rx8wannahave

RX-3...not bad really...

I think alot of our passion can sometimes blind us a little and we need to remember that these people have to run a profitable company.

If we want Mazda to go out on the limb or build more exciting cars we frankly have to buy more Mazda’s. It does not make a bit of sense to build limited production cars while most of your competition outsells you.

Trusts me, I would love a RX-3 (entry level rotary), RX-8 (mid level rotary), and RX-7 (Vette fighting halo car for Mazda MAX LEVEL rotary). Price them like this:

RX-3 15-18K
RX-8 25-30K
RX-7 45-50K

…and those three combined would be very profitable for Mazda. BUT, since basically most of their cars sell at a much lower rate than the competition they wont waste their time trying to be exciting but instead spend their R&D on making the company better and more profitable.

Note: I’ll bet also that FORD throws the wrench in a lot of Mazda’s dreams too…

People, Mazda (every other car company also) needs to figure out how to take Honda & Toyota apart. They need to build cars that are better in every way than the Honda or Toyota brand X cars while being slightly cheaper. Frankly, if you dream to be the best then you have to act like it. Don’t’ just dream about competing with them (American car companies biggest problem) but set out to be the best and the buyers will come.

I really like Mazda and respect the passion they put into their cars. I hope they keep growing so they can then start building the dream cars we all want.

Regarding the RX8…how do you sell more of them and take buyers away from Mustangs, GTO’s, 350Z, S2000, EVO, and STI’s? No, you won’t take all of their buyers but if you can nock off a little from each competitor you will have a huge success on your hands with the RX8. So…how do they do that, let’s see the RX8 already:

Looks great
Is comfortable
Seats 4 nicely
Handles very good
Is very fun to drive
Has good quality
Has great safety features
Has a uniqueness to it (Rotary engine)

What’s missing? It’s that 50hp we all talk about. If the RX8 was hitting high 13’s…the 8 would be outselling most of (if not all it’s) competitors. Can Mazda do it…sure they can, but like already stated they have other things to worry about first and sadly when it comes to our culture (trust me I fall into this also)…we want…WHAT WE WANT, NOW!!! No waiting…but frankly we will have to wait.

I just hope they have not…or will not give up on the 8!

rotary crazy

I dont think they will give up on the 8 in fact I think theres a good posibility we see an improve 8 in the tokyo auto show, theres allready talk about an improve auto 6speed with more power, coupe with more power? mazdaspeed? we are going to have to wait.

We must remember that the rotary is what makes mazda, they will do the best they can to make the RX-8 a superb car at or above its competicion. And is been nown for some time that mazda wants a rage of rotary cars lets hope ford lets them.

The fact that other mazda cars are doing great gives mazda more power to do what they want and this cars are goin to keep getting better, mazda is on the right track.I own a 2001 montero and is up for replecement im wating for th cx-7, this is what any company needs to have cars for every use.

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

trying to build car like a Toyota or Honda is what killed Mazda during the mid to late 90's. Mazda is a niche brand, just like Subaru, that caters to a certain type of drivers. They cannot lose their focus, trying to be like someone else, and get lost in the shuffle again.

As long as they can break even or even make a little profit while at it, I'll be happy :D

RX-Hachi

I agree, but my dream line up would look like this:

RX-3 15-18K (very affordable entry level sports car to compliment the Mazda 3 line)
RX-8 25-33K (more or less as is, with a power bump back to original 250 hp spec & improved torque)
RX-7 29-34K (0-60 in 5 secs flat, goes head to head vs. 350Z, EVO, STi, and S2K)
MS RX-8 34K (can also compete with the above, for folks that want a 4 dr/4 seater sports car)
MS RX-7 45K (this would be the limited production halo car to fight the likes of the new NSX, Supra, and GT-R)

Rotary junkies would be in heaven with such a line up to choose from! All of these cars are quite doable using the RX-8/MX-5 platform and different variations of the Renesis. By leveraging such parts, Mazda can expand its rotary line up and see ROI for their rotary and chassis R&D investments. The only really expensive one off would be the MS RX-7. But with such a broad rotary line up, hopefully even the "halo" MS RX-7 could be justified.

David_M

Yuor pricing scheme seems about right Hachi, but I think that Mazdaspeed needs to be taken out behind the Mazda R&D and shot. THE MS edition of every car just puts off buyers looking for more performance. It's like a salesman that says " hey this is great but in 6 moths something better will be here", It kills sales by giving people a reason to wait. Mazda should put such effort into making the best car from the go. A second thing to consider is that a halo car must be seen as unique so Mazda would have to put forth a truly bespoke vehicle. A RX-9 so to speak or a 3 or 4 rotor version of a 7 to truly compete with the examples you mentioned and feed the HP junkies that are the primary costumers of any high end sports car.

RX-Hachi

You have some good points. I kind of agree with you about the MS strategy, but there's a counterpoint as well. BMW's M strategy works well for them, because there are plenty of people who are content with a 330i. There are a few who just have to have an M3 and will wait, and others who first buy a 325 or 330 and then later upgrade to an M. Likewise, there are many who are happy with a normal Mazda 3 or 6, but a few who would prefer the MS variants. The difference is that Mazda doesn't charge a huge premium for their MS models the way that BMW does for M or MB does for AMG.

I do agree with you about sports cars, like the MX-5, RX-8 or RX-7. These kinds of cars are aimed at enthusiasts, so in theory an MS version shouldn't be needed if the car performs best in class from the get go. I also agree that a true halo car would be a one off limited production vehicle, but I really doubt that Mazda has the financial means to build such a car at this time. So given that they do have this current MS strategy for most of their cars, an extreme MS version of an existing sports car gives them the best shot. In fact, the GT-R is like a Mazdaspeed or BMW M version of the Skyline afterall.