Why is the Mazda brand still so "under the radar".
Discussion
Okay first off I must express some bias here, I own two Mazdas, but it continues to surprise me that the brand doesn't really have a following as such. Top Gear magazine say in their buying guide that Mazda currently holds the "best to drive in class" mantle that Ford once held and whilst this is arguable, they could be right. Every Mazda on sale is fun to drive, nimble and sharp handling. Mazda also produces the MX-5, the best selling sports car ever and has previously given us RWD heroes, the RX-7, RX-8 and stuff like the MPS models, yet there is no "Mazda scene" like there is with Honda, or Vauxhall, VAG, Ford etc.... Just wondered why this is. I have to say that my humble Mazda 6 Mk1 is a great car to drive, really nimble and responsive and excellent on a back road, easily the equal of the much lauded Ford Mondeo Mk3, but again, its only appreciated by those in the know. Is it just due to naff marketing, the zoom, zoom type adverts not really endearing the cars to enthusiasts? It cant even be a lack of racing pedigree thanks to that 1991 Le Mans win....perhaps Mazda never having participated in touring cars is a factor. Are the cars perceived, thanks to the MX-5, as a bit, ahem "feminine?" Interested in people's views...
I think they are still a bit leftfield
MX5 - feminine and hairdresser
RX7 - expensive to buy and more expensive to maintain
RX8 - cheap to buy but ruinous for the people who 'afford' to buy them
I have owned a handful of RX8's and all have been cracking and perfect other than MPG and oil usage which is expected but do require some specific running schedules (ie a bottle of 2-stroke every other tank of Unleaded for added lube)
I think there is a will to create a scene, I just think they are a little too far out of the running cost arena of many who would be part of a scene, they arent like VAG TDi's to own and run on a shoestring and neglect
MX5 - feminine and hairdresser
RX7 - expensive to buy and more expensive to maintain
RX8 - cheap to buy but ruinous for the people who 'afford' to buy them
I have owned a handful of RX8's and all have been cracking and perfect other than MPG and oil usage which is expected but do require some specific running schedules (ie a bottle of 2-stroke every other tank of Unleaded for added lube)
I think there is a will to create a scene, I just think they are a little too far out of the running cost arena of many who would be part of a scene, they arent like VAG TDi's to own and run on a shoestring and neglect
SirSquidalot said:
Is not German. People are brand snobs and just shrug mazda off as Jap scrap. Shame really, I drove the new Mazda 3 2.0 Petrol recently and it was fantastic. Loaded with toys, very comfy and drove excellent. Mazda will most likely be my choice of next company car.
PH assumptions and generalising continue to thrive....And the best you can say about Mazda is one might be a company car one day?! Awesome endorsement lol.
The problem with Mazda, imo, is they're just boring. I can't think of a single one I would want to own, let alone use as a company car. They've gone a bit Peugeot. Made a few half decent things once upon a time, but now...... ???
I went in the local Mazda showroom a few weeks ago to collect a trade car. The place just seemed lacking in atmosphere. It was quiet, no customers in at all, salesmen looked not interested, no music on, it just didn't seem inviting.
The cars on display all looked so boring and I hate to say it, but cheap. We had a good look round a new MX5 and it looked unfinished. Large gaps around the roof when folded down, cheap looking interior.
Like the poster above said, its no wonder customers would move onto the next showroom and buy something else.
The cars on display all looked so boring and I hate to say it, but cheap. We had a good look round a new MX5 and it looked unfinished. Large gaps around the roof when folded down, cheap looking interior.
Like the poster above said, its no wonder customers would move onto the next showroom and buy something else.
Rust , rust , did I mention rust?
Owned a Mx5 , which was amazing but rusted to death
Owned an 06 mazda6 which again started to rust
Got fed up with having to deal with rust so won't buy another Mazda for a while
The 6 I had did 80k miles only needing oil changes , brakes and tyres , but at 100k when it needed suspension arm they were pricey , can't complain. It was a well thought out car that drove well and had a great Bose stereo and v reliable . however it did feel dated inside and cheap , I don't buy all that soft touch plastics b
ksks but it feel cheap and dated .
Owned a Mx5 , which was amazing but rusted to death
Owned an 06 mazda6 which again started to rust
Got fed up with having to deal with rust so won't buy another Mazda for a while
The 6 I had did 80k miles only needing oil changes , brakes and tyres , but at 100k when it needed suspension arm they were pricey , can't complain. It was a well thought out car that drove well and had a great Bose stereo and v reliable . however it did feel dated inside and cheap , I don't buy all that soft touch plastics b
ksks but it feel cheap and dated .Can't shake the Germans I guess, shame really the new ones are really nice, the 3 saloon is really good looking as is the hatch, the cx5 looks great and so does the 6. I see quite a few around, I think the 6 engines aren't low enough on co2 compared to the Mondeo and insignia.
The interiors are really nice, but still have that crap jap problem in places, same as Hondas, like wiring auto on the window switches
The interiors are really nice, but still have that crap jap problem in places, same as Hondas, like wiring auto on the window switches
I like the mazda 6 - and have looked at getting one - main reason I won't is depreciation.
I know all cars do but I got a finance quote, and the guarenteed future value at 3 year old - £9k.
Looked at sports tourer auto 2.2 diesel top of the range - RRP £29k, can get one for £22k ish via broadspeed etc.
Thats still a sizeable chunk lost.
So I am going german possibly for two years and then pick up a 16 plate one in two years for what about £12k. Much better buy im my opinion.
The mazda won't break and I like the new dash etc they now have over the old one.
Badge for me isn't a huge thing - I like the looks of the skoda superb etc. (slightly german underneath
I know all cars do but I got a finance quote, and the guarenteed future value at 3 year old - £9k.
Looked at sports tourer auto 2.2 diesel top of the range - RRP £29k, can get one for £22k ish via broadspeed etc.
Thats still a sizeable chunk lost.
So I am going german possibly for two years and then pick up a 16 plate one in two years for what about £12k. Much better buy im my opinion.
The mazda won't break and I like the new dash etc they now have over the old one.
Badge for me isn't a huge thing - I like the looks of the skoda superb etc. (slightly german underneath
Mazda is generally seen as a reliable white goods motoring car company with the key differentiator being that even their most mundane stuff is a bit more sporty than you get from their direct competitors like Honda, Toyota, Kia, Hyundai, etc. Mazda's are generally better to drive, just as reliable and well equipped and often cheaper and as such they do quite well in places outside of Europe where German brands do not have as much perceived value.
Where Mazda has fallen short in the UK in particular is rust as their cars have been horrendous in dealing with the harshness of the UK climate since about 2000, although since 2012 they have been apparently galvanizing all MX-5s and other higher end cars in their range (i.e. not Mazda 2's or 3's).
I think the public recognizes that Mazda can build a fantastic sports car such as the beautiful, if complicated, Mazda RX-7 below:
And the company used to build more than just quick rotary-based vehicles. However, in the last few years the company has clearly targeted the white goods crowd just like Honda and Toyota have with their move away from performance vehicles, although we are now seeing a resurgence in performance cars from the Japanese ala Lexus, Honda NSX and hopefully the drop dead gorgeous Mazda RX-Vision concept.
Where Mazda has fallen short in the UK in particular is rust as their cars have been horrendous in dealing with the harshness of the UK climate since about 2000, although since 2012 they have been apparently galvanizing all MX-5s and other higher end cars in their range (i.e. not Mazda 2's or 3's).
I think the public recognizes that Mazda can build a fantastic sports car such as the beautiful, if complicated, Mazda RX-7 below:
And the company used to build more than just quick rotary-based vehicles. However, in the last few years the company has clearly targeted the white goods crowd just like Honda and Toyota have with their move away from performance vehicles, although we are now seeing a resurgence in performance cars from the Japanese ala Lexus, Honda NSX and hopefully the drop dead gorgeous Mazda RX-Vision concept.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff