The cars are good so what's the problem?

The present strategy in the U.S. is "zoom zoom," or punchy engines and sharp handling. "We're looking at a very targeted audience; somebody who wants more emotion in the things they drive, in styling, in being different. Someone who wants a car that interacts with them and interacts with the road," says Robert Davis, a senior vice president at Mazda. To me, this sounds like the profile of a BMW customer--but at a much lower price point.

The problem for Mazda is expanding its customer base: Are there enough Americans who really want "zoom zoom?" A number of factors have hampered this goal. For one, its dealer force was one of the weakest in the business. A few years ago, only 20% of Mazda dealers were exclusive, which means the other 80% shared their show rooms and loyalty with other brands. With Honda, 82% of the dealers are exclusive. Mazda is improving on this count; 43% of the company's 709 current dealers are exclusive, and the goal is for 50% by the end of next year.

We'd love to hear your opinions of why they don't sell better...

Full article here

Dustbuster - 5/3/2006 7:19:55 PM

+1 Boost

The Mazda3 has a nice looking interior, but feels cheap (don't know why - sound insulation perhaps? Choice of materials?). Plus, front wheel drive cars are just not as much fun. The RX-8 is a good idea, but underpowered and too thirsty to attract people away from the major players (it's not good enough to build a good car to beat BMW for example - you have to be much better to the point that buying a BMW no longer makes sense). And for the money of the Mazdaspeed 6, I'd rather have a Legacy GT, Sti, Evo etc. - you name it. Oh, and I'd take a Camry or Accord over the Mazda 6 and I think most people who buy cars in this segment feels the same way (evident by sales numbers). So what is left, the Miata is the best car in its class (and I was rooting for GM,too). I don't know much about minivans, but overall, I'd say that Mazdas are just not oustanding enough to start taking away market shares.

Mark - 5/3/2006 9:38:22 PM

+1 Boost

When my wife was looking for a new car I told her to go look at the Mazda 6. A fully loaded 4 door was in the low to mid 20's and we both liked it a lot. It was really comfortable inside and I thought Mazda had done a pretty good job of trying to mash in the features that most people want.

The only problem I really had with the car was the slow acceleration from first gear to second. We test drove two other Mazda models and they both had the same.

I'd buy one, if 1 to 2 was quicker.

lewissalem - 5/5/2006 11:17:15 AM

+1 Boost

..I had a horrible sales experience. I went to test drive a Mazda6 and my sales guy force me to drive a RX-8. I told him I don't want an RX-8. Then he has the nerve to talk about financing the Rx-8 when all I wanted to do was test drive a Mazda6. I would never buy from that dealer.