Swop the scalpel for a steering wheel, girls
By Peta Lee
I've just had a hugely significant birthday. Afterwards I compiled a wish-list of truly desirable things I'd love for my next one but was depressed to find myself contemplating things such as a face lift, boob job, collagen filler, a resculpted body... you know, the kind of drek that women usually think about when they reach a certain age.
And then I got into this madly exhilarating new hatchback - the 2.3 Mazda 3 MPS - and realised I didn't need any of the above - well, not the facelift.
You see, the G-forces as you accelerate in this car are enough to smooth out any wrinkles on your physog. I could feel the saggy bits being pushed backwards and suddenly realised that, although more expensive than cosmetic surgery, investing in a car like is all you need to keep age at bay.
Of course I'd have to spend my life in the car, with my foot on the loud pedal - but a small sacrifice to look 20 years younger!
Another advantage is that even on a bad hair day, it's impossible for anyone to look like a dog in this Mazda. It's sexy - the shape, the fat exhaust, the sound of the turbocharged 190kW engine (and 380Nm of torque) - and the interior is stunning.
Went mad for the classy red stitching on black leather detail - even on the steering wheel. And the great figure-hugging seats, and the humungous boot. And the seven-speaker Bose sound system is magnificent: never before has "Crimson and Clover" sounded so good.
There's also Mazda's trademark large cubby, a boon for women who carry tons of stuff around with them and need stash space.
But it was the performance that really blew my hair (and character lines!) back. So incredibly quick, such fab roadholding (beautiful on corners), first-class brakes and general all-round sheer driving pleasure. It's astonishingly quick off the mark: 0-100km/h in 6.1sec, which is going some.
There's a fair bit of competition in this segment, though - a segment that has mushroomed in the past couple of years - so, to bring in a contender, Mazda had to make pretty darn sure it wouldn't be laughed out of the equation.
And it's succeeded, beautifully. The car can hold its head high among all others in this category. It's also cunningly priced at R260 000, making it a very attractive option.
Loved it!