gwilliams6

Subject: Lexus, Subaru, Mazda get top car scores « Bankrate, Inc.

Lexus, Subaru, Mazda get top car scores « Bankrate, Inc.

Hopefully this will also help spur sales of all their Skyactiv goodies, which will help Mazda have the money to get that new RX7 for sale by 2017 !

ASH8

And then (a new RX-) their CR ratings will fall again....unfortunately.

But this is where Mazda should be in NA, as it is in almost every other country.
As I see it Rotaries tend to drag them down the list in NA.

monchie

^ True with the Mazda rotary...

gwilliams6

ASH, unfortunately you are correct. All the folks who don't know how to take proper care of rotary Mazdas and all the usual first years rotary car problems have dragged down Mazda ratings in the past. Lets hope for a break from the past and a brighter future for Mazda's continued high rankings in NA. They really do have a great lineup of quality cars for 2013 here.

Razz1

This is good news.

Perhaps Mazda should consider a new ownership program for RX owner.

Just like Ferrari.

They could have one specialist at each dealership that goes over the do's and don'ts.

Entice the new owner to take the 15 min. to 1/2hr seminar by giving them a $100 discount off the the price of the car.

They can get a certificate after class and then cash it in at the dealership on the spot OR, offer them to use that money along with a 10% discount on Mazda accessories.


100 bucks will save idiots who buy the car and then bash the Name of Mazda.

Save on allot of headaches.

Rotary engine is special and owners should be aware that they need to give love to their car.

ASH8

/\ They (Mazda) did this here when the FD was first released (1991) they had FD master dealers, we were one of them, I drove our very first FD back from bond store for our states GALA Showroom presentation (was a big deal, even MMC Japan was there), I was even part of the 'special cat walk parade"..lol, I still have the RX-7 'white' overalls (use them all the time, now a very dirty white with paint on them too).

Anyway, IMO this specially crap does not really work, yeah OK for high end brands, but it is very costly...just cant see it working for Mazda, Nissan has a similar thing for GTR and one cant say the GTR has been a raging success as it has not, apart from perhaps USA and Japan.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

r35 ... most people still dont know nissan made a car that can eat ferraris for breakfast, sad but true, then there are haters out there which makes it even worst.

mazda ... they need to make the car special make it a special higher priced car so less idiots will have access to it ... like the rx8 now. it will not be a money maker, ask nissan if gtr is making them any money, ask toyota if lfa made any money, know what i mean?

but before that happens, mazda gotta make **** loads of money under its skyactiv program ...

Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2

This is definitely great news for Mazda. This could definitely increase Mazda sales and a definitive competitor to other Japanese manufacturers like Toyota, Nissan and Honda. But I agree with everyone, when the next RX does come out, it'll cause Mazda's rating to plummet.

The idea of having a specialist is a good idea but doubtfully will happen and like ASH said, it's definitely expensive and not affective for a main stream company to do this, exotic car brands can do this. I work at Tesla Motors and we do this but our cars are very special as they are full Electric and more advanced than current electrics in the market. I believe a good way to get rid of this is have a subsidiary company build the rotary sports cars. Like Scion is to Toyota, revitalize the "Efini" brand, sell them within Mazda dealerships but I feel that Mazda wouldn't lose its overall Quality/Performance rating, let the Efini brand take the down fall as this brand can be more of a specialty brand. Just a thought.

ASH8

Yep Mazda are starting to make some bucks, but guess who is dragging them down....again..North America...just posted yesterday, close to another $500 Mil Loss, that makes it a billion over the past 2 years, MNAO really needs fresh top brass, like a new President, CEO, COO...no other corporation would allow a billion dollar loss without some serious management changes...no excuses, O'Sullivan, Davis, should be fired.

Even Europe has made a profit for Mazda, a thin one but not a huge loss.

Overall Mazda made a nett Profit of about $240 mil.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

HAH! fail CEOs/CFOs/COOs who couldn't do **** but getting millions every year in America is so darn common. So don't expect Mazda to replace those useless CEOs anytime soon.

shazy

I don`t understand how though... Their cars sell very well in the market, I always see Mazdas being bought by driving schools, rent-a-car companies and in quebec I see alot more new Mazdas than I do Hondas... Ok Canadas population isnt very high but still, clearly there is something wrong.

WTBRotary!

iTrader: (6)

THIS!!!!

77mjd

I would assume mazda has taken notes of all the relibaility issues with the 8 and I would expect they would be corrected in any new rotary car. Better starter, coils, better seal lubrication, etc. I would also hope advancements in the new engine would slow the build up of carbon deposits on the APV, SSV, etc.

If they came out with 100k warranty on the powertrain right out of the gate, it could be a huge piece of mind and if they are going a bit more upscale price-wise with the next car, they sure as hell better get it right the first time.

ASH8

They have been basically losing money on every model they sell, partly currency, mostly poor marketing, price point, and give aways..like discounts.
Plus 100 staff (MNAO) retrenchments.

It will improve though....I think this should be their last year of loss out of North America..but they also said this last year.

Once all new Mexican Plant gets going soon this will change a lot, another problem will be initial 'human' build quality out of that plant.

nycgps

iTrader: (1)

currency has a lot to do with mazda's lost, its not just mazda, all japanese companies like sony and toshiba sees simular problem

things can change tho, now even japanese turn their money printing machine on, so expect things to change fast for them

TALAN7

I have an idea. How about Mazda properly engineer a reliable rotary engine first before placing the onus on the owner.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

^ If you never want to see another rotary again, then feel free to go elsewhere. The rotary always has been, and always will be, an experiment under development, flaws and all.

It's completely understandable if you don't want to accept that, just move on and leave if behind.

Mr.Mango

iTrader: (2)

A 8 year/100,000km warranty isnt enough? Also the reliability of the engine has been well documented for many years, Mazda didnt hold a gun to your head, there is alot of other cars available without a rotary.

There is 1 company using R&D money for the rotary engine, piston engines have roughly 40-50 brands (est.) who market to personal ownership. So there is far more money & time alotted to development of the technology. As RIWWP stated it will always be a "experiment"

TALAN7

There was no 8 year 100,000 mile warranty as far as I'm concerned. Mazda was very strategic with their extensions. I was out of warranty every time they extended it. If it had come out of the factory with an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty that would be different. Mazda screwed the earliest buyers. As far as R&D is concerned, do more testing, work out the kinks before releasing something.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yes, unfortunately Mazda was deliberately trying to screw you over and force you out of the brand. It speaks well for your tenacity that you have not succumbed yet.

gwilliams6

With over a million rotary driven miles on track and street. , I have NEVER had a single rotary engine failure with either the stock or race-modified seven rotary cars I have owned since 1973. If you know the proper care and feeding of these cars and engines, they can exhibit truly legendary reliability.

bse50

Unless you drove one of the 2003-2005 pre-reflash rx8s that didn't inject enough oil... or any s1 rx8s with shitty OE coils that failed soon, letting your cat fail as well in return while ultimately wearing your engine down... Then comes the shitty az-6 transmission or the crappy clutch pedal. If that's your definition of reliable then i have to agree.

The RX8 isn't a reliable car by any means. The engine can be made reliable but it surely isn't from the factory.

fuztupnz

iTrader: (4)

**** you bse. The rotary is and always will be an experiment. gwilliams has 10billion miles of knowledge. He well certainly show you up, so don't **** with him.

The rx-8 is more reliable than your English.

bse50

Pappadapuppi!

TALAN7

I still love my 8, with 180,000 miles on her even though she's falling apart now. I've replaced so many parts within the last 3 years it's ridiculous. I'm finally at the stage where I'm looking for something to trade her in for and after shopping around I still can't find anything as rewarding to drive. FRS/BRZ? Way too small. Muscle cars? Can't handle, don't have the feel of the 8. If Hyundai could get better steering/balance out of the Coupe I'd hit it. I've even told my wife I would look at another 8 if it was still sold that's how much I like the car. The biggest issue that would've most likely kept me away is gas mileage, that's it's biggest future hurdle.

Even after all the issues I've had I chalk it up to it being a different car and a sports car, but I will not kiss Mazda's *** and pretend like this car is the holy grail. You don't get a bad reputation for nothing. It's a fun car, not a reliable car and I tell everyone who asks me, it's great car to drive, a terrible car to own and live with. The issue is I'm a driver. I want a car that's great to drive...and to own.