Mazda6 Sedan

ickes_mobile

reported alot of road noise and I've seen the same critique elsewhere too.

chikoo

especially over bad roads of my area. And if that is true....bye-bye 6.

audia8q

Well...They had to find soemthing wrong with the car. Otherwise they would be forced to do the unspeakable, say its better than a honda or the japanese buick, i mean toyota. haha

chikoo

I know mazda has a road noise problem with the Protege. It does get awfully noisy over bad roads.

And if the 6 is a big protege, Uh-oh!

dsm6

shmoad noise. Just as long as I don't go deaf, is it a blast to drive? - fine.

If you don't like road noise, the new Camry is a quiet ride.

;-)

ickes_mobile

as its fatiguing over long drives, frustrating when you can't hear the radio or hold a conversation with your kid in the back seat. I'm a big car fanatic and would love the characteristics the Mazda6 is supposed to offer, but something like the Accord may be a better alternative for my realistic needs. How often do you really drive your sedan "at the limit"? The big factor in favor of the Mazda6 will be the hatch, which could put off the need for the mini-van or SUV...

ambull

I'm pretty sure I remember that there were early complaints regarding road noise caused by the use of some kind of lightweight felt-like insulation, but I thought they were going to address that problem.

ashutoshsm

Tests of some pre-production models (out of UK, at the Top Gear website?) mentioned the slightly high NVH, which Mazda informed them they were aware of and in the process of rectifying.

I'd like a quiet car as well, and I do think the Mazda 6 is going to be plenty quiet when it makes an appearance!

dsm6

I don't think we are talking THAT loud, just louder than the competition, but I guess we shall see.

How often to I drive near the limit? Not hardly ever. How often do I enjoy being able to drive no where near the limit but still be having a blast? Quite often. That's what extra handling ability affords me. Your mileage may vary.

We each have our own personal criteria, I suppose, with our own "break" points on each, whether they be with respect to cost, ride quality, luggage space, road noise, etc. Nothing wrong with that.

ickes_mobile

Agree with that...

chikoo

if the 6 does turn out to be "noisy", i will have to go for the Camry or a pre-owned RX300. 'cause that is what wifey wants.

I only hope that Mazda is able to preserve the sanctity of the cabin in its quest for sportiness.
and win customers like myself, who are looking for a family sedan that does not become the cause of a fight amongt spouses

audia8q

I love watching everyone take the bait..haha

Try this...The mazda6 has ugly hubcaps, we better all run out and buy a camry.

dinu01

Reviewers also complained about the Protege's road noise compared to the Civic, Corolla. Yes it's louder than a Corolla, but at the same time it doesn't drive like one either And yes I;ve driven both 01 PRO 44.600 kms and the New Corolla a few hundred kms on city and highway conditions.

I'll take the PRO anyday.

Dinu

ambull

C'mon, give us a break. People who drive a lot of miles don't want a noisy car. It grates on your nerves after awhile. And sports/sporty cars can be quiet too.. the Porsche 996 is a lot quieter than the 993, for instance.

vocus

I drove a new 2003 Corolla when I went to that ION test drive thing. I would take a Protege any day of the week over a Corolla as well!

dinu01

No way! I use the stereo to compensate for that.

Dinu

mazdafun

Yeah, my friend's Maximas, Corollas, Camrys and Accords are all quieter than my Protege (note I didn't mention Civics) in terms of road noise, but they all feel so insulated from the road. The lack of feedback bothers me.

If I had an issue with impacts etc. (like arthritis or surgery), then I'd take a softer, quieter ride.

chikoo

road feel, sportiness and quiet cabin.
Audi is a prime example.

regfootball

DYNA MAT. look into it. A little money spent on some dyna mat will help bring your noise levels down, there are also other products that supposedly do the job but cost less.

chikoo

had a molded polyurethane stuck to its floor to minimize road noise. And Boy, it was quiet.

http://www.huntsman.com/pu/Media/auto_sound_insuln.pdf

My Protege does not have it. And it sucks as far as road noise is concerned.

ickes_mobile

The Mazda6 DOES have ugly hubcaps. So does the Accord LX. The Altima, Camry, and Passat's hubcaps are acceptable.

a_l_hubcaps

ickes-

Are you referring to the standard wheel covers on those models, or the alloy wheels? I have yet to see a photo of the 6 wheel covers, and considering that I'm in the business, I like to see what I'll be selling in a few years :-) If you can direct me to one that you've seen, I'd appreciate it.

I agree that the '03 Altima, Passat and Camry have nice-looking wheelcovers. The Altima and Passat covers are almost indistinguishable from alloy wheels, if that sort of thing is important to you. The Camry offers three different cover styles, one for each trim level. My favorites are the 16" XLE covers, which actually look better than some of the alloy options, IMHO.

The '03 Accord offers 3 different covers as well, on the DX, LX and LXV6. The two LX covers are basically identical in appearance, but differ in size (15" and 16"). I too think they are fairly ugly. The DX covers look nicer, in my opinion.

-Andrew L

wgr

When is Edmunds going to post the 6 prices ???

audia8q

I didnt find the road noise to be anything substantial but I wasnt judging it like it was a Lincoln TownCar either.
The ride and drive made the Altima, Camry and Accord seem like lesser cars. Not bad cars, just not in the same ballpark as the Mazda. The Camry really didnt fit in the comparison. It would be better compared to the Lesabre and Sable for ride and drive. Lots of float and fluffy handling.

If you want a fluffy ride you won't like the Mazda. simple. But, if you like a very sure-footed ride with a high fun to drive factor (something lacking with mid-sezed sedans) then you will like this car, alot. The whole package is impressive and will exceed most people expectations.....
Just don't let your expectations get so carried away that even a Bentley couldnt live up.

bean3422

What years are you guys talking about? I have a 2000 and the only noisy thing about it was the super crappy Bridgestone Potenza tires. I now have Dunlop SP Sport 5000 tires (like the 2001,2002 ES), and the car is quieter than my inlaws Honda Civic, and at least equal to the new Corolla. The 2001-2003 Proteges are even quieter, and the ES model already has SP5000 tires. Tires make all the difference, the Corolla already has an advantage, with higher profile touring type tires instead of low profile higher performance tires. If the Mazda 6 has more road noise, I'll bet that it is because of the tires, not any deficiency of the noise proofing. You can't have everything, the tire companies are doing better, but a little noise comes with the agressive tread patterns on higher performance tires.

bean3422

Take a look at the specs in the last Car and Driver mag that compared the small cars. Once again, they were comparing an LX with the crappy Bridgestone Potenza tires. (I bet an ES with SP 5000 tires would be even quieter.)

The protege was several decibels quieter at idle, and engine revving...at 70 mph, it was only 1 decibel noisier than the Corolla...like I said, if it was an ES, I bet it would have actually been quieter.

Tire wear also makes a big difference...when my Bridgestone Potenzas were nearly worn out, I could hardly hear myself.

ashutoshsm

With a mention of the (slightly) excessive road noise in a pre-production 6. And confirmation that ti IS going to be taken care of in mainstream vehicles.

http://www.topgear.com/servlet/tg?DEST=/content/jsp/individualRoadTest.jsp&EVENT= 1010&MAKE=Mazda:C6&MODEL=6:C1&roadTestNumber=01.html

(Again, Dinu-style, there is a space after the EVENT= and before the 1010 - when you paste this into your browser, remove the space, and voila!)

I love the following quote "It took no more than a few miles over the acned roads and motorways of Rome – the location for the car’s launch – to recognise the poise and pliancy of the 6’s suspension set-up. It feels taut and agile, the firm suspension soaking up all but the worst road imperfections with a sophistication that BMW drivers will recognise and Volkswagen drivers will not."

As well as
In a market sector which is already teeming with excellence – look no further than the dynamics of the Mondeo, the quality of the Passat and the styling of the Laguna – the 6 pushes these levels higher still.

chikoo

are also agreeing that is noisier and that the so-called noise damping did not work out as expected.

Check out the mazda atenza forums at

http://www.goonish.com/atenza/

In fact one Jon even went to the extent of having it soundproofed at his own cost.

So the inference that I derive from this is that this car is in fact noisy on rougher roads having larger gravel as top coat.

http://www.goonish.com/atenza/read.php?TID=408

harlequin1971

DYNA MAT. look into it. A little money spent on some dyna mat will help bring your noise levels down, there are also other products that supposedly do the job but cost less.

Yep, that about sums it up. Most people don't like to do any aftermarket stuff to their cars, but some well-placed dynamat (or competitive noise dampening material) will have a two-fold effect, a quieter cabin and a better sounding stereo.

Put some 'Mat on the wheel-well...place some on the inside of the four doors, line some against the rear seat and you should drop several dbs of road noise. The only places that won't benefit are the windows (have to assume that Mazda will use similar thicknesses as others) and the roof, which can be 'Matted as well, should you desire. A good custom stereo shop should be able and willing to help make these adjustments...

Not sure what the costs would be, but figure about $200-300 in 'Mat and maybe 1.5 X that in labor. Anyone else have any real-world experience with matting and costs?

Think of it like this, when you buy a home, if it has wood floors, sounds will reverberate. If you lay down a thin carpet, the sounds will be reduced...if you lay down a thick carpet with a thick pad underneath, sounds are almost completely cancelled...

ickes_mobile

I've seen pics from the JDM webpage. I didn't right click them because they really didn't flatter the car any...

ruski

if they bring those ugly hubcaps to the US market, I am not even going to test drive a 6.

ickes_mobile

also had similar comments about noise from the preproduction cars. There hasn't been anything in the two long term test reports I've seen and I still haven't found the November issue on the newsstand.

I'd have to check the Top Gear comparision test of the Mazda6, Mondeo, Vectra, Supreme, Primera, and Laguna to see if any direct comments were made in relation to the competition.

pcballa706

where can i find a pic of the "ugly hubcaps"?

adu1

I've got the Top Gear comparo handy. They said, "Wind noise isn't a problem in the Mazda, nor is high-speed ride which is excellent, but the cabin does let in too much road rumble."

And FWIW, among the competitors tested, they specifically complained about wind noise in the Vectra.

rotule

All the negative comments I heard about noise were from models built in Japan. I don't think this is gonna be an issue in the NA version for two reasons:

One, I have yet to read a review of the pre-prod NA models that cites road noise as a problem. In fact, some reviewers have commented that the car was extremely silent. One reviewer even had the chance to take the 6cyl over Quebec's road and commented favorably on the soundproofing. (Note to those who have never set wheel in Quebec. We possibly have to crappiest roads in Canada and the US).

Second, the NA version of the Mazda 6 is pretty much like a second year model. Mazda's engineers have had time to correct some of the problems seen in the Japan manufactured M6s. It would make sense to think that they've added extra soundproofing to the list of little mods they made to the NA model to correct the earlier criticisms. Especially since north americans have a propension to love soft, quiet rides.

Lastly, here are some hard numbers about the NA 6 and Accord. This is from "Le Guide de l'Auto 2003" that just appeared on our Canadian bookshelves:

Accord sound levels:
idle: 45dB
acceleration: 70.8dB
100km/h: 68.0dB

Mazda 6 sound levels:
idle: 41.8 dB
acceleration: 70dB
100km/h: 66.8dB

Of course, this does not evaluate whether those dB are from the road... but I'm optimistic.

a_l_hubcaps

pcballa-

I don't know, I spent some time wading through the Japanese site, and I couldn't find a pic of wheel covers on the 6. I did notice that the Japan-market car apparently has 15" steels standard, while the American one has 16". So most likely, we will get a different style of wheel covers over here anyway.

Past Mazda wheel covers in general have not been among the best-looking ones out there, though the ones on the '02 626 look OK IMHO. They really hit bottom with the '97 Protege cover, which looks like it came right off the rack at Wally Mart.

-Andrew L

chikoo

==*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=
Accord sound levels:
idle: 45dB
acceleration: 70.8dB
100km/h: 68.0dB

Mazda 6 sound levels:

idle: 41.8 dB
acceleration: 70dB
100km/h: 66.8dB
*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*=*

If this is true, the 6 is mine next year.

ickes_mobile

at the Mazda6 club site. It was pointed out that these #'s don't tell the whole story of the sound levels and sound quality. Truth will be in the driving...

mazda6s

Anybody live hear the Flat Rock plant? I'm still looking forward to those photos of the holding area.

stretchsje

I like those '97 Protege wheel covers much better than the '02 626's.

jskho

http://www.goonish.com/atenza/read.php?TID=302&page=1

scroll down for wheel cover pics.
They look like 15" though so the 16" may be different.

ickes_mobile

Target?

chikoo

the ABC disocunt auto parts store

a_l_hubcaps

Those appear to be the same 15" covers used on the '03 Protege in the US market. Since the American 6 will have 16" wheels, perhaps they will go with a different design, rather than doing the "family resemblance" thing with the Protege and 6.

-Andrew L

mazda6s

Hmmm, they look like something from a Toyota or Honda

mazdafun

LX and ES Pros now come with alloys standard. Good looking ones too (better than the ones on the 6, IMO).

ickes_mobile

maybe more like a Kia! Oh yeah, Kia gives you alloys to overlook their tired engineering. Maybe a Ford then. Funny, they do look similar to the ones on my Contour. Maybe this is the smoking gun that Ford is really pulling the strings on the new Mazda6?

rodlcw

Reading some info on the mazdausa.com site. It indicates interior color options are two-tone beige and grey and monochrome black.

In another location for list of all the features it shows for the Sport Package, Monochrome trim.

Does this mean that the Mazda6 S with Sport Package only comes in BLACK Seats etc?

ashutoshsm

I remember seeing a red 6 wagon photo posted with excellent wide-spoked (5 spoke) 17's or 18's recently, with a tiny indentation (or two) on each spoke at one end. Those wheels looked absolutely gorgeous on the Mazda 6.

That said, for more discussion fodder, a forum (the goonish one, for the atenza/6, in Australia, IIRC) had a survey about suitable aftermarket wheels (from a range of exotic Oz's and RH's) and they photoshop-ed a bunch of yellow and grey Mazda 6 hatches and Sedans with all these wheels. Some of those looked great as well! Anyone still have a link?

dinu01

"Does this mean that the Mazda6 S with Sport Package only comes in BLACK Seats etc?"

Very likely. The ES PROs only come in black interior for 01-03. I have that interior in mine amnd it looks great: luxurious and sporty at the same time.

Dinu