Mazda… A Simple Modern Vehicle

[RANDY P]

On an Alfa Romeo if you disconnect the sensor for RH hood latch the auto stop gets disabled

rjp

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

On an Alfa Romeo if you disconnect the sensor for RH hood latch the auto stop gets disabled

rjp

That’s the current work around with the chevys.


I’ll take the chip shortage excuse leaving the factory without it.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Flat Six

I too had a 1983 GLC. Hatchback in white. My first ever new car off the dealer lot. Drove great, so cheap to fuel and maintain. Many miles, many stories. Thanks for the flashback.

My first new car as well. As much as I enjoyed the 2002, I really needed something reliable and the A/C!

My flashback is the Hollowform River Chaser kayak, a Tom Johnson design, on top of the GLC. Wow.

They have made some improvements

I sold it in 1991 and bought a Perception XLT kayak that I still paddle in minor stuff and in surf.

It has been a minute.

[Alan A]

Odd thread to pop up.
Next suv is likely to be either a CX-70 or a -90.
Depends on whether SWMBO wants 2nd row captains chairs.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by id10t

Wifes cruise control is unusable in any kind of traffic. Autobrakes kick in going around curves with oncoming traffic and at the bottom of steep hills

Winshield wipers delay system is unusable - it speeds up if a little more water is on the windshield but it never slows down. And you cant disable the autospeed up (dont think this is a fed thing)

Add in not being able to charge my phhone without it going into carplay mode etc - all I want it to do is charge the darn thing

That sucks. My wife's 2018 Outback has an adaptive cruise system that works really well. I've never had it get confused by cars in other lanes, on curves, etc...

My '08 Boxster has great adaptive wipers 98% of the time. Occasionally, they run more than I like, but that's never a surprise, like if there's a heavy mist or spray from cars in front or my wipers need to be cleaned or replaced.

I don't get all of the hate for CVTs. For all of the folks that hate them, have you all had one that you had a bad experience with or is your dislike based on magazine articles?

Williams tried to put a CVT in an F1 car in 1993, but it was outlawed before they could actually run it.

So far the trans in my wife's Outback which isn't a light weight car that has a 3.6L flat 6.

[cabmandone]

I've been very satisfied with my youngest daughter's 2013 Mazda 3. My oldest drove a new Mazda CX 3 or 5, can't remember, and liked it. But she drove a new Subaru Crosstrek and absolutely loved it. I had been moving her towards the Mazda due to price point and options but she liked the way the Subie drove so much more that she had to buy it even though it wasn't quite as loaded. I have to admit, the Subaru Eyesight system is impressive. It's about as close to autonomous as it gets without being fully autonomous.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

(Tangent, the Dodge Omni "Shelby" version of that little hatchback was the GLH.)

Except that the Dodge Omni was more closely related to a VW rabbit or golf than a Mazda. The first several years of Omni/Horizon had VW 1.7L motors and VW transaxles. Chrysler eventually replaced the 1.7L VW with the Chrysler 2.2L.

But I do believe I've heard that GLH is supposed to stand for "goes like hell".

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by LWJ

Interesting. I was just looking at the 1.5T Accord for my wife. Only comes with a CVT.

I was super skeptical.

How does Mazda quality stack up against Honda / Toyota?

I am a little bit of a Luddite.

I’m shying away from the small turbo passenger vehicles due to the reliability with heat soak from the auto start-stop or extreme cold. These small displacement turbo vehicles have been popular due to the lower emissions, lower taxation in the euro market, and lower fuel mpg. I also can’t stand the cvt.


I feel Mazda is very underrated in the current market, but it’s also not full of excessive features. I bought this bad boy for the powertrain reliability and not so much for the features. However, the interior is quality and would say it’s better than everything on the market at this price point. Not many vehicles come with a stitched dash and a real gas cap at this price.

[cabmandone]

^^^ That tiny screen was something that bothered me.

The thing that impresses me about the 2013 Mazda 3 is the fuel economy. That thing will cruise at 75 mph getting 37mpg or more.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by masraum

That sucks. My wife's 2018 Outback has an adaptive cruise system that works really well. I've never had it get confused by cars in other lanes, on curves, etc...

My '08 Boxster has great adaptive wipers 98% of the time. Occasionally, they run more than I like, but that's never a surprise, like if there's a heavy mist or spray from cars in front or my wipers need to be cleaned or replaced.

I don't get all of the hate for CVTs. For all of the folks that hate them, have you all had one that you had a bad experience with or is your dislike based on magazine articles?

Williams tried to put a CVT in an F1 car in 1993, but it was outlawed before they could actually run it.

So far the trans in my wife's Outback which isn't a light weight car that has a 3.6L flat 6.

I’m old school, i want to feel a shift, analog speedo and tachometer, etc.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

^^^ That tiny screen was something that bothered me.

The thing that impresses me about the 2013 Mazda 3 is the fuel economy. That thing will cruise at 75 mph getting 37mpg or more.

It’s a better screen compared to GM. The dial control is very innovative btw

I also edited to redact pii.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by id10t

Wifes cruise control is unusable in any kind of traffic. Autobrakes kick in going around curves with oncoming traffic and at the bottom of steep hills

Winshield wipers delay system is unusable - it speeds up if a little more water is on the windshield but it never slows down. And you cant disable the autospeed up (dont think this is a fed thing)

Add in not being able to charge my phhone without it going into carplay mode etc - all I want it to do is charge the darn thing

Some notes:
Get into your settings on the cruise control. The corner feature and hills issues are fixable. I had the same problems in a Toyota Corolla Cross that I was able to fix by changing settings.
On phone charging, Plug into a different port. There is typically one "data" port and several charge only ports. But how can't you love Carplay? I mean I hate not having it on.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

It’s a better screen compared to GM. The dial control is very innovative btw

I also edited to redact pii.

I like a big screen. My Rav has a nice size screen. My daughter's new Crosstrek gives me screen envy. That thing is like an Ipad in the dash!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I sold my 1971 BMW 2002 to buy the GLC because I really wanted A/C. I know.

I'm not bragging or anything, but mine was an '84 (newer) and a 2 door (sportier).

It was that beautiful shade of nondescript blue that says, "A sensible family man owns this car." The A/C was great, though. It had a switch that disabled the A/C when the gas pedal was pushed all the way to the floor - which I disabled. I recall a trip across I-90 somewhere around the middle of South Dakota against a brutal headwind. I had the pedal to the floor, doing not much over the speed limit. The car slowed down about 5 mph when the A/C compressor kicked in. It was indeed a Great Little Car! For some reason I remember the shifter - it was absolutely straight with a round plastic ball on the end.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

I’m old school, i want to feel a shift, analog speedo and tachometer, etc.

I like to shift on my own. Most of my vehicles over the years have been manual. I've had 2 vehicles in the last 38 years that were auto because I got the best vehicle that I could find that was within my budget.

I do prefer an analog tach and full gauges. I'm perfectly happy with a digital speedo. As a matter of fact, the analog speedo in my Boxster NEVER gets looked at, and is a waste. It should have been a multigauge for oil temp, oil pressure, and Volts or something like that.

But, automatics have a time and place, and if it's an auto anyway, then it may as well be more efficient and faster. CVT vs slushbox, as long as the CVT has reasonable reliability/longevity, I'll take the CVT.

[fintstone]

I am pretty impressed with my "new" Japanese car (all the others are quite old now). I have never owned a Mazda. But I do like my 2022 Lexus RC 350 and like/use almost all the features/tech or am able to turn them off/adjust the function. The 6-speed automatic shifts very crisply/nicely although there are only about 311 HP (3.5L V6), it feels like more if you are in Sport+ mode (shift points are different). I generally do not use the paddle shift.

The AWD is very nice in snow and it handles like a dream (very neutral). I don't like/use the speed adjusting cruise control and set it so I can use it as a normal cruise control. I also turn off the feature that helps me steer the car. I don't use the Apple Play either (it can be used wired or unwired). I turned the Apple Play off and just use Sirius XM. The car has a large screen, but I usually keep it turned off (always at night) because it makes it hard to drive at night as it is bright and at eye level. I do like the big screen for the back-up camera (first I have had)

I also really like the feature that tells me what the speed limit is where I am driving (because I often miss the signs). I do like the tire pressure monitoring as well (first car I have had with that). The automatic (rain sensing) wipers work nicely (they can be very finely adjusted to suit) but I don't like/use the auto headlight dimmer as it seems to dim a bit late for me. The LED lights are amazing (and I really appreciate that as I age). It has a cold weather package with heated wipers and a heater/defroster that starts putting out hot air a lot faster (have not researched how but like this on cold days). Heated/ventilated seats and heated wheel are also appreciated. If I forget to lock it, it sends me a text and tells me. I can lock/unlock it, start it, locate it, or check the gas level (or if windows are down or doors unlocked from a phone ap. Makes my older cars seem like Model Ts.

I have not owned an American car for a very long time (or a German car newer that a 2004) ...maybe the tech/accessories are as good (or better). I just don't know.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

But how can't you love Carplay? I mean I hate not having it on.

Yep, whatever your flavor of phone is, having it integrated with the head unit is awesome. I can't imagine NOT having carplay.

Originally Posted by cabmandone

I like a big screen. My Rav has a nice size screen. My daughter's new Crosstrek gives me screen envy. That thing is like an Ipad in the dash!

As long as it's in the dash, and not a wart that looks like it was an afterthought. I've seen some where the implementation is horrible. I'm completely happy with the 7" screen in my aftermarket head unit.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by masraum

Yep, whatever your flavor of phone is, having it integrated with the head unit is awesome. I can't imagine NOT having carplay.


As long as it's in the dash, and not a wart that looks like it was an afterthought. I've seen some where the implementation is horrible. I'm completely happy with the 7" screen in my aftermarket head unit.

I like having all the functions of my phone on screen with Carplay. I don't have to think about where my phone is.

That's one of the things I don't overly care for about my Rav or the Mazda for that matter. They pop up off the dash rather than being integrated.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by fintstone

If I forget to lock it, it sends me a text and tells me. I can lock/unlock it, start it, locate it, or check the gas level (or if windows are down or doors unlocked from a phone ap.

Does Toyota include that with the Lexus lineup or is it a pay service. I got one year with my Rav. One of the features I wish Toyota would take from Honda and GM is walk away auto lock. My brother's Honda Pilot automatically locks once the keyfob no longer sensed by the vehicle.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by masraum

I like to shift on my own. Most of my vehicles over the years have been manual. I've had 2 vehicles in the last 38 years that were auto because I got the best vehicle that I could find that was within my budget.

I do prefer an analog tach and full gauges. I'm perfectly happy with a digital speedo. As a matter of fact, the analog speedo in my Boxster NEVER gets looked at, and is a waste. It should have been a multigauge for oil temp, oil pressure, and Volts or something like that.

But, automatics have a time and place, and if it's an auto anyway, then it may as well be more efficient and faster. CVT vs slushbox, as long as the CVT has reasonable reliability/longevity, I'll take the CVT.

I have to agree with you on the majority. I daily drive a cjaa tdi. I rarely glance at the speedo and just keep it in the torque. After a weight loss surgery, it gets low 50’s on the highway.

As for the time and place of automatic Bruce Jenners go, it’s a luxury marketed towards Americans that are not proficient in driving.