Well, I just spent 1 and a half hours talking to this district manager. My brain is still kinda in a blur about everything that happened so bare with me
He was a nice guy. Could talk the ears off of anyone.....typical salesman type without the b.s.
Mazda is now fully aware of the problem. they have admitted to receiving complaints about the MP3. I made sure to clearly state there is more then one problem, and he listened to everything. I identified each problem, and made sure he understood. He took notes the entire time, and told me that whatever I say is going straight to the head techs in Canada and will be used in finding the fix. I presented him with a list of solutions that we have thought of here.
They have called in every Master Tech they can get their hands on to get this fixed asap. It has now become a priority to find a fix as of this week. I arranged to have them look at Toronto_Raj's car. They are getting it on Monday. He stressed over and over that the guys that are going to fix this problem have been aware of it for sometime, and they are extrememly highly trained, work on F1 cars, cart racing, amongst other forms of racing. One of the them is being pulled away from Bermuda this weekend, and flying to Canada to handle the situation 1st hand. He already seems to have a solution as he's known about the clunk himself for sometime and claims to know why it's doing it. His idea involves some sort of bearing type of bushings that will allow the sway bar to move more freely without noise, but might stiffen the ride some.
I as you all know have been in contact with Racing Beat over and over. While most of the stuff they have told me in confidence that I wouldn't spread it over the internet, I can say the President, and chief Engineer from Racing Beat is flying to Canada as well to look into the proper fix. he told me this today, and knows I'm the one that has been talking to them off and on. Mazda claims they too may have a fix, but I have not heard anything from Racing Beat for a while. Last I heard, they were sending my sample bushing to their manufacturer to see about getting urethane bushings fabricated.
I brought up the idea of greaseable bushings like the energy suspension ones as well as other ideas, like the bushings being wrong diametre, a different diametre on one side then the other, bushings being too far on the inside of the and should be further out, cheap plastic endlinks. All of which he listened and pretty much agreed with.
Basically, they are not interested in a greaseable bushing as it's is a "lame attempt at a proper fix" as he stated. Same thing for the powder coating idea, teflon tape, and everything else we've all tried and discussed here. They are serious about finding a permanent fix without the "slap something together mentality" I'm not one to sit and listen to bulls*** easily, but I felt that he was very serious and telling the truth.
My manager took me aside before the meeting and said to me that they've been in conference calls all day, heck all week
Is his own words
"I don't know what you did, or how you did it, but you've got some serious s*** going on now. In my 20+ years of the auto industry I've never seen any customer get this much s*** going on....racing beat, Mazda of Canada, every Master Tech, district manager getting together...WOW...good job"
So, rest assured something is going to be done about the clunk. I basicaly said this
Priority one get the clunk fixed. next is the squeaky struts ( we both agreed it's got to be some sort of lubrication needed), and then it's the squeaky bushings.
I have not personally been offered anything. MY concern was really to get this thing fixed. Afterall, if I get a Mazdaspeed, it's going to need the same fix as well. I did walk out of this whole thing with mixed emotions. I told them that if they don't step to the plate and offer me something, my next car is a Honda. He didn't like that much, but he got the point loud and clear.
I also stated that if they think the car is going to be fixed quickly their wrong. So he suggested what I thought they should do. I told him in summary, find a fix, but don't call it "fixed" until a good month or two later at least. It's nothing to put on another set of bushings, think it's fixed, only to have it come back a month later. He wanted me to specifify about how many miles/kms I usually get out of the newest bushings....I found this very hard to answer, as it's been so varied.
My car is NOT going to TO. He didn't blame me for not wanting to do it, even said he wouldn't personally. Although, I've been told by a number of head mazda guys now that Mazda has NEVER suggested railing a car back to TO to ever get fixed. The expense would be upwards of a few thousand at least just for shipping, and another small fortune to give me a rental for 4-6 weeks. I think that alone shows they are serious about this. now it looks like Toronto_Raj is going to enjoy the "rental car" I have not talked to him since, but I'm told they have contacted him. PM me what they said dude!
At one point before this meeting we were trying to trade my car for a speed, but opted not to do it yet. I will do so when the grey speeds are relased, but only assuming I approve of how they handle this situation from this point on. I'm still not %100 sure I want to take the chance on getting another Mazda and having this happen all over again. But my dealer is AMAZING!, and I would like to deal with them again.
My hands are tired, I need supper, and I gotta crap, I'll finish this later on.
Oh, before I go.....there was one point where he was trying the "I think only canada is having this problem....bla bla bla....and I yanked out my papers from inside my jacket ( he couldn't see them until I did this and was VERY surprised ) and I handed him your emails, info as promised. He took them, and assured me they will be passed onto the proper people so you guys may be contacted. I'd imagine he's only taking care of the Canadian ones first, but I had stressed that the US not be ignored.
So, your emails worked! Thanks straight from my heart. I felt I wasn't alone while talking to this guy, and it helped when he started reading through some of them. We should all be proud, but we need to be very patient. A permanent fix is on the way, no fooling around this time I hope. They are going to be constantly in touch with me, or at least he says, and I told him if they have any questions, email asap, and I'll do whatever I can. he was amazed at the sheer knowledge that I had about the car, and we even got to talking about some others cars and stuff, and he seemed like a true "car guy" and not just some suit.