Dear Program Manager,
I’m writing this to congratulate you and your team on a product that you should be very proud of.
But first I would like to say gomen-nasai and apologise on behalf of our government’s high taxes on cars. You must be shocked how much your compact model costs in Malaysia compared to the rest of the world. As such, cars are never ever cheap or yasui in Malaysia, but on rare occasions, Malaysians do get to buy cars that are considered good value for money, and your car is a very good example.
First of all, I’m amazed that you managed to get your bosses to approve of the development budget for this car. You must enjoy a lot of sake with them at the nearby izakaya after work. Why I say this is because if someone had covered my eyes before I entered the car, I would guess that it is a small Audi or BMW. Almost every part of the interior feels high quality, just like a premium car.
I’m particularly impressed by the 7-inch centre display. I think you may have studied the BMW iDrive system very deeply, and it is smart of you not to feel too proud to learn and adopt good ideas from others. Some days I drive a BMW, and I’m happy to tell you that your system is just as easy to use, whether I’m listening to music streamed through Spotify or making phone calls using the steering switches. In fact, I can choose to control the screen using my fingers, something the iDrive can’t do.
I must also mention that the navigation system has beautiful graphics, though some of the pronunciation of local words do sound a bit funny, maybe the lady who lives inside the GPS system had too much biru with you as well. Thank you also for including a rear camera, many cars at this price don’t offer OEM-grade camera – it looks bright and clear. One thing I did not find so useful is the driver’s heads-up display. Maybe younger customers appreciate the high-tech image, but I’d prefer a centre armrest instead. Or maybe I’m just getting old.
I really like the “leather” trim on the dashboard, centre-console and arm-rests with red double-stitching. I’m not sure if that “leather” really comes from a cow, but it sure feels like it does. Some of your competitors offer fake, printed “stitching” on plastic, but they are not so nice. I also noticed a trim that looks like carbon-fibre. Of course, I can tell it is not genuine, but the matte finish has a raw carbon-fibre texture, so I think you could be a Formula 1 fan too?
When I pushed the start button, there were more surprises. The steering, gear knob, switch-gear all look like the same items from your more expensive models. Again, well done for challenging your finance director and not compromising on features and quality. I also like how your team included part-leather seats, not only do they look sporty but also offer good lateral support.
I’m sorry to have to point out that the last generation car was weak and slow. This new one is much, much better to drive. It is more powerful, but also more fuel efficient, and the idle stop system is smooth when restarting the engine in traffic jams. Sometimes I do drive more aggressively when I’m late for a meeting, and your car feels nimble and responsive in city traffic. I also enjoy using the steering shift paddles which to my surprise holds maximums revs at the soft-cut limiter, you are definitely a motorsports fan!
Now I understand why the suspension tuning is firm and the car has a sporty ride, even though I can feel the bad road conditions of Kuala Lumpur more than other cars, please don’t change this because your car is probably the most fun to drive in its class. More Zoom-Zoom please.
However, I do have a complaint. When my little boy is seated behind in a child seat, it is very difficult to fit two other adults next to him (such as his grandparents) because the cabin is quite narrow compared to others. Sometimes I also have to move the front seats forward to make more legroom for passengers seated at the back. Maybe it is true that we cannot satisfy every customer all the time, but I think for singles, young couples and families with no more than two kids, it is acceptable as there is a spacious trunk at the back, and the rear seats can also fold down to make more luggage space.
Lastly, this is about the styling. I think your designers have done a good job adapting a hatchback design to a sedan body. It still looks a bit tall and narrow from the back, but the new design language is well executed, distinctive and instantly recognisable, especially from the front. For sure it’s a big improvement over the previous generation.
It is indeed refreshing to see a car manufacturer like your company to be fully focused on developing a product that exceeds customer expectations and not be too restricted by cost management.
Cars are indeed not cheap in Malaysia, so thank you for engineering cheapness out of affordable cars like the Mazda2. Arigato gozaimasu!
Best regards,
countersteer.my
(Among Japanese car companies, the program manager – also known as the program director or project leader – is the person coordinating the resources in the development and introduction of a new model. He/she also holds the purse strings of the project.)
Mazda2 SkyActiv 1.5L Sedan
Price RM85,466.30 (w/ GST, w/o insurance)
Engine 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol, FWD
Output 114hp, 148Nm
Transmission 6-sp auto w/ manual mode & steering shift paddles
Performance 0-100km/h in 10.0 sec, top speed 184km/h
Wheels/tyres 16in alloys, 185/60R16
Safety features Dual front airbags, Dynamic Stability Control