Here's what I just wrote to MNAO at the contact us link. Mazda needs to hear from their customers I believe. Do you think they get my drift? I sure hope so :D !
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Dear MNAO:

I just read with abject horror an article at this web site: http://www.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=101701 about how you plan to now "tune" your vehicles for "American taste". Yikes!

While on the face of it that sounds like a good idea.... please, please, please ....let the powers that be know that this could be a dangerous thing if taken too far. I have purchased 'foreign' and in particular Japanese cars... particularly BECAUSE they did NOT fit into 'American car' standards!

In the article these points were mentioned that particularly I want you to understand my feelings on, that the article seems to indicate you WILL change:

1) They want less lane drift, even if that makes for a loose on-center feel from the steering wheel.

My Answer: I own an RX-8 - and if this EVER EVER EVER changes in that way it will be the last one I will ever buy!!! I'm also considering a Mazda 3 or Mazda 5 as my next purchase - but please don't 'improve' them in this way. This alone is one of the trademark differences that make Mazda an appealing car brand. NO NO NO this is not a positive change for your brand!! I want a driver's car, pure and simple. Think Miata - not Buick - always!

"The American driver doesn't want to float down the road, but he does want isolation from hard shocks from impact strips or rough tarmac," Bakaj says.

My Answer: I own an RX-8 - they way this car rides is perfect - NOT a COMPROMISE. Use the RX-8 as a benchmark, not a LEXUS car. Yes I recently sold my Lexus after tiring of the boat like ride, too big seats, and lousy SOFT FLOATY handling!

U.S. preferences

Some of the other dislikes include:

>>> Seat backs and cushions are too small for many Americans.

My Answer: The problem is certainly NOT in your car seats (aahemm). I don't want to be floating around on a psuedo-bench style bucket seat while driving. If anything the seats in my RX-8 are too big now! I want a seat that holds me firmly in place at all times. PERIOD!

>>> Cupholders are too small for Big Gulps and Starbucks grandes.

My Answer: Contrary to popular myth ... everyone is this country does not use their car as a subsitute for a breakfast table, and certainly does not purchase these absurd size drinks! Don't change it, and if you do make LESS cupholders, not more. A car is for driving, not eating, please try and remember that in your car designs.

>>> Climate control systems can't handle cold winters and hot summers.

OK- YES you can fix this - I live in the Northeast and there is a problem with heat/cool capacity here w/my RX-8.

>>> Mazda has been late to the party with telematics connections for iPod, Bluetooth, satellite radio and navigation systems.

OK- YES you can fix this, even a simple mini-stereo input/output plug would suffice - and cost about $.25!

Thanks for listening to my feedback. You can tell I'm passionate about my cars, and that's a good thing. Keep up the good work, don't change too much.

 

Yah I sent them a pretty interesting email also. I also fill out all the surveys they send and write MNAO at least a few times a year to detail my experience.

Bleh... they are doing very well, they should probably just stick to it. By the way, I chose the MPV over the Odessy and Sienna. You know why? It drives similar to a car. Not like a boat. BLEH!

Slavearm

 

Sad

 

Here is what I sent CRain... Yes folks you should write them !!

***************
I have had my 8 for 12 months and understand everything you say about it. Yes the gas mileage is not great. Honda and Toyota have spoiled us all. However, they don't build a car that performs like the 8 and delivers the practicality. Yes, more torque is always a nice thing as well if you like to dart from stop lights but on the road I don't miss it as long as I am in the right gear. It has 6 of them… Keep the tach over 4000 and I have never felt torque deprived. Most track comparisons show the 8 to hold its own with the brute 350z, GS35 coupe and even the vaunted 330CI. They will all dust me in the quarter but I don't drag race. I am content to enjoy the overall day to day balance of the car, listen to the reassuring buzz of a thousand angry hornets and feel it respond when it is thrown into a corner. Yes, it is Love it or Hate it. I love it.

Please tell Mazda to be very very careful to distinguish who their RX8 customers / target markets are before they apply what Americans want and make the seats disconnnected from the road, along with the suspension. Most Americans drive Regals, Sables, Accords, Camrys and Impalas. I don't.

One last thing. Shame on you for complaining about spending $271 on a winter tire implying that it is the fault of the car. I bought tires and wheels from a reputable online dealer for less than that (Dunlap M3) and had them delivered in less than 5 days.

 

I think you folks are panicing. Maxda's bread and butter are their sedans, not the Miata and RX8. The article pointed at the Mazda 3 & Mazda 6 not their sportscars. Mazda marketing recognizes the significance of associating their sedans with the Miata, which is after all, the most popular sportscar in the world. The RX8 is a bit more of an enigma to the US market. Still, its the sportscar DNA which gives Mazda its US brand awareness. Even parent company Ford isn't that stupid to tinker with the only thing which differentiates Mazda from the other Japanese imports.

 

AMEN!


I, too, would like to who exactly is telling them these things.

Looser steering????? are they nuts? Softer suspension?????? I'm gonna be sick.

The cup holders are perfect in my opinion... much more functional than the WRXs and most other modern Japanese cars. But then, I don't drink the Ultra size drinks.

 

Even if they are planning on leaving the 8 alone, it doesn't matter.
Mazda needs to be "Mazda" and no one else.

I'm pretty sure all Amercians (North Americans) are not stupid enough to keep a car they didn't like, or to spend money on something they didn't want. To put it simply, if Americans want a bouncy floating boat, then they can buy an American sedan! If they want handling and interior quaility and reliability then buy a Mazda.

I'm thinking about getting a 3 or a 6 in the future and if Mazda starts messing with any of the points mentioned in that article, then they can kiss another sale goodbye.

 

It really is Mazda buyers are not the average American idiot. Mazda lost its way before when it tried to be Nissan and Toyota. I've been buying Mazda's because they are different form the average American car. If they change too much they will lose the buyers who are helping them make a comeback. Done ranting.

 

I really hope that's a joke. The 3 I think is one of the best selling cars in it's price range.

It just sounds like they're reinforcing the image that Americans are total fat asses. I mean big seats to fit our fat asses in. Big cup holders because well, to stay a fat *** you need to drink 44 ounce sodas. And really soft suspension so you can easily eat and drink in your car and not get any on yourself...

The suspension wouldn't matter so much if the 3 and 6 weren't supposed to be more sport than comfort. I thought that the 3 and 6 were popular because they were sporty. (I'm leaving the 8 out because they're obviously not going to mod the 8 to be less sporty).

 

I would be against the change as well. I doubt Mazda would do this in their sportscars, and I especially doubt they will change it in cars customers own, unless requested to do so. Mazda may sell more cars without the good suspension, and if that is the case I (and I imagine many other 8 owners) would have to go to an S2000 or a Elise or another if I could afford it.

 

long live the 44oz and 64oz soft drinks! im 6' and 180 and have never spilled a drink in any car (including my 6mt 8) while i was holding. i agree w/everything yall have said so far. id take a cup holder out if it were up to me

 

Check this out.....I have a buddy that works for MazdaUK. According to him, in '06 Mazda are talking about adding a V6 engine option to it's UK spec RX8!! Wow!! Apparently the UK leasing companies have convinced Mazda that there company car sales are suffering because of the rotary engine.

- Irish

 

Good for Madza, maybe us Americans can have back the drum brakes, recirculating ball steering, solid rear axle and leaf springs we are soooo use to. What we need is a pop out pizza platter and a chicken fryer in the console. Don't need the large cup holder as a barrel with a plastic feed tube does it for me. Trunk needs some tie-downs for the keg. Being morbidly obese, both of my cheeks appreciate the individual seating and the cup holder opens up to hold my *********. What better design could Mazda provide?

 

Im new here, but have owned an 82 rx7 for years and am trying to retore it to near origionale with a little more hp in the process.

As for the american tunning thing. What are they talking about, I test drove an 8 about a month ago, the dealer insisted I try a Cadilac Ct or whatever, that so called sporty version for "younger cadilac" buyers. Of course they were night and day different, but the ride difference really suprised me, the rx8 was of couse more fun to drive, but I took both cars over railroad tracks, poorly maintaiend town roads and a section of curves. The Caddy was much rougher riding, less feel on curves and bucked on less maintiend roads. And that is a so called american luxery performance car!!! but yea it did have wide seats, big cup holders, and no sole. Heck I have a Kia Rio for a commuter and it rides bet. . . . well maybe not

 

i haven't read the entire thread here, but here's a problem i see with this situation...

if Mazda thinks that turning their good cars into crap that the average american can accept will boost their sales, they'll do it. No question about it.

It's the same reason Porsche made a ******* SUV for americans... America is just one of the biggest markets on the planet. Pleasing the american public is an important step for any car-manufacturer.

So if Mazda does this, i'll be looking at used Mazdas from that point on.

 

This reminds me of a episode of The Simpsons where homer has a cell phone, TV, microwave, fax machine, refigerator in his car.

 

Mazda should try to convert more Americans to go the Mazda way, with vehicles that have "The soul of a sportscar" and not try to turn into everyone else's automaker. In transition, in attempting to become something that they aren't they could lose a whole lot of customers. The main reason there aren't 30 to 50% more people driving Mazdas today is Mazda's lack of attention and response to major problems with vehicles and customer service. The Ford CD4E transmission in the 94 to 02 626 4cylinder is a prime example. Owner's of a high percntage of those cars will NEVER buy another Mazda again. The flooding rotaries is another that if not addressed in the proper fashion could represent another nail in an un-necessary coffin.
I must remind folks again that I own 6 Mazdas presently.

 

Zoom-Zoom?

 

The only thing I agree about is the climate control issue. To youthful drivers, Mazda is fine with it's setups. But, the people who seem to make their voices most heard are those over 40 who want that plush and disconnected ride. I don't know what the Mazda peole are smokin, but I see a ton of Proteges, and 3's and 6's, for that matter. Obviously they liked something about their car.

 

Here's what I emailed Mazda:

I just read an article in Autoweek that said Mazda was going to 'fine-tune' some of their products for the American Market. The RX-8 was mentioned as one of the models they would address. Some items noted were:

1) "The American driver doesn't want to float down the road, but he does want isolation from hard shocks from impact strips or rough tarmac," Bakaj says.

2) Seat backs and cushions are too small for many Americans.

3) Cupholders are too small for Big Gulps and Starbucks grandes.

4) Climate control systems can't handle cold winters and hot summers.

5) Mazda has been late to the party with telematics connections for iPod, Bluetooth, satellite radio and navigation systems.

The only things that I would agree with for the RX-8 are 4 and 5. Don't you dare mess with the driving dynamics of the RX-8 to accomodate the 'average' American, who is 1) overweight (leave the seats alone) and 2) clueless when it comes to appreciating the unique driving experience the RX-8 provides.

The only thing the RX-8 market wants changed is the addition of horsepower. In case you haven't noticed, the RX-8 market is 'driving enthusiasts', not people who drive mindlessly down the road drinking their Starbucks Grandes and yacking on their cell phones.

DON'T DIMINISH THE RX-8 BY TRYING TO APPEAL TO THE MASSES - YOU WILL MISS YOUR MARKET FOR THIS VEHICLE!

 

This has

F O R D

written all over it.

They want to turn "Zoom Zoom" into "Ho-hum".

 

Just FYI, Spin9k, some readers use the light color scheme. For us your white text is invisible.

 

i can't believe what i read. cupholders too small for big gulp and starbucks grandes. this truly makes me ashamed as an american. for the record, i haven't had a big gulp since elementary school. this sounds like formula for disaster if they're really to follow thru to the worst degree, like the car homer designed

i truly hope our worst fears don't come true. i think in some ways mazda wants to americanize their lineup to sell more cars along the same marketing strategy as honda and toyota. unfortunately, the same strategy also turned honda from making cool unique cars to fat boring bland look-alikes. in essence, honda has totally lost its identity in doing this. just look at the ridgeline. it's atrocious. even worse, mitsubishi tried to do the same thing and now most their cars are awful and they're on the verge of shutting down. at sevenstock, the mnao guy talked strongly about mazda's identity. it sounded like mazda is pretty confident about its uniqueness and capability to turn out fun sporty products that aren't clones of everyone else. i hope that wasn't just pr lies to appease us. let's all write them!

 

this is what i wrote. i'm such a nerd

Dear Mazda,

Recently there was a disturbing report published in AutoWeek regarding your company's desire to "fine tune" products to American tastes. Some of the disturbing comments from MNAO officials include "Americans want less shift shock from automatic transmissions, even if it sacrifices power. They want less lane drift, even if that makes for a loose on-center feel from the steering wheel...Cupholders are too small for Big Gulps and Starbucks grandes."

With all due respect, this sounds like receipe for disaster. Mazda products have always been unique and driver-oriented. They stand out from the sea of mainstream cars and are refreshing and easily likeable. A good word to describe Mazda cars has always been "endearing," and they've usually been bold and different. Driving dynamics-wise, you remain one of the few companies to stay true to the fun aspect of motoring. You are an indisputable maker of sports cars, and the rest of your lineup reflect that. You combine Japanese technological innovation, craftsmanship, and reliability with old world art of British and German sports car engineering. All this are your identity and what make Mazda cars so great in this modern market swarming with look-alikes and bloated sedans having no character.

As an owner of an FD3S RX-7, I feel quite loyal to the Mazda brand. I think of all the Japanese car makers in the US, you make the most honest and original products without sacrificing the above characters like many other companies have done. When I read the report of the possible marketing movements you might undertake, it's quite alarming and if such reports turn out to have merit, then all the qualities that countless Mazda fans cherish in your cars, all that you've accomplished for yourself and the automotive world, all that make who you are, would be lost. We're in the midst of a sports-car renaissance. Sportiness is taking the center stage with all respectable brands. As such, Americans are changing their driving habits and preferences. Big softy barges are no longer desirable. The general public is turning to sporty tighty unique and fun cars...in hope to reflect who they are. Granted, track-oriented cars like my RX-7 R1 is still too extreme for the average joe, but cars like the Mazda6 as it is are what people aspire to drive now, and RX-8 what people dream to own. More Americans are picking up manual transmissions. Your current lineup is the model of what the current market wants and desires.

Another point I wish to make is that for many people, when we buy a Japanese car, we want a Japanese car. We don't want what is an essentially American-designed Japanese car. Case in point, the Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, and Mitsubishi Eclipse. They are bland and lack character, and have lost a lot of their companies' traditional values and design philosophies. I would not even consider purchasing such vehicles. If I want an American car, I'd buy an American car. Mazda seems to have steered pretty clear of this. Most of your vehicles have been/are uniquely and desirably Japanese. Once again, also endearing. There have been no loss of identity, no dilution of character. And for that I am glad and proud to be a Mazda enthusiast, and I hope to see that continue.

Please don't throw zoom-zoom away and trade your brilliant suspensions and handling for marshmallow. Thank you so very much for bring the rotary back to America. And last but not least, the new Miata looks absolutely fantastic. Thanks for reading.

Sincerely,

 

Them's fightin' words, pal! :D