Mazda MX-3 why no love?

[Somnophore]

PH constantly heaps love on the mx-5 as a cheap
fun car, never hear any mention of the mx-3 was it rubbish or is it
just a little unloved?

[Puddenchucker]

No idea what they're like to drive, but kudos to Mazda for sticking a 1.8 V6 in it, instead of an inline 4.

[davepoth]

it's not RWD, and tuning opportunities are limited.

[Colonial]

They're just not that interesting?

[nottyash]

They are very cheap now, I was actually bidding on a Red 1994 model with 70k and FSH on ebay 2 weeks ago. Seller gave me an offer of £300, then ignored my emails. He relisted it and it went for about £500. Still great value.
Shame he was such a tt or I would of had it.

[marcosgt]

Colonial said:

They're just not that interesting?

I guess that's it - I test drove one when they were current.

It's just a warm hatch with no space really...

M.

[Alfanatic]

Colonial said:

They're just not that interesting?

I think that's it.

The press at the time raved about the MX5 and found it to be the cheap, fun car deserving of its current PH reputation.

On the other hand, the MX3 was generally driven once, found to be a dull, hatchback derived device with a slightly more interesting body and engine sound than the Mazda hatchbacks it drove like. So it was less practical than the time's hot hatches, not as fast, and not as fun to drive.

[anonymous-user]

I had one, it made a lovely noise from the back..

Handled well for a fwd, more a mini gt car than a b road blaster..not that it couldn't handle well, more the v6 engine needed working hard to get the most out of it.

If it is lowish miles and cheapish then buy one you won't be disappointed.

[swansea v6]

I loved my little mx-3, especially with cold air induction kit, de-cat and sports exhaust! Yes it wasn't really that quick, but it handled really well and sounded awesome!!!!!

I only got rid of it as my dad 'gave' me his 325i coupe......just wish I had kept it and dropped in the 2.5v6 from the mx-6

[davepoth]

Alfanatic said:

found to be a dull, hatchback derived device

As it turns out the MX-3 is on a bespoke floorpan. Why, I don't know.

[jt racing]

My brother had one, that was some sort of jap import tuning company demo. Was a great little car, nippy and really chuckable. Pretty little thing too.
He lost it other a bridge, did a skateboardesc grind along a wall, launched off that and into a field. After it was towed out, started and drove fine(ish). Tough little fecker!

[Somnophore]

Talking of the 2.5 V6 from the MX-6, would this not fit in the MX-5? Never heard about it being done. Mostly just turbo'd or supercharged.

[ajprice]

Somnophore said:

Talking of the 2.5 V6 from the MX-6, would this not fit in the MX-5? Never heard about it being done. Mostly just turbo'd or supercharged.

You can fit a Rover V8 or American LS V8 in an MX5, so a V6 should fit unless there's something odd about it.

[benjfrst]

My neighbour tracks his, very underated, lovely V6. Just one of the long list of underated cars that for some reason or another go largly unnoticed such as, the Citroen Zx 16v, visa gti, 21 Turbo etc.

Edited by benjfrst on Monday 27th December 17:21