2010 Mazda3 unveiled
10-13-08, 08:28 PM
#76
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I had the same thought last year and bought a fully loaded Mazda CX-7. It definitely had the Zoom-zoom appeal and the looks to coincide with it! HOWEVER, in terms of quality, it's a mixed bag. My interior went to crap after 6 months (plastic scratched easily and leather looked worn already and i hardly drove it). The check engine light went on about 2/3 of the time driving me batty! After getting a 09' RAV4 recently, the CX-7 just sits in the garage collecting dust now. Great thought, great design, but execution wise, Mazda has a long ways to go to catch up with Honda/Toyco quality! I don't think I will buy another one anytime soon unless they upgrade from the Ford class they are derived from....
I could be wrong.
Nice pick up!
10-13-08, 08:31 PM
#77
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wat.
Mazda has pretty decent ratings these days. Are those Ford motors under the hoods? Where are all the 2.3L turbo Fords then? Ford doesn't tune or design the suspension either or their cars would be at the level Mazda is at. Its no Lexus or anything on the reliability front, but Toyota has been having plenty of its own issues. As far as handling goes, across the entire model range, only BMW (as far as non-exotic cars go) can be mentioned in the same sentence as Mazda. If you don't believe me, go drive a MS3 hatch and tell me it doesn't outhandle everything short of an M3.
People don't buy a Toyota because of its reliability; if they did they would have stopped buying quite a few of their best sellers a couple years ago. They buy them for their perceived reliability; pig and elephant DNA just won't splice.
Mazda has pretty decent ratings these days. Are those Ford motors under the hoods? Where are all the 2.3L turbo Fords then? Ford doesn't tune or design the suspension either or their cars would be at the level Mazda is at. Its no Lexus or anything on the reliability front, but Toyota has been having plenty of its own issues. As far as handling goes, across the entire model range, only BMW (as far as non-exotic cars go) can be mentioned in the same sentence as Mazda. If you don't believe me, go drive a MS3 hatch and tell me it doesn't outhandle everything short of an M3.
People don't buy a Toyota because of its reliability; if they did they would have stopped buying quite a few of their best sellers a couple years ago. They buy them for their perceived reliability; pig and elephant DNA just won't splice.
I fully respect Mazda for the performance and handling they offer, as well as the "look at me" styling. I just don't like Mazdas personally because they are not for me; they don't match my priorities in terms what I look for in a car.
(except TRDFantasy 
)
10-13-08, 08:34 PM
#78
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10-13-08, 08:36 PM
#79
Pole Position
Last edited by ST430; 10-13-08 at 08:43 PM.
10-13-08, 08:49 PM
#80
Pole Position
They are 2 totally different SUVs in my opinion. The RAV4 exceeds in things you want everyday: gas mileage, adequate power, room, comfort, quietness, etc. The CX-7 is more of a sports car trapped inside a SUV body: sharp handling, great power, cozy quarters, some luxury, etc. The CX-7 real competition is like the Murano, RD-X, and the like, but it's price point is directly inline with the RAV4. I enjoy driving the CX-7, but like the RAV4 for commuting duties much more.
Last edited by ST430; 10-13-08 at 08:53 PM.
10-14-08, 01:05 PM
#82
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Yes and no.....as you note, it depends on model and options, but Mazdas in general (at least the ones not designed by Ford) are not known as "The Poor Man's BMW" for nothing. For street cars, they represent some of the best that Japanese chassis engineers, especially with FWD, can come up with.
10-15-08, 03:04 PM
#83
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But the Altima is beaten? Really? From everything I've read, heard, and experienced, the Altima handles better than the Mazda 6, particularly at highway speeds.
10-15-08, 10:49 PM
#84
wow....lot of Mazda lovers in CL these days....oh well i guess i have to agree, I do love Mazdas....92-94 929s and the 3rd gen rx-7s besides that everything is I guess ok!!...lets get to the reliabilty part again... whats better if you are selling 9million cars and have 100000 defects or 500000 cars and have 50000defects?...well thats the difference, the proportion is what that matters as opposed to the number!!
10-15-08, 10:52 PM
#85
Yes and no.....as you note, it depends on model and options, but Mazdas in general (at least the ones not designed by Ford) are not known as "The Poor Man's BMW" for nothing. For street cars, they represent some of the best that Japanese chassis engineers, especially with FWD, can come up with.
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