- 11,780
- Marin County
I agree. I didn't say an RX7, I said a successor to the RX7.
Mazda CX-3- Crossover based on the Mazda2
- Thread starter RocZX
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I agree. I didn't say an RX7, I said a successor to the RX7.
CodeRedR51
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- 55,274
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A 2.0L turbo Miata Coupe will do just fine in that regard I think.
Keef
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- 24,997
- Dayton, OH
- GTP_KeefRacer
- GTP Keef
Disgusting.
CodeRedR51
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- 9,401
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- mustafur
Mazda knows if they make their similar powered cars the same price as BMW they no longer have a business.
- 11,780
- Marin County
I don't think that is necessarily true. As long as the quality matches or exceeds the BMW, there is no reason for one to not choose the Mazda over the BMW, as the Mazda would likely be dynamically superior considering the generally cold reception the new M3 has received. If you did knowingly choose the inferior car of the two (hypothetically considering Mazda builds an M3 competitor for a similar price) because it has a better badge...well, you get what you deserve I suppose.
- 9,401
- Western Sydney
- mustafur
Having been in the M3 not sure if serz, it demolishes the last M3 and is significantly lighter, the only issue is it's electric steering.
The sound would be the biggest complaint but that is nothing to do with dynamics.
Then comes interior which as of current the japanese as a whole kind of need to up their game to match the germans especially the upper segment.
Thats why cars with lower brand prestige will sacrifice quality to get extra speed and handling because they just wont sell if they are making it identically.
- 23,800
- Philippines
Mazda has been killing it lately in terms of interior quality. You can definitely put them on equal footing there. (hell, last I sat in a low-spec Z4, I thought it was just as bad as the MX-5... and the NX MX-5 was pretty plasticky, already)
An M3 level Mazda would certainly be great... given how good Mazda is at dynamics and how much better they've been doing electric steering than BMW has.
An M3 level Mazda would certainly be great... given how good Mazda is at dynamics and how much better they've been doing electric steering than BMW has.
- 9,401
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- mustafur
- 23,800
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Depends which VWs. German made? Somewhat. Maybe. Depends. Mexican? No.
About the last area where VW handily beat Mazda on the interior is in sound deadening and those nifty heavy-duty door hinges. The stamped steel hinges everyone else uses simply don't compare.
About the last area where VW handily beat Mazda on the interior is in sound deadening and those nifty heavy-duty door hinges. The stamped steel hinges everyone else uses simply don't compare.
- 9,401
- Western Sydney
- mustafur
Not sure about Jetta(Mexican built) but MK7 Golf Feels a tier Above the Current Mazda 3, the interior is defiently more boring but feels like it's made at a significantly higher standard, the leather on the low end Models on the Mazda feels chalky and nasty as well, where as the VWs leather is just as good as Audi's.
- 5,204
- Finland
Depends on the type of the car. With the reputation of the RX-7, for example among people who used to play the early Gran Turismo games when young and have now gained enough money to buy a sports car, I don't think that a rotary Mazda coupe competing with the M4 would be especially bad commercially, if it was good enough car to compete with the BMW.
- 9,401
- Western Sydney
- mustafur
Yeah but chances are it would be cheaper with the same performance, Do you think people would buy the GT-R as well as it's sold now if they bumped up the interior quality and refinement to that of Porsche then sold the car for basically double it is now?
It's the same thing, I wouldn't dispute that they couldn't do it but the Prestige factor of the brand would kill it's sales.
Ford GT would be exception to the Rule but that comes from a Classic perspective and sold with limited numbers so it didn't become an issue.
Now if Mazda where to Revive the Eunos brand that would be a different Story, but considering the Size of Mazda Compared to the Big 3 of Japan, Mazda would need to grow a bit before that would happen.
It's the same thing, I wouldn't dispute that they couldn't do it but the Prestige factor of the brand would kill it's sales.
Ford GT would be exception to the Rule but that comes from a Classic perspective and sold with limited numbers so it didn't become an issue.
Now if Mazda where to Revive the Eunos brand that would be a different Story, but considering the Size of Mazda Compared to the Big 3 of Japan, Mazda would need to grow a bit before that would happen.
- 11,780
- Marin County
The Eunos brand has absolutely no cache. RX-7 does.
Consider that the 3rd generation RX-7 was actually more expensive than the contemporary E36 M3.
The RX-7 was done in the US after 1995, but I think it has less to do with its qualities and more to do with the market conditions. The 300zx, Supra, and several other sports coupes quickly followed. Only the 3000GT soldiered on for another half-decade. The point is, unless you are a brand snob, you buy what is good value. If a $60,000 Mazda is good value, for it's performance or other attributes, then why not buy it?
Finally, Nissan hasn't badged the GT-R as an Infiniti, and it seems to be doing quite well, despite its tremendous price increase from the original car. It is actually now more expensive than a Porsche 911 Carrera S.
Consider that the 3rd generation RX-7 was actually more expensive than the contemporary E36 M3.
The RX-7 was done in the US after 1995, but I think it has less to do with its qualities and more to do with the market conditions. The 300zx, Supra, and several other sports coupes quickly followed. Only the 3000GT soldiered on for another half-decade. The point is, unless you are a brand snob, you buy what is good value. If a $60,000 Mazda is good value, for it's performance or other attributes, then why not buy it?
Finally, Nissan hasn't badged the GT-R as an Infiniti, and it seems to be doing quite well, despite its tremendous price increase from the original car. It is actually now more expensive than a Porsche 911 Carrera S.
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- 5,065
- Fort Worth
- That_sneaky_azN
One big thing Mazda will need to improve on in the next RX car would be fuel efficiency, I'd say, when it wants to contend against cars with the likes of the M4.
- 50,715
- Australia
- SpacedustDaddy
Remember, the RX7, 300ZXTT and Supra were pretty much exotic cars due to their performance next to a Camaro, Mustang, Corvette, 911, M3 before they phased out. Such a shame. Hindsight, I should have just taken out a loan...
It hasnt taken Mazda long to change its style. Like overnight from the BK and BL Mazda3 to the BM Mazda3 is a big leap. I'd love to see a new MPS. It'd have to be as good as an M235i.
It hasnt taken Mazda long to change its style. Like overnight from the BK and BL Mazda3 to the BM Mazda3 is a big leap. I'd love to see a new MPS. It'd have to be as good as an M235i.
Keef
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- 24,997
- Dayton, OH
- GTP_KeefRacer
- GTP Keef
Illustrative of the massive demand for the car.
- 9,401
- Western Sydney
- mustafur
But it competes with the 911 Turbo in Performance, don't think anyone has compared it to the Carerra S as its a Totally different animal.
The highlighting thing about the GT-R since 2007 has always been it's bang for buck despite the fact its not cheap in the first place, just much cheaper then cars at it's performance(Chevy do the same thing with the Corvette another car made by a brand with low prestige).
I would bet my House if Mazda ever made a car that was at a M3/4 Performance Level it would be a decent chunk cheaper, however Rotorys are not feasible in todays environment unless you go the Hybrid route which if you did you might as well go all out like Honda with the next NSX.
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ND4SPD
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- 8,479
- Guelph ON
- JeffZ28
- Jeff C6R
Girlfriend and I went over to the mazda dealership to test drive some cars and they had the dealer papers with specs of the CX3, nearly everything but the price has been announced and sadly there's no option for a manual on any trim level so far here in Canada. Which bothers me since the one they've brought to the auto show clearly has a manual in it......Hopefully they just do what they did with the mazda 3 and give it a manual later on..... Might be like the CX5 where you can only get the manual on the 2wd base model though. 
- 5,065
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- That_sneaky_azN
As far as I know, Mazda has made the CX-3 with just the SKYACTIV-D in Japan so far with the option of AWD with 6AT and 6MT.
- 50,715
- Australia
- SpacedustDaddy
- 5,065
- Fort Worth
- That_sneaky_azN
- 50,715
- Australia
- SpacedustDaddy
It's base Neo on 185/55-15 Dunlop eco tyres, 6-speed Auto w/sport switch( no paddles, only sequential pull for upshift, push for downshift in "M" mode).
It handles good on these tyres. The suspension responds quickly. The steering is light. Never mind the power. In "D", the transmission takes a minute to select a gear when braking hard then accelerating. Braking earlier is best. In "M"(I still prefer a manual), it's better. If I owned one, the tyres would be changed first(I haven't driven in the rain yet), then exhaust or both at the same time. Then, suspension. I'd love to see what Mazda could do with a factory Mazdaspeed suspension option.
It handles good on these tyres. The suspension responds quickly. The steering is light. Never mind the power. In "D", the transmission takes a minute to select a gear when braking hard then accelerating. Braking earlier is best. In "M"(I still prefer a manual), it's better. If I owned one, the tyres would be changed first(I haven't driven in the rain yet), then exhaust or both at the same time. Then, suspension. I'd love to see what Mazda could do with a factory Mazdaspeed suspension option.
- 11,780
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I love how restrained and elegant the interior styling is. That horizontal band terminating in the non-centered circular vent is just great. Quality also looks great, but I can't comment on that without touching it. If it's anything like my 2, though, the fitment and materials are top notch for the segment.
- 50,715
- Australia
- SpacedustDaddy
This is the Genki interior.
Last week I just drove a manual Genki around the block. Definitely feels upscale with the bigger shifter and materials over the last 2. I admit, all 2s should come with the bigger navi screen.
One thing is the seat. The headrest feels/is too close to my head. I can pretty much rest my head and drive(go figure) without straining the back of my neck muscles. But every bump and when accelerating, it's right there. Just a bit in the way.
Last week I just drove a manual Genki around the block. Definitely feels upscale with the bigger shifter and materials over the last 2. I admit, all 2s should come with the bigger navi screen.
One thing is the seat. The headrest feels/is too close to my head. I can pretty much rest my head and drive(go figure) without straining the back of my neck muscles. But every bump and when accelerating, it's right there. Just a bit in the way.
