Today's edition of "Cars I didn't know were sold in Canada".

"not for canada - australian in disguise" (for-canada) 04/04/2020 at 15:16 • Filed to: CANADALOPNIK

6

15

The Mazda 323C, known in Canada as the 323 Neo. It was Mazda’s attempt at competing with the CRX, even if the CRX was discontinued three years before it was introduced.

I quite like the weird kammback coupe hatch thing, it’s very much like a rounder CRX. Nobody bought them, because people either just bought the regular 323/Protege, or if they wanted a sporty small car they bought the MX-3 Precidia.

That also brings me to the second weird thing about Mazda Canada in the 90s, every car for some strange reason had a subtitle, except the non-Neo 323/Protege and their trucks/vans.

MX-3 - MX-3 Precidia

MX-5 - MX-5 Miata

MX-6 - MX-6 Mystere

626 - 626 Cronos

929 - 929 Serenia

323C - 323 Neo

Why did they do this? Like Chrysler replacing Dodge for a few years here, who the hell knows. It just happened.

Other than the Neo we didn’t any cars specific to Canada, but Mazda just decided to do this. Everyone knows them by the alphanumeric except the MX-5 Miata, and I didn’t even know this was a thing until I looked at Wikipedia and noticed a bit about the 929 being called the 929 Serenia in Canada. I always knew about the Precidia, since the badge is quite prominent on the rear, but I never knew the name was Canada-specific or that other Mazdas also had subtitles.

dogisbadob > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2020 at 15:32

1

That 323 Neo is awesome. Too bad they never sold it down here :(

interstate366, now In The Industry > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2020 at 15:54

1

The Del Sol was sold as a CRX in certain markets.

fintail > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2020 at 15:57

2

I saw what I thought was a grey market Ford Laser hatch in inland BC some years ago. Maybe it was actually a Neo, I forgot all about those.

I remember the Precidia was insanely popular in the BC lower mainland, on every corner througout the 90s into the early 00s, but time caught up.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2020 at 16:01

2

All I can think of are Acura ELs and CSXs, but this is a very cool car that I didn’t know about.  Thanks for sharing!

Jarrett - [BRZ Boi] > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2020 at 16:26

1

I have never seen one of these. 

Svend > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2020 at 16:40

2

The only U.K. specific vehicle that comes to mind is the U.K. Mitsubishi Shogun, aka Mitsubishi Pajero aka Mitsubishi Monterey.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2020 at 16:52

1

This is super cool, thank you 

duurtlang > interstate366, now In The Industry 04/04/2020 at 18:20

0

CRX Del Sol in Europe, if I'm not mistaken.

oldmxer > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2020 at 18:25

1

is it legal down here?

not for canada - australian in disguise > oldmxer 04/04/2020 at 19:06

0

Pretty much any car sold in the US is able to be imported into Canada even if it’s under 15 years old. You could probably import an earlier one since cars made up until 1995 are legal to import now, but I imagine the rule is similar in reverse as long as it’s similar-ish to a car sold in the US. 

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/04/2020 at 20:49

1

I remember seeing ONE Neo in my lifetime when I was growing up...local person had one in a teal green...higher trim level as it had a lot of fancy extras. I always loved seeing it as it was so different to everything else around here! Haven’t seen it for YEARS though...

not for canada - australian in disguise > Svend 04/05/2020 at 01:10

0

Canada’s had quite a few cars be called different things than our neighbours to the south.

This is a “Rogue Sport” in America, while here it’s a Qashqai.

This is an “Outlander Sport” in the USA, while here it’s an RVR.

Then there’s the Buick Lacrosse, for the first generation and first year of the second generation, it was called the Allure. Supposedly because Lacrosse is a French Canadian term for pleasuring yourself. French Canadians, and really Canadians in general, were quick to inform GM that Lacrosse isn’t really a dirty word in any part of Canada, especially considering it’s the name of our national summer sport. GM were a bit slow on the uptake but eventually changed the name to be the same as the USA and other markets that got it.

Svend > not for canada - australian in disguise 04/05/2020 at 05:13

1

We’ve had similar with Vauxhall and Opel.

Vauxhall Nova/Opel Corsa later Vauxhall/Opel Corsa,

Vauxhall Cavalier/Opel Vectra later Vauxhall/Opel Vectra,

Vauxhall Carlton/Opel Omega later Vauxhall/Opel Omega.

Vauxhall did change one name more recently.

Opel started naming some of the cars after the Founder’s sons, Adam and Karl.

Well we got the Adam, but that Vauxhall said, these are Opels founder’s sons and nothing to do with Vauxhalls founders so the Opel Karl came to the U.K. as the Vauxhall Viva, reviving the old Viva name, but like what Ford has done with the Puma badge, put it on a shite car.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > Svend 04/05/2020 at 15:33

1

Ahhh, so that’s what it is. I’ve seen it on some Russian YouTuber that I subscribe to, and been wondering what his car was.

Svend > Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever 04/05/2020 at 15:49

1

Officially, to us, it’s the Mitsubishi Shogun Sport.

They discontinued the Mitsubishi Shogun a couple of years ago here.