2012 Mazda 2 Tamura
Discussion
So, readers of my shed Focus readers ride thread will know that I have a soft spot for lowish powered FWD shopping trolleys and Mazda in particular having owned a mk1 Mazda 6 and a NB MX5.
My wife has owned a 2005 Fiesta ST for the last 7 years and it’s been a good second car but was getting a bit ropey and the high VED is a killer for a car that does 2000 miles a year. A good friend decided to offload his wife’s Mazda 2 and I asked for first refusal.
So here we have a 1 owner 53000 mile Mazda 2 owned by a mature lady driver. I’ve always liked these as they came from mazdas zoom zoom era and I believe this car and the Fiesta mk7 share a similar platform.
First impressions, not much go but sweet sweet low roll handling and light but lovely direct steering. Mazda do this sooo well! Ride is better than that on the ST but I reckon it corners just as fast on low profile rubber.
Sweet little sewing machine Jap n/a petrol engine with £30 VED and a timing chain so no Cambelt to worry about.
When the mk2 Mazda 2 was new Autocar did a track day feature involving one and preferred it to the phase one NC MX5. I can see why as it’s a sweet thing to punt through the bends.
Nice to have one of my favourite types of car in the household again ( my mk1 Focus has gone to uni with my daughter) and I didn’t fancy a potentially borky ecoboom fiesta so went for old school Jap reliability instead.
You don’t need masses of power for fun! This is only 85 BHP but I just love driving it! With our 318d F30 BMW we have a sweet driving but cheap to run garage now, RWD and FWD covered - two cars on the road for £60 VED combined - happy days !!
Edit: anyone interested in a MK6 Fiesta ST with a few battle scars (but 12 months MOT with no advisories for the second year running) please PM me!!
Edited by greenarrow on Sunday 26th September 14:34
Edited by greenarrow on Sunday 26th September 14:41
I had a '12 plate auto with 15" wheels, as opposed to the 16" ones on yours. It never went wrong, but I can't say that I was as much of a fan of the ride, handling and steering as you are. I thought the steering never loaded up like a hydraulic one does and that there was a fair bit of roll from the back.
Basically a Fiesta underneath isn’t it? Not surprising it’s a fun little thing to punt around.
Always loved how these looked and am a big fan of Mazda and their general outlook on engineering but back when they were new and I was a young whippersnapper I’d just written off a car and my parents weren’t enamoured at the thought of replacing it with anything less than a 5* NCAP rating (think this was 4*) so I ended up with a Corsa instead of one of these. Proper first world privileged problem to have but I do wish I’d got to at least test drive one of these at the time.
Always loved how these looked and am a big fan of Mazda and their general outlook on engineering but back when they were new and I was a young whippersnapper I’d just written off a car and my parents weren’t enamoured at the thought of replacing it with anything less than a 5* NCAP rating (think this was 4*) so I ended up with a Corsa instead of one of these. Proper first world privileged problem to have but I do wish I’d got to at least test drive one of these at the time.
trevalvole said:
I had a '12 plate auto with 15" wheels, as opposed to the 16" ones on yours. It never went wrong, but I can't say that I was as much of a fan of the ride, handling and steering as you are. I thought the steering never loaded up like a hydraulic one does and that there was a fair bit of roll from the back.
Interesting, perhaps ours has sports suspension and yours didn’t. I’m comparing mine to our mk 6 Fiesta ST which I only drove yesterday and it compares very favourably. A touch more roll than the ST but turn in and overall grip seem comparable.greenarrow said:
trevalvole said:
I had a '12 plate auto with 15" wheels, as opposed to the 16" ones on yours. It never went wrong, but I can't say that I was as much of a fan of the ride, handling and steering as you are. I thought the steering never loaded up like a hydraulic one does and that there was a fair bit of roll from the back.
Interesting, perhaps ours has sports suspension and yours didn’t. I’m comparing mine to our mk 6 Fiesta ST which I only drove yesterday and it compares very favourably. A touch more roll than the ST but turn in and overall grip seem comparable.On the subject of suspension, iirc there was a facelift in 2011 and one of the things they did was soften the rear suspension bushes/mountings, which the now gutted Honest John website still refers to.
How are you finding the half open, half shut glove box?
blueg33 said:
My daughter has a dark purple Tamura. Its great around town, but here previous Fiesta 1.4 ghia was much faster.
The Tamura understeers quite a bit IMO.
Must be tanking on a bit to get lots of understeer. Being a first drive on the public road I wasn’t trying to test the limits yesterday but on my favourite 90% degree local bends it entered at a fair lick with no understeer. The Tamura understeers quite a bit IMO.
Obviously it’s no hot hatch but it seems to hang on gamely for a low powered shopping trolley and changes direction nicely - only weighs 1030 KG apparently which isn’t much on a modern car.
greenarrow said:
trevalvole said:
How are you finding the half open, half shut glove box?
Yes it’s a funny old glovebox isn’t it !!! greenarrow said:
blueg33 said:
My daughter has a dark purple Tamura. Its great around town, but here previous Fiesta 1.4 ghia was much faster.
The Tamura understeers quite a bit IMO.
Must be tanking on a bit to get lots of understeer. Being a first drive on the public road I wasn’t trying to test the limits yesterday but on my favourite 90% degree local bends it entered at a fair lick with no understeer. The Tamura understeers quite a bit IMO.
Obviously it’s no hot hatch but it seems to hang on gamely for a low powered shopping trolley and changes direction nicely - only weighs 1030 KG apparently which isn’t much on a modern car.
trevalvole said:
I think there was some idea that you could slot magazines in the hole, but I found it not really big enough to store much while letting dust in. Having not put a wankel engine in it, perhaps Mazda's designers/engineers hadn't met their quota for wackiness, so added this glovebox?!
It holds the manual and service book folder perfectlyblueg33 said:
My daughter has a dark purple Tamura. Its great around town, but here previous Fiesta 1.4 ghia was much faster.
The Tamura understeers quite a bit IMO.
What tyres is it on? I've recently rescued my 1st ex wifes 2006 Micra 160SR from going to the knackers yard; when I was in charge of maintaining it I always used proper tyres, but it's now on a set of mismatched ditchfinders and it understeers easily and squeals like a pig where it used to just grip and grip. I'm in a quandry as it's a free car that has so far only cost £250 for a clutch, and the ditchfinders all have loads of tread, but it's now crap in the dry and deadlly in the wet.The Tamura understeers quite a bit IMO.
stickleback123 said:
blueg33 said:
My daughter has a dark purple Tamura. Its great around town, but here previous Fiesta 1.4 ghia was much faster.
The Tamura understeers quite a bit IMO.
What tyres is it on? I've recently rescued my 1st ex wifes 2006 Micra 160SR from going to the knackers yard; when I was in charge of maintaining it I always used proper tyres, but it's now on a set of mismatched ditchfinders and it understeers easily and squeals like a pig where it used to just grip and grip. I'm in a quandry as it's a free car that has so far only cost £250 for a clutch, and the ditchfinders all have loads of tread, but it's now crap in the dry and deadlly in the wet.The Tamura understeers quite a bit IMO.
Driving the little Mazda earlier it occurred to me that A to B pace is usually only considered in terms of A or B road driving. The 2 is one of those quick A to B urban cars. Compact dimensions, razor sharp throttle response and quick turn in, it really is great for nippy trips on urban roads where quick reactions are everything. No turbo lag so just nip into gaps and away from junctions. Really enjoying this little car in its natural habitat. Cant think of a more responsive runabout for town driving I’ve ever owned quite frankly !!
Update. Mrs GA is not overwhelmed with her car and missing the punch from the old Fiesta ST. I must admit it lacks low down pulling power and this is due to the crazy gearing. People complain about long geared porsches but wringing out the Mazda 2 earlier it got to an indicated 67 MPH in 2nd gear without hitting the limiter! Why does a super mini need a 2nd gear that can nearly hit the legal limit? Also it’s got such a sensitive throttle response I find getting it off our drive quite a challenge ! The slightest sniff of throttle and it revs like mad and the revs drop off very quickly if you ease off and the car tries to stall! Funny how living with a car for a bit throws up flaws you don’t notice on first acquaintance! Anyway we’ll hold onto it for a bit but fancy a Mazda mx5 or another fiesta ST in a year or so….
I had a '59 plate TS2 with the same engine. 3dr which is a better looker IMV
Does the engine have some sort of VVT tech? As I recall it was totally docile until about 3500rpm at which point all of the 85 horse did a giddyup
Seats were a bit basic as I recall but I liked the high gear knob.
My next steer was a Fiesta Zetec S which was an awful lot better in every way.
Does the engine have some sort of VVT tech? As I recall it was totally docile until about 3500rpm at which point all of the 85 horse did a giddyup
Seats were a bit basic as I recall but I liked the high gear knob.
My next steer was a Fiesta Zetec S which was an awful lot better in every way.
Canon_Fodder said:
I had a '59 plate TS2 with the same engine. 3dr which is a better looker IMV
Does the engine have some sort of VVT tech? As I recall it was totally docile until about 3500rpm at which point all of the 85 horse did a giddyup
Seats were a bit basic as I recall but I liked the high gear knob.
My next steer was a Fiesta Zetec S which was an awful lot better in every way.
Does the engine have some sort of VVT tech? As I recall it was totally docile until about 3500rpm at which point all of the 85 horse did a giddyup
Seats were a bit basic as I recall but I liked the high gear knob.
My next steer was a Fiesta Zetec S which was an awful lot better in every way.
Yes I think it does have some sort of VVT and wakes up at 3500 which is about 45-50 in 3rd so a bit useless.
Anyway the Mazda will be going soon and the 17 year old Fiesta ST which has sat on the drive since September will return !!
At least the Mazda passed its MOT with no advisories. With its low mileage it's worth £1000 more than we paid for it if AutoTrader prices are to be believed !!
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