Thoughts on the "Mazda" brand? (1 Viewer)

[Daren Welsh]

I've had a '93 MX-6 for about 5 years now. I just went over 100k a few months ago and she still purrs like a kitten. With a 164-hp v6 manual, it's fun to drive while keeping the insurance rates down.

My complaints? I've had the door lock freeze on me once in Seattle, but it just took a few seconds of jiggling to fix. I do wish they had put more sound/vibration damping material on the interior walls. Sometimes it has a little too much noise from that. I think later years of the MX-6 had better insulation, but since I have the first year of the 2nd body style, I have the lease amount of insulation.

 

[Philip_G]

I watched a road test on some TV show (sorry, don't recall which, probably motor trend) and the madza 6 looks great, but I remember thinking the performance was pretty lackluster for the HP claims (both engines)
looks like a good move on mazda's part, and a good value for the money otherwise.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

I thought Ford only owned aprox. 30% of Mazda as opposed to being "part of" Ford?

If you own that big a chunk of a corporation, you essentially "own" it.
Take a look at http://www.ford.com/en/default.htm . Mazda is listed as a Ford brand.
My 1992 Miata is the most trouble-free car I've ever owned.

 

[Philip_G]

ford owns many, MANY companies LoL
you haven't noticed an MX6 resembles a probe? they used to be built side by side, the mazda P/U resembles a ranger, the mazda navajo was an explorer 2 door etc..

 

[DavidMich]

FYI:
Acura is introducing a new vehicle this spring. It is supposed to be between the RSX and the CL/TL. It is basically going to be the European Accord, which looks much sportier than the American version. Some are calling it a "4-door RSX"...
The price is projected to be around 25k. Should be a real hit....might be worth waiting a bit....

 

[Stevie O]

I bought a Mazda Protege sedan in 1994, I still have it with 315,000 km on the clock and drive it every day

I have never had the engine or transmission opened, and in all these years I have only had to be towed once, when a driveshaft went

Other than routine stuff (mufflers, brakes, filters, belts etc) I have had almost zero problems with it

The bodywork is another matter, but every dent and scrape has it's own special story behind it

It's almost a part of the family

 

[CharlesD]

If you own that big a chunk of a corporation, you essentially "own" it.

If you own 50% + one share you "own" it. Who owns the other 70%? I don't care if Ford owns 100% of Mazda or not, I'm just curious as to how a 30% stake translates into ownership, or is the 30% figure not correct?

 

[Ray Chuang]

You should seriously consider the 2003 Nissan Altima (avoid the 2002 models because the interior of the 2002's are cheap-looking and have too much hard plastic for many interior fittings).
I've driven the 2003 Altima 2.5S with the four-speed automatic and was pleasantly surprised at its power and smoothness. However, I still think the 2003 Honda Accord LX with the 2.4-liter I-4 engine is an excellent alternate choice, mostly because all Accords with automatics now use five-speed automatics, which improves acceleration and fuel efficiency.

 

[Masood Ali]

For the 20-25k range, I'd look at the Accord, Altima, and Mazda6. The former two have recieved many accolades, and the third is being called a budget 3-series in disguise. The 6 definitely has the handling and styling, but is a little smaller than it's brethren regarding interior room.

BTW, from all accounts I've recieved, the 6 with a manual mated to the 160hp 4-cylinder seems to be the best option. It's a high-revving engine with more than enough power for a car of that size, and is much more fun to drive than the 6-cylinder/auto option.

 

[David Susilo]

the 2003 Protege LX has manu-matic option, just FYI. IT has 130HP with 2L engine. Price is around US$18,000 with EVERYTHING included (ABS, moonroof, foglights, you name it)

 

[Scott Merryfield]

I own a 2002 Altima 3.5SE and have been quite happy with the car (it replaced a '93 Camry V6 XLE). The engine is wonderfully smooth, and the car handles very well. While the new Mazda looks promising, it is smaller and a little less powerful than the Altima. Two co-workers liked my car enough to also purchase them (one opted for the 4-cylinder, though). It's very unusual to see three Nissans in the parking lot of our Dearborn office (in the heart of Ford country).

On the positive side, though, Mazdas are available under Ford Motor Company's employee/retiree discount plan, if that is available to you.

 

[Dave Falasco]

Just an update, I drove the Accord yesterday and I tried to drive the Altima but got to the Nissan dealership too late. My plan was to drive those cars first, then the Mazda. Hopefully I'll get to drive the 6 and the Altima on Monday (why the heck are car dealerships closed on Sundays??).

An interesting development last night--as I was comparison pricing Altimas, I decided to get a few quotes on Maximas just for the heck of it. Turns out, the new 2004 Maxima is completely redesigned (and looks very cool, BTW) and is coming to dealerships next month...which means that 2003 Maximas are selling for astonishingly cheap right now. An example? I priced a 2003 4Dr Maxima SE with a powered sunroof and wind deflector at carsdirect.com. MSRP: $27,157. Invoice price: $24,716. Carsdirect price: $23,566!!! A brand-new Maxima for under $24k?!? Heck, the Altima I priced out was higher than that! So I'm going to drive the Maxima as well.

Thanks to all who have replied so far--you have given me some good ideas and a lot of valuable feedback. Even with the price of the Maxima, I still can't wait to drive the Mazda6--it's definitely the sportiest-looking car of the bunch.

 

[Tim Glover]

Good luck Dave. With all those choices, you really can't go wrong. Let us know how things work out.

 

[DaveGTP]

Current Grand Prix GTP owner, Previous Beretta Z26 younger college guy opinion:
I just saw an ad for the Mazda6 the other day. Since GM has been mucking up the look on their cars in recent yearss, I have started eyeing the import market. I don't normally dig the import styling(although my g/f is a die hard Honda fan, she has a Honda del Sol), but I like a few specific ones. I thought that Mazda 6 was pretty sweet looking! It has been added to my list of next-cars-perhaps

 

[Shane Martin]

I owned a Ford Escort GT which was 100% Mazda. Totally reliable car and I'd own another Mazda.

Their 6 is quite a nice looking car but its underpowered comapared to its competition. A new Maxima for the same $$ is a better car IMHO.

 

[Matthew W]

Retired my 87 Mazda 323 in August. Had 274,000 miles on it.
Still had original clutch, starter, hoses, and just about everything else. The alternator died at around 260,000.

Was reared once by a van at moderate speeds. The van had to be towed due to engine damage, broken raditor and trany cooler. The 323, a cracked taillight lens, the bumper skin gouged.

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

I've discovered an oddity: "Mazda" is the name of the Zoroastrian God. See for example http://www.ubfellowship.org/archive/...astrianism.htm . Did Toyo Kogyo pick this name for its reincarnation for spiritual reasons?
"At the age of thirty Zoroaster had a vision of the angel Vohu Mana, who appeared nine times the size of a man. The angel told him there was only one true God, Ahura Mazda, and that he was to become the prophet of Ahura Mazda. During the next ten years Zoroaster had other visions in which each of the archangels of Ahura Mazda appeared and revealed further truth to him."
EDIT: the UK site for Mazda has info. on this: www.mazda.co.uk/know/history.asp

 

[Dennis Nicholls]

And now for something completely different....
Toyo Kogyo (Mazda) built rifles for the Japanese army during WWII. I'm currently considering getting this "Mazda" built Arisaka Type 99, or perhaps one like it:
http://www.gunboards.com/forums/Ultr...34&SID=2195384

 

[Brian Kleinke]

Ford has a large enough stake in Mazda so that in the Japanese world of business they own it. I don't mind because if I ever wanted to get a Mazda they fall under the special pricing I can get (But I got an Audi anyway )

 

[Ted Lee]

all the cars listed are safe bets. if you're curious as crash test safety, check out these two sites:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/
http://www.hwysafety.org/
the older model 626's appear to have fared pretty well. should bode well for the newest version.
[edit] i forgot to mention, i've had two mazda's. an 83 and an 80 rx-7. i would say the reliability was above average. i had to do some typical upkeep, but nothing that left me on the side of the road. plus, since i was a young pup at the time, i drove those things pretty hard. heck, considering how i treated them i'd say the reliability was way above average.