That's already done. The President of MNAO, Charlie Hughes, was replaced in April, and the VP Marketing for MNAO, Kristen Simmons (she was the one responsible for the Zoom-Zoom theme and ad campaigns), resigned in June to take a position at Gateway.

FWIW, I think Hughes was a scapegoat for slow sales of the Mazda6, and Kristen had peaked and wanted a change. I met them both, and had a few longer conversations in person with Ms. Simmons, and I'd say they both did have a high level of ethics and integrity.

Of course, Mazda Canada is an entirely separate marketing and distribution organization, but you didn't specify them...

Regards,
Gordon

 

Move the rearview mirror up a bit.
I hate trying too look around the mirror going through a right hander.

Better throttle response, maybe a multi mode setting like sport & normal. The wife might not want it as snappy as I do.

Memory for the seats and mirrors

Deeper exhaust note

REAL GAUGES, not dummy gauges. I want to know the temp of the engine, not a wide ranged guess.

Digital gauges displayed through the Nav screen. Like Throttle position, oil temp, cornering G's, etc... ( a la Mazdaspeed, HKS CAMP, and Skyline GTR)

A readout for the tire pressure monitors, I'd like to know the pressure in each tire

Automatic Cliamate Control

Dual Zone Climate Control

A better (bigger) blower for the A/C system, it needs more air flow. Or maybe reevaluate the vent size/locations to increase the velocity of the air.

Integrated Key FOB in the Key, like VW, Audi, etc... (At least a smaller key and key FOB)

Redesign of the pockets in the doors, CD's are kind of har to get out once they are in.


The wife wants:

Adjustable pedals

Power passenger seat.

Lumbar adjustment in the passenger seat

Telescoping steering wheel

 

really have to have the memory on the seating and the mirrors.

having a seat that will fold forward would be a great help at times.

a keyfob that will roll down the windows when holding the unlock buttons.......when it is warm out, it is a nice way to cool down the inside quickly before you get into it.

auto down on passenger side window.

better heater in the seats like a mini ( i dont know if you guys have tried that, but the mini seat warmers are ballistic! )

make the whole head on the wiper control arm turn to adjust intermittent instead of just a ring.

warning light in better view for the security system.

i would lay into the mp3 system as well, but it is trivial things compared to the bigger things in the car.

more controls on the steering wheel for search forward on stereo, etc... (once again like a mini)

style the sunglass holder differently so it can hold wrap sunglasses....there isnt a pair that i own that will fit in there.

please understand that i am not bitching.....just noticing the small little things that i would change to make it "perfect" for me.

i would rant about the things i like but i would be typing for a long time!

 

What I want Mazda to add?

less gadgets. Less weight. better brakes, stiffer suspension, more HP. Lets have a real sports version - ala mazdaspeed or whatever.

As for folding seats, its NOT going to happen. Seen the chassi? theres structural cross members behind the rear seats that aint gona be removed.


Climate controle? Oh, they aded that alread for us Euro's, all they need now is to supply the cars!

 

Before we wonder about the 2005 model, shouldn't we wait until its 2004 & see what Mazda have planned as updates....???

Spare a thought for the Aussies. We are allowed to have a mere "900" 2003 models. The USA market is taking up the majority of the 8400 getting built each month. By the time the 2004 model hits the streets in another 5+ months you never know what Mazda have been listening to & changed for the benifit of public reaction.......

 

sorry,

didnt mean folding seats, i mean to have the seatbacks fold forward for easier entry to the back and a "memory" snapback as well.

 

The seats do fold forwards dont they? least the one I had a loot at did... cloth btw...

 

Yeah the car I drove had seats which folded forwards.

 

Analog speedo, 3 rotors

 

Analog speedo, 3 rotors :D :D :D
Don't park outside!!
Fire the kids!!

 

Unless you've already done this & STILL don't like it, the rearview mirror is "double-jointed". I felt the same way as you, then someone here mentioned that it's "double-jointed". I never bothered really to look before I read that. Sure enough, it is. You can (slowly-carefully now) bend the joint that's closest to the windshield upward, and also bend the joint that's closest the the mirror downward for the final view adjustment. Viola! It's much higher & less of an obstruction. I dunno why they're set so low when you get the car.

DMRH:
I don't understand what you are saying about this being a 2003 car. At least here in the USA, this is a 2004 car. All 2004 cars will be coming out extremely soon & so I don't see any "updates" until the 2005 model comes out about 1 year from now. (Except maybe a new ECU flash or something to placiate the "missing hp" issue. Fingers crossed...)

 

For me, a good 2005 adjustment would be the controls on the mirror. The windscreen is valuable real estate; I don't need four buttons and a sensor combined with very thick plastic edging when I'm trying to see. Please move the HomeLink controls to the overhead roof area, where they belong.

 

Power to the sunroof after the car is turned off - Just like the door windows.

 

Its only Sep-2003, so how can you have a 2004 model car........??

This must be one of those crazy American things. Here down under, we call a 2003 model car a "2003 model". The first of the 2004 models should start showing up in showrooms by early 2004.

Just to get this (strange) way straight. If a USA customer took delivery of his RX-8 in Jul-03, the car would have been built around May-03. How can it be a 2004 model............

 

Did I mention the lip spoiler??
Then the lip spoiler should be added as a must!!

 

DMRH --- In the US they begin marketing the next year approx 4-6 months before they are released. About 50% of all new makes/models are manufactured in mid summer of that year, and hit the showroom floors in the fall. The other 50% of makes/models seem to be manufactured in winter and hit the showroom floor after the 1st of the new year.

We already have several new 2004 model year vehicles coming out in US right now (ie : 04 Ford F150, 04 Mits Endeavor, 04 Pontiac Grand Prix, Etc).

To be honest, I'd rather have it called a 2003 model year. That way I could have cheaper insurance...lol:D

 

It's an American thing, but it's not as crazy as it first appears. The law defines "model year" thusly:So if a vehicle is only manufactured for part of a year, then its "model year" is that calendar year. But if it spans two years, then the "model year" is the second year it's available. A "model year" cannot span two January 1sts, but a single "model year" could theoretically last from January 2nd of one year all the way through until December 31st of the following year - 1 year and 364 days. However, in practical use the manufacturers generally introduce "next year's" cars sometime around August/September each year.

Yes, it's arbritary, but it doesn't require the general public to remember arcane and cryptic model designations such as XA, XB, XC, XD, EA, VB, VC, etc, as the Australian car-buying public is expected to do. Is an XB Falcon a 1973, 1974, 1975 or 1976 car? The Australian model designation gives no clue, while the US system tells you immediately.

 

== a fuel mileage gauge like BMW. (even digital would be nice)
== a fix to bring horsepower back to the VERY original 250.
== front and rear rotor (appearance pkg as standard)
== CD changer as standard
== polished wheels as an option not accessory
== strengthening of flip lids and slides on console


I just have to say this - this car is fabulous. It is my hope that it pulls off several awards for the 2004 model year. Best Car, etc. I truly cannot imagine why it wouldn't. I have been re-shopping and looking at cars again (toying with the idea of buy-back) today I drove around for a while in a 350Z Touring. I can only say TRULY TRULY that I greatly prefer the RX 8. The z was heavy feeling and nowhere nearly as limber - light on its feet. It held the road but it was heavy. The SAME road I drive on daily - road noise was louder and I felt every bump throughout the cabin. The engine sounded great but the handling was nowhere near the same sensation of fun. As soon as I got back to the dealer a guy was looking at my car. He asked me about it and then said don't you miss having any torque? I said not really and I quoted the 0 - 60 z and RX specs.

I know this is long but I have visited 2 other dealerships again on cars of choice and have come back with the same "keep it" conclusion. Tonight on Dateline they had crash test info and one of the cars I looked at was featured = the G35. It was rated as POOR and major damage resulted from the study. Ironically the worst was the Mercedes 500 class - the bumper sprang off the car practically and cause MAJOR damage. MB commented in a letter that the bumper Styling outweighed the functional aspect - WHOA!!! The Mazda 6 did very well. So much for the Infiniti. I bet insurance will climb on those babies.

My greatest concern over the buy-back issue is the resale and future marketability. I e-mailed several car reviewer/writers and have received one reply - "Keep it. It is a very desired car."

The 2005 model should enter its model year with banners waving - great ads and Mazda should carefully review competitive offerings in EVERY area and do an up one better.

 

Illuminating the Homelink buttons would make them a lot easier to use at night. I've been turning on my inside light to find the right button. I haven't focused on whatever else may be needed to improve this car because it's just so darn fun to drive!

 

Make the MP3 player play DVD-R's. I could fit about 700 songs on one disk. Better disk navigation for the MP3 palyer.

I would like the holes in the sun visor to be at a different angle. I can see the lights through it if they are straigt down, but then the road is blocked. A good idea, but poor implementation. For my wife it works perfectly, she is 5'4 and am 6'.

Make the airbag warning lables so they can be removed. I hate having to see a warning when I am in my car. Make it so I can disable the front passenger airbag so i can more safely haul a third child.

 

few more things

"hold to close" and "hold to open" windows and sunroof.
hold the buttons down , lock or unlock, and the windows automatically roll up or down, respectively

telescoping memory steering wheel linked to seats and mirrors
heated steering wheel, TODAY MY HANDS WERE FREEZING!
climate control for driver and passenger
electric passenger w/ lumbar
auto on/auto off headlights
auto dimming side mirrors

mpg gauge w/ current drivable distance w/ tank (or at least have the distance in the nav)

a skip disc function on the steering wheel, like press and hold next track and it goes to the next/previous cd depending on whether you press and hold the up/down buttons (or group folder for the MD player, if it has a group sorting function, which if it doesnt hopefully it will have for '05)

nicer leather seats with better leather and suade for the bolsters instead of rubber, or just textured leather, as long as it gets rid of that rubber and is natural, and aint cloth, the leather doesnt have to be super-high quality, just a little nicer, its nice enough as it is, but you know, it IS an update!

again, these things shouldnt add all that much cost and dont weigh anything really, cause nothing much is being added except some wire, the rest is really replacement of other stuff, and additional programming

the thing that adds the most weight is probably the telescoping wheel
________
No2 Vaporizer

 

As a pre-owner I would like a rear window wiper.

If I get low MPG I will want a bigger gas tank.

milo

 

I have a problem with placing my cell phone.

I would love to see an auto climate control. Set it and FORGET it!

 

I would enjoy (1) 'full functioning' guages, (2) a clothes hook for hanging garments, (3) adjustable lumbar support in the manual seats (driver & passenger), (4) heated outside mirrors all models, (5) power rear windows all models, and (6) cupholders moved from the present location (very obtrusive to my right arm while operating the stick) to somewhere else . . perhaps . . in the dash similar to an Audi design (spring loaded 'pop out' vertical orientation, then twist 90 degrees for horizontal orientation . . and useable cupholder [clean, clever engineering]). One cupholder for driver use, a separate cupholder for passenger use.

All the above are nit-picky observations during my, roughly, 3,500 miles of throughly enjoyable driving experiences. I love my '8'!! An incredibly well engineered automobile.

 

why do you need electric passenger? aren't humans enough? :-)