Condensed Review: 2011 Mazda2
09-12-10, 07:52 PM
#16
They are very very very similar cars, only difference is how they wanted to market their cars in the USA, and hence engines and transmissions they offered here.
09-12-10, 07:56 PM
#17
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
with japanese small cars, you can move rear seats and flat fold them as well... in this aspect, ford/mazda are designed as if it is 80's. they also have less usable space at the back, if you compare them directly... but once again, they sell well in europe because they look good.
I don't follow you. Do you mean REmove the seats, and take them out? No subcompact sold in the American market, that I know of, has that feature....even the versatile Mini Clubman. And it you mean fore/aft movement of the rear-seat like in some luxury cars, subcompacts simply don't have the space for that.Just because I'm not aware of that feature in any U.S.-market small cars, though, doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist. If you show me an example, I'll stand corrected.
09-12-10, 08:35 PM
#18
Lexus Fanatic
The Fiesta had a 6-speed, twin-clutch automated-manual gearbox (two more gears than the Mazda2's 4-speed). And, while yes, it was more efficient and gave better MPG by about 3 or 4 MPG, it's smoothness, from low-speed surging, didn't impress me, and the acceleration, especially starting up and at low RPM, didn't feel much different from the Mazda2's.
I do agree with you, though, that cost-control is a factor with 4-speed automatics (and sometimes underhood space for the gearbox itself) compared to those transmissions with more gears.
I do agree with you, though, that cost-control is a factor with 4-speed automatics (and sometimes underhood space for the gearbox itself) compared to those transmissions with more gears.
Smoothness of multi-speed (additonal speeds totaling 6/7/8 speeds)transmission has nothing to do with the low-speed surging of particular cars (Fiesta or in some cases some of the many complaints logged with dual clutch trannys). Smoothness is actually enhanced with closer ratios, and less lurching and less loud 4 cylinder reving noise when down-shifting for passing, because the multispeed tranny can drop to a more ideal gear for optimal use of powerband.
Short answer, the 4 speed tranny is cheap.
09-13-10, 12:41 AM
#19
"Move" rear seats? I don't follow you. Do you mean REmove the seats, and take them out? No subcompact sold in the American market, that I know of, has that feature....even the versatile Mini Clubman. And it you mean fore/aft movement of the rear-seat like in some luxury cars, subcompacts simply don't have the space for that.
Just because I'm not aware of that feature in any U.S.-market small cars, though, doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist. If you show me an example, I'll stand corrected.
I don't follow you. Do you mean REmove the seats, and take them out? No subcompact sold in the American market, that I know of, has that feature....even the versatile Mini Clubman. And it you mean fore/aft movement of the rear-seat like in some luxury cars, subcompacts simply don't have the space for that.Just because I'm not aware of that feature in any U.S.-market small cars, though, doesn't necessarily mean it doesn't exist. If you show me an example, I'll stand corrected.
09-13-10, 09:31 AM
#20
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
There are a number of small, Fiesta size, cars that have this feature. The rear seats are mounted on rails and you can slide them back to give you extra legroom in the rear, or you can slide them forward to increase the cargo area in the rear. Two that come to mind are the Nissan Note and the Renault Modus (both based on the same platform). The feature is very useful in the Note (a very under-rated car IMO), where with five doors and the seats slid back it can comfortably accommodate 4 six-footers.
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