mazda didnt even have any big new offerings for the year, the CX-9 maybe… but they certainly didnt make it by just on that

Good to hear. My brother has a Mazda 6 and its a well made car. Hopefully Mazda’s success will translate to success at Ford as well.

the upcoming mazda 6 is nice, I’m still hoping for a true rx-7 replacement tho, and maybe something like an rx-2 replacement, something small & hatchback, with rwd & rotary

I’m not surprised. They make great cars that are a good balance between form and function. Sportiest line in the business.

not surprise, some of the best looking cars out there. Beats anything from Honda or Toyota in the area of excitement.

I like Mazda, but I wish they’d toss the wankels in the stank-holes.

Now let’s see sales after the Kabura!

These cars are waaaaaay better than any toyota’s or honda’s.

Mazda has been here for years, that 295,000 sales number is pathetic. Too many nice Mazda’s are piling up in the junkyards that people gave up on.

^^^^^Sorry, my dad had a early 90’s 626 I wanted to buy but he sold it, good car. I think their later stuff is too Ford influenced.

295,000 is pretty damn good considering there no where as big as toyota or honda. I have heard some stuff about a possible RX-7 type vehical but the problem is with the new standards its hard to make a rotary/RWD car fit in those standards.

Dude, I’m not an import fan but the mazda’s just don’t look as boring and sucky like toyota’s and hondas. Maybe that’s why thet aren’t doing as good?

BECAUSE THEY MAKE THE BEST CARS IN EVERY CLASS THEIR IN .

It’s good that Mazda embraces the rotary engine technology for those who like them. I think they should be careful where sales are concerned, because those cars should only be driven by drivers and not everyone who just want to jump on the band waggon. For eg. they should never put an automatic trans in the RX8, keep it manual it’s a drivers car. Keep the good products coming.

that is good to hear from mazda. ive always loved mazda’s and i had an ‘04 Mazda3 and it was a great car! i would get another mazda again if i had an opportunity to. good to hear that this company is making it with how it is now, higher gas prices and such.

Don’t apologize, Get Real. My first 3 cars were rotaries starting with a ‘74 RX3. They had some funky cars back then but the public infatuation with the rotary didn’t last long and with good reason. They were and still are thirsty and high maintenance. The reason Mazda sells ‘only’ 295k vehicles is simply their lineup and all the holes in it. The targets they do take aim at however have produced some solid hits over the years. How many people walk into a showroom looking at one thing and end up with something else? A lot of buyers never make it into a Mazda dealer to begin with because they don’t offer every thing under the sun.

Ger Real, exactly how is Mazda “Ford influenced?” They share a platform (except for the Tribute and B-Series), but the 4 cyl MZR engines and rotary are all Mazda. About half the line-up is still assembled in Japan. If anything, it is Mazda influencing Ford with a little input from Volvo as well. In the end, the relationships work. What is wrong with being “Ford influenced” anyway if Mazda gets some working capital out of the deal?

Mazda cars are not like the Jaguar X-type that was a rebadge job. Besides again the obvious Tribute and B-Series, none of the true Mazdas are rebadge. In fact, they have nicer interior than Ford! They also drive nice! And a final note, Mazda actually uses Mazdaspeed to produce performance models that are more than just some ricey side skirts and a spoiler.

295,000 is fine by me. Numbers mean nothing as long as the car drives nice and is reliable. My Mazda dealer said he couldn’t be happier as their inventory actually moves well! While I wish Mazda success, I would hate to drive a car that is too common. Let’s keep Mazda a secret, shall we?

Yeah, I like Mazda’s more than I like any other Japanese automaker, and they do offer some of the sportiest cars in their class. Agreed with gizmo2, do you know that they had to detune the Wankel to 197hp for the auto trans? Pathetic.

I was actually just looking into buying a slightly used RX8 because my current lease is ending by the end of the year. I like the looks, 50/50 weight distribution, superb handling, RWD, pretty decent styling and kick ass interior. Oh and made C&D 10 best for the past like 4+ years. I also got a quote from my insurance and it was pretty good for a foreign sports car, because it has 4 doors it can technically fall out of the 2dr coupe category. Almost had me sold until I saw that it gets horrible gas mileage 14 city 24 highway. AND that rotary drinks the gas and oil, and no low end torque. Not the quickest either. Granted I haven’t test driven one myself. I don’t know, anyone here drive or own one that can tell me otherwise?

oh and of course I was looking into a manual only one.

Johnnycanuck, I don’t see many holes in Mazda’s lineup. A convertible, a sport car, a compact car, a mid-size sedan, a space wagon, a van, a small truck and three SUVs. I would agree that they need to sell the Mazda2 here, as well as update the MPV, maybe a flagship sedan slotting above the Mazda6 (call it Mazda9!!!) So there are three holes, and I think the most urgent one is the Mazda2. It looks good and with gas price going up and up, I don’t understand why it still isn’t here! The Honda Fit is introducing it second generation and Toyota has tried it twice (Echo and now Yaris) and of course the Scion offerings as well.

I remember back in the late 90s, Mazda tried to copy Toyota with the Protege, 626 and Millenia. They were plushy cars and sales dropped. I think the sporty image suits Mazda better. Usually, ride quality is sacrificed for handling and people who buy a Mazda know that. Mazda is not mainstream like Toyota, but it’s not boring either. They should keep it that way and not chasing numbers. Some of the smaller car companies are responsible for the best cars (look at Porsche!). Numbers are overrated and no you don’t have to be big to be profitable (look at the Ford brand and GM, still in RED!)

The corolla is the best selling car in history. It is not a bad, reliable car, but it sucks so bad in features compared to the 3, and the majority of people who drive them drive them slow and cumbersome. That, and the s package is a joke.

Get a top of the line 3 (non mazdaspeed too), and get LED tailamps, HID Xenon low beam headlamps with manual level adjustment, auto A/C, leather, auto headlamps and wipers. How many other cars in their segment feature that? The GTI has the headlamps, but that thing is a oversized POS, and the warranty change proves it.

That, and the 3 is built in Hiroshima Japan. That doesn’t mean US built vehicles suck, but better than Mexico or other money saving places in my view.

Mazda also topped a reliability study in the UK a coupla years back… Solid cars, which are starting to look a bit more adventurous, whereas Toyotas and Hondas are starting to look… weird.

I have an 8 and an MPV. Both are great vehicles. The 8 certainly could do better on mileage but I average 18-20mpg city and have a really good time getting those numbers. The handling is unbelievable. As far as “not being the fastest”, unless you drive a Veyron or Hennessey Viper you will never be “the fastest”. It’s a terrible argument to buy a car.

Sharpie is right though. The 2 needs to get here ASAP and the MPV shouldn’t have died. You should see the new one in Japan! It’s awesome and there’s a Mazdaspeed version too.

18-20mpgs city aren’t too bad. How’s the maintenance on that rotary savedsol? I hear it requires a quart of 5W-20 every month? Does it take synthetic?

Oh and as far as being “the fastest” meant all I did mean was that now-a-days the exceleration of the RX8 isn’t the fastest when now they are making production Cobalt’s that are quicker then a RX8. Also do you store it for the winters? I don’t know where you live obviously so I don’t know if your winters are mild or not in the region you live, but you reccomend getting one? Have you ever done any autocross events in it?

Mazda’s aren’t bad. My brother has a 99 Protege 1.6 motor and he beats on it everyday, has done many cross country roadtrips, it now has 240k on it, just drove 3000 miles with it to the Yukon Territory and made it just fine. And yes, it still has all its original parts except for a new battery, and water pump which they recommend changing when you put in a new timing belt.