"mazda616" (mazda616)
02/13/2015 at 17:36 • Filed to: Mazda
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"mazda616" (mazda616)
02/13/2015 at 17:36 • Filed to: Mazda | 2
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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
So much Mazda hate. I typed a long, carefully worded response. Haha.
A pic of my Mazda for your time, which has defied the apparent odds and hasn't rusted to pieces or exploded in the six years it has been mine.
Takuro Spirit
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 17:41 |
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We just got in a '07 GT hatch, pearl white, ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND MILES.... and no rust.
Came out of MD but has been in WI since 2010 as far as the records go back... and NO RUST.
Color me shocked.
Its too bad its an auto or I might be interested in it.
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Takuro Spirit
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 17:45 |
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Oh, and screw Doug. Mazda is having record sales on pretty much ALL its models lately, and if that means they don't ZOOM as much, then so be it. I'd rather work for a company that's selling MORE cars than selling to small crowd.
Textured Soy Protein
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 17:53 |
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My '06 MS6 was rusting long before I got rid of it in June '13. I mean come on, at that point it was at most 8 years old. It had rust in the rear wheel wells, inside a couple of the doors, on the front strut towers, and around the windshield. It got a rock chip in the hood, which of course rusted and bubbled up under the paint, which I had fixed at not-insignificant expense. I had the rear wheel wells repaired only for the rust to reappear. Fun car, but that rust proofing (or the lack thereof) was ridiculous.
As for Mazda's current lineup, I agree with DeMuro. While I was trying to sell my MS6, the damn clutch slave cylinder died, and I got a previous-gen 3 with the Skyactiv motor as a loaner while the MS6 was being fixed. The automatic transmission on that car was worthless. It would immediately go to the absolute highest gear for maximum fuel economy, and it refused to downshift if you applied anything less than full-floor pressure to the gas pedal.
So, modern Mazdas look nice, get good gas mileage, might handle a bit sportier than their competitors, have automatic transmissions that emphasize mileage over any kind of acceleration, and might rust into a worthless heap at around 5-7 years of age. Maybe they've improved their rust proofing, but there's no way to find out until the cars have gotten a bit older.
My gf is leasing a Civic sedan and will probably want some kind of small-ish crossover for her next vehicle. The new CX-3 looks great, but the only way I'd recommend her getting one is if it's a lease, because then she probably won't have it long enough for it to start rusting.
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mazda616
> Textured Soy Protein
02/13/2015 at 17:55 |
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I guess maybe their rustproofing was really hit and miss in the '00s. Hell, my good friend has a 2004 Mazda6 with 330,000 miles (all original save for the clutch) and no rust. And she lives in a snowier climate than I do.
Logansteno: Bought a VW?
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 17:57 |
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He has a point about power though, there needs to be something slotted above the 2.5 making at least 240 horsepower.
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mazda616
> Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/13/2015 at 18:00 |
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There may be in the future. But what's odd is despite the low power ratings, the cars don't feel slow to me. the CX-5 makes only 155 HP and can get out of its own way just fine.
TheHondaBro
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 18:01 |
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Well, they are technically Fords, which were mostly poorly built during that period.
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Logansteno: Bought a VW?
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 18:03 |
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Oh, I bet it does. My van weighs a good bit more than a CX-5 and gets out of its way just fine with 165 while using a 4-speed auto.
Still, some people want power. My parents wouldn't look at the 6 because there wasn't an option with more than 200 horsepower.
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 18:03 |
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It's kind of an easy fallback topic. Consider journalistic — by which I mean: blogger — stances on other brands
Toyota - "They used to make bulletproof fun cars, now they make soulless beigemobiles"
Nissan - "They used to make fun cars, but now..."
BMW - "The last true 123456i was made in 2003..."
Tesla - "fapfapfap"
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mazda616
> Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/13/2015 at 18:05 |
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I guess it's all personal preference, then. Raw horsepower numbers never mattered much to me. I have lots of fun driving a slow car fast.
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mazda616
> TheHondaBro
02/13/2015 at 18:07 |
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The partnership between Mazda and Ford ending was one of the best things to happen to Mazda. That being said, the first gen 3 was developed by Mazda and Ford used the platform for the European Focus and gave America the crap first generation Focus for entirely too long.
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Logansteno: Bought a VW?
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 18:08 |
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Of course that's mostly it. But when every other brand is offering a more powerful option along with the standard engine, you have to wonder how many sales Mazda would gain with one. A 250 horsepower 2.0T would be perfect, and they Already have an excellent base motor they could use.
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mazda616
> Logansteno: Bought a VW?
02/13/2015 at 18:09 |
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The SkyActiv's high compression ratio doesn't lend itself well to being turbocharged, from what I have heard. But we shall see what they do when/if a new MazdaSpeed 3 is announced.
Manuél Ferrari
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 18:17 |
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I understand his point. What sucks is that it's not Mazda's fault. All carmakers are struggling with how to meet fuel economy and emission targets. There are only so many ways you can do it - reduce power, reduce weight, go turbo, or some combination of the 3.
Even Ferrari had to ditch N/A motors in its V8 cars because of these laws. Which is totally fucked up. The whole point of a Ferrari is how it sounds.
I understand why the laws are in place - pollution is a real thing that needs to be reduced. But I wish the laws attacked the issues differently. There are weird loopholes in CAFE laws that incentivize carmakers to make SUVs/CUVs over sedans and wagons. If it wasn't for these loopholes Mazda would be able to place more powerful engines in their sedans.
Klaus Schmoll
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 18:22 |
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In all fairness, I think that Doug manages the art of catering to different crowds quite well. He wouldn't have posted this to Jalop, but he has bills to pay so he caters the TTAC crowd as well.
PheeNoIVI
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 19:24 |
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Unfortunately I think Doug is completely right.
Axial
> Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
02/13/2015 at 20:52 |
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I'm not sure Toyota really had bullet-proof fun cars.
Honda, on the other hand, made their name on such vehicles.
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Axial
> Takuro Spirit
02/13/2015 at 20:53 |
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Even if the company selling to a small crowd is Ferrari? Aston Martin? Jaguar?
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Axial
> Manuél Ferrari
02/13/2015 at 20:55 |
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Ferrari ditching N/A for turbo...
Buy your classic N/A Ferraris now before they ZOOM on up!
Zipppy, Mazdurp builder, Probeski owner and former ricerboy
> mazda616
02/13/2015 at 21:14 |
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Mazdas are great cars, I know a couple that had a Mazda 3 that they had to get rid of a while back due to the rockers disintegrating, They have a kid and a CX-3 now, If it weren't for the rust, they would've still held on to it.
Hell, I'd love a Mazda.
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Takuro Spirit
> Axial
02/13/2015 at 21:25 |
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All three of those are in the process of 'selling out'. Well, maybe not Ferrari, but that FF..... I dunno.
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Axial
> Takuro Spirit
02/13/2015 at 21:31 |
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They will still be small car makers. When Aston or Ferrari have something comparable to that shit-box that is the Audi A4, then we'll talk. Jaguar is heading that way, so you get that one.
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Manuél Ferrari
> Axial
02/14/2015 at 00:29 |
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Exactly!
This is my life's mission now
Any N/A Ferrari with a free shifter is a good one
I would even take a Mondial