Mazda3 gets even better
It is no surprise to me that the Mazda3
has been a runaway success. I was impressed with the looks
when it first came on the scene, and even more with the
dynamics of driving one. This was one car that just felt
“right”. I will also admit that after owning a Mazda MX5 and
a couple of RX7s, I am yet to be disappointed by the brand.
The
Mazda3 shares its platform with the Ford Focus and Volvo
S40/V50, and all three of these cars have been getting great
reviews. Of course, looks are a personal thing, but I also
like the sheet metal of the 3 better than the others.
Mazda has also been listening to its customers, and the
‘new’ Mazda3 for 2007 has detail improvements, over what was
already a good car. Can you make a good car even better?
Apparently so, according to GoAuto who has tested the 2007
model car.
The 2007 model gains some significant improvements in noise,
vibration and harshness, with extra body stiffening, sound
deadening and the adoption of less noisy tyres.
The
hatch and sedan’s luggage area has also been redesigned to
increase practicality. In the hatch luggage space is up 40
liters to 340 liters.
There have been some modest gains in the 2 liter four’s fuel
economy and the SP23, which gains a new six-speed manual and
electronic throttle control.
Importantly too, dynamic stability and traction control is
now available on all models Down-under, but that does not
mean they will be automatically available here.
Visually, the range gets new bumpers, grilles, alloys and
more elegant seat trims and finishes.
The SP23 wants for little with the 2.3 liter four developing
the same outputs as the previous model – 115 kW at 6500 rpm
and 203 Nm of torque at 4500 rpm.
The SP23 equipment list runs to climate-control
air-conditioning, steering wheel audio and cruise control
switches, foglights and LED lamps on the sedan, similar to
the SP23 hatch.
Minor changes to the dampers across the range have delivered
a flatter ride and more stable roll control, while some
tweaks to the multi-link rear suspension were designed to
deliver improved grip and stability. Personally I doubt if
most drivers will notice it, unless they intend driving up
Khao Yai’s curves at maximum speed. New steering mounting
points up front are said to improve steering response and
reduce understeer, but with any front wheel drive car, this
is almost impossible to eliminate totally, without the car
becoming skittish in the rear, something the ordinary driver
does not need or want.
Even GoAuto wrote, “We briefly drove the SP23 over the same
roads we experienced with the original back in 2004 and
without a back-to-back comparison it was hard to tell how
much improved the newer car was over the original.”
However, the car was apparently much less noisy inside. “The
extra sound deadening and stiffer body have toned down the
drumming noise sometimes experienced in the cabin at high
revs and the wind noise certainly appeared to be lower. The
cabin felt and sounded quieter – Mazda claims up to 1.5
decibels quieter.”
Like the previous model, the SP23 is a superbly balanced car
and, like the rest of the 3 series range, delivers a highly
enjoyable driving experience. Since the same platform is
used for the Ford Focus and the small Volvo, the final
choice is probably down to styling and appointments again.
As they say in Thailand, “Up to you!”
A toilet seat on the wall and a slightly used M-B
I can hear you asking from here just what
is the connection between a toilet seat on the wall and a
used Mercedes Benz? To add to intricacies of the story,
which is entirely true by the way, the toilet seat is in
Gibraltar and the Mercedes Benzes are in Bangkok.
Elizabeth
Taylor
Let’s deal with the Benzes first. On the 23rd of this month,
the kind folk at DaimlerChrysler are going to auction off 40
very slightly shop-soiled Mercedes Benz vehicles. There are
28 SL 350s and 12 E 220s, all of which were used to ferry
around 40 ‘royal’ bottoms belonging to the 25 nations which
sent representatives to Thailand for the celebration of the
60 year accession to the throne of HM the King of Thailand.
Apparently all proceeds less expenses, (which I presume
means the production cost to the manufacturer) will then be
given to HM the King to be used in some of his charity
projects.
DaimlerChrysler say the vehicles have only between 100 km
and 900 km on the clock and certificates will be issued to
indicate which particular honorable bottom graced the seat.
The SL 350s are expected to go for something over 10 million
baht, and the humble E 220s for something over three
million. So for your three million baht you can point out
where the honorable bottom once sat, if that is what turns
you on.
So now to the toilet seat in Gibraltar. Many years ago,
there was no airport building for the runway which ran
across the isthmus between the rock and Spain, hanging out
over the water at both ends. The pilots had to be very
careful not to overshoot. On one landing, there was a VIP
inside, a Miss Elizabeth Taylor. After alighting from the
aircraft, and walking towards the reception area, the famous
actress found herself “caught short” to use a phrase. She
was rushed to the first house closest to the airstrip, where
she could relieve herself in private. Upon emergence from
the loo, much thanks were given, but the owner felt he was
rewarded enough by just her visit. As soon as they were
gone, he rushed into the toilet, unscrewed the seat and hung
it on the wall in pride of place. Nobody was ever going to
sit on it again!
So perhaps he didn’t get a certificate of authenticity as
the lucky bidders will get with their Mercedes Benz, but
then, he didn’t need to pay a minimum of three million baht
for the honor, just a few sheets of loo paper!
Autotrivia Quiz
Last week I asked in which country, was the first Grand Prix
run? And before you started saying Silverstone in 1950, that
was the first Formula 1 GP. I suggested you think back a
little before that! It was in fact the Grand Prix d’ACF in
France in 1906!
So to this week. In the years immediately after WW II one
new vehicle earned more foreign cash for the UK than any
other. What was it? Clue, think of a British county.
For the Automania FREE beer this week, be the first correct
answer to email [email protected]. Good luck!
So it’s good-bye Juan Pablo Montoya
Juan Pablo Montoya came into F1 with the
reputation of being a fearless fighter in open wheel racing
cars, as well as having the CART championship in his pocket.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for the challenger who
was afraid of no one. The wait was not really rewarded, with
Montoya showing occasional flashes of brilliance, and not
much else.
Taking his team mate off at the Indy GP this year sealed his
fate, but Montoya got in first, saying he had signed to go
to NASCAR next year. Team McLaren Mercedes then responded by
giving the feisty Colombian a DCM – Don’t Come Monday, and
announcing Pedro de la Rosa as Kimi Raikkonen’s team mate
for the rest of the year, even though they have had to
reputedly give Montoya two million pounds severance pay.
The official McLaren statement was “Juan Pablo has been an
energetic member of the team since 2005, but will now spend
the next few months based in Miami with his family and wife
Connie who is expecting their second child in September.
Following his agreement with Chip Ganassi Racing for next
year, Juan Pablo will also be making initial preparations
for his debut in a Chrysler Dodge NASCAR.”
“Juan Pablo is an exciting driver and immensely likeable
character who will undoubtedly make a successful transition
to the NASCAR scene,” said Ron Dennis, CEO and Chairman of
the McLaren Group. “We have agreed that with so many things
happening in Juan Pablo’s life right now, he should take
some time out of the car and prepare professionally and
personally for the future.”
“We believe that Juan Pablo’s decision to move to NASCAR is
very important for him professionally and we will give him
every support to ensure that it is a successful transition,”
said Norbert Haug, Vice-President, Mercedes-Benz Motorsport.
You don’t have to be a mind reader to see the real
situation. In F1, Montoya had outstayed his welcome, and
quite frankly, NASCAR can have him. They like monstrous
shunts in that formula. He should do well!
Hot on the heels of Montoya’s decision, the other crash and
bash driver in F1 hopped in with his take on it. This, of
course, is Jacques Villeneuve, who is reported to have said
that he too would consider NASCAR after his F1 career comes
to an end (which it should have been several seasons ago).
He has experience of oval racing from his time in the
US-based CART series, winning on the famous oval at
Indianapolis in 1995, and feels he could quickly become
competitive again. “I have raced in a lot of categories so I
can adapt to anything, I’ve raced on ovals,” he added.
“NASCAR has always looked very exciting. It’s great racing
so it is something I would look at if there’s no F1.”
Villeneuve is fighting to find a contract for 2007 with his
BMW-Sauber seat under pressure from rookie test driver
Robert Kubica, who has apparently become a protege of team
boss Mario Theissen. This was the same scenario for Montoya
at McLaren, where rookies Lewis Hamilton and Gary Paffett
are waiting for a race seat.
Understandably Villeneuve lashed out at teams for hiring
young drivers on the cheap, but Villeneuve claims he is a
bargain for any team willing to offer him one last drive.
“Some older drivers are cheap - cheaper than drivers who
have not won races,” he said. “I’m very good value for
money. I would prefer five teams fighting over me but that
is not the case. It seems that experience is not wanted.”
However, the 1997 world champion will not stay on in the
sport at any cost, insisting, “I don’t want to drive for
Super Aguri.” (For once I would have to agree with
Villeneuve!)
However, what Villeneuve seems to not understand, is that
while experience is appreciated (look at Coulthard, for
example), the teams want results, and very expensive drivers
have to produce the goods. With drivers like Villeneuve
expecting salaries like 10 million USD a year, they must
expect the teams will look for “bargains” in the drivers
seat as well.
