Mazda - You Lost Me for 2009!
Mazda, I’ve been a happy 2004 owner of a Mazda 6s sedan v6 for 4 years now. I’ll be done paying for this car in February 2009. I’m actively looking for my next car, even though at nearly 90,000 miles, your Mazda 6s has been fantastic and free of any unexpected visits to the repair shop or dealer.
In fact, that’s one of the reasons I purchased a Mazda over a German counterpart like a BMW 3 series. Reliability. No unexpected repair stops. Being able to enjoy driving everyday, without worrying about breaking down on the road and waiting for a tow.
And now I’ve seen your 2009 version of the Mazda 6. And I’m sorry, but you’ve just lost me as a potential customer for this car.
I could talk a little about the bland, generic styling of the 2009 Mazda 6, with its huge wrap-around plastic headlamps and tail lights. I mean, they are beautiful, if you like plastic over metal for your car. But me, I like metal, sorry. I like functionality in my lamps, first, and styling, second. I can’t imagine what the replacement cost for one of those beasts will be the minute it develops a crack from a highway stone.
Styling is subjective (and I understand you made the looks of the car more generic to better compete with the Accord and Camry), however, so I’ll get down to brass tacks.
The new V6 is a beast, and I think you know that. So much so that you decided not to offer a manual? Huh? For so many of us, a manual is a given. We simply ignore any car that doesn’t offer us one. And here you are, following the herd, and not offering a manual on your most powerful engine (thanks Lexus for the cue!). So it’s a no-brainer for folks like me — you’re out of the running. If I want a 4-banger manual, I have a dozen or more cars to choose from and your overweight 2009 6i isn’t likely to engender any excitement in me.
You see, I’m looking for a sedan that is exciting without rubbing anybody’s face in it. I’m looking for an engine that gets good gas mileage and also has decent power. Your 2004 V6 is sadly lacking in low-end torque, so all you had to do was tweak this engine, give it more low-end torque, and maybe bump up the horsepower a few dozen, like 240 or 250. Keep its good gas mileage (I consistently get 25 mpg in mixed driving).
But no, you went in an entirely different direction because of poor sales. You put out an Accord or Camry wannabe. And honestly, I’m not sure what you’re offering that they don’t already. The new Accord looks more aggressive and well-designed, and throw in its legendary reliability and handling. (The new Camry is a mess, but it’ll continue to enjoy sales anyway.) Nice stuff.
Which is fine, but it’s not for me. If I wanted an Accord or Camry, I’d buy an Accord or Camry.
So when it comes time for me to purchase a new car, you’re off my list.
Maybe you’ll come to your senses and tweak the platform in 2010 with a manual on the V6. That alone would help me consider you once again.