7 Years Later, Returning to Honda

2477 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Design, Sep 25, 2015

Design

Discussion Starter · Sep 21, 2015

Hey Everyone -

Might as well continue the trend for us "early" adopters waiting for the upcoming 10th Gen. As a former Si owner, I have been watching Honda's press releases very closely.

My experience with turbo cars is a love/hate relationship. Love the power and efficiency; hate the maintenance (though I do most of my own work). I've put on 150K on my current '09 Mazdaspeed3. The Mazda has been a great performer up until very recently. And I'm currently struggling with mysterious and rapid oil consumption. With the turbo now replaced, we've narrowed it down to the PCV valve (unlikely) or ringlands. Common issue in high boost platforms. Combined with the high mileage, it's time to move on.

I will be watching the evolution of the Si and Type R very closely over the next 10-12 months. Unless Honda really screws the pooch with the Si Sedan, I will probably pick that up, knowing the mileage I drive.

Looking forward to coming back.

Current ride: 09 MS3; KW Coilovers, Intake, Tune, and wireless android integration. 270 WHP/255 WTQ.

Previous Ride: 00 Si Coupe

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Smartie

· #2 · Sep 21, 2015

welcome to the show! Certainly sounds like some kind of blowby issue...could even be valves...blue smoke and all?

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Design

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 21, 2015

Blowby for sure. Cats are masking just about all the smoke. Ruling out a clogged PCV this month. Then I'm done with the troubleshooting.

To add insult to injury, there is very little room to work in the Mazda engine bay. Much less than a typical Honda at least. The PCV, for example, is sandwiched between the IM and block. Need to remove the serpentine belt, PS pump, oil dipstick line, TB, IC, IM, and a host of vacuum lines to access a $15 wear item.

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Civil

· #4 · Sep 22, 2015

So if you end up getting the Civic does that mean that you will be selling your Mazda?

Mazda is really just focusing on CUVs, so if that is what you are looking for, great, but if not, not so great.

At the same time, Honda is doing a bit of the opposite (or at least not solely concentrating on CUVs). They are trying to inject some personality and performance back into their line up. Even though the Civic is a staple volume car, you can see that spark of performance and excitement in the redesigned model.

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5TAR

· #5 · Sep 22, 2015

Civil said:
So if you end up getting the Civic does that mean that you will be selling your Mazda?

Mazda is really just focusing on CUVs, so if that is what you are looking for, great, but if not, not so great.

At the same time, Honda is doing a bit of the opposite (or at least not solely concentrating on CUVs). They are trying to inject some personality and performance back into their line up. Even though the Civic is a staple volume car, you can see that spark of performance and excitement in the redesigned model.

Being a person that doesn't like to stick with cars past the 5-6 year mark, if I had that Mazda then it's definitely something i'd get rid of, kept cars for much longer in the past and didn't like it at all!

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Design

Discussion Starter · #6 · Sep 22, 2015

Civil said:
So if you end up getting the Civic does that mean that you will be selling your Mazda?

Mazda is really just focusing on CUVs, so if that is what you are looking for, great, but if not, not so great.

At the same time, Honda is doing a bit of the opposite (or at least not solely concentrating on CUVs). They are trying to inject some personality and performance back into their line up. Even though the Civic is a staple volume car, you can see that spark of performance and excitement in the redesigned model.

That remains to be seen. But with HOA front-running the Civic this time around, I am feeling a bit more optimistic they will pull off what they did in '06 with a solid platform.

I wouldn't say Mazda is strictly CUV focused. The Mazda 6 and Mazda 3 are their bread and butter. I work just down the street from Mazda North America HQ. Rumor is they will announce another Mazdaspeed platform by end of year with either a turbo Skyactive or turbo diesel option. The latter would give them an advantage with better low end torque, lower operating temps, and better fuel economy. That's IF they can get the emissions to a respectable level.

Unfortunately Mazda does not over-engineer their cars to the level of Honda. My next car needs to go 200K with minimal downtime.

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5TAR

· #7 · Sep 23, 2015

A Mazdaspeed3 would be a good volume product and something that could help to pull people away from vehicles in slightly higher segments, offering a cheaper alternative.

Same could be said for the Mazda 6 but that thing is a boat.

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Civil

· #8 · Sep 23, 2015

I wouldn't say Mazda is strictly CUV focused.

I will agree that they have successful vehicles that are not CUVs right now,and that those vehicles combined sell more than their CUVs do currently. However the focus of a company now will not bare fruit until a few years down the line. The CUV focus was said by the company itself. Here is a quote and article for you.

What new direction? Consider Australia to be a microcosm. This year, small passenger cars like the Mazda 3 are down about 9 per cent, while small SUVs and medium SUVs are up 27 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. That’s where you put your incremental additions, if you’re a savvy car-maker.

http://www.caradvice.com.au/383630/mazda-argues-case-for-new-cx-4-crossover/

Speaking with Automotive News, Mazda's global marketing chief Masahiro Moro said that would like to see, in two to three years, Mazda achieve annual sales of 300,000 vehicles in the US. The quickest path he sees to that goal is by feeding America's insatiable hunger for crossovers.
Currently, sales of Mazda's CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9 represent about 40 percent of Mazda's sales. However, that the Mazda CX-5 is the one doing all the heavy lifting in that figure, as the sprightly new Mazda CX-3 has just debuted very competitively in the compact crossover segment, and a completely redesigned Mazda CX-9 is scheduled to launch soon.
Until now, Mazda has been too dependent on sales of low-margin compacts like the Mazda 3, thinks Moro. The model accounted for 46 percent of the company's sales in 2010. Moreover, those customers saw the car as a stepping stone brand, and would leave Mazda for another brand in their next purchase. Brand loyalty is at an all-time low, but Moro believes crossover buyers are much more likely to stay with the marque.

Read more: http://www.leftlanenews.com/mazda-w...-percent-of-us-sales-89718.html#ixzz3maHEkPPk

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Design

Discussion Starter · #9 · Sep 25, 2015

There is definitely a move to CUVs over SUVs. But we will never see CUV sales overtake sedan/hatch sales at companies like Mazda, Toyota or Honda. The top three cars sold in 2014 were all sedans:
1. Toyota Camry: 428,606
2. Honda Accord: 388,374
3. Nissan Altima: 335, 644

Comparatively speaking, CUVs are pulling more sales away from SUVs.

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