Topic: Test Drive: 2011 Mazda2 GS, four-speed automatic

[Ontariodriver]

These small hatches seem expensive to me. Even the Fiesta does. you're so quickly in to Civic/3/Corolla/Focus yadda yadda for the money. The Mazda 2 I just don't get. Sure it look nice. put pales in comparison to Fit/Fiesta it seems out classed...time will tell.

[bikenut]

jscc , diesils just don't sell as well here so they don't bring them in


mazda gets it right on its quest for low weight
for example  the new ford edge - 2 motors right now
280 hp  253 torque   0 - 60  7.1
305 hp  280 torque   0 - 60  7.6

the 305 hp edge weighs 330 lbs more , bigger wheels also slows it's accelleration

[tpl]

Bikenut.  Diesels don't sell because nobody sells them except VW BMW and M-B  with VW being the only volume seller... price may have something to do with that.

Around here MOST of the Jettas I see are TDI and a fair number of the new Golfs.

[dkaz]

I guess the question is, would you have a fully loaded car or would you rather have a base model the next size up? That is if you didn't have an extra $2,000 or so to get a mid grade the next size up.

We have "big" Mazda 5 so logically I would like a small urban sidekick, the small (no quotations lol) Mazda 2. Something that sips gas, easy as heck to park, easy to manoeuvre around town.

[Spec5]

Bikenut.  Diesels don't sell because nobody sells them except VW BMW and M-B  with VW being the only volume seller... price may have something to do with that.

Around here MOST of the Jettas I see are TDI and a fair number of the new Golfs.

6 months wait for a TDI when I was looking back in '03. Or I could have driven a VR6 off the lot that day for pretty much the same price.

[tpl]

Bikenut.  Diesels don't sell because nobody sells them except VW BMW and M-B  with VW being the only volume seller... price may have something to do with that.

Around here MOST of the Jettas I see are TDI and a fair number of the new Golfs.

6 months wait for a TDI when I was looking back in '03. Or I could have driven a VR6 off the lot that day for pretty much the same price.

'03 was a lifetime ago and a totally different car.  I have no idea what the order time is now but it would not surprise me at all if it is long.

[Spec5]

Bikenut.  Diesels don't sell because nobody sells them except VW BMW and M-B  with VW being the only volume seller... price may have something to do with that.

Around here MOST of the Jettas I see are TDI and a fair number of the new Golfs.

6 months wait for a TDI when I was looking back in '03. Or I could have driven a VR6 off the lot that day for pretty much the same price.

'03 was a lifetime ago and a totally different car.  I have no idea what the order time is now but it would not surprise me at all if it is long.

I was just getting at the fact that there's a large demand for the TDI (or diesles in general rather) and from what I've been hearing over the years and from that experience - always has so - not really sure why we don't see more diesels over here. The argument that they don't sell doesn't seem to really apply. I think its more of an emissions problem than anything. I swear every F250 I see is a diesel - Same with the RAM2500s (not sure if you can even get those with a gasoline engine)

Sorry tpl was kind of responding to a couple of posts but just quoted yours.

[Vanstar]

Just as an aside, compare the cargo area of the Mazda 2 to a Honda Fit. The Fit is much larger and has a flat floor. A Fit Sport automatic is actually cheaper and has seventeen horsepower more. Going to be tough competition.

Diesels, ahh, diesels. Their popularity has peaked in Europe. In a small car, an extra $1500 for diesel is going to be a long pay back and any potential out of warranty engine issue on a diesel is going to be extremely costly.

Speaking from experience, people buy diesels in trucks because they are cool, not for any performance/economy benefit. Recent emission systems that use fuel to burn off soot have really increased fuel consumption. If you want to see what costs the least to run, look at fleets. I am an engineer and I work on remote construction projects all the time. Practically all the pick-ups I see are Ford F-250s with gasoline engines. Kewitt has thousands of them, for example, nary a diesel to be seen. Problem is, according to the mechanics I talk to, is that the diesels are extremely sensitive to fuel quality and most repairs cannot be made on site, meaning the truck has to be sent to a dealer, which costs a fortune. For this reason they stick to the Triton 5.4 which is as reliable as a frying pan!

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Just as an aside, compare the cargo area of the Mazda 2 to a Honda Fit. The Fit is much larger and has a flat floor. A Fit Sport automatic is actually cheaper and has seventeen horsepower more. Going to be tough competition.

Diesels, ahh, diesels. Their popularity has peaked in Europe. In a small car, an extra $1500 for diesel is going to be a long pay back and any potential out of warranty engine issue on a diesel is going to be extremely costly.

Speaking from experience, people buy diesels in trucks because they are cool, not for any performance/economy benefit. Recent emission systems that use fuel to burn off soot have really increased fuel consumption. If you want to see what costs the least to run, look at fleets. I am an engineer and I work on remote construction projects all the time. Practically all the pick-ups I see are Ford F-250s with gasoline engines. Kewitt has thousands of them, for example, nary a diesel to be seen. Problem is, according to the mechanics I talk to, is that the diesels are extremely sensitive to fuel quality and most repairs cannot be made on site, meaning the truck has to be sent to a dealer, which costs a fortune. For this reason they stick to the Triton 5.4 which is as reliable as a frying pan!

If you're young, cargo space might not even enter your mind. It certainly didn't when I was young. If you're tpl's age ( ) it likely would be a factor.

In the Sask oil patch, you can hardly throw a rock without hitting a diesel Ford, GM or Dodge. On other construction projects, it can be more of a mix. Usually the pee-ons get the gas motors, while the higher ups get the diesels. Still lots of diesels though.

[TopGun]

....
New Accent will slaughter this thing.

Why?  Because no one cares about how they drive and it's just about features and price?

The Mazda2 apparently drives really well...not that you tell from the TEST DRIVE of the spec sheet that we were given.  Here's a much better TEST DRIVE of the actual car...

You'll bounce around more in a Honda Fit Sport, and even the Fiesta's suspension feels somewhat stiffer in terms of damping. While engineering the new 2, Mazda was committed to saving as much weight as possible, and managed to cut out a total of 220 pounds versus the previous model sold overseas. Sport models with the manual 'box only tip the scales at 2,309 pounds, which is seriously waif-like in this day and age

We'd love to own a Fit when it comes time for an Ikea run, but for everyday driving, Mazda's offering is just a bit sweeter. Functionality is nice, but enthusiasts want something better poised to handle the main task at hand – driving.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/06/25/2011-mazda2-first-drive/

[Alex_S]

I'd take the Fiesta or the Fit any day of the week over this.  A 4-speed auto in this day and age is laughable.  And lets face it - that is how the majority of these will be sold.

Jaeger

Couldn't agree more, 4-speed is so 1990's and we're approaching...2011!  The Fit and Fiesta looks quite appealing in this segment.  Also, with taxes and options, approaching Elantra territory.  Hearing the new 2011 Elantra might have a 6-sp auto..  I'm sure the Mazda2 is a great little car but seems overpriced by ~5-8% imo..

[dirtyjeffer]

Bikenut.  Diesels don't sell because nobody sells them except VW BMW and M-B  with VW being the only volume seller... price may have something to do with that.

Around here MOST of the Jettas I see are TDI and a fair number of the new Golfs.

the reason you see so few diesels in NA is due to our emissions requirements...diesel cars need to meet the same Tier 2 Bin 5 requirements that gasoline engines have to meet...it is why all diesels sold in NA have to be "Clean Diesels" which are used in light weight cars or "BluTec" diesels (in heavier models, where they use urea injection)...of course, trucks are exempt.

[CDF]

Just read a comparison of the Mazda2, Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta in Car and Driver's printed edition (comparison does not appear on line yet for some reason).

All were manuals, and the Fiesta came in last. The Mazda was second, while the Fit won overall.

The Mazda posted the best handling and slalom times, and also trumped the Fiesta for acceleration and fuel economy.

The fact that the 2 is still so good after 3 or 4 years (I believe it debuted to the rest of the world in 2006 as a 2007 model) is pretty impressive.

Interestingly, the test loop that Car and Driver did started in Windsor, ON and ended in Montreal, QC.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Just read a comparison of the Mazda2, Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta in Car and Driver's printed edition (comparison does not appear on line yet for some reason).

All were manuals, and the Fiesta came in last. The Mazda was second, while the Fit won overall.

The Mazda posted the best handling and slalom times, and also trumped the Fiesta for acceleration and fuel economy.

The fact that the 2 is still so good after 3 or 4 years (I believe it debuted to the rest of the world in 2006 as a 2007 model) is pretty impressive.

Interestingly, the test loop that Car and Driver did started in Windsor, ON and ended in Montreal, QC.

Breezed thru this last night as well and was surprised the Mazda2 beat Fiesta. Was going to look online but you saved me the trouble of trying to find the article just yet. Surprised at the acceleration and fuel economy of the 2 vs Fiesta. Despite being so close, these 3 cars have really taken different paths. Will have to read it in detail later.

[wing]

The Fiesta was designed around the 6-speed auto the manual really kills the car IMO (oh and the non-defeat-able TCS)