when you're sad and bored cuz you bought an accord as the mazdasix zooms by the driver with a gleam in his eye set aside your fears as in 3 short years the car that belongs to you will have a higher value ponder this often and well as when it's time to sell you'll get a bit more treasure for those 3 lost years of driving pleasure but I guess that you'll never know since you covet only the dough driving a car so bland you just won't understand some of us though like to drive a car that makes us feel alive and when this idea sinks in your head you can leave us be and go back to your thread
You can't push [the V6 model] without breaking the law or tailing every other car on the road. But it sure is sweet.
Huh, I drove a V6 model with a manual tranny and the car seemed reluctant to break 80 without some severe coaxing. If I'm not mistaken, Mazda's poor gearing had the car turning over 4k rpm at only 90. Kinda sad so many companies are unable to put true freeway cruising gears in their manual cars.
Which one is going to be more fun over the life of the car in real world driving?
For me that'd be the v6 because if it's that underpowered, the 4 would be an outright dog for my driving style.
I sure hope Mazda does have an MPS version coming. The 6 could use another 40-60 more HP.
For those us us that aren't so artistically inclined, here it is in simple terms. OK, let's assume that the doom&gloomers are right and the 6 will cost us 2000 bucks more over three years of depreciation. That's about 667 bucks a year. Is there anyone here that can't afford that, or isn't willing to pay that for three years of driving fun? Geez, I just bought a new set of tires that cost me over 400.
I've been told by dealers on Long Island, NY, that there are no 6 cylinder Mazda 6's with stick shift available. They claim they're not coming out until Feb. or March in the northeast U.S.
Is that true? I'm ready to buy today and I'm willing to travel to do it. Anyone know where I can find a 6s with a stick???
They're out there, but they're hard to find. You can search around on the www.mazdausa.com site by putting in zip codes for any area you want. I found my last car that way, after my local dealer couldn't (or wouldn't) locate what I wanted.
I've been told by dealers on Long Island, NY, that there are no 6 cylinder Mazda 6's with stick shift available. They claim they're not coming out until Feb. or March in the northeast U.S.
Sounds like your dealer's just trying to sell you what they have on the lot. There's at least one, and I think two, six-cylinder, stick-shift Mazda 6s on the lot at PJ's Mazda in Burlington, Vermont.
I don't understand what you guys expect anymore from this car, it aint no true sports car, though it comes very close to imitating one. For the handling and braking to stand out, the power thrust is partly sacrifice. I'm sure the mazda 6 could have bolted a 240 cylinder v6 engine if they really wanted to, but that would have added cost to beef up suspension and brakes to honor the 6's pride of handling and braking(and that does make sense since this car is marketed for the average joe). They have crafted the 6 purposely like this, and its either you like it or not(if you want power, buy a mustang), but i do guareenty the car does grow on you eventually.
The Mazda6 you are describing costs over 22K on carsdirect. Nowhere near 20K.
As far as the ditty..If driving pleasure was all everyone was looking for we would all be driving VW's and Bimmers. I have driven the 6 and it is a great car but... so are a lot of cars in this segment and at $19,000 base price it's not going to win many people over right now. The 5 door may do the trick for me since it has no competition but the sedan is just another player at the table.
It was really a one "clunk" and it it did it two or three times. I am thinking it was something I had in the center console or the trunk or?
Took a 300 mile drive today with a friend and we drove over a coastal highway over the mountain and I gave it a good drive thru the curves. Handles GREAT!, and I did not hear anything. When I dropped off my friend he commented how nice the car was, and mentioned it had no rattles. And I had not mentioned to him that I had previously heard something.
I had fun with the manual shifting automatic!!!
Car is stable thru the curves and has power for me.
"As far as the ditty..If driving pleasure was all everyone was looking for we would all be driving VW's and Bimmers."
Bimmers? You can't even get a cheesed out base, base, base model 3 series for the price of a completely loaded Mazda 6. Yes it's more of a driver's machine (it's a 3 series for cripes sake!), but it's smaller and hits your wallet a lot harder. And what are you talking about with VW? I haven't driven one, but I doubt the Passat offers a more exiting drive than the Mazda6. The Passat is classy and that's about it IMO.
gee35coupe, VW's are everything else but great handling cars, Bimmers are great handling but at much higher price. VW's weakest link lays in outdated suspension set ups, BMW's are acheaving theirs great handling with all kinds of electronic assistance on top of only very good suspension. M6 does it with excellent, very modern and innovative conventional suspension design, backed up only with ABS/EBD and TRACKTION CONTROL and we have one of the best handling mid size car ever!!! I'm very very critical when it comes to buying a new car, but M6 is just a great value. If you want even better handler wait for new Mazda3 with almost the same suspension set-up (a few inches shorter)400lbs lighter and equipped with the same 2.3 l 160hp engine!!! You can only guess the price, I think Mazda should price it at about $17K-$18K (equiped very close to M6 we are talking about here) I'm waiting for it.
Yes, Carsdirect may be pricing M6 high right now because M6 just came out and there are people willing to pay over MSRP for it. Here is how Edmunds is pricing it now;
2003 Mazda 6 i 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
Color: Lapis Blue Metallic Options Selected Invoice MSRP TMV® ABS and Traction Control (TCS) $320 $400 $349 Bose Audio Package $508 $635 $554 Leather Seat Upholstery $688 $860 $750 Sport Package $688 $860 $750
Why would you pay over MSRP for a mass build car? Theese days nobody is buying cars at MSRP, majority of cars are sold under invoice and some well under invoice. Invoice Price for above mentioned M6 is at $19.8K wait a few months and you'll be able to get heated mirrors/seats and side bags with curtain on top of that package all at $20K!!!!! That's a hell of a deal.
The 6 cyl requires you to hold back?? I don't know about you guys but I feel there's no such thing as too much horsepower. That's like saying your wife is too pretty for you.
I want the 6 cylinder for its added torque and driveability. I do wish it had more power at higher RPMs. I support Mazda for not making the engine a torque monster, however. Extreme low-end grunt in an FWD platform results in, well, Altima-like handling and launch.
I'd rather drive a Jetta than a Mazda6. And get a better interior to boot. Reliability??? Well... That's why I drive 2 Hondas and a Lexus. Ditto with the Passat. VW's don't have "numbers" handling but if you drive one you can't help but feel the "German" in them. They aren't building $90,000 cars now for nothing. Just because they are an also ran in the states doesn't mean a thing. They are VERY popular in Europe. But then again so is Peugeot. Oh well.
Bimmers are...Bimmers. And RWD. And I'm sure they could handle better than a Mazda6 even without the "electronic assistance". As well they should...
Pricing???? Well in my area this car that you described "For about $20K you can get a wonderfully equipped Mazda6 (5 speed, leather, 17" wheels/tires - sport package, Bose stereo, full power....)" You are required to add the premium package to get the sport package so it's still right at $21,000 with no moonroof, rear mud guards, ABS or anything. There are cars that undercut that right now by quite a bit.
It's like this...If all Mazda has is handling then they are still not going to have many takers. Sure they will sell SOME Mazda6's but not in enough numbers to call it a success. This isn't a country that values that kind of car.
I finally went to a dealer who had a good variety of 6s to test drive. The first dealer I went to about a month ago only let me take the car around the block; so that was both stupid of them and no chance to evaluate the machine.
Today was better.
My current cars are: 93 Infiniti G20, 99 Ford Ranger P/U, 2002 MB C230 sport coupe.
The G20 was at one time said to be "the best handling front wheel drive car in the world", I forgot who said it, some car mag - but, it is marvelously agile car, with great turn in and a good comparison to the 6i. The engine is OK, I have a 5 speed, so I can find the power when I want it. Its a 2 liter 16 valver. I've replace the air box/filter with a free flow K&N cone filter, which really helped throttle response and overall power. I also had the stock muffler replaced with one that has less back pressure (not, no coffee can hanging out the back, lol.) It is this car that I am shopping to replace. So, I have been following the Mazda 6 story for quite a while...
The MB C230 has a super charger on top of a 2.3 liter 16 valver, and it has great throttle response 192hp/200'#, rear wheel drive - blah, blah. I bought it for my wife - 5 speed auto tranny with the sport feature.
So, I have my comparison machines to evaluate the Mazda 6 against. Here goes...
Test drive 1 *Loaded* 6s 5 speed auto/sport tranny Good - power comes on kind of-in a delayed fashion, but once the engine hits ~3000 rpms, it bolts. Nice. Brakes stop you I fiddled with the transmission in drive and bumping it through the gears on my own. Definitally found the sweet spot in the power curve with the latter. Seats - real comfy, but the slithery leather is not my seating surface choice. Give me cloth.
Not so good - Road noise! Anyone else notice this? Is it the 50 series tires I asked? My Ranger is quieter!
Handling - corners very flat, stays nice and stable through the turns. Steering response was so-so. I like the way my G20 responds to driver input better. Granted, my test drive was not very extensive, more time behind the wheel would give me a variety of experiences to further form my opinion.
Test Drive 2 Next I test drove a 6i 5 speed stick with 60 series tires. This was a base model plus the upgrade to the mag wheels. I really wanted to test this model because this is the most direct comparison to my G.
Good - Power, the 4 banger has good power above 3K, sort of like the V6, though of course not as strong. I took it out to ~4500 in second gear, and side shifted it over to 4th. I was doing about 45 mph. Nice. The shifter fell nicely into my hand, but it was a little balky, notchy. I assume a more fluid motion after driving it for a while
Road noise, still intrusive IMO. This is a deal breaker to me! And, this was on city streets, with OK pavement. I think its the Michelins that transmit so much noise into the cabin, no difference in the 16 or 17" tires.
Interiors - I actually like the base interior better then the sport upgrade. The area around the door handle inside is not so "plasticy". The climate control switch gear is more like I am used to, the gray cloth seats are better then the leather IMO.
This car is eye candy to look at from the outside, I just love its look. I will wait for the hatch to make it into dealerships before seriously considering buying it. There are a lot of choices in the auto market now. The 6 isn't perfect, but its high on my list.
BTW. Looking at the window stickers, I notices that the V6 is make in the USA, and the 4 banger is made in Mexico. All trannys are made in Japan. Final assembly is in Flat Rock, MI USA.
There is a few Mazda6s 6MT in MASS, about 2 hrs away from you,go to Mazda web site ( dealer locator ) 01602 zip code and check the dealers inventory in that area,good luck.
I can certainly understand why someone who is looking to buy a new car - potentially a Mazda6 - would hang out in this forum to learn something about the car.
I can understand why someone who really likes Mazdas (like me) and really likes the Mazda6 (ditto) would hang out in this forum.
I can even understand why someone who doesn't like the Mazda6 may want to drop by and make their opinion known.
What I cannot understand is why someone who doesn't like the Mazda6 - either at all or in comparison to some other car that they do like - would CONSTANTLY hang around in this forum and insist on peeing on everyone's parade OVER AND OVER again.
People are entitled to their opinions and debate in these forums is fun but, honestly, what motivates someone to post here OVER AND OVER again if they don't even like the bleedin car!
Does anyone here spend a whole bunch of time in a Chevy Cavalier forum telling people they're stupid for liking the car. If they happen to like the Cavalier then Godspeed! Good for them! Who am I to tell them otherwise?
It's like saying, "You know who I really admire? That Cliff guy from the show Cheers. I think I'll hang around somewhere and act like him."
That was my impression, too, when I did a test-drive. The route was in the countryside, but still city speed limits at 45mph. Rural two-lane road with gentle S-curves. I was cruising along and the 6S felt quiet and stable, thought I was going about 45 when I glanced at the speedo -- WHAT!! 70mph!!
You have to press harder to get sound from the V6. On an expressway I thought the other cars were poking along, they weren't, they were going the posted 60mph. I don't know what speed the 6 was going I was having too much fun to look.
You test-drive the V6 with an eye on the rearview mirror, because verything else is behind you, including flashing blue lights.
For my driving I would get the I-4. Better than having a sign in the rear window saying, "He stopped me to take a look at my new car."
Maybe they can't afford either one and they are taking pot-shots at those who can. Read green with envy.
In every case in real life, haven't those who criticized your purchase been the ones who couldn't buy the item? Nor would you have bought what they did.
I never recommend a car to anyone, cars are such a personal choice. And I shy away from people who suggest that I buy the same car they did, as if my purchase would justify their's. Usually, they made a big mistake -- it becomes apparent when their car is in for repairs -- often.
I'm not sure if you are refering to my write up or someone elses. I was just stating my driving impressions from my experiece today. My intent was not to pee on anyones parade. Sorry if I came across that way... The 6 is an excellent car. I could buy one today, but I'm in no hurry to make a decision. The fun in making a major purchase decision is in the hunt. I'm not ready to release my arrow just yet...
I wasn't referring to you at all. Like I said, it's great to have people register their honest and informed opinions in this forum, even if they are negative.
It always interests me to see what people's reaction to the car is. And I'm not trying to be a jerk about this (probably failing miserably)
What I am genuinely curious about is what motivates a few people to hang around in here and respond to every positive comment about the Mazda6 with the same criticisms over and over again.
Why do it?
The amount of time I spend hanging about and following everyone's remarks (and posting a few of my own occasionally) it pretty substantial - and I like the car!
I just couldn't see myself devoting the same amount of time to hanging around in other forums about cars I don't happen to like arguing with people who disagree with my opinions.
Anyway, I'm probably coming off quite badly by bringing this all up, but like I said, I was actually quite curious to discover what the motivation for folks to do this is.
(and I am not naming names because I am really not looking to get in a peeing match with anyone)
since I was 20, I know I'm not peeing on anything.:-)
But if a dose of reality is what is called peeing then I'm guilty. I too have no negative things to say about the drive of the Mazda. I wrote a beaming review right after I drove it. May still buy one in the hatchback form. But don't tell me you can buy a "loaded" 20K Mazda6 when I just finished doing my comparisons and I know it doesn't exist right now. At least not in Atlanta. You'd think they were popular or something even though I have yet to see a single one on the road. And I've even seen a Murano rolling around here.
Located the exact car that I wanted on Mazdausa.com...no local dealer had what I wanted and they were unable to make a trade with the 2 dealers that had exactly what I was looking for. Of course the Mazda dealership that I dealt with didn't want to tell me which dealer had what I wanted. .No big deal, they wanted me to order one. The dealer that I dealt with was very nice and never put any pressure at all. Almost feel bad that I couldn't buy one from them. Anyway, after looking up numerous zip codes across the state, I was able to find what I wanted. I guess the side air bag/curtain air bags are rare with my options. Called the GM, told him my price and he took it. I will be picking it up this Thursday!!
gee35.... like i told you, you may have to wait a month or two and knowing today's economy Mazda will have to start selling M6 at or around invoice to be competitive. This car just came out and that's the only reason some dealers may be asking MSRP for it. I know that for 20K you will be able to buy very well equipped 5 speed M6.
My "perfect" 6 was going to be the 6i MT with premium, sport, and ABS/TCS for ~$19,200! That's $500 over invoice, and WAY shy of $20k.
I don't want any better equipped than that.
I eventually got mine for $400, no options, because really- a base 6 already has a lot of toys. I'd rather pick out my own speakers and alloys anyway.
---
For those confused on packages, you can get anything you want whether Mazda builds it or not. You just require port installed options, which don't cost any extra and are rather transparent to the buyer. I had a lengthy conversation with a dealer about this, and he called Mazda to confirm everything. You can get a Mazda6 any way you want it.
The downside? Be prepared to wait, probably 2 months.
Dealers seem not to offer this because they're trying to get you to buy a car that day, or at least that was my impression. I was told flat-out by several dealers that ordering a car was impossible, and that I needed to "buy here, and we'll find one on our lot or do what's called a 'dealer trade'." Not so, if the dealership is willing.
---
Regarding the V6 v. i4: "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow."
here are some comments on my first two weeks with my car (silver-6s-sport package-auto). it has lived up to my every expectation. the ride is smooth quiet and responsive. i live in Nassau Cty Long Island NY. we have terrible traffic here so i choose the auto. even though i wanted a stick the dealer was right when he said test drive the manual mode and you won't be dissapointed. the manual mode is very responsive and provides the same control you would expect from a stick with the added feature of being able to pop it into auto when you hit traffic. two recent driving experiences proved my choice. i was driving in the christmas snow storm. 4 inches on the ground white out conditions driving on the parkway. i put it into manual and doing 20 to 25 mph just kept shifting between 2nd and 3rd to control the car and it handled like a charm. no need to brake to slow down so no risk of sliding. cars all around me did the fishtail thing as they broke to slow down. this parkway has curves and hills. never felt out of control. actually a very nice drive. also starting out in 1st on the side streets provided the needed traction to get going. this is the northeast so i will have this every year. i was very pleased with the handling. now since this is long island i am confronted with maddening traffic. on 12/30 at 1:30 pm i started a trip to central jersey. this means the belt parkway, bridges, staten island etc. those of you who live here know what i am about to say. this 1 1/2 hr trip took me three hours. thank god for the auto. on the way home though i had the chance to let the car do its stuff. slight drizzle - open road - night. on the staten island expressway a boxster passes me by. we can't have that. i drop it into 4th and touch the gas. response is quick. accelaration smooth no road slippage. catch up to the boxster and pull away. glance at the speed and see i am doing 90 and the car had more to give. yes this car has more power than you need and you do have to hold it back. but that is fine with me. just wait till the summer and the air con is on and you have friends in the car. you will want that extra power. one and only one problem.. i am having trouble adjusting my seat. the back is hurting a bit. i just can't seem to find the right combo. i am 5'5" so if anyone out there can help me run through a sequence with the 8 way adjustments that might help get to the right combo i would appreciate it. this car does grow on you. all i need now is a mazda momma to share the experience with me.
doodle4, THANK YOU for that post. This is exactly the type of thing that I, and many others, read this board for! Keep letting us know about how you and your 6 are doing, and congratulations on the ride!
"Notice the 6 has windshield washer nozzles for the headlights..."
...that are not available in the U.S. spec versions. Yet another example of Mazda decontenting the 6 for the American market (no NAV, no folding outside mirrors, etc.).
Come on Mazda...at least offer these goodies as options and let us decide whether or not the cost is worth it!
Folding mirrors would be expected on any car, just like I would expect standard read mudguards (really usefull in the rain) and a wiper for the read window - see the HB pics for it.
were not removed for cost and "decontenting". The fact is the breakaway mirrors ad to road noise which is something that Americans don't like.
And... mudguards if they were standard would be scoffed at by many in the wintery areas. When you walk up to your car and see a huge ice lump behind your wheel well, you couldn't kick it off if there was a mud guard under there. You would just have to wait for it to fly off on the freeway and hope it doesn't dent your rockers.
ABS is also not a concern for people in warmer climates. ABS does not stop your car faster. Those who are unfamiliar with ABS are putting themselves at risk. (I have ABS and have had many customers who don't want and wouldn't pay extrra fro them)
ALL this really means is you can't build a one size fits all car. What you want on yours is too much for another etc.
Get the essentials (only available from factory) and then ad the other stuff later. That way you can customize the car to fit your needs and wants.
That's what I'm hoping for. If it's anthing like the Pro and P5 I'm waiting on the 5 door with cash back and 0% interest. I'll be all over that one. Make mine a 4 cyl every option please.
No breakaway mirrors? Road noise? Wha? Couldn't be any louder than those 17 inch tires.
I'd rather have outside mirrors that fold during impact rather than break off and dangle against the side of the car by their remote control wires! At least with the folding mirror you can pop it back in place. I hate to see how much it would cost to completely replace a non-folding outside mirror every time it got smacked.
"were not removed for cost and "decontenting". The fact is the breakaway mirrors ad to road noise which is something that Americans don't like."
I highly doubt that's the reason. There are many cars that are made or sold here that have folding mirrors and don't have added wind noise. I regularly drive a Volvo S70 and an SLK with folding mirrors and don't hear any wind noise from them. If I ever did, the benefit outweighs that.
The reason that the 6 has fixed mirrors, is because it is manufactured in the US. There is no standard here for foldaway mirrors as there is in Europe (as well as repeat signals and rear head rests). Because there is no standard, manufacturers can get away with saving a few bucks on each car. Notice that all other Mazdas have folding mirrors... because they are made in Japan...and because they fit easier on the ship! They just want us to think it's about wind noise. Believe it or not, I am not buying my next car unless it has foldaway mirrors. I am sick of walking into mirrors that don't give and have to worry about having them knocked off on a narrow city street.
**i am 5'5" so if anyone out there can help me run through a sequence with the 8 way adjustments that might help get to the right combo i would appreciate it.**
Unless there is an adjustment for lumbar support on the 8-way seat, I suggest having a small pillow made that corrects the problem. I made one for my Protegé and it works fine.
I used an old throw pillow, about 12-inches square. Bought a 1-inch thick foam pad from a fabric shop. Cut it to the size which fits in the pillow case, 11-inches square. I stapled the opening to close it. No back problem.
Part of the problem is the lower part of the seat back, which curves under. The pillow fills this space and is tall enough for some lumbar support.
Look for a fabric that harmonizes with your uphostery. If you have the sport interior, black, then buy a colorful, contrasting fabic with little or no design or pattern in it. If you can't sew, go back to the fabric shop and look on their bulletin board for business cards, or take the pillow to an alterations shop and have them do it.
Materials and sewing shouldn't cost more than $10.
I bought it for about $700 over invoice. I ended up with the lapis blue 6s with the following:
Auto, Sport Pack, Comf Pack, Bose Audio Pack, Leather, moonroof, moonroof deflector, side air bags & side air curtains, all weather mats, cargo tray/organizer and wheel locks. Sport grill will be added later, they do not have them available yet.
$24,800 +tax (3% here in nc)
I was all set to buy a Passat until my brother (test car driver) told me to check the 6 out. Drives better than the passat, much less expensive and will cost less to maintain and run. Plus I would of had to chip the engine in the passat. It out handles the Altima, has a better interior and the Altima is more expensive with the options that I chose. Honda, everyone has one and the new one is nothing special, doesn't compare to what I wanted in a sports sedan. Drove it and it didn't do anything for me, plus it almost looks like a saturn now.
Warranty is 48 months/50,000 miles, only the passat is equal. Plus I can drop off the 6 for maintainence and they give me a car to drive. I only got that with my previous Volvo 850 R. I don't think Honda, Toyota or Nissan does that. VW only does it around here if the car will stay for more than 36 hours!! I had a 79 GLC wagon that was passed down from my sister to brother to me to younger brother through high school/collge = 240,000 miles until the car died.
So, I am happy with the car and the price considering it was hard to find. I could of ordered one, waited 8-12 weeks and paid much more for it. Thankfully the mazda website was a big assistance and buying is easier over the phone/net!!
I only found two in the state that had exactly what I wanted. I did the deal over the phone with the sales GM.
Hmmm.. I think a fully loaded Mazda6S Auto is selling for over 25,000-26000. $20,000 I would buy a couple of them and turn around and sell them the next day for a higher price. I wouldn't need to work anymore. There is no room for arbittrage here. Remove a bunch of the options and comfort and we are still not down to $20,000.
I am noticing that the 6 likes to run at about 75-90 on the highway. A very similar experience to the maxima where you have to be careful of your speed on the highway. Take the 6 up to 90 and the ride is even smoother than say at around 40. No shakes or vibration. It could be too much car for some people who do a lot of highway driving. Other thing I have noticed is as these start to get broken in over 800-1000+ miles or so the acceleration from the get-go seems faster. cars with lower mileage seem a bit slower less than 200. Anyone notice this? Curious has anyone been using high octane gas in these or is everyone running these at 87 or 89? Any noticeable difference? How is everyone who ones one breaking them in?
It seems to me to that it is possibly the best car for the buck when you get the fully loaded model. I would rather have a fully loaded car than a base model of one of the luxury sports sedans.
However as some people pointed out you can get a lot of car for less money in the sonata. It just depends on what you want.
I have also seen a lot of postings regarding depreciation values. for some people who intend to keep the vehicle for a long period of time or who put a lot of miles on per year it just may not matter. If you continue to swap vehicles a lease or used vehicle could be better so as not to take the big hit. There are too many cars on the road and too many good cars which may continue to cause further price erosion in the used market. Please don;t tell me the accord or any of these cars maxima, camry are holding up that much better on price. They may be better at holding prices than some of the higher priced cars but not that much. Look at a new SAAB turbo convertible and in 2-3 years your down over 25,000 dollars in value. But guess what you have an engine that can go for ever if maintained properly. Any entry level or luxury level car you buy new takes a big drop in price the first few years. The Mazda six is not a cheap car by any standards but it appears to potentially the best in its class as an all around car.
I don't post in the Jetta forum because I never wanted one. I have driven a few though.
I post here because I was in the market for a new car until last Friday when I bought my 03 Coupe. I also was in the market for a G35 but decided I didn't like the interior enough to justify the fact you have to pay "extra" for a 6 speed.
I still may buy a Mazda6 if the deal is sweet enough. With 0% interest and a low enough price I can buy the 6 take a check from the dealer and pay off my Lexus and have them both financed at 0%. I did something like that when I bought a Protege last year.
I only brought up the Jetta as a comparison to another car that is fun to drive. Which a Jetta is. I also posted that so many posts ago why bring it up now?
I couldn't care less about reactions. I just post my opinions just like everyone else. Don't like em don't read em. You feel the Mazda6 is the best sport sedan out there? Good for you. I think it's OK too but I don't think there's that much of a market for a bona-fide FWD sport sedan. I have a feeling they are going to get real cheap real fast. That's good news for bargain shoppers who like sport sedans but bad news for people who buy one and for some reason need to sell theirs in a couple years or wreck and total one.
I was disapointed that my 6s does not have the fold away mirrors, but something I can deal with. And the headlamp washers would be pretty much worthless with out wiper blades. I had the washers on my 86, or maybe it was 88 MX-6. They dropped the idea after just one year. Same with the digital dash. Of course, maybe if I would have driven 10 miles an hour so the bugs and dirt would not have splattered on, then squirting may have worked!! It was a good conversation piece and many laughs when I asked people to stand in front of my car and I would hit the squirts!
But I really want a Mazda6 5 door. I couldn't own a Jetta because of the mental picture of a non independent rear suspension. I'm weird that way. Even my 1982 Tercel had IRS.
I've wanted a 5 door since the late 80's when you had a choice of them. The Camry, Sterling, 626, Rover all had 5 doors.
Comments
cuz you bought an accord
as the mazdasix zooms by
the driver with a gleam in his eye
set aside your fears
as in 3 short years
the car that belongs to you
will have a higher value
ponder this often and well
as when it's time to sell
you'll get a bit more treasure
for those 3 lost years of driving pleasure
but I guess that you'll never know
since you covet only the dough
driving a car so bland
you just won't understand
some of us though like to drive
a car that makes us feel alive
and when this idea sinks in your head
you can leave us be and go back to your thread
Huh, I drove a V6 model with a manual tranny and the car seemed reluctant to break 80 without some severe coaxing. If I'm not mistaken, Mazda's poor gearing had the car turning over 4k rpm at only 90. Kinda sad so many companies are unable to put true freeway cruising gears in their manual cars.
Which one is going to be more fun over the life of the car in real world driving?
For me that'd be the v6 because if it's that underpowered, the 4 would be an outright dog for my driving style.
I sure hope Mazda does have an MPS version coming. The 6 could use another 40-60 more HP.
For those us us that aren't so artistically inclined, here it is in simple terms. OK, let's assume that the doom&gloomers are right and the 6 will cost us 2000 bucks more over three years of depreciation. That's about 667 bucks a year. Is there anyone here that can't afford that, or isn't willing to pay that for three years of driving fun? Geez, I just bought a new set of tires that cost me over 400.
Is that true? I'm ready to buy today and I'm willing to travel to do it. Anyone know where I can find a 6s with a stick???
Dinu
Sounds like your dealer's just trying to sell you what they have on the lot. There's at least one, and I think two, six-cylinder, stick-shift Mazda 6s on the lot at PJ's Mazda in Burlington, Vermont.
As far as the ditty..If driving pleasure was all everyone was looking for we would all be driving VW's and Bimmers. I have driven the 6 and it is a great car but... so are a lot of cars in this segment and at $19,000 base price it's not going to win many people over right now. The 5 door may do the trick for me since it has no competition but the sedan is just another player at the table.
Took a 300 mile drive today with a friend and we drove over a coastal highway over the mountain and I gave it a good drive thru the curves. Handles GREAT!, and I did not hear anything.
When I dropped off my friend he commented how nice the car was, and mentioned it had no rattles.
And I had not mentioned to him that I had previously heard something.
I had fun with the manual shifting automatic!!!
Car is stable thru the curves and has power for me.
Bimmers? You can't even get a cheesed out base, base, base model 3 series for the price of a completely loaded Mazda 6. Yes it's more of a driver's machine (it's a 3 series for cripes sake!), but it's smaller and hits your wallet a lot harder. And what are you talking about with VW? I haven't driven one, but I doubt the Passat offers a more exiting drive than the Mazda6. The Passat is classy and that's about it IMO.
VW's weakest link lays in outdated suspension set ups, BMW's are acheaving theirs great handling with all kinds of electronic assistance on top of only very good suspension.
M6 does it with excellent, very modern and innovative conventional suspension design, backed up only with ABS/EBD and TRACKTION CONTROL and we have one of the best handling mid size car ever!!!
I'm very very critical when it comes to buying a new car, but M6 is just a great value.
If you want even better handler wait for new Mazda3 with almost the same suspension set-up
(a few inches shorter)400lbs lighter and equipped with the same 2.3 l 160hp engine!!!
You can only guess the price, I think Mazda should price it at about $17K-$18K (equiped very close to M6 we are talking about here)
I'm waiting for it.
Yes, Carsdirect may be pricing M6 high right now because M6 just came out and there are people willing to pay over MSRP for it.
Here is how Edmunds is pricing it now;
2003 Mazda 6 i 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
Color: Lapis Blue Metallic
Options Selected Invoice MSRP TMV®
ABS and Traction Control (TCS) $320 $400 $349
Bose Audio Package $508 $635 $554
Leather Seat Upholstery $688 $860 $750
Sport Package $688 $860 $750
Total Options $2,204 $2,755 $2,403
Invoice MSRP TMV®
Regional Base Price $17,094 $18,530 $17,611
Color Adjust. - - -$3
Optional Equipment $2,204 $2,755 $2,403
Destination Charge $520 $520 $520
Total $19,818 $21,805 $20,531
Why would you pay over MSRP for a mass build car?
Theese days nobody is buying cars at MSRP, majority of cars are sold under invoice and some well under invoice.
Invoice Price for above mentioned M6 is at $19.8K wait a few months and you'll be able to get
heated mirrors/seats and side bags with curtain on top of that package all at $20K!!!!!
That's a hell of a deal.
just my $2.
I want the 6 cylinder for its added torque and driveability. I do wish it had more power at higher RPMs. I support Mazda for not making the engine a torque monster, however. Extreme low-end grunt in an FWD platform results in, well, Altima-like handling and launch.
-Alt
Bimmers are...Bimmers. And RWD. And I'm sure they could handle better than a Mazda6 even without the "electronic assistance". As well they should...
Pricing????
Well in my area this car that you described
"For about $20K you can get a wonderfully equipped Mazda6 (5 speed, leather, 17" wheels/tires - sport package, Bose stereo, full power....)" You are required to add the premium package to get the sport package so it's still right at $21,000 with no moonroof, rear mud guards, ABS or anything. There are cars that undercut that right now by quite a bit.
It's like this...If all Mazda has is handling then they are still not going to have many takers. Sure they will sell SOME Mazda6's but not in enough numbers to call it a success. This isn't a country that values that kind of car.
Hence why some of us drive Mazdas and others Hondas...
Dinu
Today was better.
My current cars are: 93 Infiniti G20, 99 Ford Ranger P/U, 2002 MB C230 sport coupe.
The G20 was at one time said to be "the best handling front wheel drive car in the world", I forgot who said it, some car mag - but, it is marvelously agile car, with great turn in and a good comparison to the 6i. The engine is OK, I have a 5 speed, so I can find the power when I want it. Its a 2 liter 16 valver. I've replace the air box/filter with a free flow K&N cone filter, which really helped throttle response and overall power. I also had the stock muffler replaced with one that has less back pressure (not, no coffee can hanging out the back, lol.) It is this car that I am shopping to replace. So, I have been following the Mazda 6 story for quite a while...
The MB C230 has a super charger on top of a 2.3 liter 16 valver, and it has great throttle response 192hp/200'#, rear wheel drive - blah, blah. I bought it for my wife - 5 speed auto tranny with the sport feature.
So, I have my comparison machines to evaluate the Mazda 6 against. Here goes...
Test drive 1
*Loaded* 6s 5 speed auto/sport tranny
Good - power comes on kind of-in a delayed fashion, but once the engine hits ~3000 rpms, it bolts. Nice.
Brakes stop you
I fiddled with the transmission in drive and bumping it through the gears on my own. Definitally found the sweet spot in the power curve with the latter.
Seats - real comfy, but the slithery leather is not my seating surface choice. Give me cloth.
Not so good - Road noise! Anyone else notice this? Is it the 50 series tires I asked? My Ranger is quieter!
Handling - corners very flat, stays nice and stable through the turns. Steering response was so-so. I like the way my G20 responds to driver input better. Granted, my test drive was not very extensive, more time behind the wheel would give me a variety of experiences to further form my opinion.
Test Drive 2
Next I test drove a 6i 5 speed stick with 60 series tires. This was a base model plus the upgrade to the mag wheels. I really wanted to test this model because this is the most direct comparison to my G.
Good - Power, the 4 banger has good power above 3K, sort of like the V6, though of course not as strong. I took it out to ~4500 in second gear, and side shifted it over to 4th. I was doing about 45 mph. Nice. The shifter fell nicely into my hand, but it was a little balky, notchy. I assume a more fluid motion after driving it for a while
Road noise, still intrusive IMO. This is a deal breaker to me! And, this was on city streets, with OK pavement. I think its the Michelins that transmit so much noise into the cabin, no difference in the 16 or 17" tires.
Interiors - I actually like the base interior better then the sport upgrade. The area around the door handle inside is not so "plasticy". The climate control switch gear is more like I am used to, the gray cloth seats are better then the leather IMO.
This car is eye candy to look at from the outside, I just love its look. I will wait for the hatch to make it into dealerships before seriously considering buying it. There are a lot of choices in the auto market now. The 6 isn't perfect, but its high on my list.
BTW. Looking at the window stickers, I notices that the V6 is make in the USA, and the 4 banger is made in Mexico. All trannys are made in Japan. Final assembly is in Flat Rock, MI USA.
I can understand why someone who really likes Mazdas (like me) and really likes the Mazda6 (ditto) would hang out in this forum.
I can even understand why someone who doesn't like the Mazda6 may want to drop by and make their opinion known.
What I cannot understand is why someone who doesn't like the Mazda6 - either at all or in comparison to some other car that they do like - would CONSTANTLY hang around in this forum and insist on peeing on everyone's parade OVER AND OVER again.
People are entitled to their opinions and debate in these forums is fun but, honestly, what motivates someone to post here OVER AND OVER again if they don't even like the bleedin car!
Does anyone here spend a whole bunch of time in a Chevy Cavalier forum telling people they're stupid for liking the car. If they happen to like the Cavalier then Godspeed! Good for them! Who am I to tell them otherwise?
It's like saying, "You know who I really admire? That Cliff guy from the show Cheers. I think I'll hang around somewhere and act like him."
Sorry, I think I'm beginning to calm down....
That was my impression, too, when I did a test-drive. The route was in the countryside, but still city speed limits at 45mph. Rural two-lane road with gentle S-curves. I was cruising along and the 6S felt quiet and stable, thought I was going about 45 when I glanced at the speedo -- WHAT!! 70mph!!
You have to press harder to get sound from the V6.
On an expressway I thought the other cars were poking along, they weren't, they were going the posted 60mph. I don't know what speed the 6 was going I was having too much fun to look.
You test-drive the V6 with an eye on the rearview mirror, because verything else is behind you, including flashing blue lights.
For my driving I would get the I-4. Better than having a sign in the rear window saying, "He stopped me to take a look at my new car."
fowler3
In every case in real life, haven't those who criticized your purchase been the ones who couldn't buy the item? Nor would you have bought what they did.
I never recommend a car to anyone, cars are such a personal choice. And I shy away from people who suggest that I buy the same car they did, as if my purchase would justify their's. Usually, they made a big mistake -- it becomes apparent when their car is in for repairs -- often.
fowler3
I'm not sure if you are refering to my write up or someone elses. I was just stating my driving impressions from my experiece today. My intent was not to pee on anyones parade. Sorry if I came across that way... The 6 is an excellent car. I could buy one today, but I'm in no hurry to make a decision. The fun in making a major purchase decision is in the hunt. I'm not ready to release my arrow just yet...
jjpeter
It always interests me to see what people's reaction to the car is. And I'm not trying to be a jerk about this (probably failing miserably)
What I am genuinely curious about is what motivates a few people to hang around in here and respond to every positive comment about the Mazda6 with the same criticisms over and over again.
Why do it?
The amount of time I spend hanging about and following everyone's remarks (and posting a few of my own occasionally) it pretty substantial - and I like the car!
I just couldn't see myself devoting the same amount of time to hanging around in other forums about cars I don't happen to like arguing with people who disagree with my opinions.
Anyway, I'm probably coming off quite badly by bringing this all up, but like I said, I was actually quite curious to discover what the motivation for folks to do this is.
(and I am not naming names because I am really not looking to get in a peeing match with anyone)
But if a dose of reality is what is called peeing then I'm guilty. I too have no negative things to say about the drive of the Mazda. I wrote a beaming review right after I drove it. May still buy one in the hatchback form. But don't tell me you can buy a "loaded" 20K Mazda6 when I just finished doing my comparisons and I know it doesn't exist right now. At least not in Atlanta. You'd think they were popular or something even though I have yet to see a single one on the road. And I've even seen a Murano rolling around here.
Anyway, after looking up numerous zip codes across the state, I was able to find what I wanted. I guess the side air bag/curtain air bags are rare with my options. Called the GM, told him my price and he took it. I will be picking it up this Thursday!!
like i told you, you may have to wait a month or two and knowing today's economy Mazda will have to start selling M6 at or around invoice to be competitive.
This car just came out and that's the only reason some dealers may be asking MSRP for it.
I know that for 20K you will be able to buy very well equipped 5 speed M6.
My "perfect" 6 was going to be the 6i MT with premium, sport, and ABS/TCS for ~$19,200! That's $500 over invoice, and WAY shy of $20k.
I don't want any better equipped than that.
I eventually got mine for $400, no options, because really- a base 6 already has a lot of toys. I'd rather pick out my own speakers and alloys anyway.
---
For those confused on packages, you can get anything you want whether Mazda builds it or not. You just require port installed options, which don't cost any extra and are rather transparent to the buyer. I had a lengthy conversation with a dealer about this, and he called Mazda to confirm everything. You can get a Mazda6 any way you want it.
The downside? Be prepared to wait, probably 2 months.
Dealers seem not to offer this because they're trying to get you to buy a car that day, or at least that was my impression. I was told flat-out by several dealers that ordering a car was impossible, and that I needed to "buy here, and we'll find one on our lot or do what's called a 'dealer trade'." Not so, if the dealership is willing.
---
Regarding the V6 v. i4: "It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow."
---
Happy New Year!
now since this is long island i am confronted with maddening traffic. on 12/30 at 1:30 pm i started a trip to central jersey. this means the belt parkway, bridges, staten island etc. those of you who live here know what i am about to say. this 1 1/2 hr trip took me three hours. thank god for the auto. on the way home though i had the chance to let the car do its stuff. slight drizzle - open road - night. on the staten island expressway a boxster passes me by. we can't have that. i drop it into 4th and touch the gas. response is quick. accelaration smooth no road slippage. catch up to the boxster and pull away. glance at the speed and see i am doing 90 and the car had more to give. yes this car has more power than you need and you do have to hold it back. but that is fine with me. just wait till the summer and the air con is on and you have friends in the car. you will want that extra power.
one and only one problem.. i am having trouble adjusting my seat. the back is hurting a bit. i just can't seem to find the right combo. i am 5'5" so if anyone out there can help me run through a sequence with the 8 way adjustments that might help get to the right combo i would appreciate it.
this car does grow on you. all i need now is a mazda momma to share the experience with me.
Notice the 6 has windshield washer nozzles for the headlights...
Dinu
...that are not available in the U.S. spec versions. Yet another example of Mazda decontenting the 6 for the American market (no NAV, no folding outside mirrors, etc.).
Come on Mazda...at least offer these goodies as options and let us decide whether or not the cost is worth it!
The previous link did not show them.
Folding mirrors would be expected on any car, just like I would expect standard read mudguards (really usefull in the rain) and a wiper for the read window - see the HB pics for it.
Dinu
Dinu
And... mudguards if they were standard would be scoffed at by many in the wintery areas. When you walk up to your car and see a huge ice lump behind your wheel well, you couldn't kick it off if there was a mud guard under there. You would just have to wait for it to fly off on the freeway and hope it doesn't dent your rockers.
ABS is also not a concern for people in warmer climates. ABS does not stop your car faster. Those who are unfamiliar with ABS are putting themselves at risk. (I have ABS and have had many customers who don't want and wouldn't pay extrra fro them)
ALL this really means is you can't build a one size fits all car. What you want on yours is too much for another etc.
Get the essentials (only available from factory) and then ad the other stuff later. That way you can customize the car to fit your needs and wants.
No breakaway mirrors? Road noise? Wha? Couldn't be any louder than those 17 inch tires.
I highly doubt that's the reason. There are many cars that are made or sold here that have folding mirrors and don't have added wind noise. I regularly drive a Volvo S70 and an SLK with folding mirrors and don't hear any wind noise from them. If I ever did, the benefit outweighs that.
The reason that the 6 has fixed mirrors, is because it is manufactured in the US. There is no standard here for foldaway mirrors as there is in Europe (as well as repeat signals and rear head rests). Because there is no standard, manufacturers can get away with saving a few bucks on each car. Notice that all other Mazdas have folding mirrors... because they are made in Japan...and because they fit easier on the ship!
They just want us to think it's about wind noise.
Believe it or not, I am not buying my next car unless it has foldaway mirrors. I am sick of walking into mirrors that don't give and have to worry about having them knocked off on a narrow city street.
Unless there is an adjustment for lumbar support on the 8-way seat, I suggest having a small pillow made that corrects the problem. I made one for my Protegé and it works fine.
I used an old throw pillow, about 12-inches square. Bought a 1-inch thick foam pad from a fabric shop. Cut it to the size which fits in the pillow case, 11-inches square. I stapled the opening to close it. No back problem.
Part of the problem is the lower part of the seat back, which curves under. The pillow fills this space and is tall enough for some lumbar support.
Look for a fabric that harmonizes with your uphostery. If you have the sport interior, black, then buy a colorful, contrasting fabic with little or no design or pattern in it. If you can't sew, go back to the fabric shop and look on their bulletin board for business cards, or take the pillow to an alterations shop and have them do it.
Materials and sewing shouldn't cost more than $10.
fowler3
Why don't you ever post in the Jetta forum then?
Auto, Sport Pack, Comf Pack, Bose Audio Pack, Leather, moonroof, moonroof deflector, side air bags & side air curtains, all weather mats, cargo tray/organizer and wheel locks. Sport grill will be added later, they do not have them available yet.
$24,800 +tax (3% here in nc)
I was all set to buy a Passat until my brother (test car driver) told me to check the 6 out. Drives better than the passat, much less expensive and will cost less to maintain and run. Plus I would of had to chip the engine in the passat. It out handles the Altima, has a better interior and the Altima is more expensive with the options that I chose. Honda, everyone has one and the new one is nothing special, doesn't compare to what I wanted in a sports sedan. Drove it and it didn't do anything for me, plus it almost looks like a saturn now.
Warranty is 48 months/50,000 miles, only the passat is equal. Plus I can drop off the 6 for maintainence and they give me a car to drive. I only got that with my previous Volvo 850 R. I don't think Honda, Toyota or Nissan does that. VW only does it around here if the car will stay for more than 36 hours!!
I had a 79 GLC wagon that was passed down from my sister to brother to me to younger brother through high school/collge = 240,000 miles until the car died.
So, I am happy with the car and the price considering it was hard to find. I could of ordered one, waited 8-12 weeks and paid much more for it. Thankfully the mazda website was a big assistance and buying is easier over the phone/net!!
I only found two in the state that had exactly what I wanted. I did the deal over the phone with the sales GM.
I am noticing that the 6 likes to run at about 75-90 on the highway. A very similar experience to the maxima where you have to be careful of your speed on the highway. Take the 6 up to 90 and the ride is even smoother than say at around 40. No shakes or vibration. It could be too much car for some people who do a lot of highway driving. Other thing I have noticed is as these start to get broken in over 800-1000+ miles or so the acceleration from the get-go seems faster. cars with lower mileage seem a bit slower less than 200. Anyone notice this? Curious has anyone been using high octane gas in these or is everyone running these at 87 or 89? Any noticeable difference? How is everyone who ones one breaking them in?
It seems to me to that it is possibly the best car for the buck when you get the fully loaded model. I would rather have a fully loaded car than a base model of one of the luxury sports sedans.
However as some people pointed out you can get a lot of car for less money in the sonata. It just depends on what you want.
I have also seen a lot of postings regarding depreciation values. for some people who intend to keep the vehicle for a long period of time or who put a lot of miles on per year it just may not matter. If you continue to swap vehicles a lease or used vehicle could be better so as not to take the big hit. There are too many cars on the road and too many good cars which may continue to cause further price erosion in the used market. Please don;t tell me the accord or any of these cars maxima, camry are holding up that much better on price. They may be better at holding prices than some of the higher priced cars but not that much. Look at a new SAAB turbo convertible and in 2-3 years your down over 25,000 dollars in value. But guess what you have an engine that can go for ever if maintained properly. Any entry level or luxury level car you buy new takes a big drop in price the first few years. The Mazda six is not a cheap car by any standards but it appears to potentially the best in its class as an all around car.
I don't post in the Jetta forum because I never wanted one. I have driven a few though.
I post here because I was in the market for a new car until last Friday when I bought my 03 Coupe. I also was in the market for a G35 but decided I didn't like the interior enough to justify the fact you have to pay "extra" for a 6 speed.
I still may buy a Mazda6 if the deal is sweet enough. With 0% interest and a low enough price I can buy the 6 take a check from the dealer and pay off my Lexus and have them both financed at 0%. I did something like that when I bought a Protege last year.
I only brought up the Jetta as a comparison to another car that is fun to drive. Which a Jetta is. I also posted that so many posts ago why bring it up now?
I couldn't care less about reactions. I just post my opinions just like everyone else. Don't like em don't read em. You feel the Mazda6 is the best sport sedan out there? Good for you. I think it's OK too but I don't think there's that much of a market for a bona-fide FWD sport sedan. I have a feeling they are going to get real cheap real fast. That's good news for bargain shoppers who like sport sedans but bad news for people who buy one and for some reason need to sell theirs in a couple years or wreck and total one.
And the headlamp washers would be pretty much worthless with out wiper blades. I had the washers on my 86, or maybe it was 88 MX-6. They dropped the idea after just one year. Same with the digital dash. Of course, maybe if I would have driven 10 miles an hour so the bugs and dirt would not have splattered on, then squirting may have worked!! It was a good conversation piece and many laughs when I asked people to stand in front of my car and I would hit the squirts!
I've wanted a 5 door since the late 80's when you had a choice of them. The Camry, Sterling, 626, Rover all had 5 doors.