Greetings from Las Vegas!

[SoundMessage]

Just found this forum, but have had a 2012 Mazda 2 Touring from May of last year. My wife primarily drives the car, but I've been driving it recently whilst my MINI needs a new clutch.

My major regret - we got an auto instead of a manual. We wanted a manual, but they had none in stock. Since it was to be my wife's daily driver, she decided she was alright with the auto, especially when the dealer dropped the price to match, but now we both wish we'd waited for a manual.

Quick question:

When we first start off in the car, I notice a kind of light "thud" noise coming from underneath the vehicle. Is this normal?

I wish I didn't have to refuel as often as well. The bloody petrol gauge shows empty after about 260 miles. I'm used to getting more than 400 miles per tank in my MINI.

Otherwise, it's a fun little car. My wife, however, keeps reminding me that I'm not in my MINI when I take the bends a little faster than she would do.

 

[genericmoniker]

The fuel tank is quite a bit smaller than the MINI, which would attribute to the discrepancy. Also, traffic in your neck of the woods is horrible, assuming you live anywhere close to the strip. *shrugs*

 

[ngd298]

Welcome to the forum! I can't offer much help on the "thud" noise since mine is a 5 speed, but a lot of automatic vehicles I've driven have the same noise when you first start accelerating, so it could be normal. Wouldn't hurt to have it looked at sometime before the warranty expires though. The small fuel tank is kind of annoying, I guess Mazda does it to save weight, so I guess it's not all bad. One thing I've noticed is that if you "top off" the tank after the pump kicks off (add another $4-5) you will gain an extra 60-80 miles on your range. I know a lot of people don't like to top off their tanks, but I figured I'd throw it out there anyway.

 

[Minimazda]

I have an automatic and have yet to have any sort of "thud" or any sort of noise really. I would just take it to the dealer and have them check it out. It's better to get it looked at then to just ignore it and it ends up being something damaging in the long run (like a month after your warranty runs out it will happen)

 

[DrWebster]

When you first start the car and drive forward, after a few seconds you should hear two clicks (though I suppose you could call them thuds) from the front passenger side of the car, the second one louder than the first. My understanding is that it has to do with the power steering calibrating itself or something similar. Mine has done this since day 1.

 

[CRG Racer24]

Welcome to the Forum! Seems like most things have been covered, that I could've tried to weigh in on at all lol

 

[Jond63]

When you first start the car and drive forward, after a few seconds you should hear two clicks (though I suppose you could call them thuds) from the front passenger side of the car, the second one louder than the first. My understanding is that it has to do with the power steering calibrating itself or something similar. Mine has done this since day 1.

I hear this noise too, and now that you mention it it is the same noise I hear sometimes over drop-away bumps/uneven pavement -- anyone else hear this noise at times other than starting out?