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They need to play up what makes Mazdas different. The cars are engaging and invite you to experience driving. Others have more straight-line acceleration, are as reliable etc. But none offer the blend of fun, practicality, reliability, comfort and affordability that they do. Did they ever do a commercial showing the kid driving around on a go-kart with the big smile on his face? I recall some still image (blurred out, sort-of) of that used as a backdrop on a web page or two of theirs. Now, THAT's the emotion I feel when I drive my Protege, then I can dump a bunch of groceries in it and my kids too.
http://www.imakenews.com/autospies/e_article000147656.cfm
No, get the 6i to maximize your fun :-)
I expect to see pictures tomorrow, Mazda6s.
There is no emotion attached to the commercials, nor any smooth camera work that shows all the aspects of the car inside and outside.
But my main gripe is:
It fails to connect to real people.
The advertisement should be woven around the common man and his desire to get some zoom zoom in life.
Does the ad feature a common man? NO
Does the ad show how the 6 fits into ones lifestyle? NO
Does the ad represent the emotions of a common man? NO
What does the ad represent? Only the CAR.
End Result: People see the ad, but fail to connect with the car.
Mazda6s: if you're planning to get a stick(unlike me, sigh) either way then you got to get the 6s, then you really got a hotrod. That baby would fly.
If all goes well, I will be getting my 6 late this year. About 2 months ago, I went to a dealer here in Atlanta (they are now offering 'S' plan pricing to everyone) and test drove an 6i M with the sport package. I was very impressed! What a car! At first I thought I would be disappointed with the 4 cyl engine, but not so! I am having second thoughts about the sports package, though. Has anyone tried to put a bicycle rack on a 6 that has the sports spoiler? (The type that goes on the trunk lid). Seems like the spoiler would be in the way.
Also, I still can't believe how few of the great car are selling. I have seen only 2 in Atlanta since January! Sales can't be THAT bad, can they? Maybe people are hiding them at home. I just don't understand why more people don't consider this car when looking at the Accord/Camry/Altima/Passat. Now, here's a question. I've read many comparisons between all of the above mentioned cars here in this group with one exception: the Passat. I have seen nothing here about that car at all. For awhile I was considering that car. But after reading about it's problems on the VW discussion board, I reconsidered: In 1984 I had a Jetta. One of my favorite cars to drive (so far). But it had a big problem: it would cut off without warning! And wouldn't start back. After many trips to the dealer's service center with the answer "We can't duplicate the problem", I gave up and got rid of the car. Seems some Passats are still doing that, among other things. In contrast to that, my wife owned a 1988 626. The most reliable, trouble free car we've ever owned. Need I say more?
I'll go for now....looking forward to a new 6 with manual tranny: back to having fun again!
This is truly a zoom zoom fun car to drive!
6i-MT vs. 6s-MT - here's the deal:
Cost ---
I don't care about the extra cost, so that's a tie. Besides, once you add options to the 6i, the gap narrows a lot.
Power ---
The 6s has a more linear power delivery, and is just smoother overall. The extra power gives you more flexibility in freeway driving. I live at 5000ft, and at this altitude the 3.0L feels about like a 2.3L would at sea level. Plus, (and this is the kid in me) I like to know I can blow away that tricked-out Civic from a stop light if I decide to (sometimes I actually do it). I also like to be able to hold 80mph through a sleep mountain pass at 8000 ft or so. Advantage 6s.
Handling ---
The 6i has a more balanced feel to it, and feels lighter, even though the weight difference is only 201 pounds. Adding Premium pkg and SAB/SAC to the 6i would probably narrow that gap to maybe 150 pounds or so. And, the 6s has a nice character of it's own. It feels more substantial, more steady at freeway speeds, and it's quieter. As you drive the 6s more, you start to appreciate it's own personality. Still, the car was designed around the MZR engine family, so how can it be as good with the 3.0L? Advantage 6i (probably).
What's the bottom line? I'm sure I would like the 6i, but I would probably like the 6s better.
just paste this in
www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=345074&ma- ke_type_query=make%3DMazda&model_brand_query=model%3D6&tr- ee=Mazda%206
According to them, the Honda Accord is a "premium" mid-size car vs. the Mazda6 as a "standard" mid-sized car.. Why ?? They seem pretty similar to me..
Back yard in Deepest Suburbia. Kid (maybe nine) says, "Dad, what's it like to drive?"
Dad looks blank for a moment, then breaks into a grin.
Intercut: standard shots of 626 in the twisties, dad and kid swinging around in a circle. "Zoom-Zoom" theme in evidence.
Finally, voiceover: "Remember how it was? That's how it is."
Maybe it's just me (and I'm way older than most of you), but I thought it was nicely evocative. Didn't sell a heck of a lot of cars, though.
Mazda shoud have spots without music, just the 6 going through the gears (MT of course), with shots of the inside and outside.
A good slogan would be: Mazda6: Do you get IT? With the IT glowing, and a 5 second list of all awards it won in Europe and Asia - like car of the year in many Euro countries!!!!
Use it to your advantage Mazda!
Dinu
I saw my 5th or so 6 today. It was silver non-sport.
I too thought I had a problem with programming my Homelink, but got it to work. My garage door opener (Genie) has the syncro rolling code. You may have programmed it already, because there is a slight (.5 - 1 sec) delay before the garage door starts to open when using the Homelink vs the regular remote. If this isn't the case do the "Erasing Programmed Homelink Buttons" step. Then retry the programming steps again. If you have a rolling code you need to follow those steps too. What brand is your opener? Good luck!
Start with the remote working correctly.
fowler3
http://members.cardomain.com/hotbod257
The 6 isn't really designed for the low-end youth market, those still in high school and university. The price point is too high "loaded".
Then Mazda will have a broader range of cars for all age groups. With the MZ6, they have two cars and options personalize them. With the Mazda3/Sportif, they will have three more cars, equally exciting, if not more so than the 6, and at a lower price.
The big deal now is "cross-over" vehicles. What about cross-over buyers, when older people buy the sport models? That's the market these days.Bring them in! Drag them in! They will buy when they see and test drive them!
It takes time to reinvent a company's business plan and marketing.
Keep the faith!
fowler3
Well, the dealer didn't offer me a very good deal on the 6 last weekend, so I decided to wait. Now I'm actually thinking of ordering one, but I have a couple questions I'm hoping someone can answer.
First, if I order one through the dealer, is the cost always going to be $500 over invoice, or can the dealer determine the cost of the car (I'm guessing they'd make me pay more if they could).
Also, I read on here a while back that in order to get a 2003 model built before production switches over to 2004, the order had to be submitted by a certain point, and I don't remember what the date was. If anyone knows either what page/post it was or the dates, I would appreciate it.
Thanks again for all your help.
P.S. I just found a link which says May 15 is the 2003 final order due date:
http://www.donlen.com/Whats_New/new_buildstart_mazda.html
And, there are cars targeted for older folks. They're called Buicks. Maybe I'll buy one of those when I'm 80.
Didn't like the color until I saw it waxed in the sun. Totally different than on the lot with dust.
Mark
Dinu
The only part of the car which I have to say needs improvement is the Bose stereo. Could use some low end bass response.. I think the sub. is weak.
Some input on the weak sales for the Mazda 6, I think Mazda needs to use a bit more advertisement in Canada. I have not yet seen any ads for the M6, and a few more 6s manual tran. on the lots of the Dealers in Canada would help.
Where in Canada?
So you got the V6 GS or GT? Any options? We want the details.
Cheers!
Dinu
As for changes for the 6 for 2004 I don't expect any design changes. 2005 may see a mild refresh I think. The Protege saw a refresh in between the 00 and 01 model year so Mazda does refreshes for the 3rd year of each body style.
The new Max, IMO fugly and alot more expensive, sells 11000+ for April and Mazda 6 can't get close to half that. It's just not right I tell ya, just not right. I didn't see any new advertizing for the Max anywhere and they can still pull that off.
I actually have a silver 6i non-sport but I love this car. I looked at the 6s a long time but I have a long commute and I had a V6 car and I was tired of the gas mileage. I drove in this morning to work behind an IS300 and even though I like those cars I was proud to be in my 6.
I LAY on the horn for about 10 full seconds but he never looks up until he BUMPS me!!! I was so ticked off! What is it with "distracted" drivers? He takes a left and I happen to be going that way too. So I speed up a little and he keeps going and looking at me in his mirrors. Then, out of no where (no signal) he hangs a U-y in the street and heads back the other way. I got his licence number, then quickly went to the school to pick up my kid.
I looked all over the front of my car and I can't see anything. I believe he might have hit the licence plate holder. WHEW!!!
Still, scared the crap out me.. The car was all of two months old on that very day...
be careful out there..
I saw a Steel Gray 6 this weekend here. Got a glimpse as it was driving past. That's 2 I've seen - one Steel Gray and one Glacier Silver.
I got an email from the other dealer that I HAD been dealing with (but decided to order from the one here in my town instead just due to convenience). Anyway, I haven't told her I ordered from this other dealer yet, so she emailed me this morning and asked if I was going to wait for the hatchback still, because Mazda is now offering a non-advertised extra incentive where if you go with something in stock here or within the region this month, on top of your S-plan price, you would get an extra $500 - $1000 off. I replied back asking if that was a dealer incentive or a Mazda incentive, and she replied that it was a Mazda incentive...that "this incentive is not advertised and will not be advertised. It is from Mazda, but because it is only for a select group of people, they won't advertise it."
She said "When you order a vehicle, you are subject to whatever incentives are in place at the time you pick up the vehicle. This incentive is only through the end of the month and any ordered vehicle would not be here that quick."
Anyone know what this extra incentive is??? The way she worded that last part above, I'm assuming that if you'd ORDERED a car before, and it did come in before the end of May, that this incentive would then apply. But if you were just thinking of ordering a car NOW, it would not because the car wouldn't be here in time. So that's why she offered it asking if I'd want to possibly buy one out of their inventory or a regional trade situation.
Hmmmmm....I sure hope that the car I ordered on March 31 somehow comes in before the end of May! I could deal with an extra $500 to $1000 off my price!
Anyone else know anything about this "non-advertised incentive"???
I think you can actually get that guy on a "hit and run" since he was obviously trying to lose you after hitting your car. You got the plate number and a description of driver and vehicle. Noting time and location helps too. I've actually gotten the local police to issue warnings through snail-mail to drivers (or at least the registered owners) I've reported going through red lights, blowing through stop signs, going out of turn, weaving etc. if I provide enough information to them.
They really need to establish some type of reporting system to weed out bad behavior, but I guess it might be too "big brother." Still, I'd rather put up with that than with all the dangerous drivers on the road.
Has mazda done this sort of unadvertised incentive in the past?
She replied: "Yes, it depends on the model. The extra money is on vehicles without the sport package, but is available on appearance package vehicles."
So it sounds like you could get $500 off a sport package model, and $1000 off plain models or ones with the Appearance package. That's how I read it, anyway. ???
Manufacturer to dealer incentives are just that - they are offered to the dealer to spend as they see fit in order to sell more vehicles. Many dealers will pass it along to their customers, offer it as spiffs/bonuses to the sales people, spend it on advertising, apply it all on few vehicles (ie $6000 off these stock numbers!!!), paint the employee lounge with it, or - gasp - keep it as additional profit.
If it were a consumer incentive (lease deal, college grad, straight rebate) then the money belongs to the consumer, not the dealer.
On the other hand, I have no problem asking for the money if you know about it. But I wouldn't get offended if they said no.