I'm still searching, this one has just come up: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ars-SSA008

Looks a steal for the mileage so I guess it must have something wrong with it, it's in Aberdeen though so a bit far for me to go from Bristol!

I travelled from Doncaster to Guildford for mine. Martin travelled from Aberdeen to Guildford for his!

Such is the rarity of good cars, travelling is more than likely required to get the one you want.

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I got some mods...

Correct me if I'm wrong, but usually post 08 plate cars have the revised VVT unit fitted?
This could save you 5-700 pounds.

If you go for a pre 08, then account for the VVT costs. MT1 had to shell out for it.

Also, I highly recommend an MPS, but get an Aero. They'll be easier to find, and the suspension does make a difference. If it's the mirrors that you dont like (a lot don't) then it's cheaper to replace mirrors than suspension.

Finally, don't settle for one just cause it's cheap and close - like many have said, be prepared to travel. I paid 6990 for an 08 plate with only 33k on the clock and it's immaculate, so good deals can be found :-)

Good luck in your hunting and great choice.

Good advice there, thanks. What is the difference in suspension with the Aero version? If it's firmer, to be honest I'm more inclined to the get the non-Aero - this is going to be an everyday car, not a track day car.

My real problem is I haven't yet found one close enough to go and look at, as I'd like a test drive before committing. Now that the new Mazda 3 is out, I'll try the local Mazda dealers in case they get any PXs in.

The aero is lowered on eibach springs 25/15mm drop, it can be a bit crashy at times but only on really really bad roads, mine is a daily driver and doesnt bother me at all, i think the non-aero looks like its on stilts tbh as where the aero sits/looks the dogs dangleys but thats just my opinion, you also get the the wing mirrors and bigger spoiler on the aero...depends what your after really

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Now Sold...Mk1 3 MPS Aero Facelift;-Corksport Stage 2 SRI+TIP//Forge BPV V2//Custom 2nd Cat & Resonator Delete//Cp-e REM 60a//SF Ssp//Kinugawa Banjo Bolt//Rear Tints//6k H-Lights//L.E.D.S//Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40//K&N Oil Filter//Goodyear Eagle f1 asymmetric 3's//

*Gone but not forgotten; moist silver mazda 6 mps*

**Winners only do what losers dont**

Hi and welcome

Hope you find an MPS that you want, i had to travel from stockport to York to find my mk2, you wont regret it at all.
A lot of folks on here mod their cars but plenty on here dont and do not worry you wont be dissappointed with a stock mps at all, they are still indecently rapid things.

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New motor - 2015 Mazda 2 Skyactiv 115 Sport Nav
Previous motor - 2010 Mazda 3 MPS running BNR S3 Snail and the usual bolt ons.

Thanks guys - to be honest I don't care too much how it looks, so I'd probably be prepared to sacrifice that for a bit more ride comfort, a lot of the roads I use regularly are terrible at the moment! And the missus doesn't like the spoiler either - once again, I'm not too fussed myself.

Still can't find one for sale locally (South West), nearest so far has been Congleton in Cheshire, "only" a 2 hour trip but the problem is we want to test drive it and if we don't like it (I'm confident I'll be happy but will she be happy is the question) it's a long way for a wasted journey. Also, most dealers won't let you test drive it unless you're confident you want to buy it, which hasn't been the case for any I've seen yet. Maybe I'll try a "wanted" add, anyone had any success with those?

The thing is, the aero is more wanted- so will hold value better, and isn't as rare so is easier to find a nice one.

I think if you get a non aero you'll always be thinking - what if.

Hi Buckley42, im going to be putting mine up for sale in the next week or two.

Its a 58 plate, black, phase 1, 3 mps with aero pack. Currently has just under 59,500 miles, 1 previous owner from new. I purchased it in February 2012 so have had it for just over two years. In October last year i have replaced all 4 tyres with Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta tyres soo plenty of tread (covered approximately 5000 miles) In November i then replaced the front discs and pads and in January this year have replaced the rear discs and pads all with Mtec dimpled and grooved discs and mintex pads. Just today, it has had a new thermostat and flush of coolant done. I purchase it with a little over 21k miles on the clock of which it had a full mazda service to then, and since this time, i have maintained and carried out regular oil changes with full services carried out at a Halfords autocentres where a good friend is the manager! Finally the two rear shocks and top mounts were replaced with Koni STR-t shocks in August last year which are a direct replacement to the standard shocks. So basically car is standard and has been cherished by myself but i am moving at the end of march and will be doing 110 miles each day so not suitable unfortunately. I live in essex though so obviously not in the south west area but thought id mention it if you are interested. Thanks Neil

This wont last long here mate, pm is the best option...

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Now Sold...Mk1 3 MPS Aero Facelift;-Corksport Stage 2 SRI+TIP//Forge BPV V2//Custom 2nd Cat & Resonator Delete//Cp-e REM 60a//SF Ssp//Kinugawa Banjo Bolt//Rear Tints//6k H-Lights//L.E.D.S//Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40//K&N Oil Filter//Goodyear Eagle f1 asymmetric 3's//

*Gone but not forgotten; moist silver mazda 6 mps*

**Winners only do what losers dont**

Apologies...PM'd Buckley

No need to apologise, mods may see it as a forsale thread and you need to get your hand in your pocket to do that around here lol...

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Now Sold...Mk1 3 MPS Aero Facelift;-Corksport Stage 2 SRI+TIP//Forge BPV V2//Custom 2nd Cat & Resonator Delete//Cp-e REM 60a//SF Ssp//Kinugawa Banjo Bolt//Rear Tints//6k H-Lights//L.E.D.S//Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40//K&N Oil Filter//Goodyear Eagle f1 asymmetric 3's//

*Gone but not forgotten; moist silver mazda 6 mps*

**Winners only do what losers dont**

Hope it's not a problem bumping this but I am still searching, I have had my eye on this one for a while, it's been on sale for at least two months and so they have dropped the price a bit: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... ec/2282216

The only thing is, I was originally keen because it looked like it was a non-Aero model (as discussed above). I could have sworn that when I last checked it a month ago it wasn't listed as an Aero and didn't have the rear spoiler, but I could be mistaken. Unfortunately I didn't take a screenshot at the time so no way to be sure. Are there any other indications that this is not an Aero (which is what I want)? I am wondering if the dealer may have stuck the spoiler on it because it wasn't selling, I doubt they would have gone to the trouble of uprating the suspension at the same time. I suppose I could outright ask them but I doubt that will get me very far. Any ideas?

Then there is this one, by the looks of it another non-Aero model, a bit younger and lower mileage:

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/ ... 08/2273462

Any opinions on these please?

The blue 1 is defo an aero, the red is defo a non-aero and looks like a nice tidy example and the fastest colour

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Now Sold...Mk1 3 MPS Aero Facelift;-Corksport Stage 2 SRI+TIP//Forge BPV V2//Custom 2nd Cat & Resonator Delete//Cp-e REM 60a//SF Ssp//Kinugawa Banjo Bolt//Rear Tints//6k H-Lights//L.E.D.S//Shell Helix Ultra 5W 40//K&N Oil Filter//Goodyear Eagle f1 asymmetric 3's//

*Gone but not forgotten; moist silver mazda 6 mps*

**Winners only do what losers dont**

Yes, I like the look of the red one (to be honest it's not my favourite colour for the car - sorry! - I think it looks best in black, but I prefer the red to the blue or the silver I think) but it's 2 hours' drive from me and I won't get a chance to do that until Tuesday week, by which time it may well have been snapped up. If it's still listed next Saturday I think I'll give the dealer a call. It could be worth the trip (and the extra couple of grand) to get a good low-mileage one though, as has been pointed out in this thread. Can anyone confirm if the post in this thread about 08-onwards cars having the VVT sorted is correct?

Regarding the blue one, I know it appears to be an Aero now, but I'm 90% sure that when I looked at it a few weeks ago, it didn't have the big rear spoiler and so didn't look like an Aero. So I was wondering if there was any way of checking the spec of that car when it left the factory (or how it was originally registered)? For example, do insurance company databases differentiate between the Aero and non-Aero (I guess not). I assume if I were to get the chassis number, in theory Mazda would be able to tell me if it was an Aero when it left the factory - whether they would do so or not is another matter, of course.

I'm just thinking that if I can somehow show that the car is not an Aero and the dealer is trying to pull a fast one, I might get a really good deal out of them. On the other hand, if the dealer has bodged a wing on to it, do I really want to buy a car from them at all?!