Is the BRZ/FR-S FA20 a weak motor

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Originally Posted By: 19jacobob93
I agree with modern Mazdas being junk these days. They look pretty but they're not nearly as robust as the old early 90s models that weren't quite as pretty.


OK, I'll bite - what's your experience of modern Mazda's being junk? I really rate them, not just because I own one, but based on friends and family experience. One mate has a 10 year old 3 with over 200,000km on it, never missed a beat. Another has a 6 year old 2, 110,000km, again flawless reliability. Couple of BT50's in the extended family, never an issue.

Mazda 3 is consistently in the top 3 best selling new cars in Australia, CX5 and 2 are usually in the top 10, and it's not like they're the cheapest in their respective class.

I worked on them in the 90's, and agree they were good vehicles, and I think the same is still true today, so I'm intrigued by your very different opinion?
 
Right now, Mazda is producing some(SOME) cars that have severe rust issues, namely the Mazda3. They just start to rust waaaay toooo fast, like in the first 2-3 years in key areas.

My daughter's '06 Mazda3 in my signature started to rust in this early time frame in the wheel wells and then on several panels of the car. But, the chassis is in great shape!

The rest of the car has been very reliable(117K miles) thus far in all areas. Though there are some idiosyncrasies and failure prone items that I don't like such as weak motor mounts(early failures) and brake calipers(rear). But, all cars have their failure prone items and it could be worst, I guess!

A few thing that I have taken apart and put back together seem to be kind'a junky but then, there are some items that are very well made(surprisingly)!
 
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So apart from the rust (which I agree is unacceptable on a late model vehicle, but something we just don't see in Australia), your daughter's Mazda has been a reliable car for the best part of 8 years and nearly 200,000km...this has been my experience with Mazda's as well. What were the "kinda junky" parts you referred to?
 
If the OP is looking for an ultra reliable car, perhaps the BRZ is not for him. I considered buying one last summer and did some research. The issues didn't really scare me off, the practicality of being a daily driver did. It seemed to come in below the run of the mill Subaru as far as reliability. Go check out some BRZ / FR-S forums. Of course it is the internet and must be taken in the proper context.
 
Originally Posted By: SkyActivG
Update. The Mazda dealership said that my Catalytic converter is toast, so therefore that's being warrantied as well. As soon as this car is fixed. I'm getting rid of it. It's brand new and has nothing but problems and the problems are catastrophic. As far as rust goes. there's plenty of threads about Mazda and their rust problems

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/mazda-3-rust-problems-1154766/

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthrea...the-2014-Mazda3

This is my first and last Mazda that I'll ever have. JUNK


You're going to need to post pics or many of us are going to continue being skeptical.

Those links don't really prove much. Most people in those threads are echoing what I've read other places, that the gen 1 Mazda3 of some years had bad rust issues, but they were later improved. That's what I've read many other places.

The only pics I saw in those threads showed really minor cosmetic rust on suspension parts.

So, show us some pics. If you have real rust problems, we'll be able to see them and agree with you.
 
Originally Posted By: SkyActivG
Hi everyone,

I am in the midst of trading in my 2014 Mazda 3 because of the factory welds rusting and because it is currently in the shop being dismantled for carbon related buildup. I so hopped for Mazda to be innovative with its SkyActiv Petrol engines, but they are Junk.


I'm still waiting for you to provide pictures of YOUR car's rusty parts, and now that you're claiming that you have a failed catalytic convertor and intake valve carbon build up, I would love to pictures of those two.

I have way more miles on my CX-5 than you have on your Mazda 3, so part of me is curious on what you're doing differently than I am. What is your oil change interval? Has your engine been consuming oil between changes? Do you have a failed ignition coil stick that's causing your engine problems, that just hasn't been properly diagnosed yet?

My CX-5 has been flawless since day 1.
I'm sorry you're having trouble with your Mazda 3.

Now, how about those pictures of your car, instead of just linking to other threads on other forums?

BC.
 
Originally Posted By: SkyActivG
Update. The Mazda dealership said that my Catalytic converter is toast, so therefore that's being warrantied as well. As soon as this car is fixed. I'm getting rid of it. It's brand new and has nothing but problems and the problems are catastrophic. As far as rust goes. there's plenty of threads about Mazda and their rust problems

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/mazda-3-rust-problems-1154766/

http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthrea...the-2014-Mazda3

This is my first and last Mazda that I'll ever have. JUNK


Sorry about your bad luck. Same story across EVERY maker. They create bad apples for EVERY make/model but the vast majority give no one issues. Seems annoying I would move on too.
 
I'm not so quick to dismiss the OP's experience. I've rented quite a few Mazda's and I am not convinced they are the pinnacle of quality. Yes, Mazda cars typically drive quite well. But, that is no measure of long term performance or reliability.

I'll also agree with the OP's Korean car "thoughts" in principal. Certainly, Korean cars can and do last a long time. However, the ones I've rented (and there have been plenty) are universally disagreeable in the NVH, drive dynamics and interior/exterior quality departments. Sure, they are rental cars, I understand this. However, some rentals certainly hold up better than others.
 
Originally Posted By: Bladecutter

I'm still waiting for you to provide pictures of YOUR car's rusty parts, and now that you're claiming that you have a failed catalytic convertor and intake valve carbon build up, I would love to pictures of those two.

I have way more miles on my CX-5 than you have on your Mazda 3, so part of me is curious on what you're doing differently than I am. What is your oil change interval? Has your engine been consuming oil between changes? Do you have a failed ignition coil stick that's causing your engine problems, that just hasn't been properly diagnosed yet?

My CX-5 has been flawless since day 1.
I'm sorry you're having trouble with your Mazda 3.

Now, how about those pictures of your car, instead of just linking to other threads on other forums?

BC.


Ditto. My 2007 MS3 just passed the 147k mile mark. No rust, and since the OEM warranty expired I've replaced the thermostat, the serpentine belt, and the front anti-roll bar bushings.
What a lemon...
 
My 2012 has no body panel rust whatsoever (and I wouldnt expect it to, even a Mazda), and a couple of spots on various places on the suspension that have a very light surface rust on some corners/edges here and there, just like all my other cars had at its age. This from a car that I dont garage and can sit for weeks with fairly heavy coatings of road salt on it before it rains or gets warm enough to hose off.

Any significant rust at all on a 2014? Smells like bovine manure to me. Pictures or it didnt happen.

Oh and in three years/47,000 miles of ownership (it was an early 2012 model) I have replaced oil, filters, and the orginal tires at 44,000 miles. Thats it, and its never been back to the dealer for anything at all.
 
Originally Posted By: Cujet
I'm not so quick to dismiss the OP's experience. I've rented quite a few Mazda's and I am not convinced they are the pinnacle of quality. Yes, Mazda cars typically drive quite well. But, that is no measure of long term performance or reliability.

I'll also agree with the OP's Korean car "thoughts" in principal. Certainly, Korean cars can and do last a long time. However, the ones I've rented (and there have been plenty) are universally disagreeable in the NVH, drive dynamics and interior/exterior quality departments. Sure, they are rental cars, I understand this. However, some rentals certainly hold up better than others.


I too rent cars on a regular basis. Many of which have been Korean. Never noticed any difference in any of them so far as 'holding up' is concerned. I would also steer clear of using rental cars as a barometer since the level of abuse from one car to the next can be vastly different. That being said, everything I've rented the past couple years has been tight and solid.
 
Originally Posted By: MCompact
Originally Posted By: Bladecutter

I'm still waiting for you to provide pictures of YOUR car's rusty parts, and now that you're claiming that you have a failed catalytic convertor and intake valve carbon build up, I would love to pictures of those two.

I have way more miles on my CX-5 than you have on your Mazda 3, so part of me is curious on what you're doing differently than I am. What is your oil change interval? Has your engine been consuming oil between changes? Do you have a failed ignition coil stick that's causing your engine problems, that just hasn't been properly diagnosed yet?

My CX-5 has been flawless since day 1.
I'm sorry you're having trouble with your Mazda 3.

Now, how about those pictures of your car, instead of just linking to other threads on other forums?

BC.


Ditto. My 2007 MS3 just passed the 147k mile mark. No rust, and since the OEM warranty expired I've replaced the thermostat, the serpentine belt, and the front anti-roll bar bushings.
What a lemon...


Originally Posted By: quint
My 2012 has no body panel rust whatsoever (and I wouldnt expect it to, even a Mazda), and a couple of spots on various places on the suspension that have a very light surface rust on some corners/edges here and there, just like all my other cars had at its age. This from a car that I dont garage and can sit for weeks with fairly heavy coatings of road salt on it before it rains or gets warm enough to hose off.

Any significant rust at all on a 2014? Smells like bovine manure to me. Pictures or it didnt happen.

Oh and in three years/47,000 miles of ownership (it was an early 2012 model) I have replaced oil, filters, and the orginal tires at 44,000 miles. Thats it, and its never been back to the dealer for anything at all.


1st gen Mazda 3's in 2004-'06 seem to have lots of rust issues in my area(salt belt). Where as, '07-'09 less so! IDK how much salt the hiwy dept uses in KY or OH but, we use tons here. I thought OHIO used sand??? IDK!

The other cars in my sig(except the Firebird - stored winters) have no rust yet and their undercoating is mediocre at best. But, the Mazda started in it's 2nd-3rd year.
 
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Also, be careful on the SubYota FBRSZ as they are great to drive according to CR Mag but, their reliability is taking a HUGE HIT in a number of areas lately.
 
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