By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
http://burt.com/partners/fordx.htm
https://www.fordpartner.com/index.asp
I could be mistaken but I think I remember seeing blue guy on one of the Altima boards here. IMHO, he is definately intitled to his opinion but understanding where it is coming from might be helpful to you when you evaluate his review.
I myself am torn between the 6S and Accord EX V6, I like the M6 better but lease deals (now) are more attractive on Accords due to their higher residual value.
That's probably very true. 3s are pretty, fun and hold their value well, but boy do they hit the pocket book hard when repairs are due.
I could be mistaken but I think I remember seeing blue guy on one of the Altima boards here. IMHO, he is definately intitled to his opinion but understanding where it is coming from might be helpful to you when you evaluate his review.
I have posted on the Altima and I wouldn't buy one. The altima's bargain basement interior makes the car unlivable. If I had to choose between the two the 6 wins hands down. Even though it's not as quick and doesn't handle as well as the altima the 6 still is the car in that class that I'd prefer to own.
Slap some wider wheels and maybe get a swaybar and I think you can get the 6 to handle with a bit more precision. I'm not sure about the power aspect but if Mazda really does produce an MPS version with a supercharger, 18s, tighter suspension and maybe a 6 speed the 6 MPS would be hard to pass up.
I took your comments as contstructive criticism until I read that. Then I just realized that you and I must have WILDLY different preferences. IMHO - The Altima was stale and boring in corners. The 6 looks at your corner entry speed and whispers into the devilish side of your mind 'faster'.
The 6 is the definition of a fun car to drive. The Alitma isn't boring, but it doesn't make this driver want to go looking for twisty roads as the 6 does.
No heated mirrors on any package! In Toronto! Give me that instead of a valet key system(huh?). > Heated mirrors are obviously better that a valet key system. How often does one use that? Personally I prefer driving my car 100% of the time, not allowing some bozo that just got his license learn to park using my baby. I've never had heated mirrors in any car, but they'll be nice when it rains.
Well at least they give you floor mats. > The black floormats in my PRO look really nice, but you still have to visit Walmart or Cdn. Tire for the rubber kind when salt and mud reason starts.
Us older guys like more neutral colours. > We (read myself) like bright colours. I would probably get yellow or fire engine red. My PRO is silver now and it hides dust, salt stains and the like pretty well. I will never get a black car - if it rains, it needs to get washed AND dried.
Geez I don't even like sun roofs anymore > No way! That's a feature I have to have on my next. You can tint the glass and still have light coming in...
Dinu
Those on a slow connection, right click and "save as".
Dinu
Man, bring on the hatch and wagon!
Sure, everyone's entitled to their opinions, but I think it takes a lot of courage to go out and say things that outright contradict the best test-drive experts in the field (magazine and website testers) and say tha Mazda 6 has bad handling, clutch feel and shifting. All 3 of these have been unanimously praised as being superlative by every other person that's driven this car! I'm tempted to think whoever told this 'reviewer' to make sure he didn't drive a 626, may have had a point
I'm still waiting for any of the NoVA area dealerships to get one with a 5-speed (preferably a 6i), but am prepared to wait a while, as I've decided I'm going to wait for the hatch, or at least better option combinations. I do only have 10 months to use my recent graduate rebate/discount, so it won't be any longer than that.
And having driven a 5-speed Altima 4 cylinder (and been suitably impressed by everything but the fit, finish, interior quality), I still enjoyed the overall feel of the automatic 6i I test drove last month much more
Best test drivers? Okey dokey. I'm guessing they're comparing the shifter/clutch to the mainstream competition (such as the Altima's horrid tranny or even worse the Camry). When compared to all cars, the 6's tranny falls woefully short, in my estimation.
And having driven a 5-speed Altima 4 cylinder (and been suitably impressed by everything but the fit, finish, interior quality), I still enjoyed the overall feel of the automatic 6i I test drove last month much more
Also, you're talking about the 4 cylinder automatic equipped cars...vehicles I wouldn't touch with someone else's hand, let alone my own. The Altima 2.5 doesn't have the suspension, engine or tires of the 3.5. Without that 3.5 VQ, manual and 17 inch rims, the Altima, is downright bland and unexciting for my needs. At least the 4 banger equipped Mazda6 comes with one of the nicest interiors in its class - just no power.
It seems many of the people commenting on my view of a car I sincerely wanted to love (and hopefully replace my current vehicle) didn't read all the details.
Mazda6s (V6 equipped, manual, all options). In my opinion the car really only matches up against the plusher though less athletic Passat V6 and the more athletic and far less luxurious Altima 3.5 SE. The Camcord doesn't enter the frame as I'm not interested in mundane appliances.
And the Altima has the same suspension in the 2.5 and the 3.5, with the 17 inch alloy wheels with (possibly) grippier rubber being the only difference. And the 4 cylinder (just as in Mazda's case) is a better balanced and less nose-heavy car than the 6 cylinder versions, and SHOULD handle better. in any case, my observations and comparisons were vis-a-vis the 4-cylinder avataar's, and I prefer the auto Mazda over the stick-shift Altima!
Again, just my opinions (and observations about your opinions). Take it with a grain of salt, or ignore it - that's up to you. According to the rest of us, the Mazda 6 is MORE athletic than the Altima, in any (comparable) avataar.
And I drive Hondas(for what it's worth).
Well - have your opinion. I think you're all wet on this one, but that's ok. That's merely my opinion.
Not once have I heard the Camry's transmission mentioned against the 6, and the Altima infrequently at best. Perhaps you got a bad car.
The one I have heard it compared to is the Honda's. While not quite as good as what Honda puts out, more than a little praise was given to it in direct comparison to the Honda.
Does the Honda tranny stink too in your estimation?
And if the Car and Driver people aren't some of the best testers in the world, whom would you suggest?
I know Mazda can make a sublime tranny (Miata)...so I was taken aback at how shoddy the Mazda6s' manual felt.
philly area. She tells me the hatch will be out
in June/July. Has anyone heard otherwise?
It's smooth and sure. Essentially the best part of any Honda is the manual. Too bad about the rest of the car though...
And if the Car and Driver people aren't some of the best testers in the world, whom would you suggest?
Um...yourself. What a magazine whore has to say is pretty much useless. Drive for yourself and make your own determinations. Would you buy a car you didn't like just because the guy at C&D said it's a good vehicle? Shouldn't the final decision come down to the vehicle you feel is worth your hard-earned cash?
Too bad about??? Whatever.
If you need a real-world endorsement, here it is. I've driven one extensively and tested the competitors for myself. I put my money where my mouth earlier this week is and ordered and all-options S. Should be here in February.
Both MTs are 5-spd, but the ratios differ between the 6i and 6s.
I'm waiting for the hatch & wagon too. I like the sedan, but want the greater utility of these two variations. Of course, I'm waiting for the RX8 and Mazda3 5-dr as well. Too many appealing choices.
My uninformed, unbiased guess is that the hatch and wagon will be out in the fall of 2003 as 2004 models. Anybody wanna bet me lunch?
Dinu
I wonder if the extra power and torque of the V6 messes with the manual tranny when compared to the less torquey/less powerful 4. That might make the difference between a smooth clutch/shifter and some of the roughness and vagueness I felt. Or, maybe i drove one of the oops models. I'll have to drive another one...I so wanted this to be my next car but maybe I should just suck it up and just get a G35 or 3 series.
http://www.mazda.com/publicity/public/200209/0924e.html
And it's just that. These test drivers with magazines can give their own review about a specific car, but that doesn't mean it's going to be your review when you drive it.
For instance, all magazines say how nice the Hondas are to drive. I find them boring. That's my opinion though, no one else's.
I don't agree or disagree with his assumptions, because I have driven neither the 6 or the Altima. I do, however, agree that he should be able to say what he wants without everyone calling him down and ridiculing him about it.
good grief, how much credence do you give to reviewers? "Well Kim Reynolds said this new Accord is the sportiest midsize he's driven." That's all fine and dandy but for your dollar will you buy one and buy that view even if you feel the Mazda 6 is better?
Roger Ebert may gush about the latest Lord of the Rings or Spielberg film, so should we all defer to him and not speak about how the product felt to us?
It's almost as if you're willing to let a so-called expert direct how you view products. Some group named the god-awful Altima as car of the year in 2002 (not motor trend, some other self-annointed group of "experts"). The movie industry picked the ultra syrupy, totally banal and witless A Beautiful Mind as the best film of 2001. So regardless of our opinions, should we just accept experts said these are the best and proclaim it forthwith?
I know you're not that sequacious. It's only because I picked on the 6 (a car i still like more than any other in its class) that you're in atwitter over my opinions.
Carry on with the 6 discussion
Back to our regular Mazda 6 love-fest ... oooops, discussion.
Oh, and blueguy, a whole slew of critics can't be wriong, putting paid to your suggestion that one of them may have no idea what he's talking about. And irrespective of external reviewers, many of the regulars here have now reviewed the car, and their reports (in the majority) are diametrically opposed to your (anomalous) opinion. That's all. You're not being criticised for it, this is merley being pointed out - so you don't have to repeatedly make your point heard and drown everyone else out!
I'm not saying I blindly follow what a writer says, but I was merely noting that your opinion runs contrary to what numerous writers have said. So are they all sell-outs (whores), was their experience different or written from a different perspective?
My view of the Mazda6 was not that different: better than most of the competition, great style, good interior. I only ran counter to them in relation to my view of the engine and tranny.
So are they all sell-outs (whores),
I think they're just employees for the magazines and serve no useful purpose. I don't believe a word that comes from their fingertips. Like politicians, food critics and movie reviewers, if their lips are moving they're probably lying. You can test drive just about every single car they put through the paces, so what good are they? Test numbers? That's available through the manufacturer and can be published without all the excess opinions.
was their experience different or written from a different perspective?
Yes, their perspective is based on self preservation. They have a vested interest in keeping things interesting and keeping people (editors) happy, thus securing work.
They're as useless a movie or food critic. I firmly believe a person should try every car in his or her price range that he fancies. Maybe it's just me, but i'm not gonna let some guy with a mortgage in Indiana and aspirations to be the next Hunter S. Thompson color my car buying process. They can pan or praise the Mazda6; regardless, it's still the best buy of that class for my needs.
Getting very impatient waiting for it to arrive in Canada. Drove to the Bills game on Sunday hoping to see one on the road. No luck.
Not true again. I think the most of us wouldn't really pay so much attention to that opinion.
Some folks are power hungry and consider 220 horses anemic. Or spoiled by Honda's manual trannys (light cars).
What really caught my attention is the following statement: and the car's steering/handling isn't nearly at the level of the altima!!!!!!!
Nough said.
It looks great. The web sites don't do the car justice in person. It's by far the best looking midsize sedan out there right now. And that dark grey is the exact color I like...it makes the 6 look quite rich and luxurious.
Vad:
The Mazda6s according to Edmunds' tests pulls through the slalom at 63.1 (http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/roadtest/77843/page001.html) while the Altima 3.5 SE does the same trick at 66.4 (http://www.edmunds.com/reviews/roadtests/roadtest/48102/page001.html).
Their numbers, not mine. I guess I'm way outa line with that...
Handling:
The car handled very well, I was able to take it on several curves and the car felt very planted and well controlled. At one point on a freeway on ramp, I pushed it hard enough to where the back end let loose a bit, I let off the throttle and the car immediately regained traction. Score: 9 out of 10
Breaking:
Didn’t really get a chance to do any hard stops, so can’t say much. But what little breaking I did felt excellent. Score 9 out of 10
Acceleration:
Here is where I was a little disappointed. Don’t get me wrong the car is fast, and by no means is it underpowered. It’s just not press you against your seat fast, you don’t get this powerful feel of thrust when you push the car. Also the fun really only begins after 3500-4000 rpm, it’s as rev happy as a Honda. I have not driven an Automatic, but I would venture to say that it would underutilize the cars handling ability. Score 8 out of 10
Manual Tranny:
No complaints about the clutch, perfect. The shifter has a good feel, with short throws. No ambiguity as far as finding gears, I was able to shift through all gears including 2nd to 4th and 5th to 3rd with out any difficulty, as if I have been driving the car for years. The only complaint I have is that the shifts felt a little chunky. The shifter engages into its location firmly rather than with fluidity. Score 8 out of 10
Ride Quality:
Here is where I was most impressed. I was expecting a stiff yet comfortable ride, but what I got was a perfectly comfortable ride. The car was smooth as silk at idle. At high speeds the car felt perfectly stable and smooth. At highways speed I only noticed road noise, no engine or wind noise. All aspects of the car's ride exuded quality. Score 9 out of 10.
Interior:
I thought the quality of the interior was inconsistent. For example the steering wheel, steering wheel controls, seats, HVAC and stereo controls where excellent, like a car worth $10 K more. The moon roof control, power window buttons felt a little cheap. Overall the interior quality was on par with Honda and Toyota and very adequate for a $25 K car. The Seats were very comfortable and I was quickly able to find an ideal driving position. The Bose stereo sounded very good, but well short of justifying its $635 cost, maybe it’s worth $200 extra but not much more. Score 8 out of 10.
Overall, I’m definitely sold on this car. The dealer I was at was a bottom line no haggle dealer and his price was $500 below MSRP. I just need to sell my current car and shop around for price and then I will buy one, Black or Blue.
Just thought I'd throw that in. I drove the V6 automatic and was impressed, but won't be buying any Mazda unless and until Sirius is available as an option.
I think I can get more car for about the same money.
Having had XM in my car for almost 5 months now, I can't imagine driving a car without it, preferably. I'd settle for Sirius as well, if the company lasts long enough
It IS a pity that aftermarket add-ons are getting more and more difficult to accomplish. I'm sure I'm SOL on the XM option, at least as a dealer/manufacturer add-on - as XM has heavy investment from GM, and FoMoCo is associated only with Sirius.
And Gary, once you've had satellite radio for a while - you ARE hooked. I understand where johncline is coming from, really!