Are you guys Mazda loyalists?

[misbehave]

I guess I will buy Mazda again cause my next target is a MX-5.

 

[x10dude]

Wow! It was WORKING for GM that tainted their rep to you? That's saying something about the genuine crappy-ness of that manufacturer. But in fairness I'm starting to find some of the recent domestic creations a little bit appealing. Namely the new CTS. The upcoming Camaro, the 2010 Mustang, the 2010 Fusion, the upcoming Fiesta, and...I can't believe I'm saying this, the 2010 Taurus.

When did you stop working for them?

I didn't say the company was bad. In fact many of the engineers were quite good. I met alot of "car-junkies" at GM. They genuinely love everything about cars. It was fun working with them.

It was the union that really bothered me. They cause so much wasted and productivity at GM. For example, we were not allowed to even move a computer in our our office. That was strictly forbidden and we could get written up. We had to fill out a job request (for a union person of course). A facilities coordinator would come out (union guy) and check out what needed to be moved and approve the request. Then finally another guy (union of course) would come out and do it. Of course sometimes if you weren't there to observe they undoubtedly would hook up something wrong and I'd have to go through the entire process again!

A task that would take about 10 minutes took 2-3 days (sometimes weeks) and undoubtedly cost GM a boatload in labor.

That was JUST one of the really wasteful union-rules they had at GM.

 

[Jay Gloab]

I guess I'm an accidental Mazda loyalist. I'm in the process of buying a Mazda5, which will be my fourth Mazda.

My first was my very first car, a 1984 626 that I bought in 1998. A good car that probably had more life in it had I been inclined to try to keep it running. The second was a 1997 626, also bought used, in 2000. This car still runs fine, but is going to be my trade-in when I take delivery of the 5. The third is a 2002 Protege5, bought in 2005, still going strong. The Mazda5 will be my first new car purchase, and the first time that I actually went out specifically to look at a Mazda. The other three were pretty much coincidence -- they met my needs and my budget.

 

[Katner]

I didn't say the company was bad. In fact many of the engineers were quite good. I met alot of "car-junkies" at GM. They genuinely love everything about cars. It was fun working with them.

It was the union that really bothered me. They cause so much wasted and productivity at GM. For example, we were not allowed to even move a computer in our our office. That was strictly forbidden and we could get written up. We had to fill out a job request (for a union person of course). A facilities coordinator would come out (union guy) and check out what needed to be moved and approve the request. Then finally another guy (union of course) would come out and do it. Of course sometimes if you weren't there to observe they undoubtedly would hook up something wrong and I'd have to go through the entire process again!

A task that would take about 10 minutes took 2-3 days (sometimes weeks) and undoubtedly cost GM a boatload in labor.

That was JUST one of the really wasteful union-rules they had at GM.

That's really brutal. I actually feel so bad for GM. You can tell that the company is building better and better cars. It takes more than one generation of good automobiles to re-convince the world that you can roll with the best in the business though. I think a lot of people don't even consider going with a domestic (I'm one of them) when in fact lately there have been some decent entries into the market and they are definitely worth some consideration. Not to mention domestic warranties last forever. But I have to agree. The auto workers union basically puts Ford, GM, and Chrysler in an impossible situation: build world-class cars with more overhead than everyone else. I heard that in Japan labor can cost as little as 1/3 what it does here to build an equivalent automobile.

I guess I'm an accidental Mazda loyalist. I'm in the process of buying a Mazda5, which will be my fourth Mazda.

My first was my very first car, a 1984 626 that I bought in 1998. A good car that probably had more life in it had I been inclined to try to keep it running. The second was a 1997 626, also bought used, in 2000. This car still runs fine, but is going to be my trade-in when I take delivery of the 5. The third is a 2002 Protege5, bought in 2005, still going strong. The Mazda5 will be my first new car purchase, and the first time that I actually went out specifically to look at a Mazda. The other three were pretty much coincidence -- they met my needs and my budget.

I see myself taking a similar path. Almost unintentionally becoming a loyalist. We needed to get a rental car since our 5 was caught in a wreck and I called 4 different places looking for a Mazda6. Finally found an '09 at Hertz I drove past 6 rental lots that were closer to my house just to get the 6. Passed up Fusions, G6's, Malibu's, and even an Altima to get my Mazda rental. In retrospect I'm thinking "I see what's happening here."

 

[Kojack]

I read in an automotive magazine that Mazda is really good at getting new customers but not good at keeping them. With how fun to drive their entire line-up is, I had to wonder how or why that could be. Dealer service scams, sour deals with the business office, maybe broken warranty promises, maybe reliability issues.

I'm basically new to Mazda as my 5 is the first Mazda I've personally owned. Are you guys repeat customers? Or will you be?

Just curious because I'm going to start shopping for a new set of wheels for myself and the first place I plan to look is right here on this side of the fence.

I am getting close....

for a few reasons, 1. the car! they handle great....2. if I buy another mazda I get a loyalty discount, 3....please make that freakin new Mazdapseed 6 available in 2010 for us this side of the pond!.....

thats what will keep me in the brand!

 

[raspykart]

Had an RX7, have a 5, would buy an RX8 if it fit my needs a bit better, dig the miata, considered getting an MS6. They're the most Raced manufacturer, not the most Riced like Honda. Toyota customer service is a circle jerk show. Mazda stays fresh and bold, Toyota is mundane and bland, Honda is trying but they're on course to be like Toyota. Mazda has fun, value, and innovativeness.