DON’T BUY MAZDA

I so angry, I don’t even feel like writing this post. But I’m writing it, hoping it helps someone else not make the same mistake I made. Which is purchasing a MAZDA!!!

I bought this brand new and two months later it was making a noise. Took it back to the dealership and they heard the noise and told me to leave the vehicle overnight. Next day the noise was gone and they said it must have been a bad batch of gas and asked me to put a better grade of gas. 8 months later, noise is back and the dealership and Mazda Canada is giving me the run around. I’m waiting to hear back from Mazda Canada and will post on all the web sites as to what happens.

Roomy, fun, back seats go down making it very versatile, attractive, dependable.

Not the most comfortable on a long trip but that's just because I couldn't think of anything else.

Best car I've ever owned, along with a Mazda 626 back in the 80's. This car is fun to drive and nice to look at. It's roomy and for 8 years I've never had a single problem. Very happy!

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Mazda 626

Easy entry and exit

Poor design and choice of material.
Road noise that could have been easily prevented.
Chromed appointments worn to the metal
Cheap plastic parts.

Car requires a lot of maintenance.
Each cylinder has it's own coil. Replacing the front bank of plugs and coils is easy. To replace the back bank, the intake manifold has to be removed. Just watch those labor cost rise.
Inside front door handle just broke off. It's made of plastic.
Brake rotors warp easily.

price, standard features...traction control...great sounding standard radio/cd...abs...more airbags than you can shake a stick at...

its metal...i know im gonna be pissed when its gets dented! (bring back the old plastic saturns dammit!)

I bought it new about ten days ago...so far so good...I had a saturn that had become unreliable so I traded the sucker in on a new tribute. Im thrilled with it so far, great gas milage...smooth, quiet and turns on a dime...I try to buy american and bought the mazda version because the 08 escapes are just plain fugly! I got the basic model (lots of bang for the buck for sure) with the 5 speed manual...shifts smooth as a buttered monkeys ass!

Good reliable SUV. Had some problems but what car doesn't?

Outside noise.
Dumb auto shifter placement.

First let me say I can't believe what these guys are paying for a Tribute. Seems a bit exagerated.
Been driving my Tribute since new in 2001. Sure I've had some problems but not like these guys.
What are you guys doing to the transmisions? Hill climbs?
I think that I've had such little problems is because my Tribute was made in Canada.
I'm about to take it in for the 100K maintenance tomorow. $600? Lot of money for a checkup and 6 plugs.

Nice body styling, good towing capacity. Minimal road noise.

Crap parts, transmission replaced,unexplained annoying noises, terrible fuel economy, very loud in cold temperatures

I owned a 1990 Toyota 4Runner for 3 years, and didn't have any major problems with it. However, it was getting quite rusty, so I decided to part with it and buy a new vehicle. I went with the 2008 Mazda Tribute, mostly because of it's styling and affordable price tag. BIG MISTAKE. First of all, the 33mpg that it's supposed to get turned out to be 16mpg, and even worse in the winter. I bought it in August of 2007, and by November I had to replace the battery because it wouldn't hold a charge and left me stranded twice. Then in December it started making a very high pitched whining noise. I took it to the dealership, they couldn't find anything wrong with it, so I just have to put up with the annoying noise. Then in February of 2008, approximately 7 months after I bought it, the reverse decided to quit working. I took it to the dealership again, and they thought a sensor just needed to be replaced. They replaced the sensor, and it still didn't work. Turns out the transmission needs to be replaced, on a 7 month old vehicle!
Fortunately this is all still covered under the factory warranty. When the warranty is up, this piece of junk is getting traded in for another Toyota. I guess I'm partly to blame since I didn't do that much research before buying the vehicle. I must add that the dealership where I bought it has been very acommidating and understanding.

Save body side airbags

slightly tire noisy when driven on rough road may needs different brand tires.

We had a Jeep Cherokee and it was a smal vehicle for a 4 liter and gas gusler.
We now have a new mazda tribute and it drives very well and it is roomy and do's not uses as much gas as the jeep and we used to tow a caravan and it has lots of power to do it comfortably. And we found it a very relaxing verhicle to drive and it has a good comanding view of the road. We are very happy with it.

Not sure if I can find any strengths

Many. Poor ride, noisy, poor gas consumption, lots of small issues

Dissapointing. Very poor gas mileage, especially in winter. 18L/100km city nowhere near the manufacturers 12.7L/100km rating. Poor cosmetics, poor construction. Noisy on the road.

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Rav 4

style, power, comfort, roomy, better gas mileage than other SUVs

none

I would recommend this vehicle to anyone. I bought it right out of college because of the style, power, and appeal. I have had no major problems with this vehicle. I've only just now replaced the tires and had to replace the IAC(few hundred bucks)due to stalling.I'm at 80,000 miles and still enjoying it as if it were new.

Ride/feel/gas milage/room and standard eqp.

None yet

I bought this after owning a gas guzzeling 4wd SUV. I liked sitting high and wanted the room without the poor gas mileage. I love the tribute. It has enough power while providing a comfortable quiet (compared to my old suv) ride. I'm getting 20mpg city and 26 hywy (This has been winter driving. I suspect the warmer weather will help those numbers a bit). Time will tell but for now I love it.

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Jeep Cherokee, Test drove Rav4 - CRV- Forester - Escape (The escape and Tribute had the best driving feel.