Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I don't have that impression, but I will say they are the most law-abiding drivers out there. They don't speed and they pretty much stick to the right lane. No complaints about Subaru drivers from me. Pretty NPC.

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Probably a Vancouver thing.

I think it is a Vancouver thing.
They're not aggressive drivers, more the oblivious bad drivers.
The driver who doesn't move on a flashing turn light, or drifts into the next lane unknowingly, or parks way over the line.
Always seems to be a Subaru here.

But it's also probably one of those things that it's in my head now so I particularly notice it when it's a Subaru.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Brendone

Montana, Idaho, Utah region seems to have a massive Subaru population.

Pacific NW, Colorado, and NE states are Subaru's bread and butter as 70% of their worldwide sales come from the USA. Curiously Subaru is a pretty niche seller in Canada.

[DownInFlames]

What do you guys have against lesbians?

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Even though it would never happen I'd love for them to bring the Mazda 6 wagon from Europe to North America, it looks gorgeous

If they brought this thing over and put the mild hybrid inline 6 from the CX70 / CX90 in it I would have to strongly consider buying one.

[Brendone]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I don't have that impression, but I will say they are the most law-abiding drivers out there. They don't speed and they pretty much stick to the right lane. No complaints about Subaru drivers from me. Pretty NPC.

They’re annoying in a “not doing anything wrong” but “sure not going to cross any lines” way. Basically the Ned Flanders of drivers. If there’s a Subaru and a Corolla at the light, I’m going behind the Subaru every time, but it’s still going to take them forever to pass and move over at exactly the speed limit.

[PepsiFree]

Some really good recommendations and opinions here, but unfortunately Mazdas are ugly and are for nerds.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Everytime I come across a terrible driver, it's a Subaru.
I've developed an unfair dislike for the cars just due to the people driving them.

Really? Huh.

I find that odd because Subarus are dead-easy to drive. Any idiot can drive a Subaru but they're largely fine vehicles.

[chedder]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

When I was in SLC last year it was amazing the number of Subarus in that town. Just everywhere. Snowbird resort even has a dedicated parking lot specifically for Subaru drivers.

I think Subarus are also the official state vehicle of Montana. Subarus and Tacomas.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Brendone

They’re annoying in a “not doing anything wrong” but “sure not going to cross any lines” way. Basically the Ned Flanders of drivers. If there’s a Subaru and a Corolla at the light, I’m going behind the Subaru every time, but it’s still going to take them forever to pass and move over at exactly the speed limit.

I own a Subaru. All of you would probably apply your comments to me when I'm driving that car, but not when I drive our other car. It's because the Subaru is SOOOOOOO bloody slow that you just give up and roll with it. I save my fun for the fun car and just give up in the family appliance.

[Erick Estrada]

Ha ha ha. I was actually going to make a post about Subaru drivers not speeding because their NA 4-cylinder engines are gutless especially the 2.0L.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Ha ha ha. I was actually going to make a post about Subaru drivers not speeding because their NA 4-cylinder engines are gutless especially the 2.0L.

Nothing makes you appreciate your "other car" like having a 300 horsepower delta between them.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Some really good recommendations and opinions here, but unfortunately Mazdas are ugly and are for nerds.

Is their steel better? I just see rusty Mazdas everywhere.

[BloodFetish]

Literal #### tonne of Mazdas in Vancouver, especially CX-5s. Never noticed a rust issue with them more than other brands but there's always someone making the rust comment.

Is it different in the prairies? Maybe they don't like salt?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by BloodFetish

Literal #### tonne of Mazdas in Vancouver, especially CX-5s. Never noticed a rust issue with them more than other brands but there's always someone making the rust comment.

Is it different in the prairies? Maybe they don't like salt?

They were using substandard body metals and anti-corrosion treatments in vehicles manufactured between 2000-2010. Like really substandard. We bought a Protege 5 new in 2003 and within 2.5 years it had rust bubbles on the hatch and I mean big bubbles like you see on old rusty vehicles. It was the first new car we had ever purchased and also the first car we ever owned that was rusting. Our 5+ year old Civic and Accord before that had no rust so it was pretty crazy to see rust on what was a relatively new car. Despite this, Mazda told us that they wouldn't cover it until there was perforation so we quickly got rid of the car and that was it for Mazda with us.

Even later they still had major rust issues as when's the last time you have heard of a vehicle recall due to rust?

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-...Administration.

I think they make pretty good vehicles today but if I was in the market for a Japanese car I would just buy a Honda instead as they drive just as good and will have better resale.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

They were using substandard body metals and anti-corrosion treatments in vehicles manufactured between 2000-2010. Like really substandard. We bought a Protege 5 new in 2003 and within 2.5 years it had rust bubbles on the hatch and I mean big bubbles like you see on old rusty vehicles. It was the first new car we had ever purchased and also the first car we ever owned that was rusting. Our 5+ year old Civic and Accord before that had no rust so it was pretty crazy to see rust on what was a relatively new car. Despite this, Mazda told us that they wouldn't cover it until there was perforation so we quickly got rid of the car and that was it for Mazda with us.

Even later they still had major rust issues as when's the last time you have heard of a vehicle recall due to rust?

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-...Administration.

I think they make pretty good vehicles today but if I was in the market for a Japanese car I would just buy a Honda instead as they drive just as good and will have better resale.

Tacoma says hi.


https://carfromjapan.com/article/ind...-frame-recall/

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by BloodFetish

Literal #### tonne of Mazdas in Vancouver, especially CX-5s. Never noticed a rust issue with them more than other brands but there's always someone making the rust comment.

Is it different in the prairies? Maybe they don't like salt?

There is definitely a difference due to salt on the winter roads.
I can't remember seeing a rusty car in Vancouver in general, Mazda or otherwise. Used to see tons in Calgary.

I love the look of new Mazdas; the CX-70 & 90 seem great. Haven't driven one though.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Tacoma says hi.


https://carfromjapan.com/article/ind...-frame-recall/

Ha ha. I actually knew about that but it slipped my mind. Japanese in general have always struggled a bit more with rust especially compared to the German vehicles.

[Fuzz]

In the 90's one of the mechanics in my dad's shop was working on a Japanese truck of some sort, and the bolts kept breaking from a little bit of torque on them. "Goddamn ####in' ####ty Japanese steel!" is the one phrase I remember from that effort.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

I'm guessing it's mostly brand recognition from the 90's and 2000's. Toyota, Honda, and Nissan were the gold standards in those decades, and Mazdas were ugly and unreliable for the most part. The RX-7 and Miata were the only cars they had going for them for a long time until they came out with the first Mazda 3 in 2004, which was the first compact sedan that actually looked cool instead of just functional. Then it took until the mid-2010's before they started releasing stuff in the compact SUV/crossover market, and it wasn't until 2019 that those became really good with the interior updates and new engines. Hopefully they start to see an increase in sales now that they have great cars in every class, I've definitely started noticing an increase in the number I've seen on the roads while driving. Even though it would never happen I'd love for them to bring the Mazda 6 wagon from Europe to North America, it looks gorgeous

And the rust.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Brendone

They’re annoying in a “not doing anything wrong” but “sure not going to cross any lines” way. Basically the Ned Flanders of drivers. If there’s a Subaru and a Corolla at the light, I’m going behind the Subaru every time, but it’s still going to take them forever to pass and move over at exactly the speed limit.

It's nice to see that I'm not the only one who evaluates the vehicles before deciding which lane to use.