adds to the cars personality. it gives it a raw feeling, which most new cars lack now days.. (still not as raw as a dc2r though) ;P

and as for this... the situation has presented its self to me once before.... and i spanked the mps... xD

[Bludger]

FK YOU MOFO!!! Jks lol

OK, I recently went out looking for a new car, and was considering the DC5S, FN2R, EP3, new Clio and briefly, the MPS. I quickly decided I didn't like the MPS after my first drive, and after looking at some Clios in a dealer (didn't drive one) I decided I couldn't stand the crappy interior,so it was down to the DC5S, FN2R and EP3. From these, I found that the EP3 definitely had the most 'budget' feel out of the 5 (arguably, I would say it's nicer inside than the Clio though). The DC5S is nice but once I jumped in the FN2R I had to have it. The exterior is only starting to grow on me, but the interior is awesome, has heaps of toys, and if you check out the civinfo forum where a lot of owners owned both EP3s and FN2Rs, you'll find (hype and silly reviews aside), most prefer the FN2R. The chassis definitely feels stiffer than the DC5S, EP3R and Clio. Only thing the EP3R has over the FN2R imo is it feels a bit more nimble. Stock for stock it's definitely down to the driver.please give a review of your mps experience please.

Which model?

BNIB?

[GSi_PSi]

FN2R sorry but 1340kg

:(

http://4funz.com/Funny-Pictures/random/img-son-i-am-disappoint-176

[threesix]

XR5 > MPS > EP3

are MPS's really that doggy?

[shepparton]

ohh yer agree with you about the interior... its awesome inside and the stability control is good fun in those also haha... but as a "performance car' its lacking ....ep3 is more fun.. :)




and as for this... the situation has presented its self to me once before.... and i spanked the mps... xD

probably the mps was on cruising mode

[DCZ 18C]

probably the mps was on cruising mode

doubt it.... dude was hitting it...

[JohnO]

i believe any honda before 2005 is fun and raw to drive nomsayin

the fd2r is an exception but aint got 55k to import one lmzo

[oh_lol]

XR5 > MPS > EP3

are MPS's really that doggy?

I have found a few that are owned by people I've known to have common faults. More research on the forums, and it really is very common.
I do love them, fantastic car, but I don't have the time, money or patience to put up with these particular faults. These include turbo seals, driveline, engine mounts, shocks . The list goes on but these are the ones that are most common and are 'major'.

I'm sure there are thousands that have never had a problem, but I prefer not to take that risk.

[JohnO]

I have found a few that are owned by people I've known to have common faults. More research on the forums, and it really is very common.
I do love them, fantastic car, but I don't have the time, money or patience to put up with these particular faults. These include turbo seals, driveline, engine mounts, shocks . The list goes on but these are the ones that are most common and are 'major'.

I'm sure there are thousands that have never had a problem, but I prefer not to take that risk.

But that's with every car on the market especially performance cars. Somethings bound to break sooner or later like mounts or belts passing there use by dates. It's made of rubber man you can't expect it to last forever. Oem mounts have silicon inside like the driver side as your engine turns and rocks back and forth.

[oh_lol]

But that's with every car on the market especially performance cars. Somethings bound to break sooner or later like mounts or belts passing there use by dates. It's made of rubber man you can't expect it to last forever. Oem mounts have silicon inside like the driver side as your engine turns and rocks back and forth.

Understandable such as mounts and belts, but drivelines and turbo seals?

[JohnO]

All I can say for driveline and seals is that you've got either a shit**** driver who's red lining it all the time and thrashed the fck outta the car in order to bust a seal. Poor shifting and driving breaks the shafts


Mazadas been around for atleast 70 years man making big bucks to fund r&d and top engineers, motors solid. Same goes for any other car Jap, euro company

[geeang]

All I can say for driveline and seals is that you've got either a shit**** driver who's red lining it all the time and thrashed the fck outta the car in order to bust a seal. Poor shifting and driving breaks the shafts


Mazadas been around for atleast 70 years man making big bucks to fund r&d and top engineers, motors solid. Same goes for any other car Jap, euro company

No actually, these are known common faults in the Mazda 3 MPS, comb through any Mazda forum and you would know that.
Known issues include:
Poor/leaky turbo seals
Weak engine mounts (particularly the rear, there was a recall for some)
Shocks dying/blowing
Weak synchros in gearboxes (get notchy real quick)

[JohnO]

oh really i thought they'd be reliable, what crappy build quality for a jap car...

[GSi_PSi]

what were they thinking leaving it open diff fwd and turboed ?

[1900-hustler]

Going under the assumption that you can afford all 3 variants, a few things you might want to consider:

- Age of the EP3R
It can be up to 8 years old while the MPS3 (I'm assuming the BK) & XR5T (I'm assuming the LS) are 3-5 years newer
This could mean the MPS3 or XR5T could still have an extended factory warranty which is peace of mind
The EP3R will not have this

- EP3R is an imported vehicle
The other 2 variations are locally sold - not a huge factor but still a factor all the same

- Running Cost (service, rego, insurance etc)
EP3R is an import which will affect your insurance.

Example me doing a quote through NRMA:
Agreed Value of $28,000 and Basic Excess of $800

2002 EP3R - Premium $ 1913.68
2006 XR5T - Premium $ 1392.09
2006 MPS3 - Premium $ 1507.13

There can be common issues with all 3 variations, but can easily be managed with a proper inspection from a professional or reputable mechanic, but also you as the buyer will have to be aware of the risks associated.

As cars age they all suffer from common issues such as worn tyres, CV joints, mounts, suspension components etc etc.

In geeang's post above the BK MPS3's did suffer badly with weak engine mounts, and gearbox issues with syncros - and so did the XR5T.
These were common as these 2 cars were delivering huge amounts of torque through a FF layout - however aftermarket parts can assist to manage this issue.

You just have to factor in not only the cost of the car, or common problems but all other things with owning a car such as running costs & maintenance.
It is a pretty simple mistake but alot of people dont even take these into account.

Personally I have driven all 3 in stock form and they are all great cars in their own respect.
I'd go the MPS3 > XR5T > EP3R based on daily use and use of 4 doors.
But I also have a DC2R so that might be why I didnt want another 2 door Honda.

Anyway good luck with your search!

[Bludger]

Like i said earlier, i would take the mp3 player as well.

[1900-hustler]

Like i said earlier, i would take the mp3 player as well.

ROFL hahahaha

edited post

[JohnO]

Lmzo

Yeah I'm over the whole two door Honda thing.

[Poeter]

Fn2R is not that bad. As androo mentioned their interior is awesome. Yes it's not as hardcore as the ep3r but it's certainly better daily yet still fun to drive imo. I think it's blind judgement to only consider a based on its performance. We're not all daily race drivers.

[Bludger]

Fn2R is not that bad. As androo mentioned their interior is awesome. Yes it's not as hardcore as the ep3r but it's certainly better daily yet still fun to drive imo. I think it's blind judgement to only consider a based on its performance. We're not all daily race drivers.
some of us are,

they call us performance car enthusiasts

[Poeter]

I don't disagree with that.

lol, that's a euphemistic way to call hoons.

[Lukezen27]

I've personally raced both MPS and XR5 multiple times at Eastern Creek Drag Way and I’ve yet to be beaten by either!

Quite surprising considering their both turbocharged and the EP3’s N/A

I’ve not been too impressed with either to tell you the truth but MPS didn’t seem to break things unlike XR5 which seems to breaks drive shafts like crazy!

I guess Honda’s lightweight shell combined with a well built high revving 2L motor with stock LSD holds its own against forced induction boys!

But once you turbocharged or supercharge your EP3 they destroy all haha

[GSi_PSi]

Lol there's a video on YouTube dude snapping driveshaft on his xr5 at wsid

[JohnO]

links tsi!

[GSi_PSi]

hee yu go


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWjvUl3cot4&feature=related

[warwick108]

apart from the crappy interior of the clio 200 or 197, what else is ruling this great little hatch out?
definately should be in the running =) i would also imagine this to have the cheapest insurance out of them all
however french cars are known to breakdown more =(

[androo]

apart from the crappy interior of the clio 200 or 197, what else is ruling this great little hatch out?
definately should be in the running =) i would also imagine this to have the cheapest insurance out of them all
however french cars are known to breakdown more =(
Reliability, depreciation and the fact you have to spend 99% of your driving life IN the car, not outside of it. Seriously, the interior is horrid........... I prefer the EG's interior to it!

[Bludger]

Reliability, depreciation and the fact you have to spend 99% of your driving life IN the car, not outside of it. Seriously, the interior is horrid........... I prefer the EG's interior to it!
I prefer 90's interior to any of the current day offerings...

srs.

[LD_Mart]

im in this vote now, dont know wether to go FN2 or EP3, obviously the EP3 goes harder but i like the look and drive of the FN2.
But then i could also go JDM K20 swap into my EK with all the bolt ons for the same price of changing cars. if not a little bit cheaper.
Such tough decisions

[androo]

im in this vote now, dont know wether to go FN2 or EP3, obviously the EP3 goes harder but i like the look and drive of the FN2.
But then i could also go JDM K20 swap into my EK with all the bolt ons for the same price of changing cars. if not a little bit cheaper.
Such tough decisions

If you visit civinfo.com you'll find a lot of FN2 owners were previously EP3 owners. A lot of enthusiasts that dyno their cars and they've found that the FN2 usually produces about 10bhp more than the EP3. Apparently Honda under quoted the power output so it doesn't end up in the next tax bracket in Europe. I know it's not much but it's something!

Dyno's aren't solid proof even if some of the runs were back to back etc. etc. before this turns into a whole argument about dyno's, it's only food for thought...

Generally, it will be so close that it will come down to the drivers being the true variable.

[albii]

Sorry to dig up an old thread , but some of these comments really made me giggle...fact..an mps will rape an xr5 and really rape an ep3r.full stop. The mps is a car that needs to be learnt to drive and get off the line properly no doubt, and once mastered will keep up and beat ALOT of cars on the road. if you dont shift up early and over rev it then it flies... Then see what will happen with a flash tune.. That's another story.

[threesix]

I like pizza the next day re-heated.

[GSi_PSi]

I like pizza the next day re-heated.

shit pizza still tastes good


mps sedan win

mps hatch ghey