Mazda6 Sedan

wayde

with the MAZDASPEED Proteges? Proteges are imported and the 6's are built in Flat Rock, correct? Are they importing some 6's?

mazda6s

I suspect the photo was probably taken somewhere in Europe.

mnaik

Reg football, there are no millenia pileups. Here in the Dallas area you would be hard pressed to find one. Infact my local Mazda Store has NONE!! And I don't know about feminine. I own a 99 Millenia S there is nothing feminine about that Miller Cycle.

As for the 6, lets get it rolling already. I really would be looking to buy one to team up with my 99 Millenia and 95 MPV.

As for the 6's at the dock, they may be test vehicles for dealers, or auto circuits or something. If you noticed, one of them (6's, not speed protege)already had a spoiler on them, which is usually a dealer installed thing, so these maybe for the media or "showoff" cars for the general public.

regfootball

vero you sly one, taking a shot at the D, shame on you.......

sorry, but the Millenia has a feminine aura to it. IMHO.......

dinu01

There are 42 in Ontario, and about 17 in the GTA.

Dinu

dinu01

Avalon, Diamante, Camry, Millenia: DEFINITELY old lady cars.

Accord, Maxima: Unisex

626: Can't tell. Older ones are guy cars (seen quite a few supped up), newer ones... haven't seen many.

Start columnists: Lawrence Yap and Jim Kenzie are pretty good IMO. Their reviews are well-balanced b/w fun to drive, reliability and price.

Dinu

regfootball

aCURA'S ARE TEETERING ON THE EDGE OF CHICK CARS.

GO LOOK AT THE DIAMANTE VRX....NOT A CHICK CAR. DEPENDS ON THE COLOR.......MY D IS PEARL WHITE...SO YEAH, MAYBE THAT'S A CHICK CAR. A RED OR BLACK VRX WITH BLACK LEATHER, BIG WHEELS, SILVER LOOK INTERIOR, WHITE GAUGES....NOT A CHICK CAR.

ACCORD IS ANDROGYNOUS.....MAXIMA IS KIND OF MALE....GRAND PRIX?....CAVEMAN CAR.

dinu01

Videos, pics, wallappers, screen saver. You get to see what the wagon will look like, etc....

http://www.mazda6.co.uk/

Dinu

audia8q

The latest status report shows that my first 6 will be in Oct. week 4 and then four are expected for Oct week 5.

Rich

mica88

told me the 6 will arrive in Dec. Any reason why CT is getting them in Oct?

mazda6s

Ha, some of the most unreliable information you can get is from car salesmen. Sometimes they're lying, sometimes they're BSing you, sometimes they're just repeating inaccurate info they got from their managers, and sometimes they're just making stuff up because they really don't have a clue. On the other hand, I believe you can trust the info from audia8q.

harlequin1971

it has been considered, and then forgotten about. At the 18k range, I think a few other cars provide me with a little more of what I want. Not sure I like the looks of the Matrix.

Honestly, at 18k, the Sentra SE-R has a better chance than the Matrix, as does the Subaru.

csuftitans

CT is a lot closer to Flat Rock, michigan than Texas, that' probably the main reason why. But then again like mazda6s said, car salesman are clueless most of time.

Anyhow, that's good news audia8q; they're coming out sooner than I thought; woohoo.

mazda6s

we should all take a trip up to CT to take a look see

vocus

I drove a Matrix XR with automatic a couple of months ago, when they first came out. The car had no power, it felt to me. I had the AC on and 2 passengers aboard, and it felt like the car couldn't get out of its own way on the highway. A friend of mine went with me, and he said it sounded like the engine was cowarded in the corner of the compartment, screaming for help, when I was driving. Also, I had some visibility issues when changing lanes as well. The room inside the vehicle was nice though.

jampedro

As I posted before, I test drove the one the dealer has. It's made in Japan with the spoiler factory installed. Perhaps comes standard with the leather trim models. Confirmed it's a 2.0 liter 4 cyl. automatic - sluggish. But it looks so nice! Only similar offer here is one 2002 Accord, 2.3 liter auto., same trim at same price. Of course, all car prices are higher here.

ickes_mobile

I hadn't seen this before:

"Mazda6 chief juggled sport and comfort concerns for U.S. model"

In order to conform to our more comfort oriented desires, the NA Mazda6 has the sunglasses holder in the overhead console. They also suggest that the suspension is going to be softer in the NA version...

Its available at www.autoweek.com. Scroll down and its on the side bar under the Car News heading.

newcar31

"They also suggest that the suspension is going to be softer in the NA version..."

Mazda has said that all versions of the Mazda 6 will have the same suspension tuning worldwide.

dsm6

From the above autoweek item - from an interview with North American program manager for the Mazda6, Ryoichi Kishimoto, with respect to the Mazda 6 :

"Each market has its own tuning. European cars have a harder, firmer feel, while we paid more attention to ride comfort for the U.S."

Don't you dare soften the 6 suspension for the US. Stick with the original plan that this car isn't for everyone and tough cookies if you don't like it!

Boo! Hiss!

Let me guess, next you will second guess offering a manual for the 6s, right?

Stupid Americans ruining a good car. We aren't all wimps over here.

maltb

I think he was saying that his cars will be built in the 4th and 5th weeks of October. He will probably get them towards the end of November so the salesperson in TX was probably correct. Not all sales people are full of dung, but it only takes a few to sour their reputation.

BTW Rich, will you be out in Vegas at the end of the month?

audia8q

malt...that isnt build week its actual ETA.
The Official launch isnt until december, this is when they will turn on the TV advertising...most dealers should have some decent inventories by then. Certain dealers will have cars earlier than others but not a great mix of options/colors.

I will not be at the las vegas show, since I went to the show in irvine and saw the car then. I had a long planned vacation the week of the vegas show...but we will have a couple people from the dealership there...one of the perks of having our own company jet.

panamaltd2

What can you tell me about the new Mazda3? When can we see it? Anything!

mazdafun

At least according to the last paragraph in the Autoweek article.

Of course, they're executing it in one of their plants. Luckily, they've been doing OK making 626s, so they should be OK making 6s.

andy1961

Are you among the couple of 13, 14 out there?

yugoboy

Leave it to north america to bugger up this car, classic, seems to happen everytime, i thought if someone wanted a softer suspension they could head on over to honda with the accord!!! Next thing you know we probably wont even get the wagon, and if we do it will only be auto!!!!!!! This has to be the worst market in all the world to be in, europe and asia always get all the goodies!!!!

And this is why i am so upset!!!!

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=04038172

mazda6s

Why would they want to give it a plusher ride than the euro models if they were benchmarking the 3-series?

This makes no sense at all to me, but then again, they din't ask me for my opinion.

Hmmm, maybe I'll be getting that Altima 3.5SE after all.

jjpeter

In the US, who makes the car buying decisions? Especially in this segment? Wives. Do they value sport suspensions? No. Do they care about HP and torque numbers? No.

They care about ride "feel." Safety equipment, convenience, hauling capability etc? Yes.

Do they want a stick? No.

Does Mazda want to sell this car to the Camcord audience? Yes.

See why they have softened the suspension Yugoboy?

I know, it sux!

dsm6

I guess everyone (or is it everyone's wife) wants a Camry, then, right?

Mazda admitted that not everyone will like the car because of its handling biased suspension, and that they are fine with that. Evidently they aren't really fine with that. Is it a niche vehicle, meant to capture that part of the market interested in an excellent handling "driver's" car complete with manual tranny, or is it meant to appeal to a wider audience who would otherwise buy Camrys?

Both you say? You can't have it all, and playing it safe may move it out of both markets, just like the 626. Joe Shmoe didn't want it, and neither did Joe "Michael" Schumacher.

Appealing to the mass US market stereo typically means good low end punch, a compliant ride and good value (and don't forget those famous US cup holders). The 6 misses on the good low end punch relative to the competition, and on the ride (on purpose, by their own admission no less). Even if they went as soft as a Camry, it would still lack the power, and the name, to compete - so why bother going part way?

IMO, they should go "driver's" car all the way, instead of trying to hedge their bets.

Maybe they got last minute jitters because so much is riding on this car.

It should be a good car inspite, I suppose. We shall see.

Oh, and for the record - I choose what I drive.

meesr

Man, though with the softer suspension, maybe it won't be that much of an improvement over my current 2002 Passat 1.8T Manual tranny?

dsm6

I shall wait until I can test drive one. It's disappointing, though, to hear Mazda talk the talk, but then walk a different walk by softening the car for the US.

maltb

There is no way you are getting a car the week it is produced. Job one is next monday; end of story.

pcballa706

so which one is right, cuz ive seen different articles saying the suspension is the same everywhere and now that article is quoting one of mazda's guys saying its different for the US? Has anyone seen anything on the mazda website referring to this?

jjpeter

I'm in not hurry to put down my hard earned dollar on this or any car. The hatch is the most intriguing model to me. I especially like its look and the functionality. This forum will have a thousand more entries by the time it comes into the US dealerships. At that time, the jury will have voted on the merits of this vehicle, and the chain of potential recalls will have been announced.

But, it sure is fun to speculate! BTW, this is just about the most active forum at Edmonds. And all we have done is comment on a car we have not even driven yet LOL. Can't wait to start reading all the impressions once we've turned the key.

audia8q

ok maltb...

I guess your inside info is better than the Mazda zone office that has told me to expect cars by the end of the month (october).

guess it isnt the end of the story.

chikoo

Mazda should make the "Sport" package same as europe. This will keep us happy!!
Let them make std sedans as family cars.

pcballa706

so which one is right, cuz ive seen different articles saying the suspension is the same everywhere and now that article is quoting one of mazda's guys saying its different for the US? Has anyone seen anything on the mazda website referring to this?

maltb

if you get a car(VIN req.) by 10/25, I'll stop posting in this topic.

fromage1

Hey, who's got an informed guess at when the hatchback will be available?

ickes_mobile

in order to be arriving at Rich's dealer by the 25th. That should be easy enough to confirm...

ickes_mobile

The general term has been "about a year" after the sedan. I've also seen them referred to as '04 models.

vocus

And I posted here not a week ago that the European cars always have different suspensions than their US counterparts. Everyone said, "no, no, no, it's not gonna be that way". It always happens. It happend with the Contour/Mystique when they were introduced too.

Mazdas are known for their handling though, and are all these test drives the Euro sprung cars or the US sprung ones? They said the car handles like a Protege ES, only larger. I owned a 2001 Pro, and it handled very well. So if they stick with that, the car should still handle really well.

fromage1

Hey, who's got an informed guess at when the hatchback will be available?

newcar31

It's an "insider" showdown here at the Mazda 6 forum. I've been posting on Edmunds for over a year and Malt's info has always been accurate and helpful.

vocus

See, you are the one who swore up and down that the suspension would be the same between Euro and US 6s. I remember now. Like I said, if it handles anything like the Pro ES, the car will still be a great handler.

vocus

Everyone says the hatch will be out in time for the '04 model year, so probably September or so.

taddison

I'm not sure I understand your disbelief of Rich's delivery schedule; A truck can go from Michigan to any place in the lower 48 in 2 days, maybe add another day of load/unload time at the depot if they go by train.

I don't see why Mazda would waste any time stockpiling cars at the plant when they could be getting them out to dealers so that the ravenous Edmunds readers can feast their eyes on it ;-) (or, more likely, so that all the dealers who are completely out of 626's have something to sell or at least show).

tomcat630

One more week until Job 1 at Flat Rock!

But, I'd wait till the hububb dies down before buying one, and for any new car bugs to get corrected. That is one reason for stockpiling cars for a few weeks.

newcar31

Hey, that wasn't me who said that, it was Mazda. I can't remember where I read it, but I KNOW I read it and I think it was on Mazda's own website. It was part of an interview with a Mazda engineer which is weird because someone quoted a Mazda engineer a couple posts up and said that the US tuning would be different. Maybe they changed it at the last minute?

newcar31

From an interview with Mr. Yamamoto with chassis development at Mazda:

Mr. Okazaki:

Does the Mazda 6 have different suspension and chassis calibrations for each of the different markets it will be sold in?

Mr. Yamamoto:

The settings are all the same, including those for North America. In the past, we would alter the settings separately for Japan, Europe, and North America, but this time the setup is identical. The Mazda 6 advances the state of the art in handling on all fronts, so no market variations are needed.

See? I told ya.

http://www.mazdausa.com/mazda6/downloads/mz6_info_per_handling_int.pdf

audia8q

I have full VIN numbers for 13 units as of this morning...

anyone want to see the print out from Mazda? since malt is determined to be right...hahaha
I can fax the dealer assignment/dealer inventory page...shows vin#, options, color, ETA and price....
BTW. our mazda store in Florida isnt expecting any until week 3 of November.

Right from the factory to waiting railcars. Northeast vehicles coming from Flat Rock go via Rail to Selkirk, NY (near albany) and then it goes by truck to dealerships.

When I get my first one here everyone is welcome to come down for a test drive...but Maltb must wait until the official launch. haha