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17805 messages, Last post on Mar 06, 2009 at 5:47 AM
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Replying to: trucker50 (Oct 10, 2004 11:19 am) |
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| I have had the opposite experience. Six cylinder vehicles I have had got about the EPA mileage. The 4-cylinder vehicles I have had have all done much better than EPA. | |
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As a dyed-in-the-wool Mazda fan, I have been most impressed with Mazda's renaissance over the last several years. However, despite all the accolades, Mazda has really only produced two vehicles that are either genuinely unique or class leaders - the RX-8 and the Mazda3. The Mazda6 is a fine vehicle as well - near the top of its class - but I don't consider it a homerun. More like a stand-up triple. The addition of the 5-door and the wagon to the model range helps, as will the upcoming Mazdaspeed version due next spring - but it simply isn't quite good enough to break through to the truly top tier of the most competitive segment in automobiledom. So, based on what I know about Mazda's upcoming product, and bearing in mind that I live in Canada with our surprisingly different taste in cars, here's a little advice to Mazda to keep the heat on the competition. 1) Evolve Mazdaspeed into a something similar to BMW's M division. In other words, make a Mazdaspeed version of just about everything you make and make them available all the time. This one model at a time thing, with ridiculously limited production runs misses the boat. With the rise of Japanese tuner cars, Mazda has the opportunity to corner the market on no-compromise performance vehicles that are still tasteful and covered by a manufacturers warranty. So built the Mazdaspeed 6 and keep building them. Keep building the Mazdaspeed Miata. Build and AWD 240HP Mazdaspeed 3. And finally, do something wild with the Tribute, which would help differentiate it from its twin brother, the Escape and make it stand out in another increasingly competitive segement, the compact SUV. 2) Move quickly to update the Mazda6 and fix the things that keep it from selling in bigger numbers. I.e. get on your hands and knees and beg for an allotment of the new Duratec 3.5 and do a number on it like you did on the Duratec 3.0 (I know Mazda, big V6's equal torque steer and less than ideal handling, but sometimes you have to give the people what they want even when they want something they shouldn't - plus you can always offer an AWD model if you can make your silly AWD system work with a V6 engine) Also, update the interior right away. The base cloth upholstery is bush and too many people dislike the centre console. You get an A+ for the Mazda3 interior Mazda, so we know you can do it. Also - and I hate to give you this advice Mazda because I DO NOT LIKE big cars, but stretch out the Mazda6 platform and make the car bigger. The back seat is simply too cramped for the North American market. Do the engine fix and the interior fix for 2006 and the bigger platform for 2007. 3) Now that you are bringing the Mazda5 to Canada and the US (Good move Mazda - and brave too! Hats off) build an MPV that is big enough for North American tastes. That means - you guessed it - stretching the Mazda6 platform and once again going to big daddy at Ford and begging and pleading for that Duratec 35. I only hope that you can continue to work your magic and still make the ting fun to drive. The MPV is a really great package, just make it bigger and get rid of the goddam column shifter. 4) Completely ignore all of the crazies out there that tell you to put a rotary engine or - give me a break - a V6 in the Miata. The new corporate 2.3L will do just fine in the 2006 re-design. What you do need to do is return the car to its more purist roots, not try and compete with the Audi TT's and BMW Z3's of the world. Light, simple, tossable. That's the formula. 5) I understand that the 2006 Tribute will be built entirely in Japan for the North American market. Not many others know this yet, I think, but I believe this information to be pretty reliable. Good news. Here, Mazda is what you need to do with the Tribute. Build it on the Mazda6 platform, vastly improve the quality of the interior, make it even a little more biased towards performance, and - like I said above - make a wild, Mazdaspeed edition. 6) Your upcoming luxury SUV will be based on the Aviator. My only advice on this one - since I don't know very much about it - is to move heaven and earth to differentiate the exterior and interior design as much as you possibly can from the Ford. I don't think people will care if the mechanics are essentially the same (Ford makes good trucks and SUVs) but it has to look and feel like a Mazda. 7) The Mazda3 is a truly great car. All you need to do in the short term is to pair the 2.3L engine with a five speed automatic transmission. That should improve highway comfort and help take care of fuel economy concerns. Other than that, my only advice is to find a way to do more with this platform. Its too good not to be used more. I know that Mazda5 is coming, but how about a nifty coupe or even a convertible on this platform. 8) Ahhh, the RX-8 and the Renesis. Its finicky, but its good. Use your wizardry to find a way to put some extra ponies into the thing. If you could get it up to 275-280 HP, the horsepower freaks would have little or nothing to complain about. What about that electric turbo thingy we keep hearing about. That sounds cool. Oh yah, build the RX-7. Some general advice 1) Bite the bullet and make all the safety stuff standard in all of your cars, especially in the US where the whining about this is incessant. 2) Mazda, its time to either build or source a truly decent five speed automatic transmission for your cars, minivan and SUVs. Too many complaints about what you have in your vehicles now. 3) The AWD thing is getting big. You've got two great platforms that are AWD compatible. Don't be afraid to jump on this. Up here in Canada, it would make people very happy. 4) Continue to focus on improving the interior quality and design in your products. Good start, keep it up. That's about all I can think of for now. Keep up the good work. |
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5) I understand that the 2006 Tribute will be built entirely in Japan for the North American market. Not many others know this yet, I think, but I believe this information to be pretty reliable. Good news. That's interesting because I've heard that the next Escape will be based off of the European Focus platform (Mazda3, Volvo S40/V50). It once was rumored to be based off of the Mazda6 platform but apparently Ford has something up their sleeves to put another car based SUV right between the Escape and the Explorer that may or may not be based off of the Mazda6. This is the first I've heard of the Tribute being produced in Japan and separated from the Escape/Mariner, but then again, none of the Escape news ever actually included the Tribute so I'm not doubting your info. I guess since the Mazda3 is produced in Japan it would make sense to produce the lower volume Tribute there too. If in fact it will be based on the Mazda3. It almost seems like Ford has bigger plans for the Mazda6 platform than Mazda does. They need to get cracking!
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Replying to: groovypippin (Oct 11, 2004 5:17 pm) I like the smaller size. One of the reasons we chose the Mazda6 is we wanted a more compact car. We already have a big, roomy sedan. There are lots of them out there. Mazda does this well. Ditto for the MPV. It appeals to people who don't want a big honking minivan. My suggestions for improvement would be: better mpg!! (nowhere listed for you). With gas prices rising over $2 a gallon, Mazda could capitalize on its compact size by getting better mpg -- especially developing a hybrid vehicle. AWD gets worse gas mileage than regular front wheel drive. Agree safety package should be standard. Split on the center console. My 2 cents.
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Replying to: suydam (Oct 12, 2004 7:28 am) They don't have to make it as big as an Avalon, but they do need to stretch and widen the platform to open up more interior space. Agree on your MPG comment. Mazda lags well behind the competition in this regard with the exception of the new 2.0L engine which is close to best in class. Their V6's are both thirsty and underpowered compared to the competition. Not a good combo. |
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Replying to: groovypippin (Oct 11, 2004 5:17 pm) But, the main reason a consumer will choose the MZ6 over the Accord-Camry combo is because it is not an Accord-Camry. I'm looking now at my Pebble-Ash 6s with the sport package, and I can say with some certainty that it will be a long time before I see another one like it. It isn't as economical or roomy as an Accord-Camry, it won't have the same resale, and it is slightly smaller, but it serves every purpose I need from a midsize sedan (I have two kids, plenty of room for them). It is as smooth and well constructed as the Accord-Camry (except for interior materials, where it lags a little). The best part, though, is that none of this matters the moment you put on your seat belt. This car is so much fun to drive that all of its blemishes disappear the moment you turn the key. And did I tell you how great it looks? It makes the Accord-Camry look like a couple of plowhorses (I like both of those cars, but they have completely different personalities). Mazda doesn't have to do much with this car. It is already excellent. |
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Replying to: ramped (Oct 12, 2004 8:05 am) I'm looking at my Steel Grey MZ6 (sport, moonroof, BOSE) next to a colleague's new Honda Accord, and smiling, knowing I got the better car. Mazda (with imput from Ford, of course) decided to defy the mainstream and build cars that are fun to DRIVE, not cart around the wife/husband and the 2.3 kids. My MZ6 is not an Accord-Camry, and I'm proud of that. I drove the Accord, and thought it was good, but not exciting. I wasn't going near the Camry for fear of being bored asleep, as well as seeing 25 more of them on my commute to work everyday! The 6 has plenty of room for my family, looks unique in a world of copycats, and gets decent gas mileage, without sacrificing it's performance and it's nimbleness. Trust me, I'd rather arrive at work with a smile on my face and a spring in my step from driving my 6, rather than yawning and reaching for the coffee from driving the "AcCamry". Ramped is right. The Mazda 6 is "already excellent".
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Replying to: mz6greyghost (Oct 12, 2004 9:23 am) We have 2 large teenagers (one a 6-footer) and 2 large dogs, and I don't think there's anything out there that could haul them as comfortably and be as much fun and as sexy looking as this wagon is. AND at this price ($23.5 out the door). I LOVE IT! |
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I saw this mentioned on an earlier post that someone modified the taillights on their 6 so that BOTH sets of taillights activate when the brakes are applied, as compared to just the outer sets. How do I make this modification? Is is an easy mod? Thanks |
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