Imported Mazda6

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Tue 18 Oct 2005 20:55
Imported Mazda6 - Accidental_mick
I didn't set out to by an import but was offered a very low price on a new Mazda Atensa (sold here as a Mazda6 TC). Very pleased with the car but it has a really naf radio. Mazda dealer reckons they cannot help.
Anyone know of a really knowledgeable radio company in the South East.
(in case you haven't noticed, the radio and CD controls are built into the dashboard)
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 18 Oct 2005 21:21
Imported Mazda6 - Aprilia
Where did you get the car from? Was it a direct import from Japan?

I guess the radio is a Jap FM-band job (76-90MHz coverage). You need a band expander in the antenna lead - about £10-15 from Ebay.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 19 Oct 2005 17:44
Imported Mazda6 - Accidental_mick
Yes it was a direct import. The importer was GT cars in north London. They offered a price £4,500 cheaper than the best offer I got from a dealer.

Thanks for the thought about the band expander but it really isn't worth it. There is no station recognition so I constanly have to retune while travelling. Also means no traffic news. Since the car spends most of its life on the motorway, this is quite important to me.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 19 Oct 2005 14:45
Imported Mazda6 - SteVee
Could you not get a Mazda6 local spec radio and fit that behind the dash ?
Mazda 6 audio units sometimes appear on ebay - or perhaps you could get one from a breaker? - This would then tie in with the display and your CD unit.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 19 Oct 2005 17:47
Imported Mazda6 - Accidental_mick
That is a good thought.
I did try my local dealer when the car went in for a service but they tell me they couldnt help because the connectors are different. It cannot be rocket science to sort those out.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Wed 19 Oct 2005 23:12
Imported Mazda6 - martint123
Try some different Mazda dealers - there are still some about that treat imports as though they were made on a different planet. Others go out of their way to help.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 20 Oct 2005 12:06
Imported Mazda6 - SteVee
you could join the forum at www.mazda6club.com/member.php (it's USA based) and search through the forums (there's an electrics board), or ask an explicit question there.

Is the central display on your 6 the same as a UK supplied car ?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 25 Oct 2005 21:17
Imported Mazda6 - Accidental_mick
Yes it is the same dashboard as a UK spec.
That is why it never occured to me that the radio might be different. (I always think that the Japanese are really in to their gadgetsso would want the latest things in their cars.)

Thats the trouble with ignorance - you dont know what questions you should be asking.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link

From which small car to buy at which price point to the best UK-built cars, our Top 10s have the lot. Click now for your shortlist.

Unsure of what to buy? Our Top 10s are here to help you....