All together now: “What time is it? It’s Mazda behaving badly again time!”
I don’t need to run you through some of the more momentous Mazda moments, do I? Why not?
As we always say here, echoing the best ever line in Australian politics: “What do you do when the electorate feels betrayed? Betray them again!”
Yup we all reward them for their bad behaviour, just like we keep on buying cars from manufacturers that keep doing us over.
What about October 2019, when Mazda recalled 35,476 Mazda 3s, Mazda 6s and CX-5s in Australia that Mazda said “may accumulate carbon deposits in the intake shutter valve, in addition to premature wear of certain engine components”? Well, that’s funny because in the US, at exactly the same time, Mazda recalled more than 262,000 of the same CX-5s to fix a software problem that could cause the engines to stall unexpectedly without warning.
And that’s one of the major problems readers had with their Mazda 3, 6 and CX-5s.
What about July 2019, when the ACCC urgently recalled 3000 new Mazda cars because their wheels could fall off? Only wusses need four wheels.
What about December 2, 2021, when our very own Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications told us it was recalling 93,000 Mazdas because “a loss of power while driving could increase the risk of an accident and injury to a vehicle occupant or other road users. In the event of a serious accident, this may result in death”?
What about in August this year, when Mazda Australia recalled 176,048 its Mazda 3 hatchback/sedans and CX-3 SUVs? But let’s not go there. It’s a waste of time. For instance, from September 2017, your team here has been warning the buying public and you, not to drive or buy a Mazda CX-5 because of both safety (that is, you and your family could die) and cost issues.
Mazda first deals with any problems by telling its dealers to say: “We’ve never seen these problems before.”
Then, if you persist, the dealer will say: ‘‘Mazda are providing engine replacements outside warranty where there are problems like yours.”
Then if you say that’s not a solution, the dealer will tell you: ‘‘Ring Mazda customer service.” You will ring them and will be told after two weeks that ‘‘the engine was running to specifications and your request for refund or replacement is denied’’.
So, it saddens me to say that Reader 14, Andrew Hewitt of Port Macquarie, NSW, was a disbeliever.
“Hi John”, Andrew wrote because that’s my name but certainly not the name of the old codger in the photo on the top of this column if you are reading the print edition versus the much better digital version – which still has the correct pic.
“I have been a regular reader for years and a nonbeliever of your comments on Mazda till now. We are a Mazda family and have purchased 13 new cars in all.
“My daughter’s is a KE CX 5 diesel, 135,000km, out of warranty and has a blown head gasket. What really astounds me is I’m into week five and the dealer doesn’t want to know about it and neither does Mazda.
“This is a car with an immaculate service history from Mazda dealers. What really astounds me is if they offered me the parts for free and we paid the labour of $3000 I would be happy. But not a word except ‘not our problem talk to the dealer’, who says it’s Mazda Australia that is the problem.”
We were late getting a request for comment because Mazda would not give us the PR boss’s email address or put us through to his office.
Anyway, here’s what they usually say: “Mazda does not comment publicly on matters relating to its customers.” If we do hear back, you will be the last to know. And if you live in Port Macquarie, buy your next used or new car from the Miedecke Motor Group, helmed by our very own legendary racer Andrew Miedecke. Mention my name to pay more.
Talking of last weekend’s Monza all Italian, all the time, Ciao Bella, sauna e Bagno di ghiaccio F1, we had some real racing at the top but with the same boring result.
Mad Max had to try for three minutes to win his 10th race in a row, Sergio Perez was the first of the losers and Carlos Sainz gave the Fezzer fans a thrill. Sunday it’s Singers, then it’s Suzuka.
Talking of Sainzy; after getting back from work on Sunday, Carlos Sainz Vázquez de Castro, 29, from Madrid, latterly of Sassuolo (near the Fezzer fabbrica), was strolling around the Via Alessandro Manzoni (he was staying at the Armani Hotel where every detail is signed by George Armani, 89, of Brera, and where the average workers’ room with breakfast pushed through the little slot in the wall and the shower curtains are eco plastic, is a steal at $3000 a night), still dressed in his work clobber, smoking an MS Filtro and downing a few stubbies of Mahou (the taste of Madrid) when a couple of bad amigos ran by and ripped off his $700,000 Richard Mille watch.
Carl and his bodyguard thought this was a bit rough, ran after them, wrestled them to the ground, took back his Mille and summoned the Polizia Municipale.
More exciting than the race.
I hope you realise that today’s buy of the week is a boat. Yes, it’s a 1968 Riva Aquarama.
Rivas are seriously sex on water and look fast going slow. This one was bought by tractor maker and father of drug dealers’ cars, Ferruccio Lamborghini (117 but dead of Castiglione del Lago, Italy).
For all my jokes about pink Lambos and the cash economy, Ferro was a top guy/person/other. He immediately ripped out the Chevrolet engines and dropped in not one but two Lamborghini 4.0-L V12 engines. Don’t ask, you haven’t got enough lira for this barca. But maybe you could drop two Lamborghini 4.0-L V12s in your Mazda CX-5 and make it a real car.
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