Comments on: Peskett’s Ponderings: Mazda. The happy car company?

By: gearboxdawg

gearboxdawg — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:18:24 +0000

Japanese design philosophy takes more focus into personality, positive energy and like fengshui wants to create positive impressions.

I can see the smiley face is part and parcel of Japanese design. Just as the Chinese are very fond of the number 8 in their rego plates and telephone numbers.

The design philosophy extends to the car headlamps and rear headlights. It has to be created with symbols of luck, fortune and aversion to anything to be seen as unlucky.

If you ask what car a Japanese person will buy, of course they will go for cars which have design that look cool and generate symbols of luck.

You don\’t see any East Asians driving cars with 4, because the number 4 sounds like death in the local language.

By: ozmpsclub

ozmpsclub — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 07:24:58 +0000

I dropped into a Syd Mazda Dealer on Sat and the yard was full of people looking and test driving the new 3…while I was there 5 people walked out of the showroom after signing up for a new 3….I got to drive an auto 3 neo hatch and a manual SP25 sedan….I still prefer the hatch over the sedan…the 2ltr with the 5spd auto surprised me with its smoothness thru the gears…the 6spd man SP25 only had a few hundred kays on it but I was amazed with its raspy exhaust note and its torquness…..the interiors are nicely set out…..well done Mazda on a great small mid size car and sorting out those small issues from the previous model……now just bring on the MPS….as I red one or black will replace my current MPS 3

By: Arcangel

Arcangel — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 05:22:07 +0000

The Japanese for many years have had a superstition about putting “un-happy” faces on cars, inparticular inverting the grill – which was why some were surprised by the agressive grill of the Lancer/Evo. But I think the folks at Mazda a bit cannier than that – think about it – young female buyers are begining to be a significant portion of the new small car market – and “cute” generally will work a treat on that segment.

By: Mr Brooksy

Mr Brooksy — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:01:01 +0000

Completely agree with your thoughts Car Advice.

Thing is though, when you said “Not for 12 year old girls to look at your roadster and say “Awwwww, how cute.”” your forgetting that in 4 years time Mummy and Daddy may just be buying a car for them… which one will they buy?

In another recent article I read in NRMA mag, they tested the Mazda 2 and new Ford Fiesta, the female tester loved the looks of the “2″ and the bloke thought the “Fiesta” looked much better.

I wonder whether Mazda are looking at being the “Marie Claire” of cars, appealing primarily to the female market? Then putting bonnet lumps on them (aka SP models) for the fashionable boys out there?

Give me an aggresive looking sedan anyday of the week, but dare I say it… “we live in a brave new world” dont we?

By: WVB

WVB — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:39:02 +0000

mazda’s engineering always has cred. no question.
but i maintain the pixar grin looks ridiculous and you cant wipe it off………….
I think i’m with you KP on the mild aggressive looks moniker. Take a newish ‘6′. I think the accord euro and even the new liberty have a better direction in the ultimate allround future looks dept IMO.

By: I deg of

I deg of — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:14:10 +0000

Now for the big question: Will the new 3 continue the success of the last? Maybe the sales of the outgoing model was really good in its last months because people prefer it over the new one.

By: Falcodore

Falcodore — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 01:44:59 +0000

Agree Andrew M, most of Mazdas designs seem to age really well. Even thier cars from the early to mid 90s still look good today IMO.

Also, my brother bought a 3 in january and is extremely happy with it after owning a Corolla. Hes always looking for an excuse to go for a drive, even if its just to the shops.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 00:33:13 +0000

Camski,
The last mod mazda 3 is still a good car. IMO it was ahead of the competition before this new gen.
Now they have refined it that little bit more to make a great car to drive a fantastic one, and if you can see the front end as livable, its a hands down winner

Falcadore,
Dont need to question you on build quality what so ever.
I already have no hesitations in buying the 3, I just dont know which one to get.
A runout last mod SP23 for less than the Maxx Sport might even tempt me yet…..And the last gen design seems ageless, its been around a while, and still looks good

By: Camski

Camski — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 23:58:25 +0000

“Awwwww, how cute.” (My reaction to the first pic. of the Mazda 3)

Granted, it looks kinda stretched in that picture, but doesn’t it look cute? =P

Andrew M – That’s really good news about the new generation Mazda 3, the last one set the bar high with a surprisingly engaging drive, tidy interior, sporty exterior design and good build quality. If the new one does this and so much more, looks like Mazda have another winner on their hands.

By: Falcodore

Falcodore — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 12:37:31 +0000

Yeah Andrew M, i know very well about Mazdas resale. My particular car can fetch up to about $6,400, not bad for an 11 year old car.

Oh, and if you want to know about build quality, reliability etc just ask. Will be happy to tell you anything you want to know.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:45:44 +0000

Oh,
And they obviously did work on reducing road noise, and it has paid off

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:42:13 +0000

Falcadore,
Recently Ive been through the small car range

There is a few i wont mention for obvious reasons (waste of time)

Impreza has reasonable seats, but the rest of the interior is pretty hard. It also feels very sluggish.
Also surprisingly the steering is very very light and doesnt give much road feel. Also seemed to be down on a few features.

Lancer has plenty of features for a great price but interior quality looks suspect on below VRX models. Also the CVT model is very sluggish. Also poor rear visibility for a small car

Focus is a great handler, but its looking a bit bland inside. New model outnow, havent driven it yet, but its rearend needs restyling and the interior although looking better doesnt feel as welcoming as the mazda.

(I Drove the Maxx Sport)
Mazda feels very punchy in the old model, and the new model feels even more so. Interior quality also feels good, just like the previous model did. Good road holding like its sister car too.
And if you havent heard, resale is awesome on the mazda.

By: Falcodore

Falcodore — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 11:01:59 +0000

Andrew M, be interested to know what model you tested and why you think its best in class…if you dont mind, thanks.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 09:49:56 +0000

Test drove the new 3 today.

Does look better in the flesh, also chose your colour wisely.
some colours detract from the grin whilst other colours make the grin the focus (pardon the pun).

eitherway, its the best inclass to drive and best interior

By: Ash

Ash — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 06:58:14 +0000

BTW..Mazda have been using this “5 Point” Grille design since the early 2000’s it is just larger…

So, “Happy” cars do sell well, Mazda the largest car importer in Australia and number 4 on the Aussie Charts, Mazda Japan are the 2ND Largest Car exporter in their home country.

Record sales in Europe, China, Russia, Australia before the meltdown…

Must be doing something right?

By: The Salesman

The Salesman — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 04:06:54 +0000

Smile and the world will smile with you. Is this the thinking of Mazda? Its a bold move. But i bet you know that it’s a Mazda well before you see the badge and that’s the desired goal i am sure. Karl mentioned 12 year olds think its cute. Those 12 year olds are going to buy cars one day and if Mazda has done their work properly than Mazda will be on the top of their minds. Along with lollipops and rainbows.

By: Ash

Ash — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:40:16 +0000

Alex says, “I am not an automotive enthusiast”…that is why I own the latest Mazda RX-8!..and soon latest MX-5..I hope…so I will have two GREAT cars…

By: Carl

Carl — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:40:06 +0000

When i first saw the new 3 the first thing that hit me was how exaggerated and ugly that smile was and what a shame such a good car was being spoilt by such a childish design.
in my opinion the Japanese have very particular tastes in car designs and their weird impulses are constantly being controlled by people with better tastes….HOWEVER….every now and then something like this gets out.

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:36:58 +0000

“One of our readers alerted us to this recently….”

Seriously, don’t you read any CA comments???

By: Andrew

Andrew — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 21:26:44 +0000

J, I agree the Mazda is a better looking car but the Golf is not designed for the same target market as the 3 and this is also reflected in price and engine choices.

Maximark, I disagree that if the Golf was the same price as the 3 it would be a top seller. Mainly it has to do with the audience the car is designed for, the Mazda3 targets a more youthful demographic where the Golf’s perceived quality and understated style point it towards different buyers. Then let’s not forget if it was the same price as the 3 it would not have the same high level of engineering or material quality.