OZMAZDA.com - Australian Mazda Owners Forum: OZMAZDA.com

2010 Mazda CX-9 Touring review from cnet.

My 1988 Mazda has 155000 kms on it. I have the mazda service books from when the car was new, but no details as to what was done at each service. When is the timing belt normally changed on the F2 engine?? at 60,000km or 100,000km??? Normally (on my other car at least) when the timing belt is changed, a silver sticker is put on the timing belt cover indicating when the belt was changed. In the mazda however, no sticker is present. I can only hope that Mazda did change the timing belt at the required interval when the car was brought in for service.

We would love to hear your feedback on the new site!


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We are still working through a few issues with the new site, and are always looking for suggestions for improvement.

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Filed under: Safety, Mazda

According to a recent report, Mazda will be installing brake override systems on all of its models in the near future. Whenever that happens, the brake will automatically get priority over the accelerator in a situation where both of them are simultaneously depressed. Nissan already has such a system installed on most of its cars, and Toyota has already pledged to do so. As far as Japan goes that leaves companies like Honda, Mitsubishi, Subaru and Suzuki in the "Undecided" column.

A Mazda spokesman said the company wasn't aware of any unintended acceleration issues with its vehicles anywhere in the world that would necessitate such a system. This really looks to be a proactive move, since the estimated $50-per-car cost of the brake override will be much less hurtful than having to recall an untold numbers of cars... and you'll be paying for it, anyway. The company doesn't have details yet on the specifics of implementation, but it will eventually apply to every car the company sells.



[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Mazda reportedly adding brake override systems to all future models originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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morning all

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Mazda

Ikuo Maeda, Mazda's design overlord, designed the soon-to-be-Stateside Mazda2. He also penned the Mazda RX-8, following quite literally the path his father laid before him: Maeda's father created the original Mazda RX-7. Now Maeda wants to bring the RX-7 back to life, saying "I do have a strong yearning to revive the RX-7 during my tenure."

Even though many enthusiasts would like nothing more than for Mazda to tap that root, we have heard that other Mazda officials queried on the subject poo-pooed the idea, asking "Why go backwards?" If we were to answer, we'd say "Because things were awesome back then. Except for the warranty claims..." That latter point being another reason the last RX-7 is not exactly a fond memory for the Japanese brand.

For it to have any chance at all, though, Maeda said "... we need the U.S. economy to come back, first and foremost." We hereby give you our permission to begin buying everything.



[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]

Report: Mazda designer wants to revive RX-7 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 08 Mar 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sedan, Geneva Motor Show, Mazda

As expected, Mazda rolled out a (very) slightly freshened version of its midsize Mazda6 sedan this week at the Geneva Motor Show. Of course, we pointed our camera lenses in its general direction to snap off this series of live images for your viewing pleasure. Remember that this car is known as the Atenza in its home market of Japan.

Note the reworked fascia that includes a more sharply defined five-point grille opening flanked by larger air intakes that include small round fog lights. Out back, the taillight housings are slightly reshaped. Besides those external changes, there are a couple new wheel choices and piano black trim inside that matches similar finishes in Mazda's other offerings. See all the updates for yourself in our high-res image gallery below.



Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright ©2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Geneva 2010: Refreshed 2010 Mazda6 shows off its new face originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Mazda

It's hard to imagine that the MX-5 (Miata) has been around for 20 years, but time flies when you're carving up canyon roads in a nimble two-door sports car. Mazda has made quite a hoopla about the car's 20th anniversary, bringing out some of the best concept and specialty versions at the Chicago Auto Show, throwing a huge party for owners in Japan, and creating an anniversary edition for both the Japanese and the Brits. Here at the Geneva Motor Show, Mazda announced yet another 20th anniversary edition MX-5, this time available for all of Europe.

The European MX-5 20th Anniversary Edition can be picked out by its chrome trim, silver-look fog lamps, unique 17-inch wheels and 20th anniversary logos. The only performance upgrade is a strut tower brace in the engine bay, and customers can choose from True Red, Crystal White Pearl or Aurora Blue. Follow the jump for the brief press release from Mazda or browse through our live photos in the gallery below.



Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright ©2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Geneva 2010: Mazda MX-5 20th Anniversary Edition blows out its candles in Europe

Geneva 2010: Mazda MX-5 20th Anniversary Edition blows out its candles in Europe originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Recalls, Crossover, Mazda

We here at Autoblog love seat warmers, and we're glad to see that more and more automakers are fitting this lovely amenity as either standard or optional equipment across their full range of vehicles. However, like all electrical gadgets, occasional glitches are known to pop up every so often, and Mazda is now recalling many of its 2010 model year CX-9 crossovers due to faulty seat heater units.

According to NHTSA, the front seat heater units in the CX-9 can overheat in extremely cold conditions due to insufficient electrical grounding, which can cause the seat cushions to burn or even catch fire. (Yikes!) To fix this potential hazard, dealers will install additional ground harnesses to the heater control system, and may even replace the seat heater control unit, if necessary.

Owners can contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500 for more information. The official safety recall will begin around March 9, 2010. Follow the jump to read the full details in NHTSA's press release.



[Source: NHTSA]

Continue reading Hot Cross Buns: Mazda recalls 2010 CX-9 due to seat (over)heaters

Hot Cross Buns: Mazda recalls 2010 CX-9 due to seat (over)heaters originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Minivan/Van, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Mazda

Mazda's Nagare design theme has infiltrated nearly every model in its lineup, with only a few lone hold-outs. Here in Geneva, one of the last unmolested models has finally gone under the knife and the result is the 2011 Mazda 5.

In addition to the new smiling fascia, five-point grille, deeper chin spoiler and flared front fenders, the new 5 gets a trio of dramatic, wave-live character lines sweeping from the front door and terminating into the deeply drawn rear tailamps. The combination ditches the somewhat anonymous profile of the previous model, it's just a shame the rear looks disproportionately top heavy.

The interior gets a quick once over, with thicker, wider seats, power sliding doors and a reworked center stack, with the standard seven seats carrying over and the new 2.5-liter four-cylinder from the new Mazda3 finding its way underhood when it hits the States later this year.




Live photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright ©2010 Weblogs, Inc.

Continue reading Geneva 2010: 2011 Mazda5 gets swoopy in Switzerland

Geneva 2010: 2011 Mazda5 gets swoopy in Switzerland originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Mar 2010 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Buick, Cadillac, Hummer, Jaguar, Jeep, Lexus, Mazda, Saturn, Suzuki

Lexus and Hummer took top honors in their respective categories in the J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Consumer Service Index (CSI) Study. Released this time each year, the CSI rankings (based on a 1,000-point scale) measure satisfaction among vehicle owners who visit a brand service department for maintenance or repair work during the first three years of ownership - that wonderful honeymoon phase when factory warranties are still in full effect. The study is designed to focus on five measurements: service quality, service initiation, service advisor, service facility and vehicle pick-up. The results are tabulated, and then presented as a score on a 1,000-point scale. Unlike previous years, where all brands were lumped into one single category and only three made it to the podium, JDPA broke things into two segments: luxury brands and mass market brands.

Lexus, with a score of 837, was at the top of the luxury brands, again - the automaker won last year as well. It was followed by Cadillac (827), who showed a big improvement over the previous year, and Jaguar (822). If you recall, Jaguar was at the top of the list in 2008 and finished second in 2009 (this is more indicative of a bar that continues to be raised rather than a decrease in service). Hummer (815) was top dog among mass market brands, followed by the now-discontinued brand of Saturn (808) and Buick (805). General Motors holds six of the top seven spots on the mass market category. At the bottom of the list are Suzuki (693), Mazda (717) and Jeep (720).

Overall, the industry is showing improvement as customers have expressed satisfaction with the ease of driving in and out of dealership facilities, parking convenience, thoroughness of work performed, the speed of repairs and flexibility of accommodating schedules. While that sounds like great news, experts say it most of those improvements may be attributed to the lower volumes of service bay traffic as sales slump in the new car showroom. Full release after the jump.



[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading Lexus and Hummer top 2010 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study

Lexus and Hummer top 2010 J.D. Power Customer Service Index Study originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Budget, Hybrid, Minivan/Van, Sedan, SUV, Truck, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Hyundai, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Luxury, Off-Road

Each year, the automotive editors of Consumer Reports select their Top Pick Cars, representing vehicles that are the best in their individual segments. These cars are deemed to have "average or better" predicted reliability and have scored high marks in government safety testing. In past years, automakers like Honda and Toyota have dominated this list, but since more and more manufacturers are ramping up their quality within each competitive segment, the 2010 list proves to be the most diverse CR Top Picks group in over a decade.

So, which cars garner the most praise from CR? The Nissan Altima has officially dethroned the Honda Accord from the top family sedan spot, the Volkswagen GTI takes honors as the best sporty car, the trusty Subaru Forester takes the cake in the small SUV category, the quirky Mazda5 wins for best family hauler, and both the Chevrolet Traverse and Silverado stand tall as the best family SUV and pickup truck. These six newcomers join the Hyundai Elantra SE, Infiniti G37, Toyota Prius and Lexus LS460L to round out the entire list of Top Pick Cars.

Unlike most automotive media outlets (Autoblog included), Consumer Reports actually buys its own test cars before putting them through rigirous evaluations of handling, braking, comfort, safety and more, and each test car is roughly 6,000 miles older by the time all of the tests have been completed. Follow the jump to read the official press release from CR, and scroll through our attached gallery to see high-res shots of all the 2010 Top Pick Cars.



[Source: Consumer Reports - sub. req.]

Continue reading Consumer Reports adds six cars to Top Picks list, touts diversity

Consumer Reports adds six cars to Top Picks list, touts diversity originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 12:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Coupe, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Ford, Mazda

The desire to make more of the Ford Mustang and Mazda6, while improving efficiency and quality, is leading Ford to cut, not add jobs at its Flat Rock Assembly Plant. The plant's 2,280-strong workforce is expected to decrease by 900, with Ford reducing the number of shifts from two to one and increasing the line speed by 35 percent.

Moving to just a single shift will help stabilize assembly at the plant, which produced 109,000 vehicles last year but experienced a lot of downtime when new vehicle sales cratered. In turn, the workers who remain to work the single shift should appreciate less idle time away from the job and stay sharper as a result, thereby increasing quality as well.

Those workers who have been cut will be moved to the Chicago assembly plant to help build the new Ford Explorer later this year, while others will be transferred to Michigan Assembly to build the new Ford Focus. Those not given new positions will be offered contract buyouts.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Neat Trick: Ford nixing 900 jobs in Flat Rock while expanding production of Mustang, Mazda6 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Budget, Hatchback, Mazda, Misc. Auto Shows, Canada

The biggest event in the automotive world this week may be the Chicago Auto Show, but that isn't stopping Mazda from once again going north to reveal product at the Canadian International Auto Show. The Japanese automaker has a significantly larger portion of the Canadian market pie than it does in the U.S., so it makes sense that it would show off an upgraded Mazda2 interior in Toronto instead of in The Windy City.

The 2011 Mazda2, which is earmarked to go on sale in North America beginning in late Summer, will benefit from higher quality seat fabric (with piping) along with a better audio system and more robust HVAC controls, among other changes. It is not immediately clear if the changes for the NA car will matriculate back into European market models, but the alterations should help give the Mazda2 a fighting chance against competitors like its platform-mate, the Ford Fiesta, as well as the next-generation Chevrolet Aveo and models already on sale like the Hyundai Accent, Nissan Versa and Honda Fit. Check out both the interior and exterior in our high-res galleries below.




[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Upgraded North American Mazda2 interior revealed in Toronto, car to launch late summer

Upgraded North American Mazda2 interior revealed in Toronto, car to launch late summer originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe, Japan, Mazda

If you'll allow us to channel Kyle's mother for a moment, "What!? What!? What?!?!" That's right folks, not only has Mazda decided that them good bread and cheese eaters over in Europia get a 20th Anniversary edition Miata, but the redcoat wearing, Simon Cowell spawning, Union Jacking Queen-lovers over in Britain are fit to get their own special special edition 20th Anniversary Miata. Us Yanks? Bupkis.

Of course, when you scrape your way down to the nitty and/or gritty of the matter, you learn that just like the Europe-only MX-5 Miata, the Brit version also gets a 1.8-liter motor, not the more powerful 2.0-liter found in U.S.-spec Miatas. Meaning that only a very few crazy die hards would shell out good money for a detuned special edition Miata even if the 1.8-liter model "echoes true spirit of 1990 original." And of course, as we all know (ahem) the 1990 original Miata came with a 1.6-liter power plant and the 1.8-liter motor didn't show up until 1996 1994.

The truth of the matter is there doesn't seem to be any difference between the British 20th Anniversary cars and the European ones aside from the fancy paint job (the 20th Anniversary car is largely an appearance package detailed here). It's just that Britain is such a huge Miata market the island nation secured 33 percent of the production run. After all, the Miata is essentially a British roadster minus all the never absent rust, fatal electrical gremlins and routine catastrophic purging of essential fluids. Still feeling bad that we're not getting a 20th Anniversary Miata? It takes 9.9 seconds for that 1.8-liter to 60 miles per hour... Press release after the jump.



[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Blimey! UK gets its own 20th Anniversary Mazda Miata

Blimey! UK gets its own 20th Anniversary Mazda Miata originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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