Originally Posted by 14Accent
Auto only, AWD only, top trim only.
I get it... most buyers that opt for the top engine want all the goodies. But WHAT IS THE HARM in stuffing the fat engine in a basic, cloth seated, de-contented base model with a manual transmission. They already build the car, it really wouldn't be hard to simply bolt the engine in and go.
Look at the Focus and Fiesta ST's. Ford never built those cars to sell in numbers, but sell they did. Mazda could and has done the same thing in the past, now they're getting lazy.
The harm is Mazda leaving money on the table, most customers will cough up the extra money for the top trim package to get the premium motor. The whole industry has figured this out, and now paying for individual options is becoming a dying practice. I don't like it either, but when it comes to dealership sales or service up-selling is king.