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Comments
why is it people think it makes sense to bring my car into the equation any time i criticize another make? Get over it. VW doesn't make a RWD sport sedan that'll do 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, has rock solid handling, free maintenance for 4 years or sports an inline 6. I swear, I'm changing my car to moped so people will stop dragging my personal vehicle into every discussion.
Beyond that, I bought my car knowing it would be expensive to maintain and that's why it's leased I'll be rid of it before service starts costing me an arm and a leg.
One of her major criteria for buying a car, supposedly was reliability. Obviously, that metric got left in the dust. And she doesn't get free maintenance on that synthetic oil slurping 1.8T.
Furthermore, I couldn't care less if random yokels bought a Passat. This was someone I went out with for weekends, showing her everything under the sun to avoid the evil VW family of cars. It's like I've failed miserably in my quest to help another person avoid the seventh ring.
I've still got my brother-in-law though. hopefully I can steer him away from a jaguar or benz and into a 6.
I have no issue with your owning a BMW (the 3-series perf pack is a wonderful car and I'm frankly envious), but surely you can see how hypocritical it is of you to be "gagging" that a friend bought a German-built car with a questionable reliablility record. It sounds to me like he/she liked the Passat the best and was willing to look past the reliability issues - which just so happens to be EXACTLY what you did.
- Mark
The big differences being: reliability was not an issue in my decision (that's part of why I leased) and I get free maintenance (as I had for 24k of my Jetta). For me it was basically a lateral step with a giant increase in performance. And a better warranty.
She claimed reliability, especially longterm, was a key ingredient as she was getting out of an american car from the 90s and wanted a vehicle which would last. She was sick of high and constant maintenance costs.
Actually, I guess for her it's a lateral step too. With a giant increase in maintenance costs 5 years down the road.
Still think the 6 was a better option. Still feel like I failed.
Of course, I'm not comparing your friend to a horse.
Oh well - she's made her choice - now she has to live with it. Maybe she'll like it, and maybe she won't. Let us know down the road.
so yes TC does help avoid a crash.
As for the 6 vs Passat both are styled very well on the outside. Passat probably has a nicer interior of the 2 cars. I think the Mazda is a better value in the long run though than the Passat because if you need a part for the Passat a part for a German Car will probably cost you more than a part for a Japanese Car.
"In regard to your inquiry, we don't have a specification deck available
on the 2004 MAZDA6 5-door hatchback at this time. However, the 2004
MAZDA6i 5-door hatchback will come standard with a 2.3L DOHC 4-cylinder
engine and 5-speed manual transmission."
Good news, if it is accurate. At least it sounds like they aren't going to target it with solely upscale offerings. Now if only I can make it till spring.
The chat will be for all Mazda owners. We are talking with the folks at Mazda to see if we can entice a few of the Brand Managers to stop in every once in a while and participate (no promises, but we are working on it!)
I'm trying to find out from the various Mazda vehicle owners the following:
1) what night of the week would work best?
2) what time? (please give the timezone)
3) what would you like the chat to be called? (e.g. the Subaru chat is the "Subaru Crew" chat)
We hope to have the Mazda weekly chat going by mid-October.
I'll check the discussions I post this announcement in - but to not distract you with scheduling details, feel free to email me your choices at sylvia@edmunds.com
I'm happy this weekly event will be back.
engine and 5-speed manual transmission."
Thanks for the info, pappy55! I'm guessing I'll have to take leather, moonroof, sport, etc to get the safety options I want, but I'm psyched that they're going to bring the 45(5)6 here.
Keeping fingers crossed.
http://www.sae.org/automag/material/09-2003/1-111-9-84.pdf
i'm sorry to see summer go but am looking forward to the end of bug season. lots and lots of bugs in wisconsin during the warm season.
I would complain way more about the brake dust on the wheels. It's WAY more of a hassle than the bugs.
some day I'll replace the brakes and spend a bit more to get something with less residue.
You wouldn't happen to have that silver 6 I keep seeing while I'm up there do you?
As far as German engineering and everyone wanting a BMW, I can definitely empathize with that one. There is just a certain driving 'feel' to a German car that nothing else out there has. I can't quite explain it, but once you drive a German car you won't want to go back to anything else. But on the other hand, the maintenance and parts costs might sway one...
No doubt, stability control is much better, though.
BUT-- i do have a question about the relative lack of bass response in the Bose upgrade in the 6, especially when compared to the subwoofer/bass strength of the Bose upgrade in the new Altima. For the most part, my Bose audio is deeeelightful-- good stereo imaging, terrific instrument placement, nice sonic warmth. BUT-- i'm continually frustrated by the relative lack of bass. For the most part, i have to have the bass set to "4" to get a balanced response, whether i'm listening to Audioslave, Radiohead, or Mahler's Fifth Symphony....
i've seen a couple of previous posts here asking the same question, so.... is it just the way that Bose and Mazda designed it to be, or could the amplifier perhaps not be adjusted correctly? and would a Mazda service technician be familiar enough with the Bose specifics to know how to adjust the amp? Pls. advise. Thanks.
I'll beat everyone else to the punch - Bose systems suck, for the money. I'm glad for you, that you 'mostly' like it - that's whats important.
People at 'other' discussions have talked about upgrading the Bose Sub, using their own amp inline with the line-out outputs from the Bose amp (under the seat?) or before the Bose amp (after the head unit). This is just a sprinkling of stuff I remember hearing. Not having it, I don't care about the Bose package or what I hear about it
I got the same kind of phone call from the sales manager at our nearby dealership about "10 minutes" after they found out about the new $1k rebate announced on 9/23.
He knew that I was kinda on the fence and thought he'd do what he could to help push me off, kind soul that he is. So now I'm going to call him tomorrow to say "OK" on a red v6 automatic!
To the guy who said his wife says it looks like a small taxi .... she's RIGHT! OH my... I couldn't believe it. This car should not be made in yellow without the appearance or sport package, or without huge black lettering that says "BROADWAY"
or some such... geez. Very sad.
Was yellow the color they canned for 04? Probably a good thing.
There is a great comparison pic of the same car w/ steel covers and then 17' rims here:
http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=337907- &page=2
i have had it set on either "2" or "3", trying to find the best compromise.
thanks again for the response.
Dinu
Dinu
I'll probably order before the dealer gets any in... and right now I'm divided between red, blue, copper, and possibly gold.
Thanks!
- Mark
Still, I find Mazda's release of the 04 to be interesting. Some areas were already receiving the vehicles when other dealerships were still forced to order 03s. I would cry foul with the dealership, but the online inventory seems to confirm their statements. Makes no sense... is this a common practice with other car companies?