Glaring Omission

[Eugeosyncline]

Point of daft curiosity:

How can an auto company offer a Nav system on their lowest end, North American compact car, and NOT on their flagship mid-sized sedan?

(smash) (hand)

 

[t3ase]

target audience.

 

[Dexter]

Gays.

 

[ZoomZoomH]

UAW doesn't know how to install Nav.....

 

[wongpres]

Point of daft curiosity:

How can an auto company offer a Nav system on their lowest end, North American compact car, and NOT on their flagship mid-sized sedan?

(smash) (hand)

Economics:

- The factory requires special stations/tooling to install the NAV (it's not as simple as simply dropping in a screen and DVD into the appropriate places). This tooling requires a certain amount of investment
- At this moment in time, NAV systems are widely used in Europe & Japan. Use of NAV systems in N. America is insignificant
- All world-wide Mazda3's are assembled in the same plant (Hofu plant 1). As such, there is enough world-wide demand that it's justified to install NAV tooling at this plant. This also applies to Hofu plant 2, which assembles Mazda6's for everywhere except for N. America and China
- Because use of NAV systems in N. America is insignificant (and almost non-existant in the Mazda6 class), there simply isn't enough volume for this option to justify the tooling costs at Flat Rock

I know what you're saying, so why can Honda, GM and others do it even for their N. American assembled vehicles. And the answer to that is:

- Flat Rock makes less cars (volume-wise) than virtually all the plants in N. America
- Honda and GM, etc. all have a premium brand whereas Mazda does not
- quite simply, Honda and GM, etc have much, much deeper wallets than Mazda (so they can invest in this tooling earlier than Mazda)

So because of the economics and assembly location, the Mazda3 can have NAV while the Mazda6 can't. But this is just for the moment. NAV use in N. America is growing and Flat Rock is going to reach maximum capacity by the end of this year after they add the third of 3 new products ('05 Mustang, Mazda6 Sport and Sport Wagon). So with these developments, installing NAV tooling will become more and more justifiable.

 

[lgagno1]

yes, exactly

 

[Eugeosyncline]

Ahh, Good Show!

Thanks for the info behind Mazda6 omissions. Although there obviously is a logistical reason behind it, it's still rather offensive to consider Mazda's mid sized car, one that is supposed to be a step up from their compact (and one Mazda has hyped as their pride and joy-- and close to 10k more in price), offers fewer features than a supposed lesser vehicle. Not the biggest deal by any means-- I just find it weird, personally.

And as a slight aside, just a nitpicking point-- All the Mazda3's I've seen thus far are coming out of the Hiroshima plant, not Hofu... At least that's what the ID sticker indicated inside each door panel I looked at. All 3 3's I saw were made in 10/03 at the Hiroshima plant.... (which was surprising to me since I too had read that Hofu was where they were to come from...)

Anyway, slightly off topic...

 

[t3ase]

Gays.

(lol)

 

[wongpres]

Re: Ahh, Good Show!

Thanks for the info behind Mazda6 omissions. Although there obviously is a logistical reason behind it, it's still rather offensive to consider Mazda's mid sized car, one that is supposed to be a step up from their compact (and one Mazda has hyped as their pride and joy-- and close to 10k more in price), offers fewer features than a supposed lesser vehicle. Not the biggest deal by any means-- I just find it weird, personally.

And as a slight aside, just a nitpicking point-- All the Mazda3's I've seen thus far are coming out of the Hiroshima plant, not Hofu... At least that's what the ID sticker indicated inside each door panel I looked at. All 3 3's I saw were made in 10/03 at the Hiroshima plant.... (which was surprising to me since I too had read that Hofu was where they were to come from...)

Anyway, slightly off topic...

All Mazda3's are assembled in Hofu plant 1. They write Hiroshima on the stickers because Hofu is a small town that's only about 130km from Hiroshima so they just label it with the more known city (Hiroshima is also the corporate home of Mazda). And this is confirmed from both the Mazda3 VIN's and also various press releases from Mazda.

The RX-8, Miata, and MPV are assembled in Hiroshima plant 1.

 

[muohio]

This actually happens with GM vehicles and Toyota. For example, the Vibe/Matrix can come with a NAV system, but you won't find one in the Gran Prix which is very similar to the Mazda3/6 scenario. The Matrix came with NAV from the start, but the Camry is just adding it.

 

[CharlieDigital]

Another omission?

You would think that all car companies would offer this by now (or at least as an option):

Auto off headlights

How much $$ could it possibly take to add this feature? Heck I'd pay $100 for it if it were an option and I know it doesn't even cost close to $100 to produce and implement. Just think about the parts and R&D involved...virtually nil. It's so annoying when I get out of my gf's car and hearing that loud beeeeeeeeeeep.

From a logic standpoint it's totally trivial:
1) key is out of the ignition
2) door is open
3) wait n seconds
4) if key is still not in ignition, turn lights off and stop beeping!

 

[Da 6]

the lights in the 6 are auto turn off....when you turn car off and open door the car emitts a "Hey Jackas You Left the Lights On" Tone and after IIRC 30 seconds they shut off....and don't come back on till you turn the key to run position. now my question is what about hids?

 

[alexlitov]

My lights turn off automatically when the key is out of the ignition and you open the door. No need for the beep or the wait..