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Comments
- Mark
So, anyone?
Anyway on topic (sorta) I had the same experience at the mall with a woman who had a G35 coupe park up beside me. The car was very dirty and I complemented her on her vehicle. All she could say was that it was lousy in the snow with RWD. Oh to have her problems. I was tempted to take a bucket of water to it just to see what colour it was. BTW anybody know what the 6s with the 50 series tires handle in the snow. I'm from Toronto so it's a concern. Don't want to put on snow tires, although I would for a G35. I would do anything for that car.
Most people purchase their Accords and Camarys because so many other individuals own them. It is like ordering a vanilla ice cream cone versus a cone of Cherry Garcia. They read a report, look at data, and make a choice. Perfectly acceptable. The automotive experience is rarely a motivator.
They are not in the least bit concerned over their image, because the automotive experience to them is nothing more than basic transportation to the the store and back. Now I'm not insinuation that there is anything wrong with that. Obviously there is not as the sales reflect.
Let's just not confuse individuals images of their personal transportation needs. People looking at the Mazda 6 are not really the same as the Accord, Camary crowd. They are looking for an automobile that has good reliability, yet instills passion in the driving experience. An automobile that connects the humane spirit with the purist form of what an automobile in this price range should be. They are true enthusiasts.
Owning reliable, uninspiring vehicles such as the Accord and Camary are great for some, and not for others. Images not withstanding.
The above comments are this writers opinions only. All standard disclaimers apply.
Mark. ; )
As you have pointed out, Hondas are not perfect (no car is). But, many of the buyers of used Hondas take into account the perceived reliablity of Hondas and the fact that the original owners prized reliability so highly and bought a Honda.
So, what will Mazda6 owners be seen as by the typical used car buyer? Someone who was smart? Someone who was apt to abuse their SPORTS car? Someone a bit daffy?
What say ye?
Mazda unfortunately does not have high resale based on their past financial problems as well as the affiliation with Ford. Look at the Millenia, great car, but sold lousy because people don't affiliate Mazda with luxery cars. The 6 may do better in resale as Mazda has a sportier image (Miata, RX7) but will never be at Honda standards simply because they advertise their cars on being fun to drive while the other 2 base theirs on build quality. The Civic hatchbacks are identified with young teenage drivers who would abuse their cars, but their resale is still high because of perceived reliability.
People will perceive 6 owners much the same they perceive Accord and Camry owners and thusly 6's will depreciate much the same way the Protege depreciates in relation to the Civics. All drivers looking for a midsize car are viewed pretty much the same IMO.
DON'T LET EVERYONE KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT YOU.
Buy the car and enjoy it! You might let us know here what you like and maybe do not like about it.
I have nieces and nephews your age.
We DO want to hear from you. Just be careful about what you do and don't say on the net (or in real life). Discretion is sometimes the better part of valor.
Get what you like on the car, but mine came with only the automatic as the only option. I've impressed almost everyone who's ridden in it with the rest of the base model. Now, my friends aren't the most car savvy people on the planet, but it's fun to impress.
Congradulations on your choice of joining our 6 owners club.
Mazda6 and Protegé owners have imagination, love adventure, love to drive, don't care what others think, and know how to enjoy life. They enjoy meeting others and having a get-together to talk about their cars. Reliability is a relative term to adventurous buyers.
I go by my dealer occasionally just to let them know I am still alive and my Protegé is doing fine. No problems. And to drool over the 6's.
fowler3
fowler3
Once Mazda get's past that, which IMO they are well on their way to doing, residuals will rise proportionately.
Mazda vehicles in 03 (forget the B2000) will be as reliable as any import. Period. It is simply a case of peoples experiences being shared, backed up by data reflecting reliability.
Once demand picks up, incentives, and rebates will lessen.
No further opinions on "Images."
Mark. ; )
BTW, I'd delete your post where you mention your source of funding. Nobody needs to know that. If you can't delete it, I'd kindly ask the host to do so.
And count me in as one of the envious ones.
At your age, I had the choice of a death-trap Olds Firenza (same as the Chevy Cavalier) or a broken-down Chevy cargo van with a faulty transmission and no seat belts. If I was lucky, I got to drive my father's Ford Taurus, usually when the family went for an outing.
At least I got to drive (although I suspect it was mostly to ferry my brothers around so my parents wouldn't have to). My wife's family wouldn't let her drive, even with them in the car! She didn't drive a car until after college.
I'd take the 6 over the I35 anyday and twice on sunday - better looking, better handling and more exciting. Even if the prices were the same the 6 would still win my favor. Nissan's rear beam axle (something I have in my car too
The 6 has a great shape, but I find it a little bland without ground effects and a bit "over the top" with them. Your thoughts?
Take the base model, and throw on some classy 5-spoke 17" alloys. It's a good compromise.
Steel Grey has a lot more metal flake, aka mica, in it than the Silver, which has very little. That's surprising. Redfire has more mica too. I would like to see the Lapis Blue, will take time I guess.
If anyone would like to see a photo of the Grey email me. See profile.
fowler3
It does appear slammed to the ground, but I dig that personally.
Maybe lose the spoiler, maybe. Other than that, I think it'll grow on people. Kinda like the new Duati 999, for those that follow bikes.
I find it interesting that the two biggest beefs with the 6 so far seem to be its (perceived) lack of V6 power and the fact that the Sport Package might be over the top. Rather small issues IMHO.
How's that for an excuse?
Actually, I heard about it in the TL forum when I was looking at cars that my parents might buy. How do you know that the Mazda6 won't be as reliable as the Accord? The MPV is rated as being MORE reliable than the Ody, even with the wretched Ford duratec 3.0L. How do you know how many Honda/Acura transmissions were affected or are YET to be affected? The answer is: You don't know.
"a part in a small number of transmissions wasn't up to spec."
IIRC, it wasn't a small number that might be affected, it was range of model years that might be affected. SO FAR, a relatively small portion of the vehicles have had transmission failures....and the vehicles that are affected are all still relatively new. The question is: How many of those possibly affected Honda/Acura vehicles have transmissions that have yet to fail, but will---prematurely? I had an Acura Integra that had an ignitor problem that Honda knew about a long time ago. My ignitor didn't fail until 80,000 miles, leaving me stranded (Besides that, it was an excellent car). Many Integra's ignitors failed way before 80,000 miles. The Honda/Acura tranny problem isn't over yet....and not even Honda knows how many vehicles will ultimately be affected.
I went to a movie Saturday and decided to head off for popcorn. When I came back my wife told me that I missed a long ad for the 6 ON THE BIG SCREEN showing curves, acceleration, etc.
So ironic- my wife (who could care less) gets to see the ad and I am stuck waiting in line for popcorn.
GROAN!!!!
I enjoyed the clutch feel, but agree that shorter shifter throws would have been nicer. An easily rectifiable issue, though - Kartboy or B&M would be happy to help, I imagine.
I too noticed the delayed accelerator activation - felt a little odd, but not much.
Say a dark grey (whatchamacallit) 6 that was prepped for owner pick-up, it was a 6s with leather and looked gorgeous. Way better in real life than in the photos!
They're expecting their first interesting (to me) colors in a couple of days (blue, yellow, red), but no more 5-speed for a few weeks. I'll go ogle them in daylight someday.
Jim (fowler) - about the lights, I thought the low-beam was plenty bright (better than my satisfactory Protege lights), and I like the fact that high beam leaves both beams on!
The (non-Bose) music system was nice, I brought in 3 of my CDs (different genres), and cranked it up a bit. A little lacking in oomph, but very clear, and not at all overly bright like most Bose systems I've ever heard. If I get this car (when the hatch comes out, I guess!) I know I don't want the Bose. Although adding the 6-CD changer as an option costs nearly as much as Bose (500 vs. 635). Gotta mull that a bit.
Oh, price - all of them were marked at sticker, with a 895 'Appearance' package tacked on (pinstripes, 'protectant', 'other pointless blah junk' etc). Salesman tried to get me to talk numbers, but I refused - unfair to waste his time, and mine, until I'm ready to buy
....And that failure rate changes every day, and not for the better. I'd sure hate to have a $30K car (TL) have the transmission fail with barely any miles on it, only to be replaced with a REMANUFACTURED autotranny.
it probably depends on what you want to buy. You want more sporting element, get the 6, you want more luxury and comfort, get the Millenia.
speaking of which, Millenias is probably one of the biggest bargains among high-end mid-range cars right now (Camry XLE, Accord EX, etc)
Also, what is a favorite color thus far?
rough roads (test for road noise/suspension over potholes)
s-turns, 90-degree turns on-to and off-of straight-aways, etc (roadholding)
highway acceleration
braking
any other suggestions?
My local dealer simply takes us on a 1.5 mile loop that shouldn't even qualify for a decent test drive. When I decide to buy I'll be sure and insist on some local roads (Sears Point raceway is only 15 miles away from one of the local dealers... snickers)
Oh.. and btw, I'll be shopping for steel grey and/or onyx black.
We don't have any issues with inventory--so I usually choose a Mazda6s 5 speed, loaded. I think the Sport Package looks marvelous.
Thank you again.
but those are the actual failure rates of the Acura's we have sold...also I would rather have a reman tranny than a new one, they are almost always better.
GWLAW..The millenia question is good one. I actually took alot of extra millenia's for people to have an alternative to the Maz6. So far it's been a great moove for us. The last three months have been record Millenia sales for us.