THE ageing Mazda2 has received a sporting makeover to keep sales ticking along.

[csv8]

THE ageing Mazda2 has received a sporting makeover to keep sales ticking along.

Prices for the Mazda2 basement model have remained the same at $15,790, but Maxx Sport has dropped $760 for both manual and automatic models.

Mazda has deleted the top-of-the-range Genki which had a retail price of $20,495.

A new line-up has the Neo Sport model replacing the previous entry-level Neo while the upgraded Maxx Sport model replaces both the Maxx and the Genki at the top of the Mazda2 range.

Mazda2 Neo Sport's features are carried over from the outgoing Neo but they now have 15-inch alloy wheels. Mazda says the alloys, combined with air conditioning, cruise control, steering wheel mounted audio controls, USB input and power windows the Neo Sport is "perhaps the best-value Mazda ever".

The Maxx Sport gains about $1200 in additional equipment on top of what was previously featured in the Genki. It now comes fitted with front fog lamps, a chrome exhaust extension, trip computer, leather gear shift knob (on manual models) and a red stitched leather wrapped steering wheel - that red stitching is also featured on the seats.

Climate control air conditioning is also now on the specification list..

Two colours have been added, Jet Black mica and Blue Reflex mica which takes the total colour palette to eight. Metallic and mica paint colours are a no cost option on the Mazda2 range.

"Mazda2 is already Australia's favourite city car and this latest upgrade makes it even more appealing than ever," Mazda Australia's director of marketing Alastair Doak said.

"Style and safety have always been two hallmarks of the Mazda2 range but with buyers also benefitting from improved value there is more reason than ever before for new car buyers to consider this impressive light car stalwart."
Mazda2 Neo Sport five-speed manual $15,790
Mazda2 Neo Sport automatic $17,440
Mazda2 Maxx Sport five-speed manual $16,930
Mazda2 Maxx Sport automatic $18,580
http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au...grade/2005806/

My comment : thats $4k cheaper than the Fiesta Sport. Mazda are really after market number 1 !!!!

[GQ_Smooth]

Fiesta, is a better car in every way.

Price, availability and public perception is why Mazda will sell more. 2 out of those 3 are relatively easy to change if Ford are serious about chainging how they do business!

[NX74205]

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

Fiesta, is a better car in every way.

Price, availability and public perception is why Mazda will sell more. 2 out of those 3 are relatively easy to change if Ford are serious about chainging how they do business!

Can't argue with Fiesta being better, but Mazda sells more by virtue of the fact that it, too, is a very, very good car. I'd still take the 2 over anything else (bar Fiesta and Polo) in the sub-light segment, even though it's a 5 year old design (which is a scary thought, it's still a good looking car to me).

[csv8]

Originally Posted by GQ_Smooth

Fiesta, is a better car in every way.

Price, availability and public perception is why Mazda will sell more. 2 out of those 3 are relatively easy to change if Ford are serious about chainging how they do business!

I would say..all 3 Ford need to change ???? but, mainly 2 and 3..
Ford should put up a good value for money case.
Made in Thailand, they should be cheaper????? Mazda 2 is made in Thailand.

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by csv8

Mazda 2 is made in Thailand.

Mazda 2 production shifted back to Japan not that long after the shift to Thailand for some reason.

[buggerlugs]

Daughter has A Mazda 2 Genki. Just a brilliant little car................. 4k is a lot of money to some people......

[GQ_Smooth]

Look at 4K as a percentage of total price, it's a massive difference and hard for those in the market to justify the difference when the Ford isn't perceived as a premium brand.

VW are suffering for their past deeds at the moment with a reasonable percentage of their previous clientele not wanting to stay with the brand. They cannot post a new model on their Facebook page without being inundated with customer gripes. It's embarrassing.

[2011G6E]

The problem is that nowadays it's actually hard to buy a truly bad car. The choice is endless. In "the old days", you'd know to avoid certain makes...that one is unreliable, that one rusts quickly, that one has crap interior plastics, etc...but nowadays, it's honestly a toss of the coin and who will offer the better trade in price in nearly all market segments.

Even the Chinese cars are picking up quality so fast it's frightening...I'm really interested to see what they're going to be like in five years time...

[danzvtil]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

The problem is that nowadays it's actually hard to buy a truly bad car. The choice is endless. In "the old days", you'd know to avoid certain makes...that one is unreliable, that one rusts quickly, that one has crap interior plastics, etc...but nowadays, it's honestly a toss of the coin and who will offer the better trade in price in nearly all market segments.

Even the Chinese cars are picking up quality so fast it's frightening...I'm really interested to see what they're going to be like in five years time...

^^^^^
THIS
I was speaking to a car broker friend bellyaching about which secondhand car to buy, he was rather blunt in has response:
All modern cars are largely the same, they drive the same, sound the same, run when its hot, run when its cold, just buy what you want or can afford, the talk is all crap.

[1TUFFUTE]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

^^^^^
THIS
I was speaking to a car broker friend bellyaching about which secondhand car to buy, he was rather blunt in has response:
All modern cars are largely the same, they drive the same, sound the same, run when its hot, run when its cold, just buy what you want or can afford, the talk is all crap.

PAH. That guy has no soul.......

[Wretched]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

^^^^^
THIS
I was speaking to a car broker friend bellyaching about which secondhand car to buy, he was rather blunt in has response:
All modern cars are largely the same, they drive the same, sound the same, run when its hot, run when its cold, just buy what you want or can afford, the talk is all crap.

hmmm that's not right at all.
Tell that to Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren, etc.
Even your daily run about cars are more than that. Ford, VW, Renault and even Hyundai (starting to) are spending copious amounts of $$ to tune the chassis of their small cars to give them some character.

[barra240t]

Originally Posted by csv8

My comment : thats $4k cheaper than the Fiesta Sport. Mazda are really after market number 1 !!!!

$4k is a lot of money. I think its the Trend that is more comparable against the Mazda.

Fiesta Sport is on its own in my opinion and also has fitted the international engine of the year, two years in a row..

[hedgehobb]

Red stitching = sport.

ok

[ebv8]

my aunt bought a mazda 2 the same time as i got my WT fiesta, hers is auto and she got it for $15k with was great, anyway the mazda 2 is so much smaller inside, the drivers area feels cramped compared the the fiesta, the fiesta had a better styled dash and trim, fiesta had continental tyres while the mazda has toyo's basically the ford feels better
this is a ford forum not a mazda forum so lets just settle on the fiesta being better

[FNQracing]

Fiesta is too expensive and essentially the same as a 2. Mazda has better market perception than Ford. The 2 looks better to many. Mazda is a winning team right now, Ford not so.

People at that end of the market want a shopping trolley. Chassis tuning is bunkum and silly talk in cars like this as 99% are driven by chicks and covered in My Kitty stickers. Downforce measured by how many Susan bags are stashed in the back.

Both are good cars to go to the shops in. At the price, the 2 is the pick and the market agrees. Ford couldn't sell cold beers in Birdsville. They don't understand the market these days. But they'll be back one day.

[buggerlugs]

I'm 6ft 3" and to get in and move the daughters Mazda 2 is no mean feat. Perfect for the daughter but not this black duck............