Mazda BT-50 test drive since 2006-
Mazda introduced a restyled version of the BT-50 model
Mazda introduced a restyled version of the BT-50 model. In the new pickup, nothing has changed. Springs, body, all -wheel drive remained in its place. Raise your hand, who is glad. Those who have already bought or only want to purchase this pickupa are satisfied. But asking the owners and fans of a gymic business. They don’t see their eyes, but they don’t hear their ears. They are plasticized with plasticine of their subjective opinion. And any non -defended person will ask: why did not add adjustment of the driver's seat in height? The place above the head is with a margin.
Almost all pickups of this class, excluding the Ssangyong Actyon Sports, suffer from one drawback a person just higher than average height has to raise his knees to his ears while sitting. But we never belonged to the main market for pickups. The main sales are in Southeast Asia, and there are very few people above average. Therefore, we will enjoy the new grille of the radiator, a leather steering wheel and changed devices, because they deserve large numbers and are well read. Only all this will have to be paid from 7 to 14 thousand rubles, depending on the package of the car. By the way, the cheapest version costs 644 thousand rubles (with metallic), and the most expensive 869 thousand.
Mitsubishi recently, on the contrary, reduced prices for its L200 by 7%, and although Mazda is still cheaper, the difference in marketing strategies is obvious. By the way, why does Mitsubishi sell 2.5 times more of its pickups in the Russian market? The magic phrase the automatic box hypnotizes the L200 buyers, and the permanent all-wheel drive that allows you to ride in 4x4 mode all year round.
Presenting the restyled BT-50, the Japanese to the question of Russian journalists, whether to wait for automatic transmission soon, answered mysteriously and unclear. In Australia, at least now, but in Russia someday, maybe. But buyers do not like to wait. The automatic box for Mazda will not be superfluous, if only because the torque on the bottom of the standard diesel diesel is not as much as we would like. The hydrotransformer will add traction, especially since the car, according to the Russian marketing manager, Mazda, was created for dirt. All other issues of domestic journalists at the presentation concerned the maintenance and disgusting work of dealers. A sad fact for owners: the frequency of oil change on the BT-50 diesel is only 5 thousand km (for comparison: in Mitsubishi L200 15 thousand km, in Nissan NP-300 10 thousand km). Save in diesel fuel overpay for that. In our diesel fuel, a high sulfur content: getting into the oil, it forms acid and corrodes the engine from the inside. The Japanese cannot do anything about it. But they could influence dealers. I never talked with Russian car dealers, but what the owners said was horrified. It seems that our sellers have a special program for destroying regular customers along with their affection and dignity. Strange, but journalists complained about dealers only to Russian managers of Mazda, and they were shy to ask a question directly to the Japanese. In vain. In such cases, modesty does not decorate.
Especially for offended by sellers, I want to recall: there is no concept of an official dealer in Russian legislation. If you are not satisfied with the prices and quality of service, you have the right to contact any service that has a license to repair and maintain cars. And if at the same time the officials refuse to guarantee, then this is a direct violation of the law on the protection of consumer rights and the Civil Code and is punishable by a very serious penalty. And there is nothing to be shy here.
But we will not about the sad, because, despite the low seat and strange dealers, the BT-50 pickupa, in my opinion, is still the best truck in its class in the Russian market.
Author: Dmitry Leontyev, photo Mazda
Source: Magazine 4x4 [January /2009]
