Mazda 3 Reliability...After all it's just a Ford

[Captain KRM P5]

This was the most stupidest post ever. How can one predict about realiability of something that isn't even out yet???

he was worried that the car was going to be unreliable because it was "just a Ford". there are numerous facts about the car which show it to be precisely the opposite. i think its safe to predict from there that car will be as reliable as any Mazda.

i'm hoping you meant to say that this thread was stupid because I'm finding trouble in seeing what was so stupid about my post.

 

[alexlitov]

No, I mean how can one predict how the car is going to turn out, if it's not even out yet!!!

I hear the next RX-7 is going to be a POS, wait it's not going to be out for a few years yet...

 

[PhreakV]

I personally, am most concerned with "most stupidest" double superlatives don't work very well in english...

as to the ability of everyone to rate the reliability of something that no one here seems to have tested, it is correct that we can't say. the only thing to truly look at is the track record of the platform (i.e. the Protege) and of the manufacturer.

as to Ford's influence on the car, IMO I don't like it overall because using the same parts in so many vehicles (i.e. the Focus, the "3", and whatever else) generally means that quantity and manufacturing price take precedent over quality. I don't think that Ford engineers are retarded, Ford will design good products but management will water down and attempt to create a Ford Inc-favorable quality to cost ratio.

I would suggest waiting until the half model year to begin to judge whether or not the 3 will be reliable. or you could just save yourself some time and money and get a pimpin' P5.

P.S. If you ever talk about my mods as retarded again I will pimp slap your ass into a Hyundai... I bought this car with my own money and I will personalize it to my taste...

edit: that came off a little harsh, its not personal (even though it seemed like it, sorry...) I just can't stand it when others place stereotypes on modded import car owners.

 

[alexlitov]

Where is the list of your mods?

 

[cortez]

I think the Mazda 3 has a lot more in common with the 6 than the Protege, so you can look at the 6 as an indication of its quality, for what it's worth...

 

[wongpres]

Maybe that was too harsh, but I agree w/him.

It was a valid question - why all the fuss?

I would be concerned about a $25K+ purchase too, wouldn't you?

Ok, now let's try to be civil to each other.

Preston, your take?

I've been trying to stay away from this thread, but since you asked, here's my opinion.

The fact of the matter is that the Euro Ford Focus (assembled in Germany) has very good reliability ratings, and it was Ford of Europe (along of course with Volvo and Mazda), that developed this platform. N. America Ford had nothing to do with it, the N. American Focus isn't even getting this platform anytime soon.

But it's also a fact that ANY newly released model (from any manufacturer) will have niggling issues here and there. Mazda (especially Mazda's Japanese plants), tends to rectify these problems along the production line very, very quick though.

Also, although the Mazda3 hasn't reached N. America yet, it's been in production since June. In this particular case, I personally would be comfortable with a vehicle 6 months after production started (in fact that's what I'm doing with my Mazda3 purchase).

 

[LowMileLude]

I'm a young professional who will be dropping 24 + Grand on a car this year. I want to make sure the car I am getting is one that won't give me headaches 2, 3 years down the road.

I wouldn't drop $24k on a Mz3...

They are currently priced at around 16k-17k USD. So Canadian conversion would be a little over 20k.

Even the Mazda.ca has it listed as ~$21,300 CAD

If you WANT to drop 24k + you could always check out the Mazda6... There's a really great car.

If you're worried about dependablity on a new car... do what everyone else does. Wait a year or two and see if any flaws show up.

 

[WeldingHank]

i myself own a Ford Probe. part Ford, part Mazda. i have yet to encounter ANY! large problem with it. it has well over 140K on the engine,tranny, and rest of the vehicle. i would believe that if mazda was to put its name on somthing, it would look it over and test it quite rigorously before it let anything go off the line with the Mazda name on it. i think when Ford and Mazda work together they do wonderful things.



some of you may think that the probe was very un-reliable. but, thats not the truth, if you look at the % of WOMEN who bought this car new, wouldn't that possibly tell you something as to the kind of maitenence it may have recieved? the Probe was an awsome venture between mazda and ford. it won car of the year in 93. and many of these cars see 200K trouble free. if i could afford one, i would definatly get a Mazda 3 for a daily driver.

 

[LowMileLude]

Yeah... my '89 Ford Probe (base) lasted quite a while. Was only a crappy old Nissan Maxima that killed it.

 

[WeldingHank]

i also still own a non-turbo 89 probe. it has well over 200K on it. and still put down 105WHP and 124WTQ. started at 110 and 130 from factory. all i added was a cat-back and an upgraded coil.

 

[spec5protege]

My '93 Probe was the most reliable ride either I or my parents have had. Only fix I needed to apply was a little piece of foam above the air intake; other than that, Ford didn't issue any recalls etc. for the vehicle. I drove that puppy like it was stolen every time I buckled up and turned on the ignition. It treated me soooo right. That's why I'm interested in the mz3 in fact. If I didn't need awd for the winter around here, I'd order one as soon as I could find a good deal. As it is, I might have to stick with the scooby for now. The only thing I needed work on was the brakes, but considering I drove the Probe like I did, I'm surprised I didn't need to replace the pads before 75k...

 

[Doggone]

My brother had a '92 Probe. Nothing but problems.

Had to repalce the head, door locks where going crazy. Need to replce rear disc, calipers.

Piece of s*** Ford.

 

[787B]

It's not just manufacturing, either, doggone, is it?

In fact, as an engineer in the industry, you must be wondering how long before your job gets moved to India or China, I bet.

No, the fact is that domestic brands have alot to learn about quality, not the least of which because they still make decisions based on stock price. Of course, the labor issues (especially things like benefits) are contributors to the domestics' problems with costs, as well. However, it's foolhardy to blame it all on the unions.

I moved to Michigan from California, working in the automotive industry, as well. And, I sense an attitude here that doesn't bode well for the industry being able to survive. People just don't care, yet seem to expect somebody else to care (My wife's nomination for the state slogan for Michigan is "YOU do it..."). I don't know if that's a union attitude or if the unions are the way they are because of this attitude (a chicken or the egg question), but it's there.

 

[787B]

I think that your fears, neomonkey, are legitimate but unfounded.

I don't recall hearing significant problems with the Mazda6, despite it being built in a UAW plant owned by Ford (Flat Rock). And, as for Mazda3, don't mistake the fact that it is the basis for the next Focus and S40 as meaning that it's a Mazda body on Ford mechanicals. From what I hear, it's a vehicle that was engineered, not just built in Japan. Which brings up my last point; it's being built in Japan, where the same workers that built the current generation Protege will be building the M3, probably using the same suppliers that they do with Protege.

Don't discount the importance of place of origin as much as engineering and design.

The fact is that Focus has a much better reputation in Europe than it does here in the U.S.

 

[scott42]

please never refer to a Mazda 3 as an M3...that's almost insulting.

 

[WeldingHank]

Flat rock, SAME plant the Probe came out of for all 9 years of its production.

 

[787B]

Unfortunately, Flat Rock products never met the challenge of other transplant factories here in the U.S. (products never did particularly well in Quality surveys compared to Toyota, Honda plants).

However, having said that, I think the second generation product out of Flat Rock was much better than people gave it credit for.

WeldingHank, are you a welder there?

 

[WeldingHank]

state certified and federally endorsed

 

[Speed3B]

I had a dodge many years ago, It used Ford parts for some of the drive train. They worked well. I think some people just go overboard with the whole name brand hate/love thing.

Ive had 2 toyotas that have gone well over 200k on them. But I also had 1 toyota that was a huge POS.

Its probably more to the point of "Dont buy anything made on a Monday, or a Friday"

 

[corner-hard]

Speaking of the mazda3 sharing parts from the Focus - is their anyway that we can find out what parts the two are sharing?