Mazda 2 Thread: US-2 Pricing Announced, Starts at $14,730

[Sniffs]

uh, what?

you have GOT to be kidding me, there's no way in hell that americans are gonna put up with three doors very long. they may have to badge it as a Mini MPV to get sales

 

[Jim Prower]

Well, gee. How much would it cost me to get a phase I front clip for this thing?

Or maybe I should just get a Fiesta. 4-door. to piss the europeans off. X3

 

[YSSMAN]

That isn't just what the US version will look like. It's also what the rest of the world will get, which means it's another recent Mazda that looks slightly worse than it's predecessor (alongside the facelifted MX-5 and the new 3). That said, the 2 hasn't suffered as much as those two.

The update on the 2 and MX-5, generally speaking, isn't nearly as brutal as what has been done to the likes of the 3 and CX-7/CX-9. I think the 6 is the only vehicle that has entirely escaped the ugly stick with this new, rather idiotic design language.

 

[homeforsummer]

The update on the 2 and MX-5, generally speaking, isn't nearly as brutal as what has been done to the likes of the 3 and CX-7/CX-9. I think the 6 is the only vehicle that has entirely escaped the ugly stick with this new, rather idiotic design language.

I'm not keen on the current MX-5's design, the goofy face has taken it further from the original look than anything previously. The original NC was a good "remake" with the thin headlights and the round-ish grille. The current one looks like it's had one botox too many.

We don't get the CX-9 over here but we do get the CX-7. I didn't realise it had been "updated" but I've just looked on the UK Mazda site and it doesn't look too different in my eyes. It's certainly more successful than the other updates. You're right though, the 6 is currently the most pleasing. Even the 5 looks okay too.

 

[YSSMAN]

The US-2 Has a Price: $14,730

Yowzers... That's a hell of a deal. While the Mazda comes up a few ponies short of the Fiesta, I'd be willing to give that up when the Mazda comes out of the box more than $1000 cheaper than the starter five-door Ford. Given the fact that it has dodged the ridiculous face and will likely continue to pack in the awesome driving experience that I would generally expect, yeah, I think I'd (almost) rather have a Mazda2 than the Fiesta. I'll have to drive both back-to-back to make any kind of reasonable decision.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Bump.

Take one Mazdaspeed3 2.3L turbo engine, add in a 2,300lb Mazda2 = freaking awesome.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/02/mazda-turbo2-concept-promises-forced-induction-frolicking/

 

[niky]

The car itself isn't new. I heard about it a long while back, but it didn't do very well in One Lap... hampered by mechanical (possibly heat) issues.

Hopefully they've ironed out the kinks... that is one amazing little car!

 

[Prosthetic]

Not usually a big fan of cars with smiles, but this one is freakin' awesome. Looks great and is probably loads of fun to drive.

 

[Keef]

I love Mazda. Big turbo engine in a tiny car? Hell yes.

 

[PureAwesomeness]

I hate Mazda. I owned an MPV, which at the time was their top-of-the-line model. Driving home one night there were strong winds and something hit the rear tail lamp and smashed it. Took it to the Mazda dealer who told us that we would need to replace the entire rear light fitting. Even though the bulbs were still in tact, he claimed that they only sold it as a set. Paid the money and got it fixed. Only to find out from a different dealer 6 months later that I could have bought the light cover on its own for less than half the amount I paid.
I don't doubt that they make some fun cars to drive but they lag far behind Nissan and Toyota in terms of quality.

 

[Coxis]

I'm rather surprised they're bringing this to the american market, what with the compact car segment being almost unexistent.

 

[Keef]

I don't doubt that they make some fun cars to drive but they lag far behind Nissan and Toyota in terms of quality.

A friend of mine is a Mazda tech at a dealer near Cincinnati, and he's always bitching at management for work. The new cars never break so they don't have enough work to fill the week.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I don't doubt that they make some fun cars to drive but they lag far behind Nissan and Toyota in terms of quality.

Are you serious?

 

[eSZee]

I hate Mazda. I owned an MPV, which at the time was their top-of-the-line model. Driving home one night there were strong winds and something hit the rear tail lamp and smashed it. Took it to the Mazda dealer who told us that we would need to replace the entire rear light fitting. Even though the bulbs were still in tact, he claimed that they only sold it as a set. Paid the money and got it fixed. Only to find out from a different dealer 6 months later that I could have bought the light cover on its own for less than half the amount I paid.
I don't doubt that they make some fun cars to drive but they lag far behind Nissan and Toyota in terms of quality.

Sounds to me like you hate the d-bag dealer, not mazda.

 

[Prosthetic]

I'm rather surprised they're bringing this to the american market, what with the compact car segment being almost unexistent.

Lolwut?

Compact cars are huge here.

 

[PureAwesomeness]

Sounds to me like you hate the d-bag dealer, not mazda.

Well certainly my experience with the dealer didn't help. But at least over here in Japan, Mazdas are considerably cheaper than other makes. Strictly speaking there is nothing wrong with them but I just get the feeling that the materials they use are cheaper, flimsier and less well put-together than their rivals. Little things like the (lack of) weight of the door when you close it and trim coming detached after only a few years of careful driving. I know there are a lot of people on GTP who love Mazdas so I won't say anymore!

 

[eSZee]

Sort of how Suzuki is perceived, then? The materials used are of slightly poorer quality but the cars themselves are still just fine.
I'm not gonna lie, but the whole thing with Subaru being green and having super clear factories and stuff, sort of makes me feel they are this way as well. Their paint is awful cause they use older methods of applying the water based paints to comply with their green image. The interiors are crap, the engine tuning from the factory has been fracked for the past few years just to meet emission standards.
What were we talking about again?

 

[niky]

Well certainly my experience with the dealer didn't help. But at least over here in Japan, Mazdas are considerably cheaper than other makes. Strictly speaking there is nothing wrong with them but I just get the feeling that the materials they use are cheaper, flimsier and less well put-together than their rivals. Little things like the (lack of) weight of the door when you close it and trim coming detached after only a few years of careful driving. I know there are a lot of people on GTP who love Mazdas so I won't say anymore!

The only thing fundamentally wrong with new Mazdas (or even with 90's and 00's Mazdas) is the rubber used in the bushings and engine mounts is crap. (Not that this is unique to Mazda... the first generation Fit had horrible rubber bushings in the front suspension and second generation CR-Vs busted engine mounts all the time... could be worse... I replaced CV Joints on my Sentra more often than I replaced clutches on my Protege...)

Otherwise, they're fine. The door slams on older ones are tinny, but the interiors of my Mazdas have worn better than the interiors on similar Honda and Toyota models we've had in our family. 120,000 kilometers on and the only thing wrong with the interior of my current one is the (Italian Nardi) leather steering wheel is fraying at the seams, there's a bit of scuffing on the silver plastic on the door card and the driver's back support has lost some firmness. At just 60,000 kilometers, the leather wheel on the Honda is actually peeled raw in places, the leather(ette) on the door cards and arm-rests is bubbled and coming off and the silver trim on the door handles is rubbing off. I dread to see what it'll look like in another 60,000 kilometers.

Don't get me started on the first Toyota test unit we had for the magazine. At 40,000 kilometers, one of the rear headrests had crumbled into foam dust and the silver plastic trim was in even worse condition.

The door slams on a new Mazda2 are tinny, but that car is the lightest in its class. You can really feel where they saved weight, and the 1.3 hatchback, in particular, is a joy to drive.

If you want to compare luxury models, the CX9 is hella better (in terms of refinement, quality and material feel) than the Pajero, Pilot and whatever ancient ladder-frame Toyota is peddling in the same segment in your market region.

Mazdas cheap? Not any more than any other Japanese cars of similar price.

 

[RocZX]

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Was just about to post that! I'm actually planning on picking up a sweet little red 2012 5 door at the end of the week. Base model with 5 speed. Best driving small car there is. Period.

Goal:

Perhaps not those exact wheels. Thinking Work Meister knockoffs in 15" variety. Just need to find those side skirts.

 

[RocZX]

Toyota-Branded Sub-Compact Based on the Mazda2 for North America

The two companies made the announcement today stating that the as-of-yet, unnamed model will begin production around the summer of 2015 at a pace of 50,000 units per year and will be sold through Toyota dealerships in North America.

"Through the agreement, TMC [Toyota Motor Corporation] aims to strengthen its North American vehicle line-up, while Mazda aims to increase production efficiency and contribute to its profitability," the two Japanese carmakers said in a common statement.

It is believed that the Toyota model will be based on the next generation of the Mazda2, Toyota spokesman Dion Corbett clarified that it will be a new offering that will not replace another model in the brand's range (the Yaris in particular). "This is part of our attempt to broaden the North American lineup," said Corbett.

CarScoop

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

Uh...hmmm. I don't know what to think about this.

 

[Tornado]

It won't replace the Yaris?


Good heavens, why not?

 

[CodeRedR51]

It won't replace the Yaris?

Good heavens, why not?

Agreed.

Seems like that's all car makers do now. Every re-design of a car they make it bigger, which then requires them to come out with a whole new car to fill the size gap from the other model. If the Protege (Mazda3) , Corolla, etc stayed their original sizes, we wouldn't need the Mazda2 or the Yaris. Now they want to slot cars under those? Just quit making the cars you have bigger!

 

[niky]

Actually, you'd have to go all the way back to the 1990 323 to find a sedan as light as the Mazda2. Current Mazdas buck the trend by getting lighter in each generation for the same space or more. I suspect Toyota won't replace the Yaris with the Mazda2 clone because it will be smaller than the next-generation Yaris.

Maybe. Or maybe, like the CX5, it'll pull a Honda Fit and give more space with less footprint and less weight.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Uh...hmmm. I don't know what to think about this.

The accountants at Mazda are very happy that Mazda is doing this.

 

[homeforsummer]

It won't replace the Yaris?

Good heavens, why not?

Huh. I wrote about this earlier today and it said nothing of the Yaris in the press release, but if that's what Toyota has clarified then that's what it's clarified.

By 2015 when the new model goes into production the current Yaris will be 5 years old, just shy of the typical 6-year model cycle. The Mazda2 will be 8 years old, which is a bit older than is typical. I was expecting it to replace both - an ageing 2 and a slightly dowdy Yaris.

Why Toyota needs three subcompacts (Yaris, Prius C, new guy) is beyond me.

One possibility could be a deliberately sporty or style-led model, I suppose - gives the Yaris room to move up in size with the next generation car, and the new one can remain compact and sporty to tempt people away from Fiestas and MINIs.

Just quit making the cars you have bigger!

While it's irritating to us, it also makes good business sense.

For most customers, the car they want to buy next is the car they already have. You could up-sell an existing Yaris buyer to a Corolla and they'd likely be as happy as they were with the Yaris, but there's still that element of the unknown. If the Yaris has been good to them, then they'll be happy to buy another Yaris... just a Yaris that's a big bigger, better equipped, faster etc. Much easier to sell cars like that.

And because it works so well, cars keep growing. And carmakers slot cars beneath them to fill the gap left by larger models.

It used to annoy me that cars were getting bigger and heavier, but really it doesn't matter that much. It's not like small, light cars have disappeared entirely - they just have different names. A guy who wants a Mk1 Volkswagen Golf for the modern age can just buy a Volkswagen Up instead (well, not in the U.S, but you get my drift).

 

[CodeRedR51]

While it's irritating to us, it also makes good business sense.

For most customers, the car they want to buy next is the car they already have. You could up-sell an existing Yaris buyer to a Corolla and they'd likely be as happy as they were with the Yaris, but there's still that element of the unknown. If the Yaris has been good to them, then they'll be happy to buy another Yaris... just a Yaris that's a big bigger, better equipped, faster etc. Much easier to sell cars like that.

I disagree. Why make the Corolla the size of a Camry in 10 years if someone could just buy a Camry. This "unknown" stuff is crap, IMO. Still a boring Toyota sedan.

 

[sumbrownkid]

My inner Indian is raging at your contempt of the Camry R1600.

 

[homeforsummer]

I disagree. Why make the Corolla the size of a Camry in 10 years if someone could just buy a Camry. This "unknown" stuff is crap, IMO. Still a boring Toyota sedan.

You can disagree all you like - it's fairly basic psychology. People stick with what they know. Carmakers know this even if you "disagree" with it, and giving buyers quantifiable benefits like more space, equipment, performance etc are fairly easy ways of improving the chances of repeat sales - or indeed, drawing in customers from other, similarly-growing vehicles.

On another level, moaning about it is fairly irrelevant in the first place since you're presumably not in the market for a "boring Toyota sedan", nor a Toyota Yaris as discussed here. And the success Toyota, Volkswagen et al have had shifting Corollas and Golfs over the last three decades or more suggests the increasing size and weight of the cars hasn't really harmed their sales.