Mazda6 Sedan

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Comments

  • cayennered1cayennered1 Member Posts: 193
    Those of you concerned that the suspension on the 6 might be too soft probably don't live in Michigan. As a lifelong resident I have been exposed to some of the most atroscious roads in the country. Having recently made a trip through Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York I can tell you that all of them have roads like glass compared to Michigan. I for one have have had my brains rattled consistently for years and wouldn't mind a bit of ride quality in a midsized though not frumpy car.

    So those of you who are desparate for firmness in your car's ride I hope you don't make your home in Michigan. Just as an aside actor, Jason Priestley was interviewed on his first visit to Michigan last summer. When asked what there was about the state that he thought interesting or unique? His response was he had never seen such horrible roads in his life. As for me? Bring out that old lady car the Millenia. At $23000 out the door with every conceivable option I'll happily accept the label of driving an old lady car even though I'm a super cool guy in his 50's.
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    Could you post the options for the 13 cars? I know it's a lot of typing, but we're just dying for more info ...

    Wait, I know, maybe you could fax it to maltb and HE could type it in, haha. (I know, I'm a BAD, BAD boy).
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    when you get your first one in, post the VIN. If it gets to you before the 25th, I won't post in this topic. Simple.
  • csuftitanscsuftitans Member Posts: 215
    maltb, don't leave this forum, even if Rich's 6 came in before the 25th. Maybe he's paying the inside mazda delivery guy to send him the very first batch of the 6s, who knows.

    BTW, anyone knows how long it takes for a car to be built at the flat rock plant?

    peace
  • seafseaf Member Posts: 339
    I agree Michigan didn't have very smooth roads last summer I drove through. Also bad is the Chicago area. I live in the Minneapolis-St paul area and the roads are fairly decent here. I guess our higher local taxes actually do something. But then again we don't have any mass transportation systems other than a few bus lines so the money has to go somewhere.
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    The truth is, most cars go by rail and then buy truck, and this usually takes about two weeks. But hey, maybe Rich is getting a special delivery by truck, straight from the factory to his lot! Cool!
  • regfootballregfootball Member Posts: 2,166
    but the traffic is getting bad here
  • seafseaf Member Posts: 339
    We're just catching up to the rest of the country's metro areas. Need more mass transit options than the few bus lines here.
  • jason_nyjason_ny Member Posts: 4
    Anyone know how much this bad boy is going to cost? Both the 4 cyclinder and the 6. Thanks.
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    scroll back a ways, it's there
  • kirill626kirill626 Member Posts: 8
    http://home.socal.rr.com/atenza/_catalog.html#1 and my car http://home.socal.rr.com/atenza/mazda6.jpg
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    Thanks for the great pix!

    Now, before anyone gets TOO excited in North America, that was a prototype car built by AutoAlliance before job one, if the placard is to be believed, which I think it is!

    Thanks again!
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    got all worked up about Mazda changing the suspension settings and not a word about what I found at Mazda's own site?
  • johnclineiijohnclineii Member Posts: 2,287
    That's because there is confusion. What is more persuasive: the authoritative web site, or an interview with a Mazda official by one of the nation's leading automotive magazines?

    I just don't know. I am awaiting someone at MAZDA to correct one or the other. They can't both be right. They either modified the settings or they didn't.

    Both could have been correct at the time they were written/said. Now, however, there is an apparent and obvious conflict in available information. A conflict important enough that if Mazda as a company cares about its customers, it will correct.
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    That's what I'm confused about (and I think everyone else who's also confused).

    The interview on Mazda's site says the suspension tuning's all the same. The Autoweek interview says the NA units will have somewhat softer tuning. I also read we don't get the self-leveling rear suspension like they do for the Euro and Japan spec units.

    So, what's the true story here?

    But, like Vocus says, if it handles like the Pro or better, then I'll be pretty happy. Of course, I'd be happier with the hatch or wagon than the sedan, but it's only a matter of time (I hope).
  • mazdafunmazdafun Member Posts: 2,329
    Ouch. I might consider getting one of those floaty-suspension cars as a daily driver if I lived there. I felt so sorry for my Pro when I drove over some of those roads. They seem to be worse in the urban areas though (I-75 north of the Detroit area didn't seem too bad).
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Mazda before I'd trust anything that was written in a magazine. I've seen so many things in magazines that turn out to be false.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Both sources could be wrong. And if the tuning is different, so what? We can't do anything about it, right? :)
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    How could both sources be wrong? They settings are either the same worldwide, or they aren't.
  • ickes_mobileickes_mobile Member Posts: 675
    All the package configurations and prices are based on info audia8q posted before. If he has VINs and prices, he should be able to confirm. I'll take mine either as a fully loaded "I" or as a "S" w/ Comfort, Leather and Moonroof, please.

    Mazda6i
    Base=$19,050
    Premium=$19,950
    Premium / Comfort / Leather / Moonroof / Sport=$22,570
    Premium / Comfort / Leather / Moonroof / Sport / ABS-TCS /Airbags /Audio=$24,305

    Mazda6s
    Base=$21,620
    Sport/Audio=$23,115
    Comfort/Leather/Moonroof=$23,380
    Comfort / Leather / Moonroof / Sport / Airbags / Audio=$25,325
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I meant one of the two, sorry. I should have read that before I posted it. :) That's what I get for actually trying to work at work. :)
  • stretchsjestretchsje Member Posts: 700
    While the Protege handles very well, for ~$5000+ (30%) more the "6" had better handle better. I don't need more room than the Pro, just more zoom (and perhaps a little more creature comforts). I'm wishing for better-than-Pro handling with less-than-Pro harshness, to make me AND the wife happy :-)

    But if it comes down to it, I'd rather save the money and get a Pro if it doesn't handle much differently. Better mileage, less expensive, proven reliability, and comfortable enough :-)

    That said, I still want a "6". What an awesome car!
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    This is what I am expecting as part of the initial batch...We are not expecting a second batch until mid november.

    3 Mazda6i...Auto trans and calif emissions,silver
    1 Mazda6s...Auto tans, calif em, lapis blue
    1 Mazda6s..auto, leather,roof,comfort,sport.

    We will hold/not sell one 'i' and one 's' so we will have something to demo and show people.

    It's so much fun to be in the car biz when something like the mazda6 comes out...This car has created a 'buzz' that is normally reserved for high end sports and exotic cars!!
  • boxfanboxfan Member Posts: 180
    I would tend to believe the report that appeared more recently--that they softened the suspension for the North American market. Most car companies seem to feel that image sells a car, so as long as it has a sporty image, it'll have its niche.

    Does BMW soften its suspension for the US market? I believe Audi at least has a sport suspension option on the A4; Mazda should get a clue.

    We'll have to see how the car actually drives, but I'm getting less and less optomistic.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    The Automotive News/Auto-week article is correct. What ticks me off is that half the accolades on this car have been based on the Japanese built version. I wonder what the press will say about the Domestic built version with fixed mirrors and the jello induced suspension. What's worse is that having a Sport package would give them an opportunity to get the firmness back in the car but instead you get a shopping cart handle.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Mazda needs to get that interview off of their website. It's false advertising if you ask me. Jello induced? It couldn't be THAT bad.
  • ickes_mobileickes_mobile Member Posts: 675
    in the NA version either...
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    VW offers a sport suspension option on their cars too, as well as Audi and BMW. Mazda needs to get with it.
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    jello induced???

    the mazda6 I drove didnt drive like any town car
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I thought of that after I hit Post.

    And no Todd, I doubt it's floaty but it did make my point. I'll let you know for sure in 2 weeks.
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    Ford softened the Focus a little bit for the U.S. market, and it still has very good handling (a class above Accord and Camry), so there is hope for the 6.
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    No manuals in the first batch? On no, that's a bad sign. Seems like if they want to promote the 6 as a "Sport Sedan", there would be at least one manual in the first shipment to each dealer.

    I hope this doesn't turn out to be one of those deals where the manual trans is theoretically available, but you can't really find a car with one. But, that would be in line with the softened suspension tuning (if it's true). You'd think Mazda would have learned their lesson with the 626, but then again, maybe not.
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    If the suspension is softened for the US market like Malt says (I believe him), then it only makes sense that Mazda would offer a "sport suspension" option. That way, Mazda will please those who do not want a stiff ride but don't want a Camry or Accord and at the same time be able to charge extra for the sportier suspension. If the sport suspension was an option, it should be a stand alone option available on all models of the 6. It might not be available right away, but I'm hoping sooner or later that Mazda will do this. That's just what I think though.....
  • ickes_mobileickes_mobile Member Posts: 675
    way back in August of 1994, it was one of the first delivered in Minneapolis because it is a 4 cylinder and 5 speed because of delays on the automatic and V-6s. They are probably trying to stock up on 4cyl./autos as they expect them to be the most popular model...
  • stretchsjestretchsje Member Posts: 700
    None of the reviews from overseas spoke of a harsh suspension, yet they said it handled well. Mazda didn't need to change it. The interview on Mazda's web site confirming this isn't that old. The difference for the US market (that all this speculation is about) is probably just the self leveling rear suspension, nothing more.
  • audia8qaudia8q Member Posts: 3,138
    The overall production is rather limited with manual tranny's....
    I expect manual trans to be around 10% of overall sales at our stores....even on the protege we dont run more than 20% stick.

    Rich
  • ickes_mobileickes_mobile Member Posts: 675
    leading into Detroit has to be the worst road section in the country. A bunch of guys went to Detroit to see a ballgame at Tiger stadium before it was torn down and could not believe the condition that the core City and adjacent neighborhoods were in. The burned out houses, or houses with collapsed section just left standing, the empty buildings downtown, the vacant railroad depot (show in an Automobile magazine not long ago). Its really something I think needs to be seen to be fully understood...
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    The roads here in Minneapolis are not in good shape. If you only drive in the suburbs, I can see where you are coming from, but the inner city streets are pretty rough. I've been to a bunch of cities and the Twin Cities ranks right up there for nasty roads. I work in downtown and drive quite a bit in the city and the roads are quite trashy. In the spring, they'll be even worse. THE WORST roads by far are in NYC.
  • ickes_mobileickes_mobile Member Posts: 675
    along with seaf and newcar. We don't have anything approaching Detroit (except maybe in the spring after plows have ripped up all the pavement).

    This baseball trip is something a bunch of us here at work do. We love baseball and we're also City Planners, so its fun to go poke around other cities. Our trip to Detroit was something I'll really never forget.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I've heard as I high as 35%(from somebody who should really know) but I really doubt that it is that high. It's not uncommon for them to run production in batches. Certain builds may not even happen for the first few weeks. As long as a 4cyl man is built soon and shipped to CA, I'll be happy.
  • stretchsjestretchsje Member Posts: 700
    20% of Protege's stick sounds pretty impressive to me. Have any reviews of the "6" been with a slushbox?

    BTW, I live right where all those sniper shootings on TV are (MD), and I'd put some of our roads up against Detroits (from what I've been on). Get me back to Pennyslvania!
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    is a mess. A couple of years ago, the city didn't even have enough money to plow the roads so many people in Detroit couldn't get to work. It was so bad that it messed up airline traffic in Minneapolis because Northwest airlines has a hub in Detroit and many of their employees couldn't get to work.
  • vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I live in Baltimore, MD myself, and work near DC (run 495 on a daily basis). I know there are some rough roads in MD and DC, so it's a toss up. MD roads (some of them) seem to be in worse shape though. And with them redoing 95 now, traffic always seems to be a mess. :(

    I have never been to Detriot though, so I can't compare the roads there with ours. I went to Chicago this past Memorial Day, and all the roads seemed in pretty good shape there, to me.
  • groovypippingroovypippin Member Posts: 264
    There have already been North American reviews of the Mazda6 and they have all been very positive. Perhaps we should all just wait and actually drive one before deciding that it is either the greatest achievement in the history of automotive engineering or a peice of crap.

    I'm confident that handling and performance will be very good, better than the 6's main rivals. I say that as someone who has been very impressed with other Mazda products - the Protege, the Miata, the MX-6 etc..

    It looks like Mazda has done an excellent job with this car, but I will reserve my final judgement until I actually sit my [non-permissible content removed] in one and drive it.

    This is also the 6's first year in production and Mazda executives have made it clear that the 6 will continue to evolve in the coming years. They have already committed to a MazdaSpeed version for North America, as well as the addition of AWD to some models in the line-up in the future.

    Should be something for just about everyone.
  • ickes_mobileickes_mobile Member Posts: 675
    have been of the NA car. Most of the intital wave were from the world press preview in Rome earlier this year. However, the more recent reviews may be NA model cars (including audia8q's impressions).
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    To the first potential buyer (sorry, audia8q) to drive a real production 6 and post their impressions here!

    And the winner gets ... er, well nothing actually ... but at least you can say you were the first!
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    of NA production vehicles. Pre-production vehicles give you a good idea of the car but they aren't exactly the final version. Anything built in July/August is essentially hand-made.
  • dsm6dsm6 Member Posts: 813
    Meet me at Flat Rock. I'll test drive and post a review here. OK? :-)
  • newcar31newcar31 Member Posts: 3,711
    Why not? It's going to be here in a couple months, you'd think the major auto mags would have had a full road test by now.
  • mazda6smazda6s Member Posts: 1,901
    Snap some photos of the holding area on 10/22!
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