Can Mazda...
- Thread starter 1X83Z
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They do seem to be showing some direction at the moment - I don't think Mazda was ever suited to be the volume manufacturer Ford wanted them to be. I think their best years were the patch from the MX-5 (Miata) to the curved 626 (previous shape) and RX-7 of the mid-90s.
The 6 looks okay (but I want that old small V6, and AWD would be nice) and the RX-8 looks an intriguing thing that might do pretty well.
The 6 looks okay (but I want that old small V6, and AWD would be nice) and the RX-8 looks an intriguing thing that might do pretty well.
- 966
Last time I looked at their profits, etc., it looked pretty bad. I think it might have been a mis-match in directions. Ford wanting it to be one thing, Mazda was used to something else...etc, etc.
They do seem to be improving, though. Image-wise, going for that zoom-zoom thing using the Miata as its center seems a good idea to me. And, really, how many auto companies' "image centerpiece" is pretty affordable?
But what really seems shocking is the Protege. From what I've seen, it may very well be the best affordable compact on the market, but Mazda never seemed to get it much attention. The Protege5 may get it some acceptance, since sporty hatches are just coming back in style in the US, but we'll see.
Also, remember Nissan lost focus and struggled for a while, too, needed Renault to come in, and it seems to be getting itself back together.
They do seem to be improving, though. Image-wise, going for that zoom-zoom thing using the Miata as its center seems a good idea to me. And, really, how many auto companies' "image centerpiece" is pretty affordable?
But what really seems shocking is the Protege. From what I've seen, it may very well be the best affordable compact on the market, but Mazda never seemed to get it much attention. The Protege5 may get it some acceptance, since sporty hatches are just coming back in style in the US, but we'll see.
Also, remember Nissan lost focus and struggled for a while, too, needed Renault to come in, and it seems to be getting itself back together.
I was going to mention this - I was a huge fan of the previous model (that 2 litre V6 was a gem), and when the current one came out, I thought 'ugh, how dull'.
I didn't get around to driving one until the SP20 (the 2 litre 4 sporty verson) came out, and I have to say, that was a pretty impressive little car. Very well made, felt solid, and pretty viceless little chassis that was light on its feet with good grip, and an enthusiastic engine. If you're in that market, definitely worth a drive - but no-one seems to know about them - you seem a few around, but not as many as you should given the quality of the car and the price.
- 7,402
They are doing fine, probably better than ever really, 2 new cars coming in a year or so, MPV is getting good results, same with Protege 5. Miata, Millenia, and Proteges all have special editions now, all doing quite well...
Ford is pulling them down, polluting Tribute, 626, B-series, and Millenia production lines with made in tiawan parts, transmittions going out within 80, yes 80 miles(Tribute, 626), lifters breaking off and tearing apart the engine within 200miles(Tribute again...it's mostly ford...)Millenias are a big pain to work on....626s are pretty junky(93-current, the older ones are great...)it all goes down to the Ford parts. Look at Protege: no ford parts, and it's great. Miata:no ford parts, it's exellent. Tribute:all ford exept the body, and it sucks...
Mazda will never go away...remember, Ford only owns 33% of Mazda, that's enough to make some crappy cars, but not enough to kill them(thank Mazda for that one...)
Ford is pulling them down, polluting Tribute, 626, B-series, and Millenia production lines with made in tiawan parts, transmittions going out within 80, yes 80 miles(Tribute, 626), lifters breaking off and tearing apart the engine within 200miles(Tribute again...it's mostly ford...)Millenias are a big pain to work on....626s are pretty junky(93-current, the older ones are great...)it all goes down to the Ford parts. Look at Protege: no ford parts, and it's great. Miata:no ford parts, it's exellent. Tribute:all ford exept the body, and it sucks...
Mazda will never go away...remember, Ford only owns 33% of Mazda, that's enough to make some crappy cars, but not enough to kill them(thank Mazda for that one...)
- 7,402
Wait a minute...Lack of direction?! No way man, they have a very defined direction, making their cars the best they can, and they are doing a damn fine job doing that...Ford just wants to screw it up...the main reason Mazda is lacking now is cause they haven't released an all new car in 3 yrs(the Tribute, and it bombed(in the bad way), now they are upgrading thier cars, which is helping, but with the RX-7, 6, and other cars comeing in the next bit of time, they will be doing great again...hell all companies slump sometime, look at nissan, they just got really big with the new Maxima, and now the Altima. Ford is going down, and I wish they would let go of Mazda, but they won't untill they are dead cause Mazda is vital to them. Just wait, this time next year Mazda will be on top again...
Sage
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Just read the June 2002 issue of Car and Driver... spectacular results (Mazda Ptrotege5 rated first in its category, Mazda MPV ES is a big thumbsup, and the Protege has won another comparision before...)
I think Mazda is headed in the right direction. The 90s was a dull time for them, but I honestly think they're going to do so much better in the future.
I think Mazda is headed in the right direction. The 90s was a dull time for them, but I honestly think they're going to do so much better in the future.
The Vanishing Boy
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With Ford on their side, they are going nowhere. Plus the US-spec 626 is a disaster! The original 626/Atenza series is sold in Japan and in Europe, with the same edges as the Protege/Familia/323 series. And regarding the B-series and the Tribute, stop making the "twin-twin" market, Mazda is losing money against their partner Ford by making their Escapes and Rangers. Mazda in the past makes good engines better than Mitsubishi, in fact my mom owns a Mazda 323 Familia 1.6 GLX(Protege) in the Philippines and it drives flawlessly and smooth, that was the best car I've ever driven until I own the B17 Integra. Mazda can do it on their own with or without Fords help, Mazda is already been proven by standing on their own.
Mazda revolutionizes the Rotary engine (Cosmo Sport).
Mazda popularize the Rotary (RX-7).
Mazda re-invent the roadster (MX-5/Miata/Roadster).
Zoom-Zoom!
Mazda revolutionizes the Rotary engine (Cosmo Sport).
Mazda popularize the Rotary (RX-7).
Mazda re-invent the roadster (MX-5/Miata/Roadster).
Zoom-Zoom!
- 7,402
VB...Ford really isn't on their side, it's just Ford trying to make money off of them...and they screw stuff up for Mazda. a week or 2 ago I was still talking to the girl I liked(well she has since become really b****y...), and one of my freinds, who really wasn't aware of what was going on, asked for her SN, so I asked her and she said ok, I gave it to him, and unannowced to me he tryed to set us up after I told him that we were just going to be freinds. So then she got really pissed and started yelling at me for something that this moron did, if he didn't do anything it woulda been a-ok. The same thing happened with Mazda in the 90's. They just released the Miata and MPV, and then Ford comes in. In thier attemp to make Mazda something they weren't(I think Ford was trying to make Mazda a sell out company and not quality)and it just screwed it up for Mazda on several cars.
It's sad really...
It's sad really...
- 966
vat man: Yeah, when I was in the market a year or so ago, I decided to see what was out there and was pretty impressed with the Protege (even though I was mostly looking for something higher up the food chain).
Maz Kid: I was mostly referring to Mazda's global position and, really, it's not too pretty. If you're interested in business stuff and want to wade through lots of corporate financial lingo, try this link (if it works).
http://profiles.wisi.com/profiles/scripts/acorpinfo2.asp?CUSIP=C39290850&MID=316472
Maz Kid: I was mostly referring to Mazda's global position and, really, it's not too pretty. If you're interested in business stuff and want to wade through lots of corporate financial lingo, try this link (if it works).
http://profiles.wisi.com/profiles/scripts/acorpinfo2.asp?CUSIP=C39290850&MID=316472
- 368
In my view, its only ever really been the sports cars out of Mazda's range that have looked any good. All the other cars just never cut the mustard for me as far as designed was concerned. I think what they need to do is concentrate on the sports end of the market, which they seem pretty good at.
- 7,402
M5, yea the Tribute looks better...the escape looks like a kiddie tonka truck...
And the older MPVs are great...you know you can put the DOHCs off of the 929S on the MPV v6, and it would make it faster? No modification either...but my dad would never do that...
And there are still AWD Mazdas in other parts of the world...like there are some Proteges(Familia, or 323..) that are AWD and fast. Just look at GT2, the 323F in there(in the new cars...)was the fast one, and they still make that. It's just a Protege 5 with higher performance parts...
BTW M5...I thought you have a Millenia...but it's not in your sig...
And the older MPVs are great...you know you can put the DOHCs off of the 929S on the MPV v6, and it would make it faster? No modification either...but my dad would never do that...
And there are still AWD Mazdas in other parts of the world...like there are some Proteges(Familia, or 323..) that are AWD and fast. Just look at GT2, the 323F in there(in the new cars...)was the fast one, and they still make that. It's just a Protege 5 with higher performance parts...
BTW M5...I thought you have a Millenia...but it's not in your sig...
The Vanishing Boy
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No, it was sales.
The 4WD MPV was a US-exclusive product. There is no such model in Japan and in Europe. And Ford was not responsible of its downfall. And Mazda was not that popular or distiction of making AWD or hardcore-4WD as Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Isuzu, Subaru and Misubishi. With the Proceed Pickup (international version of the B-series), Proceed SUV (a seven-seat Proceed with a fixed rear roof), and the MPV All-Sport in the US didn't catch much attention to the public, so it suffered.
The 4WD MPV was a US-exclusive product. There is no such model in Japan and in Europe. And Ford was not responsible of its downfall. And Mazda was not that popular or distiction of making AWD or hardcore-4WD as Toyota, Nissan, Suzuki, Isuzu, Subaru and Misubishi. With the Proceed Pickup (international version of the B-series), Proceed SUV (a seven-seat Proceed with a fixed rear roof), and the MPV All-Sport in the US didn't catch much attention to the public, so it suffered.
- 7,402
VB...how you know all this? I'm MazKid, and then you parade in here to ruin my reputation? J/K...well Mazda has always been one of those companies that comes out with something new...but then the other companies make a car faster and maybe better than the Mazda, and then Mazda is back down again. They really need to come out with something that blows everything else away...
The Vanishing Boy
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I'm not creating enemies here, I'm sorry if I'm being too direct to the point but I have no choice. I respect Mazda as well as you do MazKid, but face with the reality, peace.
Miata's, RX-series, 626 and the 323 are one of the most respected cars in the world.
But some certain car models failed and lately the extinction of the Oldsmobile, some cars come and go.
Miata's, RX-series, 626 and the 323 are one of the most respected cars in the world.
But some certain car models failed and lately the extinction of the Oldsmobile, some cars come and go.
- 7,402
I found something interesting from CarandDriver.com:
The Daily Auto Insider
Mazda Makes a Profit
May 16, 2002
Page 1 of 1
After years of losses Mazda, Japan's fifth-largest automaker, said it made a profit of $68.72 million for the year ended on March 31, Reuters reported.
The biggest turnaround in Mazda's 82-year history was helped by cost cuts and a favorably weak yen. The company also forecast a doubling of earnings this year, when it will release several long-awaited models, the story said.
The result comes after six years of Ford-led restructuring (the world's second largest automaker owns 33.4% of Mazda) which include 2,210 job cuts and the closure of one plant.
In addition to three new models the "Mazda 6", the RX-8 sports car and subcompact sold in Japan the company is also planning a five-door version of the Mazda 6 for the United States. With the new models on the way, Mazda predicted its global vehicle sales to rise 5.5 percent to 1.0 million this year. And, over the next three years, Mazda is aiming for global vehicle sales to rise 30 percent to 1.23 million units.
The Daily Auto Insider
Mazda Makes a Profit
May 16, 2002
Page 1 of 1
After years of losses Mazda, Japan's fifth-largest automaker, said it made a profit of $68.72 million for the year ended on March 31, Reuters reported.
The biggest turnaround in Mazda's 82-year history was helped by cost cuts and a favorably weak yen. The company also forecast a doubling of earnings this year, when it will release several long-awaited models, the story said.
The result comes after six years of Ford-led restructuring (the world's second largest automaker owns 33.4% of Mazda) which include 2,210 job cuts and the closure of one plant.
In addition to three new models the "Mazda 6", the RX-8 sports car and subcompact sold in Japan the company is also planning a five-door version of the Mazda 6 for the United States. With the new models on the way, Mazda predicted its global vehicle sales to rise 5.5 percent to 1.0 million this year. And, over the next three years, Mazda is aiming for global vehicle sales to rise 30 percent to 1.23 million units.
