2003 Mazda 2 Maxx from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

It runs on premium unleaded due to it being a S-VT (sequential valve timing) engine.

Only picked up the car (Mazda 2 Ma xx Auto) yesterday from the dealer and it's the best car we've ever owned! Its great for city driving, fantastic interior and powerful for a small 1.5lt 4 cylinder car.

Excellent features for a $24,000 car!

Buy one if you can - the smallness and the Premium-unleaded needed seemed like a bit of a turn off, but once you get in it you'll wonder how you lived without it.

Review from Maxx. What good is a car review when you have only had the car for 1 day.

I don't see the problem with only having it one day. As it is a novelty you would drive it quite a bit and can form at least some opinion on it.

From another point of view many car reviews in the paper/magazines are based on a drive of less than a day! About the only thing that cannot be accurately commented on is anything to do with reliability, but not even the papers/mags can give a reliable review on that unless it is a 1000km+/long term test or they have something drastically go wrong with the car.

Good on the reviewer for enjoying their new car and writing something about it!!! In the end, isn't that what it is all about?!

We picked up our new Mazda 2 Genki last Saturday.

So far we love the little car and can't wait to take it on a long drive.It is the first new car we have ever owned.Zoom zoom Mazda 2 drivers.

I don't know where you get the idea that the car requires premium unleaded. The manufacturer states that unleaded is the fuel required. I have done 25,000 k on unleaded with no problems.

It is a well known fact that modern engines that use Premium Unleaded perform better and get better mileage. I use either Premium, Optimax or Ultimate in my Mazda and get about 45-60kms extra out of a tankful, so it more then offsets the tiny extra cost per litre. Only cheapskates use standard low octane unleaded. Enjoy your power sapping, internal carbon building 5c a litre saving.

Mazda 2's do not require premium unleaded in there motors.

Only the Mazda 6 and RX-8 require it.

Sequential vale timing does not mean premium.

The Mazda 3 SP23 has it, but does not require premium.

Hope you enjoy your Mazda 2.

If you want another go to West End Mazda Blacktown.

from new excellent car no problems. I am a rattle freak. have not heard one yet. best small car just completed 10000 miles

I am a huge car freak and the latest Zoom-Zoom model installment is something special, something I believe most would agree with and appeciate. Can't wait for the new 190Kw MPS Turbo Mazda 6. (Mazda-speed 6 Overseas.)

The latest Mazda 2 specifications, from the Mazda Australia website clearly states the recommended fuel as Regular Unleaded (ULP) 91 Octane, not (PULP) Premium Unleaded.

One would be right to think that the car gains power on higher Octane petrol say, 95-98 Octane which will vary slightly from pump to pump and can lengthen the life of your engine if you respect it. The use of these more cleaner burning fuels will boost maximum power by approximately 2 Kilowatts and add about 4-8 Nm of Torque, this torque figure will vary from car to car.

However, in regard to it being a more cost effective fuel is questionable, this depends on the individual driving the car and the slight differences between motors. If running efficiently one may notice an increased kilometre per tank ratio.

One thing I do want to mention is the pinging or ticking of valves, most common in four cylinders which is heard more often now than ever before. This is a problem because it is a result of sub-standard fuel which may be stated as 91 Octane (ULP) but is actually running anywhere from 88-90 Octane and possibly less and may cause problems in the future. If your care ticks whilst accelerating, other than injection noises (rapid ticks from the motor even at idle), I suggest you change petrol station or use higher grade fuel. This is most common in Toyota Camry's and some Corolla's.

Any Questions, Comments post something.

I have driven a Mazda2 Maxx and might I say what a nice car they are.Small, Fun and Economical. Was looking at buying one to replace a 2002 323 Astina and the dealer was more than happy to do business. I was very happy with what I saw and drove, but when I got home and showed it to my mother That was the deal killer. Instantly No (I had a 121 Metro 40th Anniversary Edition for three years prior to the Astina) because it looked too similar to it. Hope you are really happy with your Mazda2.I ended up with a Nissan Tiida ST in place of yet another Mazda.