18ME

Very artsy fartsy.niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.

renegade_si

yes, thats the puppy

Danny have u got that in Hi-res u can mail me?

please please please

DannyA

I wish I could take the credit for composing that arty shot - but I can't. It's loosely based on an image from the Mazda Australia website that I have attached below. I didn't totally recreate it because I really, really wanted to touch and drive the car rather than stare at it through an LCD screen on my camera!!

Here's the pic - it's probably just me but it makes it look like a Ferrari 360?

DannyA

Actually, looking at them side by side - I prefer mine

DannyA

I can't really remember what the finish of the strakes were - it's all a blur! Here's a zoom in for you to decide? I shan't be getting them on protest - I think they are great though.

The dealer commented that they are a tad expensive and that it would have been a nice touch if Mazda had added them to the Hi-Power as a standard distinguishing feature? But in fairness the level of equipment in the car is so high got the price you can't sniff at it.

I'll set my personal limit at about £80 for them.

My accessory of choice is the reverse parking aid - I had almost talked myself out of it until I tried to reverse the bugger - I've seen port holes bigger than that rear window!

AndyPearce

Too late to change what I put in the vote but I'm now getting a second test drive tommorow in a Titanium hi-power in Swansea - looking forward to it.:D

byrdd

Had test drive on Saturday in FRF Mazda Swansea...... How long...? 2 hours.... This is my third Mazda from this garage and so they said I could have as long as I wanted....... in the end they had to call me on my mobile to ask me to bring it back.

A fantastic ride... can't wait for mine.......This car just makes you smile and smile...and smile...etc.....

AndyPearce

Dominic was telling me about you this morning - said you looked like a cheshire cat when you got back!:D

Where did you take it? Some really testing roads I hope!

byrdd

Hi Andy,

Hope you enjoyed your ride… and yes I just could not stop smiling…. This car is a bit special.

I took it everywhere. Along M4 to Llaneli, Gorseinon, Gowerton…. took back roads (mainly B roads) as to come out near Caswell Bay, back through the Mumbles onto Oystermouth Road, Killay, then back to Fforestfach via Tesco car park …to gauge reaction to car, then on to Blaen-y-maes, Townhill, Mount Pleasant, Rose Hill (wanted to see how the car accelerated up steep gradients… no probs especially if you kept the revs up. Was back into Swansea and cruising the Kingsway when I got the call….LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT…!!

Test car seemed, looking at fuel gauge, to be better on petrol than I was expecting.

Not sure what you thought?

cw007

well just spoke to my dealership, we will be lucky if we get more than 10 minutes in the car because of the interest and pre-orders.

morganrogers

cw007 - They still have not called me at all....

Starting to get annoyed now.

cw007

Morgan,


Spoke to Milcars about another case in point. The price of the SAT NAV unit. The option is 700 quid yet the original option is 1500 quid.

Said that the factory fitted unit has more features and so forth and so on.

Back to Test drives only Simon appears to have "allocated" his slots cause all the other sales guys are out today.

Simon has the 11-1 slot. So depending upon salesman you may have the 9-11 slot or the 1-3 slot for the all of ten minute spin around the car park.

AndyPearce

You can find my review of the lo-power here .

Som good routes to go along. What was the reaction at Tesco's Extra? When you said you went to Townhill I thought you were going to say 'to test the alarm and security' ! :p

Have you pre-ordered?

byrdd

Yeah.. Tesco... they loved it. People were pointing and giving the thumbs up etc..

Went up Mt Pleasent to Townhill and could see they were thinking New Food for the 'Joyriders' up there.

I have pre-ordered. Originally in May last year ... car was supposed to be due in September.... Then again in February this year....

Ordered Titanium Hi Power with black leather and Sat Nav....(as test car). Also having about a grands worth of extras added......outlet trims, front air dam skirt, side air dam skirt, rear deflector, illuminated gear **** (black) and rotary crest. Hope to get a bit of a discount as we have been waiting so very long for this machine. Have had letter from Mazda saying should arrive sometime in November....... I not going to hold my breath but am now looking forward to it even more since the test drive.

byrdd

Andy,

Just read your lo- power review. Very informative.

If such an honest and clear review was available earlier I may have opted for the lo-power as they are exterally Identical (apart from the lights) and could have added the aluminium pedals as an addition.

But not going to risk missing the November delivery... I want that car now.

Regarding passenger size .... I work out quite a bit and am the best part of 18 stone (wide shoulders) and felt seats were very supportive and comfortable... I even sat in the back and think I could have managed a 100 miles or so back there even. Mind you I used to have a volvo V70 T5 and must admit those seats are great especially on long hauls from Swansea to Manchester where I was working at the time. I think it would have been nice to have had the option of cruise control....... it seems to be available in America.

Patrick

Hi

I just had one of the first test drives in Belgium (Antwerp) and the car meets all of my expectations, even more.

Now just wait until early december.

Patrick

RobDickinson

Mine is booked for monday

Pillman

Mine is booked for Saturday at 1pm with the wife and 2 kids for an hour....on our own....!!

Sexy Rexy

Had a test drive a few months ago, got 1 booked at 11a.m. this saturday.

Contigo

Just booked mine at 1pm. You gonna hang around Rexy?

Sexy Rexy

Contigo - how long have you got the drive for?, they have said to me only 45 minutes. I don't want to hang around to be honest for the reason the longer I there the more tempted I would be to take the car home with me!!!!!!

Titanium Grey

Got mine booked for 12pm on Sunday, just me and the missus.

Not sure how long for.

Contigo

Not sure called Peter and he said he had a slot left at 1pm, so I'll go down there with the lady!