Mazda 2

[fastivaca]

Just came across this...

http://www.2011mazda2.ca/MusaWeb/MAZDA2_CA.action?lang=en#/home

Coming to North America this summer only as a four door.

Looks similar to the new Fiesta.

[Pocket_Rocket]

Hopefully Mazda will do like Toyota with the Yaris and give us a 3 door. That would make a great hot hatch with aftermarket parts!

[bhazard]

They look similar to the fiesta because they share a chassis.

Im personally waiting for the new Fiat 500. They're based on the Ford Ka.

[leapin]

^^ the mazda 2 is only based on the ford chassis.....as far as design and suspention i believe they are going to be much different. A couple of our techs went to a Mazda 2 tech class. He said the engine is only a slightly modernized 1.5 from the old 1996 proteges.....and the susupention looked the same too.

[TominMO]

I like a lot about it; would prefer a 2-door tho. One thing I didn't like was the center stack--no way to stick in an aftermarket radio since the stock one is very customized for this car. I hate when manufacturers design stuff this way, making repair or replacement very difficult/expensive (meaning you gotta buy their part).

Gas mileage will apparently be 40 hwy--the same as Kittystiva's more powerful B6rt. The 2's claimed 100 HP (crankshaft) comes out to about 85 Wheel HP; my car dynos at 111 WHP, and is lighter. And there are a couple of ways I can improve its mileage, going with either Megasquirt ($400) or MSD's boost timing master module ($250). I have about $3K in my Festy now, and it outperforms the $14K - $19K Mazda 2 in every way. I suspect you can't haul a washing machine in the 2, or have two people sleep in it very comfortably. Festiva still FTW!

[muscle_Car1]

Fiat 500 abarth= the win in new 2dr b segment cars.

[genghis1]

According to the specs the auto transmission gets better gas mileage than the 5-speed manual.

[genghis1]

Tom, every way except safety ratings.

[TominMO]

Tom, every way except safety ratings.

True; everyone has to make their own calculation about whether a modern high-tech car with front and side airbags is worth the expense. (It is, if you get into an accident!) Or buy a Festy, drive carefully and take your chances.

Young inexperienced drivers get into the majority of fatal accidents, with or without the chemical impairment of choice. For them I would want to get a modern, safer car just so they live through their first 10 years of driving. At least a driver and passenger airbag.

[pwgus]

Yea I don't like these new automatics that "get better mileage than the sticks". No no no no no, sticks are more fun, and I just really have a hard time believing a 4-speed automatic can get better mileage than a 5-speed stick in the hands of a skilled driver

[92festie]

No no no no no, sticks are more fun, and I just really have a hard time believing a 4-speed automatic can get better mileage than a 5-speed stick in the hands of a skilled driver

x 2

[JumboShrimp]

I really don't understand why they don't offer a 2 door model. Ridiculous....

[92festie]

I really don't understand why they don't offer a 2 door model. Ridiculous....

again x2 lol

[pwgus]

because the prius isn't available with 2 doors, lol, its the same target market

[JumboShrimp]

I really want to slap whoever decided that. It would look like a pretty decent car, same with the Fiesta but its in the same boat. Does anyone know of any 2 door hatches coming out?