Honda Fit and Nissan Versa are coming to US. What should Mazda do?
01-18-2006, 11:13 AM
#26
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Originally Posted by ASH8
Verisa is a JDM car only, not for export....ever.
The Honda Fit or (Jazz here) is a very good small car (Micro), the Mazda 2 competes along with Hyundai Getz, Suzuki Swift.etc.
I have driven both Jazz and 2 are as a Mazda man I go for the 2, slightly cheaper...the new Suzuki Swift is going great in sales and is the latest micro car out here, probably the best buy.
Forget any of these cars if you weight over 75 kilos or 150 LBs, too small inside, and not enough power...so that rules out 95% of the US population as they won't Fit into a FIT!........only joking.....
The Honda Fit or (Jazz here) is a very good small car (Micro), the Mazda 2 competes along with Hyundai Getz, Suzuki Swift.etc.
I have driven both Jazz and 2 are as a Mazda man I go for the 2, slightly cheaper...the new Suzuki Swift is going great in sales and is the latest micro car out here, probably the best buy.
Forget any of these cars if you weight over 75 kilos or 150 LBs, too small inside, and not enough power...so that rules out 95% of the US population as they won't Fit into a FIT!........only joking.....
But.. What Swift do you guys get? We get a funky little think that looks like a cross between a recent Skoda concept car and a Saab - VERY Saab like, in fact, showing GM styling 'soup' getting further into Suzuki having thankfully been booted out of Subaru.
The US market Swift is a Daewoo, also sold as a Pontiac Wave and some sort of Chevy (Aveo or something like that) - UK market Daewoo/Chevy Kalos, which sounds like a bad guy out of Dr. Who.
01-18-2006, 02:10 PM
#27
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Originally Posted by ASH8
I can relate exactly to what you are say mate....
Here, if you are caught using your mobile (sorry, cell) phone, you are given an on the spot fine , I think its now $180.00 AU or about $140.00 US. You are allowed to use "Hands Free" devices in your car.
Here they (police and governments) have gone bloody crazy with speed detection cameras, they are everywhere, fixed and mobile, the bastards park being tress and bushes and on down hill slopes!...
These are our speed limits in my state.
School Zones 25KPH or 15MPH.
Built up area (homes) speed limits are 50 KPH or 30 MPH..
Suburbans roads (say dual lane) 60KPH or 36MPH.
Outer suburban areas 80KPH or 49 MPH.
Country and freeway limits 100KPH or 60MPH! That's the Maximum allowable speed here now.
Get caught doing 10% over the limit and you cop a $200.00 fine,plus.
In my home state if you are caught going over any limits by 45 KPH or more, Immediate loss of licence and a fine.
Alcohol over 0.8 you loose your licences first offence for 12mth and park your car where you are caught, plus $1000.00 fine.
The more times you get caught speeding the more demerit points you lose, 12 points to last you 3 years, once they are gone no drivers licence until next 3 year cycle.
Oh, and any in car speed/radar detection devices are against the law...you can not legally purchase them here.
We even have bloody speed cameras at traffic lights now, that get you if you are going over the speed limit through a green light!, plus the usual red light (stop) cameras....which is OK...It has helped stop red light runners and acidents a lot.
What's it like in Texas....
Here, if you are caught using your mobile (sorry, cell) phone, you are given an on the spot fine , I think its now $180.00 AU or about $140.00 US. You are allowed to use "Hands Free" devices in your car.
Here they (police and governments) have gone bloody crazy with speed detection cameras, they are everywhere, fixed and mobile, the bastards park being tress and bushes and on down hill slopes!...
These are our speed limits in my state.
School Zones 25KPH or 15MPH.
Built up area (homes) speed limits are 50 KPH or 30 MPH..
Suburbans roads (say dual lane) 60KPH or 36MPH.
Outer suburban areas 80KPH or 49 MPH.
Country and freeway limits 100KPH or 60MPH! That's the Maximum allowable speed here now.
Get caught doing 10% over the limit and you cop a $200.00 fine,plus.
In my home state if you are caught going over any limits by 45 KPH or more, Immediate loss of licence and a fine.
Alcohol over 0.8 you loose your licences first offence for 12mth and park your car where you are caught, plus $1000.00 fine.
The more times you get caught speeding the more demerit points you lose, 12 points to last you 3 years, once they are gone no drivers licence until next 3 year cycle.
Oh, and any in car speed/radar detection devices are against the law...you can not legally purchase them here.
We even have bloody speed cameras at traffic lights now, that get you if you are going over the speed limit through a green light!, plus the usual red light (stop) cameras....which is OK...It has helped stop red light runners and acidents a lot.
What's it like in Texas....
School Zones: 20-25 mph most (except for rural areas)
Farm to Market 2-way, 2-lane highways: 60 mph day 55 mph night (some are posted 65 and even 70mph)
Interstate highways: 70 mph day, 65 mph night (reduced in city limits)
State highways: 70 mph day, 65 mph night (reduced in city limits)
County roads aren't usually not posted but I believe it's 30mph to 45 mph
I believe there is laws for using mobile phones in certain areas/cities in Texas, but I don't ever hear of these being enforced.
The cost of speeding tickets in Texas are different for every jurisdiction but it is usually around $200 for going 10 to 20 mph over the limit. The fine is doubled in construction and school zones. Anything more than 25 mph over the limit and it starts really getting expensive. I've been told that you can be arrested for more than 100 mph, but I don't know how true this is.
There is also various cameras mounted at stoplights (and other places) in some of the bigger cities here, but I think most are to catch red-light runners.
If you get a ticket, you have the option to take defensive driving to clear it from your driving record (and get a discount on your car insurance) as long as you have not taken this course in the last year and you have not exceeded the limit by more than 25 mph. Some areas you have the option of deferred adjudication to dismiss the ticket with a fine but you cannot get another ticket within 90 days I believe or they will both go on your record (sort of a probation period).
Caught driving over the legal limit (also .08) then your f***ed and you better have a good lawyer.
I've heard Texas has moved to a points system but I looked at my driving record last week (had to take defensive driving) and saw no points rating or anything like it.
Back on topic...
Good point about these cars being crushed by the larger vehicles. For some strange reason in America it was determined long ago that the size of your vehicle is a display of your wealth and success. Hence all the ugly-*** Hummers and overly large SUVs.
Last edited by JRichter; 01-18-2006 at 02:17 PM.
01-18-2006, 08:59 PM
#28
Int'l Man of Mystery
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The Fit, Mazda2/Demio, Swift and the new Nissan Mazda-wannabe are MICRO cars?! Dude... the Kei (light) class cars are micro cars. Legal limit of 660cc displacement. So all the cars are small, light and many times turbocharged or supercharged.
Suzuki Swift (JDM)
http://www.suzuki.co.jp/dom4/lineup/swift/
Kei Cars
Suzuki WagonR
http://www.suzuki.co.jp/dom4/lineup/wagonr/index.html
Suzuki Kei Works
http://www.suzuki.co.jp/dom4/lineup/...rks/index.html
Daihatsu Copen
http://www.daihatsu.co.jp/showroom/l...open/index.htm
Daihatsu Move
http://www.daihatsu.co.jp/showroom/l...stom/index.htm
Honda Life
http://www.honda.co.jp/LIFE/
Suzuki Swift (JDM)
http://www.suzuki.co.jp/dom4/lineup/swift/
Kei Cars
Suzuki WagonR
http://www.suzuki.co.jp/dom4/lineup/wagonr/index.html
Suzuki Kei Works
http://www.suzuki.co.jp/dom4/lineup/...rks/index.html
Daihatsu Copen
http://www.daihatsu.co.jp/showroom/l...open/index.htm
Daihatsu Move
http://www.daihatsu.co.jp/showroom/l...stom/index.htm
Honda Life
http://www.honda.co.jp/LIFE/
01-19-2006, 10:14 AM
#29
Bummed, but bring on OU!
Bad idea.
The only reason Scions sell is because they are the only ones here. The xB has an edginess that appeals to many, the xA doesn't sell that well, and The tC is a decent little sporty coupe. The Honda and Nissan are just plain ugly. Hondafites will buy the Honda, but that's about it. The Mazda2 will collide with Mazda3 sales. It is completely unnecessary. Mazda should spend their money elsewhere.
This segment of cars will not do well here. Honda's going to steal some of their own Civic market share, and not generate many new sales. The Nissan may fare a little better if it's priced lower than the Sentra. There's only so much market for teeny-tiny little deathtraps. Mazda should stay out of it.
The only reason Scions sell is because they are the only ones here. The xB has an edginess that appeals to many, the xA doesn't sell that well, and The tC is a decent little sporty coupe. The Honda and Nissan are just plain ugly. Hondafites will buy the Honda, but that's about it. The Mazda2 will collide with Mazda3 sales. It is completely unnecessary. Mazda should spend their money elsewhere.
This segment of cars will not do well here. Honda's going to steal some of their own Civic market share, and not generate many new sales. The Nissan may fare a little better if it's priced lower than the Sentra. There's only so much market for teeny-tiny little deathtraps. Mazda should stay out of it.
01-19-2006, 02:24 PM
#30
Super Moderator
Originally Posted by RichardK
The Jazz is pretty big and clever.
But.. What Swift do you guys get? We get a funky little think that looks like a cross between a recent Skoda concept car and a Saab - VERY Saab like, in fact, showing GM styling 'soup' getting further into Suzuki having thankfully been booted out of Subaru.
The US market Swift is a Daewoo, also sold as a Pontiac Wave and some sort of Chevy (Aveo or something like that) - UK market Daewoo/Chevy Kalos, which sounds like a bad guy out of Dr. Who.
But.. What Swift do you guys get? We get a funky little think that looks like a cross between a recent Skoda concept car and a Saab - VERY Saab like, in fact, showing GM styling 'soup' getting further into Suzuki having thankfully been booted out of Subaru.
The US market Swift is a Daewoo, also sold as a Pontiac Wave and some sort of Chevy (Aveo or something like that) - UK market Daewoo/Chevy Kalos, which sounds like a bad guy out of Dr. Who.
http://www.suzuki.com.au/index_flash.asp or
www.suzuki.com.au
I know I have called these cars MICRO, but they really are not in that class, as Japan8 says micros are usually well under 1000cc in engine size, and body shells are much smaller..
For you guys in the states they are Micro..if you know what I mean..
01-19-2006, 07:46 PM
#31
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Death traps? The Mazda2 class cars do ok. You should see when there are accidents with the Kei class cars. Serious ouch. Every year there is a major accident with one... usually on the Shuto (capital) Expressway in Tokyo. One time there was the usual sudden traffic backup in one of the tunnels. The Kei car stopped in time, but the bus coming from behind didn't. Yep... sandwhiched between the bus and a truck in front. Of course everyone in the car died.
The sporty models are fun in the twisties and all are very useful in-town... considering the tiny-*** backroads in Japan, but the highway is a bad idea.
The sporty models are fun in the twisties and all are very useful in-town... considering the tiny-*** backroads in Japan, but the highway is a bad idea.
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