AutoWeek Review of the Mazda3
- Thread starter rktktpaul
- Start date
787B said:
I really appreciate your candor on this subject. Admittedly, I am finding that I am drawing judgement on a car that I have never seen in "metal", and without any real reference against other cars on the street. I guess that's part of the pitfall of joining a discussion - you wind up forming an opinion justified or not.
I also had the same revelation as your cohorts did regarding the RX-8; when MNAO sent out those e-mails announcing the release of the car, I was at first turned off by it. Now that I've actually seen it up close at the dealership, I'm starting to grow pretty fond of it.
jjac28 said:
Because the 323/Familia (the overseas name for the N. American Pro/Pro5) has been out for 5 years and is selling very, very poorly.
The Pro5 only 'seems' new to N. America because it was introduced to the N. American market 3 years after it was introduced everywhere else in the world.
jjac28 said:
The 323/Familia is selling poorly in both Europe and Japan because it's very outdated and it's competitors are much better (heck, even two years ago, I wouldn't get it if I were overseas, there are better alternatives).
Overseas, what is our Pro5 came out with the sedan, so this design has now reached it's 5-year lifespan (which is the typical lifespan of this type of car). The pre-refresh version of the familia wagon would have been laughed at in N. America, hence it was only introduced after the generation refresh in 2001 (though they called it a 2002 in N. America), and they significantly sportened up for N. America.
Your statement about shooting the Mazda management is 100% incorrect. In bringing in the Pro5, they single-handedly introduced this now hot segment to N. America. They did exactly the right thing at the right time.
Edit: Spelling mistake
Last edited:
Right on... the P5 was a bold move on Mazda's part, especially given the fact that the Protege' had basically been a bit player in this market. Despite the fact that it was one of the best sellers in Mazda's line-up here, it didn't really have much of a distinctive position in the marketplace here until mid-way through it's cycle, about the time the P5 showed up.
Anybody remember that the Protege5 was first shown as a "concept" here in the U.S. as the Protege AllSport with AWD? I think it was the 99 Detroit Motor Show...
] http://www.autoworld.com/news/Mazda/ProtoWag.htm
If I'm not mistaken, the U.S.-market P5 wasn't even as sophisticated as the vehicles that it replaced in other markets. The previous Familia-based 5-door was the Lantis, available in other markets with a silky-smooth, high-revving 170hp 2.0L 24V V6 and with a sleek fastback exterior. Even the previous generation, the Astina, was a really cool car (given when it came out, in 1989) and probably could have been successful here. Kind of like a first generation Acura Integra 5-door (not the Quint Integra)...
Here's a link to a danish website dedicated to these cars (including the current car): http://www.323f.dk/[/URL
Anybody remember that the Protege5 was first shown as a "concept" here in the U.S. as the Protege AllSport with AWD? I think it was the 99 Detroit Motor Show...
] http://www.autoworld.com/news/Mazda/ProtoWag.htm
If I'm not mistaken, the U.S.-market P5 wasn't even as sophisticated as the vehicles that it replaced in other markets. The previous Familia-based 5-door was the Lantis, available in other markets with a silky-smooth, high-revving 170hp 2.0L 24V V6 and with a sleek fastback exterior. Even the previous generation, the Astina, was a really cool car (given when it came out, in 1989) and probably could have been successful here. Kind of like a first generation Acura Integra 5-door (not the Quint Integra)...
Here's a link to a danish website dedicated to these cars (including the current car): http://www.323f.dk/[/URL
dugrant153
Member
- :
- Slow
What we need is some JDM stylin' and tunin' for our Mazdas.
The last P5 has got to be the coolest Protege (and even coolest car) of its generation (within it's economy class, of course).
What we be needin' is an AWD, 165-hp Mazda 3... for a base model. Then add a turbo model
The last P5 has got to be the coolest Protege (and even coolest car) of its generation (within it's economy class, of course).
What we be needin' is an AWD, 165-hp Mazda 3... for a base model. Then add a turbo model
- :
- 2002 BJFW, 2007 BK3P, 1979 SA22C, 2005 BK3P
the new 3 is a tad heavier (i think 400 lbs.) than the old Protege 
will this obesity issue cancel the effect of any added horsepower?
will this obesity issue cancel the effect of any added horsepower?a little, but not much. the power/weight ratio is still better than the current Pro.
also, with more power, the car should be affected less by more people/cargo weight inside...more ponies to divvy up the work!
in reality, i think my ES has enough power to make it fun when i wanna and keep me out of trouble. what i'm looking forward to is a smoother, freer revving egine and better transmission. if my current powertrain were as slick was a honda's, it'd be just about perfect.
also, with more power, the car should be affected less by more people/cargo weight inside...more ponies to divvy up the work!
in reality, i think my ES has enough power to make it fun when i wanna and keep me out of trouble. what i'm looking forward to is a smoother, freer revving egine and better transmission. if my current powertrain were as slick was a honda's, it'd be just about perfect.
