Mazda

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: antiqueshell
I too believe that Ford's control over Mazda in the US market hampered their progress over the years in the US.

They really do build a superior handling product......


Clearly though no one cares about handling given Camry and to less extent Honda Accord (I'd say average+) sell like mad. Every car is a compromise and Honda/Toyota/GM/Ford all figured out the magical mix of qualities to make the top 20 sellers. Mazda has not and likely will not.

That is not to say its a great handling or driving car. But that does not appeal to the masses.

Personally I am most interested in it due to offering of manual transmission, decent handling and decent engine. Only Honda also seems to offer that too currently in midsize sedan.

 

[Spazdog]

Originally Posted By: rjundi


Personally I am most interested in it due to offering of manual transmission, decent handling and decent engine. Only Honda also seems to offer that too currently in midsize sedan.


Ford offers a manual transmission in the current Fusion. Handling?

Ford did have a habit of dumbing down the handling a bit (non SVT Contour, Mazda6 based Fusion) Maybe they left the European ride and handling in this one. Decent engine?

you have to get the 1.6 Ecoboost to get the manual. Don't know yet.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
Decent engine?

you have to get the 1.6 Ecoboost to get the manual. Don't know yet.


1.6 pressure cooker motor means lag and over complication, no thanks. Mazda and Honda do quite well in MPG using simpler designs.

 

[MCompact]

My 2007 MS3 is my work beater and I have yet to find rust anywhere on the car. After some early teething problems it has been dead-nuts reliable and averages 27-28 mpg on almost every tank.

 

[nicholas]

Every mazda 3 in my area has rusted out rear wheel wells - We had an 06 mazda 3 - great car but rusted out FAR to early - Zero support from mazda in this regard - will never buy another mazda again. Rusting when the car was washed and waxed frequently is unacceptable.

C'mon Mazda get it together!!!

 

[nicholas]

Look under the rear wheel wells - my brother in laws 08 has it as well>>>

 

[badtlc]

My 06 mazda6 had 100k on it with zero rust anywhere on the car. I do love a good witch hunt, though.

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: nicholas
Look under the rear wheel wells - my brother in laws 08 has it as well>>>


So do lots of Hyundais, some Toyotas, Hondas, lower end model GMs and Chrysler minivans.
The only cars that seem to hold up better in the rust belt are German makes.

I'm not excusing Mazda for rust though. Some Mazda 3 models do have rust problems and I see lots of them on the road with really bad rust. I rust proof my Mazda every year and I still had some bubbling coming out of the third brake light and had to fix it. Rear fender wells are fine though.

 

[nicholas]

It is not a witch hunt - 90% of the mazda3's 08 and later here in Ottawa have rust in the rear wells.

I had a 06 - the dealer was well aware of the problem - as the internet< mazda forums> - I believe there is a class action suit against mazda for this very problem.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: nicholas
Every mazda 3 in my area has rusted out rear wheel wells - We had an 06 mazda 3 - great car but rusted out FAR to early - Zero support from mazda in this regard - will never buy another mazda again. Rusting when the car was washed and waxed frequently is unacceptable.

C'mon Mazda get it together!!!


Agree.
The sole and most important reason I will never buy one.
Around here, they do not last, period.

 

[xwhaler]

My Daily driver is a 06 Mazda 3 2.0. Great little car so far with 145k on it that we have had since new. Couple very small rust spots on the hood as well as a bubbling section on the back window metal frame.

 

[charbaby]

My daughter's '06 Mazda 3i/2.0L-4spd auto has just turned 100,000 miles. It has some wheel well rust and 3rd brake light rust which I fixed once and some bubbles in different panels on the car.

Car is in my posession right now as it needs a new T-Stat, front struts, front wheel bearings(extremely noisy) and maybe a bunch of other front end parts as the steering on the hiwy over bumps is rubbery/shakey.

The car has been very reliable with one of the sweetest little drivetrains I've ever driven. It has also received good maintenance over the 4 years that she's owned it but, it needs some attention righ now as the roads we drive on are not smooth to say the least. With lots of winter salt and cold, with hot summers as well, the roads are always in need of rapair and under some type of construction. Body is still tight.

 

[buster]

Link

 

[badtlc]

The i-eloop is just common sense. I wonder why Mazda was the first to do this? Capacitors are perfect for that and it also means you won't see any lights dimming or flickering based on engine load/RPMs.

And adding the MTX to more upscale trims is a great move too. I have been stuck with lower model mazdas because of this. Now I can get the car with everything I want AND an MTX. Fantastic.