Miata Mailing List: July 1996, Message #65
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   From: mx5@juno.com (Mike Menozzi)
Subject: Re: Will Miata styling ever change?/Ford
   Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 17:37:24 -0400


On Mon, 01 Jul 1996 14:30:16 -0400 RDUMONT@aol.com writes:
>Let's take a look at some of Mazda's recent offerings:
I *mostly* agree w/ your comments Rob, consider this, the bigger the car
gets, the more problems Mazda has with styling, marketing and pricing.
Think about it - the Miata, RX7, 323, and MX-3 were all pretty
successful small cars. Anything larger they've had problems selling
them. See comments below:

>The MX-6: Only appeals to women for some reason. Men buy the Ford 
>Probe which nearly the same car - but better. 
Both cars are great looking, the MX-6 in red looks very Ferrari-ish, I
disagree that the Probe is a better car, maybe better for the money, it
does undercut the MX-6 by a bunch. Mazda needs to chop about $1K to
$1.5K off the sticker and they'd have a winner.

>The 626: too small for the price. 
Agree - too small, styling too bland, and TOO expensive. Anyone of which
is bad, but in the toughest class of cars (Accord - Camry - etc.) spells
death.

>The 929: Too stylish (and underpowered) to appeal to the older, 
>conservative market it tries to hit.
Agree.
>The RX-7: overpriced and no convertible version.
The lack of a convertible probably didn't help sales but the car was so
close to the Miata in size and function another convertible may have
been deemed too much. I would also say that it wasn't overpriced for
what you got in return. Mazda's problem (which benefited the enthusiast)
was they manufactured two sports cars in a slow market at best. Most
other manufacturers have one car in that slot which limited the losses during market fluctuation.

>The MPV: Too small, overpriced, and underpowered.
Agree
>Mazda trucks: Mazda makes trucks? Mazda SUV's: Navajo was really a Ford,
and outdated to boot. No one  buys the line that  the MPV is a SUV - even
with  the AWD and bigger tires
Agree
>Millenia: looks too plain to cost over 30 grand.
This may be the best effort on Mazda'a part for a big car. Conservative
styling is the norm for buyers in this class don't forget. If you were
to compare it to the Lexus, Infiniti, etc. that Mazda would like you to,
it actually stacks up very well. Especially with the Miller cycle engine.
*But* you don't get the *name* that accompanies Lexus, etc.
>323: How bad can it be if it was the starting point for the Miata?
Agree
>Miata: HOME RUN!
Absolutely Agree
>Unfortunately, you can't keep afloat just on MX-5 sales.
>-Rob ( red '91 Miata)
Mike red 95 Miata