Let's rank some of the more consistent preliminary minor complaints about this car for the record.

 

For me it's the sound. It doesn't sound like a rotary more like a puny 4 cyl.

 

I have to agree with Mr. Turbo, the sound is quite a letdown, and absent altogether below 4k - it seems 'overmuffled'.

After many years of automatics, I realise I need to hear the engine in order to shift correctly - and it is not happening! (the sound OR the shifting correctly!)

I even tried driving with the trunk 'passthru' out, in the hopes that some growl would find its way from the muffler, but no.

Radio off and window open is the only way I can hear enough feedback to get the shiftpoints right.
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doc

 

I'm most disappointed with Mazda's option packaging on this car. And that modular stereo seems like a good idea, but *another* $200 for cassette, and *another* $500 for the CD changer head or mp3 player, yet no configuration with an aux-in? Yeesh.

There are, of course, plenty of features that overwhelm anything that disappoints. But you asked

-jd.

 

You missed a big one for a few people (especially in europe) ... fuel economy.

My big qualm would be the crappy automatic option offered.

 

I can not edit the poll now, but it seems that the clear complaint I forgot was the gas mileage under 20mpg. This has been a somewhat consistent finding, and a unexpected frustration for some on the forum.

Please place your votes

 

I'd say Fuel Economy.. No big deal, I'll live with it, but not what I expected.

For those that said Rattling.. can you say what kind of rattles you're getting?

 

Mileage is not a problem i got 435 km on a full tank, and maybe had another 30km in reserve ,and my advice for the good DOCTORR is maybe to clean your ears out because if you cannot hear the sweet rotary sound when changing gears you may be partially deaf , lear to be at one with your ride and enjoy .

 

and what are you doing with "cassette tapes" mister?!? those shall now be confiscated for failure to live in the 21st century...you are the weakest link, buh-bye

 

You appear to be missing a "Nothing" option!

Seriously, I either haven't experienced the listed problems, or don't consider them to be problems worthy of complaint. Sure, there are a few little niggly-naggly things that I would like to have seen done better, but I don't consider any of them serious enough to be labelled disappointing.

 

Nice. Yeah, I have never put a cassette in my '93 pickup, nor in my '99 miata, though both came with cassette players et al...and I have no intention to start now.

BUT, as has been beaten to death in the audio section, there is no aux in for the sound system! So if you want to use your iPod (or whatever) you have to either go the FM transmitter route or use a cassette adaptor.

Hey I know, maybe I can download a new ECU map from an image off the iPod to get 228 rwhp at 50 mpg...would that be 21st century enough for you?

 

I don't know what is up with the 4 cyl. sound...mine sounds awesome!

My one and only beef with the car is the fact that it developed an annoying rattle in the drivers side door, during the drive home from picking it up! Also I hear a lot of creaks and groans and thumps when I'm backing up out of my driveway.

 

Are you sure that those sounds aren't coming from the driver :D :p

Just kidding, I just couldn't pass that one up.

This would be the first thread that I've read where someone reports a rattling sound coming from the 8 other then those caused by the speakers when pumping a lot of bass.

 

Fuel economy, that is. It wants premium (91 octane) fuel and only gets 16 mpg in mixed driving conditions. We are doing SOME freeway runs.

 

yea it sucks there's no aux ports...the stock Infinity system in my car has front aux ports on the HU...it isn't that great, however, as it's a just a stereo mini-plug port...

anyways, the best you can possibly do is either go MP3 or MD...that should fix your problem...if you have an iPod then you have them in MP3 format...you can burn those to a CD-R or RW...using a tape adapter or FM modulator defeats the purpose of CDs in that they just end up sounding like cassettes with a hiss in the background, or worse, an FM channel...

i understand that the iPod can hold 30 Gigs of music which is very very nice to have and be able to use in your car...personally, however, i doubt i'll be in my car that often to need to be able to play 7500 songs! i'll just need 3 or so CDs filled with 120 MP3s each for any type of drive...360 songs is enough for 30 hours or so of music

btw, i also have a tape player in my car and i've never used it...not even once to try it...i wonder if it even works!

 

After test driving it, without question it's the digital speedo. Where's the vomit emoticon when you need it?

 

Same here. I just pushed open the tape door on my truck this morning, to have a peek inside to satisfy myself that there actually *is* a tape deck in there ;>

And now, we return everyone to the already schedule thread -- sorry for hijacking it -- I'll leave the rest of the iPod discussion to the audio section...Thanks for the ideas, BRx8.

Pax,
-jd.

 

I voted for rattling, after one week of driving the cheezy pass through plastic cap seems to be rattling. Anyone else disappointed that this thing is simply a plastic cover and not an integrated door. I just discovered how cheap this thing is this morning

 

I like the fact that it can be removed easily if needed. Maybe they could have had it at least snap in better or use some retention/ release mechansim.


My vote would be: "N/A" but it's not on the list so I voted "other". I will admit I wish the gas mileage was better but I always wish that.

 

No, I got a rattling sound coming from the rear passenger speaker area whenever I go over coarse roads. I'm hoping it's just a loose screw or something. Havent really had the time to investigate.

I wonder if it's plastic pass-thru too.. doesnt sound like it though.

 

Another vote for gas mileage.... I feel like I'm filling the car up every other day! Maybe it just needs a larger fuel tank.

 

I am totally disspointed with the fuel consumption. I was prepared to lower my expectations somewhat but this is pretty sad.
This IS afer all, a SPORTS CAR and one would be expected to drive it like a SPORTS CAR. The probelm is when you do, you had better have deep pockets. I say that even living in Texas where gas is relatively inexpensive.
My expectations were set when reading about the new RENISIS Engine and one of its most important new attributes was that it was expected to get upwards of 30 MPG. it is no where near that.
Other than that, I am totally satisfied with the car.:o

 

I guess I would say the most dissapointing non-feature is the lack of Memory stored seating adjustments for the auto adjusted seats.

Real Drag when the kids get in the car and I have to move my seat forward so the little tikes don't get the idea to kick the back of my chair. Afterwards, I've got to remember exactly how I had it before.

 

Try Ginko Biloba.

 

Fuel economy: 16.5 miles on the first tank of very sedate driving.
Also, I don't have high hopes for its reliability (after 1 week):

flashing security light after first fill (got to call about that tomorrow)
fan went on for 7 minutes after stopping ... after a leisurely 5 mile drive
rubber strip at bottom of handbrake lever has started to come apart

Plus hot air coming from vents. (A/C is fine though).

I wonder if they released this year's cars a bit too hastily.