Mazda6 Sedan

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  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    under my green emerald mica.
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Cool. :)
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    There's also this black stuff on some sections. Maybe this is rustproofing material, since I see it only on the lower part of the lower steel panels.
  • ashutoshsmashutoshsm Member Posts: 1,007
    The antennas are great. I've driven 1000s of miles since I had it installed in my Pro, and no problems at all!

    The technology has arrived, and I find myself NEVER switching to radio and rarely listening to my 6CD changer :-)
  • alternatoralternator Member Posts: 629
    why there have been no comments re the "Mazda6 design-team leader interviews" I posted heretofore, to be found at:


    http://www.mazda6.co.uk/upclose/gallery/ipixdetail.asp?id=1226&title=Mazda6+4dr


    Therein, the Mazda6 Design Team Leaders of body, engine, etc. individually discuss their design missions, how they carried out their missions, and how well they believe they did in meeting the benchmarks set by Audi and BMW, etc. They seem well-satisfied with their results. What do the people on this board think? Are you impressed? Or do you think this is mostly puffery? Let's discuss this, eh?

  • ambullambull Member Posts: 255
    I get an hourglass cursor at that link. It just has iPIX in a circle and not much else. Anybody else get the same results?
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    That write up has been out on the net since the tokyo show last year (not sure about that URL but I've seen it several places). It's a pretty thorough look into the design/engineering process but it also smells of heavy marketing.
  • alternatoralternator Member Posts: 629
    You have to wait a little while for the iPIX Virtual Tour Viewer to load. Then click on banner at top for interviews, etc. Enjoy.

    maltb: I hadn't seen this site mentioned here before, and it is a neat site what with rotatable views, brochure, detailed dimensional specs, etc. Worth a look by anyone interested in Mazda6. I would like to see a discussion here of how the interviews are seen by everyone. Thanks for your input. I was impressed by the presentation at least!
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    I like their perspectives. They definitely come across as "car guys" who are in the business for love of cars, not churning out generic focus-group-driven drivel (like the Aztec).

    I notice their interviews are shortened and "cleaned-up" from the original texts available earlier this year, right after NYIAS. Someone gave them a "make-over." ;)
  • white951white951 Member Posts: 18
    I like that Mazda is using a timing chain instead of a belt in the 6. Less maintenance and worry about broken belts. Apparently they had always designed a recessed area in the top of the piston in case the belt brakes so there is not a meeting of pistons and valves. This also reduced the compression ratio. Now they don't have to worry about this and can increase compression.
  • wgrwgr Member Posts: 127
    I have always worried about the timing belt going ever since I had one break years ago on a piece of crap Pinto I had. Does a timing chain last a lot longer ? Is it still recommended to be replaced after a certain number of miles ?
  • kenokakenoka Member Posts: 218
    I believe the timing chain is rated for the "life of the car". Whatever that means. But I would say 200,000 miles would certainly be reasonable.
  • adu1adu1 Member Posts: 47
    That reminds me: I was reading something about the five-speed autobox on the '02 Saab 9-5. Supposedly it's "sealed" for the "life of the car." Anyone else thinks that's a little freaky? Maybe I'm just being too old-fashioned in my outlook...
  • white951white951 Member Posts: 18
    My wife has a 94 Saturn SL2 that we bought with 28k miles 4 or 5 years ago. I believe change interval is 150k miles. So yes, they are life of car items.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    and other upscale brands have sealed transmissions "good for life".

    no need to change fluid.

    I could never digest that. But that is the way its. Audi in fact does not even offer a dipstick.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I rememeber when the 1990 Passat debuted, and Consumer Reports tested it. They said it had a radiator that was sealed for life, and the coolant never needed changing in it. That's a little hard to believe...
  • white951white951 Member Posts: 18
    My wife has a 94 Saturn SL2 that we bought with 28k miles 4 or 5 years ago. I believe change interval is 150k miles. So yes, they are life of car items.
  • adu1adu1 Member Posts: 47
    is the Audi A2 (sold in Europe). From what I've read, the engine compartment is not "owner-accessible." Only the dealer is supposed to be able to open the hood to get to the engine. Audi *does* provide a little lift up door to check and add some fluids (isn't that nice of them). Maybe this will all become moot anyway with fuel-cell cars at some point down the road...
  • bluong1bluong1 Member Posts: 1,927
  • magnetophonemagnetophone Member Posts: 605
    The Audi A2 is so small, I don't see how any non-professional could properly maintain it. The engine is wedged into that tiny compartment...

    I don't think you can access anything on an A-class, either.
  • adu1adu1 Member Posts: 47
    100% serious.
  • alternatoralternator Member Posts: 629
    but the "serpentine accessories drive belt" still needs to be changed doesn't it?
  • adu1adu1 Member Posts: 47
    This new metal-finish look for the center console, as we've already seen in the 6 photos(and read some negative remarks from journalists about), seems to be showing up an awful lot of places. Now, the 2003 Lincoln LS will have it:


    http://www.autoweek.com/weekart/2002/0826/lsinterior.jpg

  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    Well, I suppose I will just have to see it in the plastic, but for the life of me I can't imagine why I would not prefer matte black plastic to that stuff. I hope that they make some unshiny surface for the stack an option soon enough (say by the time the hatch debuts!)
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    my dear edmund-ers, I invite you all to test your driving skills on the all new Mazda6.


    Simply click on the link below:


    http://www.mazda6.co.uk/game/game_mazda_cup.asp?title=Mazda6+Cup+Game

  • wishnhigh1wishnhigh1 Member Posts: 363
    Porsche also has a sealed cooling system, good for the life of the car.

    Think about it. Transmission fluid does not go bad. It does not spoil. It gets dirty and consequently looses its viscosity control. But if you take away the chances of it getting dirty(sealing perfectly), then you cant get the fluid dirty, and it will work for the life of the car.

    Same goes with cooling systems.
  • kenokakenoka Member Posts: 218
    The drive belt does need to be changed. Probably every 60k miles or so. But if it snaps it doesn't take your engine with it. I think that's the main worry people have with the whole timing belt issue. Plus I remember with my old '91 Honda Accord, when I had the timing belt replaced they had to replace the water pump too, because they couldn't get it out past the water pump and couldn't reinstall the water pump without damage.
  • markjennmarkjenn Member Posts: 1,142
    All automotive fluids degrade in-situ, whether they are sealed or not. This includes transmission fliud, coolant, brake fluid, engine oil, etc. If you seal the system, you keep out external dirt, but the mechanisms within will wear and introduce contaminants over time. And in really high mileage use, the lubricant itself suffers degradation due to the constants shearing going on in the application. (New synthetic lubricants ARE highly resistant to this so they can go a VERY long time.)

    In any event, I don't view "lifetime" fuilds in a car as some kind of revolutionary technical advance that suddenly has obsoleted the need for fluid changes. Instead, it is just the mfg saying that they don't view it as a cost-effective thing for the average owner. You'll get "acceptable service life" out of the transmission if you don't change the fluid. It doesn't mean that changing it every five years won't make it last longer. They are saying it will last long enough if you don't.

    Long-term, I think the mfgs want to go to a new model in which cars are essentially "sealed" and you drive them for some "service life" distance and then turn it in for re-cycling. It is much cheaper to design a car in which you don't have to design in ease-of-service or allow for wear parts to be removed in the field. They don't want us driving our same cars for 250K miles. They want to make cars disposable. Lifetime fluids are just another step down this road.

    - Mark
  • wishnhigh1wishnhigh1 Member Posts: 363
    Actually, you are correct for the most part.

    Cars and their components are built and rated for a specific life. As far as a sealed transmissions go, yes, the fluids do degrade to some degree over time. If you want to keep your car, buy a new transmission. Sure, having a transmission where you can change fluids, you might be able to get it to last maybe 50,000 miles longer before a rebuild or replacement, but who cares??

    As far as cooling system degradation, I would like to see some proof that these coolants break down over time...because as far as I can tell, contaminants are the only reason why coolants break down over time. In a closed system, you dont have the contaminants, therefore you wouldnt have degradation.

    Brake fluid breaks down because of moisture. Silicated brake fluids which do not absorb moisture are becoming more popular, but currently have their other disadvantages. If a perfectly closed system existed for brake lines, I doubt that brake fluid would have to be changed, under normal(not taken to the track, where boiling can occur) conditions, for at least 200,000 miles.

    Engine oil, as far as I can tell, is impossible to have a sealed system in an internal combustion engine, and will always have to be changed.

    And yes, the manufacturers do not desire for drivers to keep their car for 250,000 miles. However, they know that some will. Making a car durable is something that manufacturers desire, because it sells. They change the model every few years so that people will buy new ones.

    Making a car less maintinence intensive is the objective of these closed systems. You can believe that manufacturers want their cars to fall apart if you want, but you and the rest of the conspiracy theorists are just paranoid.
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    It's all relative of course. In general, timing belts require at least the removal of the valve cover and the timing belt cover. You also have to make sure everything is in sync when you install the timing belt.

    Given enough room for access, you generally move an adjustable pulley to loosen an accessory belt, slide it off, replace it, then move the adjustable pulley to place proper tension in the belt. About a 15 minute job or less with the correct tools and belt(s). I can replace both acc belts on my '89 323 in under 15 minutes. Looks to be the same in my '99 Pro LX, but haven't done it yet; the belts look OK (no cracking or shining). Of course, it has a smaller 1.6L engine. The Proteges with the 2.0L and 1.8L engines look to be rather cramped.
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    September 1, 2002

    The projected start-up date for Flat Rock to begin producing the 6.

    Can anyone confirm whether or not it happened?

    And if so, when will be dealers see them?
  • ehurchyehurchy Member Posts: 1
    It appears that October 21 is the date when Mazda 6 production starts at the Flat Rock plant. This info came from the www.automotivenews.com site which currently has a pdf Model Changeover Chart (see AUTOALLIANCE in chart). Figure several weeks later before the 6 shows up at dealers.
  • 606zpx606zpx Member Posts: 75
    That would make sense since right on the Mazda website it states the debut will be December.
  • wgrwgr Member Posts: 127
    The October Car & Driver says the Mazda 6 will be available in October. A little premature ?
  • orangelebaronorangelebaron Member Posts: 435
    With the new Camry and Altima out since 2001, and the new Accord out next week... I don't think Mazda should or will wait very much longer!!!

    Here's an interesting article:
    http://www.fasterfords.com/mazda/mazda6.htm
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    No sense rushing a good thing. It'd only ruin its reputation and its chances of success. They won't be too late to the party, so long as they make the auto shows and hit dealerships at the same time. :)
  • ickes_mobileickes_mobile Member Posts: 675
    of the European Accord (replace the "H" with an "A" and you have the TSX):


    http://community.webshots.com/album/44660418kfmeCu


    I'm surprised that the dash board is the same as the NA Accord. Would have figured the Euro Accord to be much narrower. Good sign for shoulder room. I wonder about rear leg room and trunk space however...

  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    Look at the front fascia of the TSX.

    It is the same as the Mazda6

    http://community.webshots.com/photo/44660418/49142331HUUSuC
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Both have used the inverted pentagram grille for several years.

    At least the side mirror housings on the Euro-spec Accord are not upside-down like the NA-spec ones.

    It's still my opinion the styling of the Accord is not as well-done as the Mazda6's. Parts of it conflict with others. I guess they're partially following the "edgy" styling that Toyota and Ford are attempting (and which I consider to be a stylistic nightmare).
  • ickes_mobileickes_mobile Member Posts: 675
    Honda started it. It may be that Mazda took the more bold approach first.
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    it is not only the pentagon grille, but also the "slit eyes" headlamps.

    It's that combination that I question!
  • chikoochikoo Member Posts: 3,008
    This is Mazda's first new engine in a number of years, so the results of our development during that time have been concentrated on this engine. It's been reported that this engine was partly developed in cooperation with Ford, but actually Mazda has taken the lead in development. We plan to eventually have four factories worldwide producing two million units of this powerplant a year, so this is a critically important project for us.


    http://www.mazda6.co.uk/interviews/details.asp?title=Engine&devno=1&pageno=1

  • white951white951 Member Posts: 18
    They onlt talk about the four cylinder. I would like to know about the six cylinder.
  • the_big_hthe_big_h Member Posts: 1,583
    is based on the Ford Duratec V6 block, and enhanced/improved/modified by Mazda.... IIRC...
  • ashutoshsmashutoshsm Member Posts: 1,007
    Ummm, Ford Duratec with SVT - now that's funny! Hmmm, did I just invent that - maybe I meant 'Variable'!

    Incidentally, this is a very reliable engine overall - one of the high points in the vehicles it is used on (at least recent versions, 99-on) : Taurus, (Mazda) MPV, Windstar, Tribute/Escape, Sable, Jaguar (!) X-type (two versions) and a smaller version in the 2.5l V6 Contours.

    I say - if its good enough for Jags, gimme! Although the all-new 4-cylinder sounds WAY more exciting!
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I think it's a pretty good engine, from what I have heard. All the problems in the Taurus seems to be centered around the transmissions with that engine. Also, I have a friend who has a 1995 Contour V6 with about 130K on it, never a problem with the engine. Still runs like the day he bought it, he says.
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    the earliest we could possibly see them at dealers is November 4, but it will more likely be later than that, maybe mid to late November. These cars will be shipped by rail and then by truck, which takes at least two weeks. If they let them stack up at the plant it will be even longer, but the first week in December is probably a safe bet in any case unless they hold them for a big ad campaign or something. I don't think they're going to take any risks here. Mazda's future is probably riding on the success of this car, and any kind of significant problems with the 6 would be very bad for the future of Mazda.
    Oh yeah, and my choice is the 6s MT, Lapis Blue Metallic, with Sport Package. Anyone have any thoughts on this?
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    I don't think the Duratec is used in the Windstar. The Windstar uses the vulcan 3.0L or the 3.8L, not the Duratec. FWIW, I've heard of Duratecs making 450 hp with a turbo using the stock internals. It must be strong.
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
  • white951white951 Member Posts: 18
    Sounds really nice. BUT WHATS IT GOING TO COST!!??

    Sorry for yelling. I want leather too.
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