I think that both require the manufacturer to warranty all emissions equipment for 100,000 miles - including the timing belt, which after all controls valves that directly affect emissions. Hence the time before belt changes in CA and NE emissions compliant vehicles (including the so called 50 state emissions compliant vehicles) is stated at 105K mi. I'd bet good money that the belt is the same for all vehicles and just the claim of when to replace it changes.
In fact, I seem to recall my Protege saying something to the effect that the belt should be changed at 105k, but should be inspected at 60k. Thus Mazda covers both the emissions warranty and their butts if a belt fails before 105k.
My Protege said for NE models it was to be changed at 105K. For others, at 60K. That was the case with both my 1999 DX and my 2001 ES, and they were different engines too.
So if the 6 is officially the Mazda6, and the 5-door version of the Protege is the Protege5, then will the 6 hatchback be the Mazda65? Will there be a Mazda6i5 and Mazda6s5, or a Mazda65i and Mazda65s?
>>>I do not want to park my car in a parking lot and find it is difficult to locate it, because so many people drive the same car as I do.<<<
I've had that experience when the 1994 Civic's most popular color was a medium gray metallic. Parking at the post office one morning, when I came out I got into the wrong Civic. Mine was two cars over with a big van blocking my view. Knew it was the wrong one when I saw a teddy bear on the back seat. Looked around to see who was watching as I sheepishly got out.
The problem I have found with 4W disc breaks is, when approaching cars that have stopped suddenly, do I have enough space to stop and if so, does the car behind me have disc/drums and are they working good? Is the driver paying attention? Not usually. So I brace for a crash and pray.
It isn't always how good YOUR brakes are, how a good a driver YOU are. For most trips ABS never comes into play. And for city driving I wonder if they are necessary or overkill. (pardon the expression)
What I would like to see talked about here are the buyers, their ages, and what their choices were; which color, which engine, etc. Did they go with Mazda's sport colors or the conservative colors and why?
4 wheel discs almost all of the time offer better resistance to fade and better brake feel. My 99 Taurus has 4 wheel discs and compared to the disc drum setup which is all you get now is far superior in every aspect. I got scared when I drove the rental with rear drums in hilly areas.....scary and bad feel and no stopping power.
Timing chains are the way to go.....why belts are even CONSIDERED by engineers is beyond me. Unless they can make a decent belt that will never need replacement over the life of the car.
ABS is a neccessity in cold climates....
Front wheel drive is an ok tradeoff to RWD if the chassis is goos which the 6 appears to be.....
all car stereos nowadays should have input jacks standard for mp3 portables......
hey why don't they take the rear discs off the gee35 if we dont need em?
Anyone who knows knows that 4 wheel discs are an all around better solution.
And the argument that I may as well not have really good brakes because other people don't really hurts my head.
What about the child with a ball who runs in front of your car? What about the deer who darts in the way? (However, on that last one, I am now hearing if it is truly at the last minute, you should just keep driving the same speed and not dart left or right. Many people are killed when they go off the road or hit traffic in other lanes, especially oncoming...Others when the car submarines and the deer comes into the car).
Still, I would rather be able to stop. Why on earth would you not want to?
for safety then so is ABS. If you don't "need" ABS then the same argument can be levelled that 4 wheel discs are just as unimportant in everyday driving.
That kid running in front of you will have no hope if the surface you are travelling on is slippery. Discs are no better than drums if they are locked up. If you are going to use the "safety" aspects of 4 wheel discs it shows a lack of reasoning to then spout "I don't need ABS".
The G35 is a RWD car with 50/50 weight dist. Rear discs are more necessary in this car than in a FWD car such as the 6. But of course since we are "enthusiasts" here we already knew that.
ABS is much more a safety feature than 4 wheel discs since almost any emergency stop that the advantage of 4 wheel disc brakes would influence would be made even more controllable with ABS.
Belts are quieter and lighter (thus, more energy-efficient) than chains. They also don't need lubrication. Of course, they're cheaper too.
Engines can be designed a bit more efficient if they have the piston move through the space the valves move through (more compression in the same space), which is known as an interference design. Luckily, Mazda's engines with timing belts are all non-interference designs, so your valves and piston heads won't get wacked if you neglect your timing belt and it breaks.
If I could choose, I'd pick a timing chain over a belt for the durability and resistance to creep. Chains break too, but with much less frequency than belts.
To repeat what others said, both NA engine options in the Mazda6 use a timing chain.
I'm 23 and I bought a 6i in the grey two weeks ago. I wanted to have the automatic (as I do mostly city driving and the auto-manual mode fill my 'fun' needs as much as I want) and the premium package. I would have also liked to have ABS and TCS, but I knew already that those didn't come together.
Unfortunately, nobody in the Memphis area had the automatic (or manual for that matter) with just the premium package. It was basically an all or nothing deal with what they had. (I was in St. Louis for a few days in there while I was shopping, though, and they had a few like that.)
Also unfortunately, my car (a 94 Accord EX-L) was totalled the week before, so I had to buy fairly quickly and couldn't wait to order one or for the hatch or whatever else might have been cool options for me at one time.
I liked the grey best since it was not as flashy as some of the others. The silver seems to be a very popular color now and (as was mentioned before) as a Mazda6 buyer, I kind of want to get away from the "norm" so silver was out. The yellow was much too flashy and I really don't like reddish colors in general, so those were out, too. The black I've heard is hard to keep clean and the white seems like a fleet car to me (even if it is the 6).
On another note, this is the first car I've bought with my own money. Liberating to say the least. So, not only was I the first person in the US to post here that I got the 6 on this board, but it was my first car altogether.
So 4 wheel discs are standard on all models of the 6, right? And ABS is an option on any and all 6's, right? The same goes for side airbags, curtain bags, and TCS, correct? Yes.
Hmm, can you get rear discs on any Accord? No. Can you get the curtain air bags on any Accord? No. TCS on any model? No.
Well, there goes that argument.
I'm hoping we will all stop talking about the Accord here. I'd like to buy one for my wife, but the more we talk about it, the more disappointed in it I get.
"If you don't "need" ABS then the same argument can be levelled that 4 wheel discs are just as unimportant in everyday driving."
You're ignoring the concept of threshold braking. I could have gotten ABS on my car for very little extra every month. I chose not to because I've had ABS before and it stinks when it's really slippery out not to mention that ABS work is not cheap. Sometimes it's better to lock the brakes which is impossible with ABS. Also, it's a lot easier to use the "threshold" braking technique with 4 wheel discs. I had a Mustang with rear drums so I do know the difference in brake feel. Bottom line: rear drum brakes are used on cars because they're cheap, not because they're better or just as good as discs. There is no way Mazda could introduce a "sport sedan" with rear drum brakes. The only reason why you are debating this is because you have rear drum brakes.
First and foremost the Mazda 6 is a four-door sedan that has sporty aspirations. I would venture a guess that most people who buy it will be using those four doors and the back seat to transport their families, including their children, their friend's children, their relative's children. In a panic stop, with kid's in the back seat - I want ABS on my side - I don't care how much it costs or what it "might" cost to repair in the event of a problem. If anyone is really that adept at avoiding accidents, I suppose you could argue against the use of seatbelts too. My 2 cents.
Hope you enjoy your Mazda6 and keep us posted as it runs in. Give us your first impressions and updates as those change, if at all.
I agree that yellow screams ATTENTION! Red like black is hard to keep clean. So is dark grey, but you have to choose something. White looks rental and corporate car, as in phone company, power company, etc. Silver has become a standard, they are everywhere, faux Mercedes-Benzes and bimmers. It is a classic alternate color to black. And the green has yet to be seen at dealers.
There is a family near my home that owns three vehicles: a black E-class MB, a black Audi A6, and a black Porsche Carrera. When passing their house they are always cleaning them. They live in a middle-income neighborhood. They must enjoy washing and waxing cars every week. I wouldn't.
I noticed that the recent posts about marchhare's color options didn't mention the lapis blue anywhere. I was planning on getting a grey 6s w/sport, but after I saw a blue one in person, I immediately changed my mind. It's incredibly sharp and sporty (and relatively uncommon!), but it doesn't have the race car "hey look at me" look that the yellow does. I'll be ordering mine in the next couple weeks, and I can't wait. Has anyone else formed an opinion about this color?
I saw blue at night, and thought it looked cool. My salesperson said that he first saw it at night and loved it, but thought it looked ugly in daylight. I haven't seen it in daylight myself, but there's been mixed reactions on this board. From what I've seen (some in the dark), I like the red, blue, and yellow. Color really shows off the car's lines. Except, that, I just can't bring myself to buy a yellow car. Still haven't seen the gray, and really don't like the black. Silver is ok, but conservative.
I saw the blue one at night, but it doesn't really count when it's inside the showroom. The color reminded me of the Nogaro blue on the Audi S4, but a bit darker and more metallic. Seemed okay under fluorescent lights, at least. I'm curious to see one outside on the lot, now.
I've seen the Lapis Blue and examined it in detail. It's a nice color. But to my eye, the black molding around the windows gets lost and you lose some of the crisp transitions between body and window that a more contrasting color gives. It isn't as fire-like as the brochure purports, plus the car on the lot won't have their windows inked out like in the photos.
IMHO - Upon viewing the car, I don't care for the blue with the black interior of the sport package. Plus, I've seen SO many P5's in a very similar blue that I've becomed turned off on it. On the road and lined up 15 at a crack at the dealer.
Now the Gunmetal gray is VERY sharp, but I'm not taking care of another dark colored car. I just got rid of a 'charcoal' color. What a pain to deal with.
Yeah - the yellow screams at you, but there is no denying that it flat works on the car. I've had enough 'understated' cars, and I could care if many yellow ones are sold. The 6 isn't going to be ubiquitous in the first place. Then you add a specific color into the mix?
The reason no one has seen this color is because, like the brochure silently states with an asterisk, it's a late availability.
Because I originally wanted this color, I checked with the dealer and then called the factory myself. Only ONE 6 has been built in North America and made available to customers. No others will be produced until February or March due to paint supplier issues.
The car is an S with sport, cloth and Bose and should be arriving at Mazda of Bedford at any time. It'd be mine if it had a moonroof and leather, but oh well. If you're interested, contact Bert Gray. He's a good guy. And no - I do not work for them.
If I get the chance, I'll go take a look and post back. I'll probably take the digital camera with me and post a few pics on my website.
The Subaru Legacy GT get close too: - 4 doors (hatchback is OK) *Sedan or Wagon but no hatch.
- Can be configured with manual transmission, cloth seats, ABS, and side air curtains. *Manual yes, cloth yes, ABS yes, side air bags yes.
- 4-wheel disc brakes *Yup.
- Minimum 150HP, normally-aspirated (non-turbo) engine *Yup. 165 @ 5600 rpm, 166 @ 4000 rpm, for the 2.5L H4. Why do I remember that? I have no idea....
- Minimum 3000lbs curb weight *Yes. I think its 3300-3400lbs.
- Seating for 5 *Yup. In comfort.
- Chain-driven camshaft (timing chain) *No but why is this a concern? With the H4 setup in the Subaru a chain would weight a ton and hinder the performance of the engine. A belt is better in some cases. Both should easily get to 100k+ without any problems.
- Minimim 95 cu.ft. interior space *Oh so close. It think its 92 cu. ft. + 12 cu. ft. for the trunk in the sedan. However, one could get the wagon which would have more room.
- Power windows and door locks *Oh yea. All that stuff.
- CD player *Yes.
- Leather-covered steering wheel *Real leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter. You also get a bunch of wood grain stuff (fake).
- Folding rear seatback *Yes. I think its 60/40 in the sedan. Or one could go wagon.
- Handling better than Camry/Accord (majority opinion) *Absolutely. It, like all Subarus come with full-time AWD system with viscous limited-slip rear differential (manual, the auto has a different VTD system). Also has standard 16-inch alloy wheels.
- MSRP less than $22000 as configured above *Oh so close again. MSRP is $25k but thats a joke. You can get a GT Sedan anywhere near St. Louis for about $23k easily. Probably less with some leg work to find one with no other options.
Most (at $23-24k) come with: *Dual power fold-away mirrors *Heated exterior mirror *Windshield wiper de-icer *8-way power driver's seat *Dual-mode heated front seats *Power moonroof (dual in the wagon but only one opens completely)
For seeing the logic. While the 6 may be marketed as a "sport sedan" the main purpose of a sedan is to transport people. Usually families. If Mazda is going to alienate the core of the market by omitting ABS as standard (as Honda used to do) then calling the addition of 4 wheel disc brakes a safety feature is questionable. Even cars with disc/drum will stop in X number of feet on nearly any surface and when you add ABS you have a higher degree of control in a panic situation. In a panic stop, a car with 4 wheel discs on sand, snow, rain, etc. is at a disadvantage to not only a car with ABS equipped disc/drum, but drum/drum would be a better setup.
please drop it, you can't convince anyone here that drum is better or equal to disk.
As for ABS, it's a question of personal preference. Yes, I used to own cars with and without ABS, and I (and many other, e.g., newcar) prefer car without it. Other people like it, and there is nothing wrong. If you need ABS to control your car in panic stop, so be it, but I don't. Let us have a choice.
I usually get to the wrong car when I go out with my friend. She has a white Camry and there are so many same cars out there. Each time in the parking lot, we have to look around for a while. My friend even remembers the plate number of her car to make sure:-)
As to your questions, my Mazda6 was bought for my 35 birthday. The color is blue. Both my fiancé and I love the blue, and someone even asked me about the color and said it was such a bueatiful color when I washed my car the other day:-) I bought my car at Tustin, CA, and my dealer told me that this is the first Mazda6 sold in Orange county CA. My car is loaded with almost everything including ABS & TCS, side air bags and curtains, leather seat, power moonroof, comfort package, sport package, premium package and Bose audio.
I did not negotiate the price, instead I negotiate the trade in price of my old car and the finance. I got 4.9 APR and it is not a bad deal. I don't think I can get 0 APR on this car.
I already talked about the driving experience before. I only want to mention the audio here. The Bose system is wonderful (awesome I'd like to use this word). Subwoofer and 6 speakers provide incredible experience. I don't think Honda offers such good quality audio system, because the audio on my old Acura Integra is just so-so.
Discs are also a personal preference. They look nice. And even I prefer them. And I admit they make for a firmer pedal. But they aren't necessary. This is what started the whole thing. mazda6s Dec 10, 2002 9:56am
A car with ABS is a much safer place to be than in a car that has 4 wheel discs. ABS equipped cars will be able to come to a stop in more conditions. The question that should be asked is "Why doesn't my car have standard ABS?" even in the base model.
so find me someone who want to swap disk for drum, and no one here say disks are necessary, especialy when the road is block by Accord.
And again, I don't like my car having ABS, get it???? Gezzz, That's what I've been saying for the last two days: I'm ready to pay someone to unplug/disconnect/remove ABS if my car had it. CLEAR?
"The question that should be asked is "Why doesn't my car have standard ABS?"
I would MUCH rather have standard 4 wheel disc brakes than standard ABS. It really doesn't matter anyway because if ABS was standard on the Mazda6 base model, it would cost more. Mazda is just giving YOU one more choice. If you want ABS, you pay for it, if you don't want it, you don't pay for it. I prefer not to have ABS, even if it was free. I don't know of anyone who prefers rear drum brakes. Are rear discs available as an option on Accords that come standard with rear drums? 4 wheel disc brakes are a must on a car that is being marketed as a "sport sedan". ABS isn't. Simple. End of subject.
Check the reference post. He said Honda owners don't ask certain questions. Well why don't Mazda owners ask where is the ABS. I mean this IS a family sedan that wants to be sporty. I'm sure there are throngs of people that will pay to unplug ABS. I mean its so intrusive when it activates during a panic stop. You know saving lives and all.
"Well why don't Mazda owners ask where is the ABS"
huh? Of course they do, and the answer is "optional equipment". With or without ABS, Mazda6 surpass competitor in many domain, including the brake. That's a fact, many reviews state it. If Mazda is cheap like Honda and put a drum in the back, they wouldn't earn that. But of course you're right, best brake is not necessary for a mid size sedan.
That's the new Accord you're describing, not the Mazda 6.
As far as ABS is concerned, if you want it, pay for it. It really doesn't matter if it's standard or not. If it was standard, the base price would be more. No matter how you look at it, if you want ABS you are going to pay for it, standard or not.
If you want a Mazda 6 with abs, then buy the option. If you want a Mazda 6 with tcs, side airbags, curtain airbags, buy them. Any model - doesn't matter, just buy them if you want them.
If you want an Accord with 4 wheel discs, then ... Umm, sorry - you have to spend thousands (and thousands, depending) extra on the top of the line model. If you want an Accord with tcs, curtain air bags - same story.
I'm sorry, can't have any of that on anything but the top of the line model. Too expensive? Don't want the V6? Don't want an automatic? Sorry. Have a nice day. May I suggest looking at a Mazda 6?
There are many cars that are configured like this.
The LX accord has no sporting aspirations. Just as the base 6. So the discs are unnecessary in this configuration. But even the base no option at all 6 will face rain, snow, and other slippery conditions where the discs would be worthless but the ABS would be priceless.
Again the 6 owner would ask why there is no standard ABS. There is no reason for this other than marketing. Discs look better.
Comments
In fact, I seem to recall my Protege saying something to the effect that the belt should be changed at 105k, but should be inspected at 60k. Thus Mazda covers both the emissions warranty and their butts if a belt fails before 105k.
on both models.
However, a footnote on page 8-6 says: "If the vehicle is operated in cold districts {below 0 degrees F} replace the timing belt at 60,000 miles."
I hear that the Protege will become the Mazda3 in 2004. I'm not sure on the specifics.
BTW the Mazda6 does not have the cylinder designation in its name. We just use 6s and 6i as shorthand for clarity.
Mazda6s5.5AWDT?
Mark.
$800 every 60.000 miles. I do that in about 3 yrs, but I still wouldn't touch a Corolla over a Protege just b/c of that.
Pretty poor reasoning...
Dinu
I've had that experience when the 1994 Civic's most popular color was a medium gray metallic. Parking at the post office one morning, when I came out I got into the wrong Civic. Mine was two cars over with a big van blocking my view. Knew it was the wrong one when I saw a teddy bear on the back seat. Looked around to see who was watching as I sheepishly got out.
The problem I have found with 4W disc breaks is, when approaching cars that have stopped suddenly, do I have enough space to stop and if so, does the car behind me have disc/drums and are they working good? Is the driver paying attention? Not usually. So I brace for a crash and pray.
It isn't always how good YOUR brakes are, how a good a driver YOU are. For most trips ABS never comes into play. And for city driving I wonder if they are necessary or overkill. (pardon the expression)
What I would like to see talked about here are the buyers, their ages, and what their choices were; which color, which engine, etc. Did they go with Mazda's sport colors or the conservative colors and why?
fowler3
Timing chains are the way to go.....why belts are even CONSIDERED by engineers is beyond me. Unless they can make a decent belt that will never need replacement over the life of the car.
ABS is a neccessity in cold climates....
Front wheel drive is an ok tradeoff to RWD if the chassis is goos which the 6 appears to be.....
all car stereos nowadays should have input jacks standard for mp3 portables......
hey why don't they take the rear discs off the gee35 if we dont need em?
Anyone who knows knows that 4 wheel discs are an all around better solution.
What about the child with a ball who runs in front of your car? What about the deer who darts in the way? (However, on that last one, I am now hearing if it is truly at the last minute, you should just keep driving the same speed and not dart left or right. Many people are killed when they go off the road or hit traffic in other lanes, especially oncoming...Others when the car submarines and the deer comes into the car).
Still, I would rather be able to stop. Why on earth would you not want to?
That kid running in front of you will have no hope if the surface you are travelling on is slippery. Discs are no better than drums if they are locked up. If you are going to use the "safety" aspects of 4 wheel discs it shows a lack of reasoning to then spout "I don't need ABS".
The G35 is a RWD car with 50/50 weight dist. Rear discs are more necessary in this car than in a FWD car such as the 6. But of course since we are "enthusiasts" here we already knew that.
ABS is much more a safety feature than 4 wheel discs since almost any emergency stop that the advantage of 4 wheel disc brakes would influence would be made even more controllable with ABS.
Engines can be designed a bit more efficient if they have the piston move through the space the valves move through (more compression in the same space), which is known as an interference design. Luckily, Mazda's engines with timing belts are all non-interference designs, so your valves and piston heads won't get wacked if you neglect your timing belt and it breaks.
If I could choose, I'd pick a timing chain over a belt for the durability and resistance to creep. Chains break too, but with much less frequency than belts.
To repeat what others said, both NA engine options in the Mazda6 use a timing chain.
Unfortunately, nobody in the Memphis area had the automatic (or manual for that matter) with just the premium package. It was basically an all or nothing deal with what they had. (I was in St. Louis for a few days in there while I was shopping, though, and they had a few like that.)
Also unfortunately, my car (a 94 Accord EX-L) was totalled the week before, so I had to buy fairly quickly and couldn't wait to order one or for the hatch or whatever else might have been cool options for me at one time.
I liked the grey best since it was not as flashy as some of the others. The silver seems to be a very popular color now and (as was mentioned before) as a Mazda6 buyer, I kind of want to get away from the "norm" so silver was out.
On another note, this is the first car I've bought with my own money. Liberating to say the least.
I feel the same as you about silver and yellow. Personally I tend to like white even though I know it screams "rental car."
Keep us posted on your new car!
- 4 doors (hatchback is OK)
- Can be configured with manual transmission, cloth seats, ABS, and side air curtains.
- 4-wheel disc brakes
- Minimum 150HP, normally-aspirated (non-turbo) engine
- Minimum 3000lbs curb weight
- Seating for 5
- Chain-driven camshaft (timing chain)
- Minimim 95 cu.ft. interior space
- Power windows and door locks
- CD player
- Leather-covered steering wheel
- Folding rear seatback
- Handling better than Camry/Accord (majority opinion)
- MSRP less than $22000 as configured above
AFAIK, there are only two car models that can meet these requirements. See if you can name them.
Oh, wait, how about the Altima 2.5?
Now, between the two, I suspect that the Mazda 6i-MT will be more fun to drive and handle better than the Altima 2.5S-MT, so there you have it.
Hmm, can you get rear discs on any Accord? No. Can you get the curtain air bags on any Accord? No. TCS on any model? No.
Well, there goes that argument.
I'm hoping we will all stop talking about the Accord here. I'd like to buy one for my wife, but the more we talk about it, the more disappointed in it I get.
You're ignoring the concept of threshold braking. I could have gotten ABS on my car for very little extra every month. I chose not to because I've had ABS before and it stinks when it's really slippery out not to mention that ABS work is not cheap. Sometimes it's better to lock the brakes which is impossible with ABS. Also, it's a lot easier to use the "threshold" braking technique with 4 wheel discs. I had a Mustang with rear drums so I do know the difference in brake feel. Bottom line: rear drum brakes are used on cars because they're cheap, not because they're better or just as good as discs. There is no way Mazda could introduce a "sport sedan" with rear drum brakes. The only reason why you are debating this is because you have rear drum brakes.
In a panic stop, with kid's in the back seat - I want ABS on my side - I don't care how much it costs or what it "might" cost to repair in the event of a problem.
If anyone is really that adept at avoiding accidents, I suppose you could argue against the use of seatbelts too.
My 2 cents.
Hope you enjoy your Mazda6 and keep us posted as it runs in. Give us your first impressions and updates as those change, if at all.
I agree that yellow screams ATTENTION! Red like black is hard to keep clean. So is dark grey, but you have to choose something. White looks rental and corporate car, as in phone company, power company, etc. Silver has become a standard, they are everywhere, faux Mercedes-Benzes and bimmers. It is a classic alternate color to black. And the green has yet to be seen at dealers.
There is a family near my home that owns three vehicles: a black E-class MB, a black Audi A6, and a black Porsche Carrera. When passing their house they are always cleaning them. They live in a middle-income neighborhood. They must enjoy washing and waxing cars every week. I wouldn't.
fowler3
I saw blue at night, and thought it looked cool. My salesperson said that he first saw it at night and loved it, but thought it looked ugly in daylight. I haven't seen it in daylight myself, but there's been mixed reactions on this board. From what I've seen (some in the dark), I like the red, blue, and yellow. Color really shows off the car's lines. Except, that, I just can't bring myself to buy a yellow car. Still haven't seen the gray, and really don't like the black. Silver is ok, but conservative.
Black looks better, but after having a black car, I took a pass this time on it.
I wanted fire engire red, but they only had a dark/cherry red and no yellow on the sedan. I guess I'm a little different when it comes to colours...
Dinu
IMHO - Upon viewing the car, I don't care for the blue with the black interior of the sport package. Plus, I've seen SO many P5's in a very similar blue that I've becomed turned off on it. On the road and lined up 15 at a crack at the dealer.
Now the Gunmetal gray is VERY sharp, but I'm not taking care of another dark colored car. I just got rid of a 'charcoal' color. What a pain to deal with.
Yeah - the yellow screams at you, but there is no denying that it flat works on the car. I've had enough 'understated' cars, and I could care if many yellow ones are sold. The 6 isn't going to be ubiquitous in the first place. Then you add a specific color into the mix?
Because I originally wanted this color, I checked with the dealer and then called the factory myself. Only ONE 6 has been built in North America and made available to customers. No others will be produced until February or March due to paint supplier issues.
The car is an S with sport, cloth and Bose and should be arriving at Mazda of Bedford at any time. It'd be mine if it had a moonroof and leather, but oh well. If you're interested, contact Bert Gray. He's a good guy. And no - I do not work for them.
If I get the chance, I'll go take a look and post back. I'll probably take the digital camera with me and post a few pics on my website.
- 4 doors (hatchback is OK)
*Sedan or Wagon but no hatch.
- Can be configured with manual transmission, cloth seats, ABS, and side air curtains.
*Manual yes, cloth yes, ABS yes, side air bags yes.
- 4-wheel disc brakes
*Yup.
- Minimum 150HP, normally-aspirated (non-turbo) engine
*Yup. 165 @ 5600 rpm, 166 @ 4000 rpm, for the 2.5L H4. Why do I remember that? I have no idea....
- Minimum 3000lbs curb weight
*Yes. I think its 3300-3400lbs.
- Seating for 5
*Yup. In comfort.
- Chain-driven camshaft (timing chain)
*No but why is this a concern? With the H4 setup in the Subaru a chain would weight a ton and hinder the performance of the engine. A belt is better in some cases. Both should easily get to 100k+ without any problems.
- Minimim 95 cu.ft. interior space
*Oh so close. It think its 92 cu. ft. + 12 cu. ft. for the trunk in the sedan. However, one could get the wagon which would have more room.
- Power windows and door locks
*Oh yea. All that stuff.
- CD player
*Yes.
- Leather-covered steering wheel
*Real leather wrapped steering wheel and shifter. You also get a bunch of wood grain stuff (fake).
- Folding rear seatback
*Yes. I think its 60/40 in the sedan. Or one could go wagon.
- Handling better than Camry/Accord (majority opinion)
*Absolutely. It, like all Subarus come with full-time AWD system with viscous limited-slip rear differential (manual, the auto has a different VTD system). Also has standard 16-inch alloy wheels.
- MSRP less than $22000 as configured above
*Oh so close again. MSRP is $25k but thats a joke. You can get a GT Sedan anywhere near St. Louis for about $23k easily. Probably less with some leg work to find one with no other options.
Most (at $23-24k) come with:
*Dual power fold-away mirrors
*Heated exterior mirror
*Windshield wiper de-icer
*8-way power driver's seat
*Dual-mode heated front seats
*Power moonroof (dual in the wagon but only one opens completely)
Even cars with disc/drum will stop in X number of feet on nearly any surface and when you add ABS you have a higher degree of control in a panic situation. In a panic stop, a car with 4 wheel discs on sand, snow, rain, etc. is at a disadvantage to not only a car with ABS equipped disc/drum, but drum/drum would be a better setup.
As for ABS, it's a question of personal preference. Yes, I used to own cars with and without ABS, and I (and many other, e.g., newcar) prefer car without it. Other people like it, and there is nothing wrong. If you need ABS to control your car in panic stop, so be it, but I don't. Let us have a choice.
Bruno
I'd go with those two. Such bright, happy colors (the rest are too boring for me).
As to your questions, my Mazda6 was bought for my 35 birthday. The color is blue. Both my fiancé and I love the blue, and someone even asked me about the color and said it was such a bueatiful color when I washed my car the other day:-) I bought my car at Tustin, CA, and my dealer told me that this is the first Mazda6 sold in Orange county CA. My car is loaded with almost everything including ABS & TCS, side air bags and curtains, leather seat, power moonroof, comfort package, sport package, premium package and Bose audio.
I did not negotiate the price, instead I negotiate the trade in price of my old car and the finance. I got 4.9 APR and it is not a bad deal. I don't think I can get 0 APR on this car.
I already talked about the driving experience before. I only want to mention the audio here. The Bose system is wonderful (awesome I'd like to use this word). Subwoofer and 6 speakers provide incredible experience. I don't think Honda offers such good quality audio system, because the audio on my old Acura Integra is just so-so.
mazda6s Dec 10, 2002 9:56am
A car with ABS is a much safer place to be than in a car that has 4 wheel discs. ABS equipped cars will be able to come to a stop in more conditions. The question that should be asked is "Why doesn't my car have standard ABS?" even in the base model.
so find me someone who want to swap disk for drum, and no one here say disks are necessary, especialy when the road is block by Accord.
And again, I don't like my car having ABS, get it???? Gezzz, That's what I've been saying for the last two days: I'm ready to pay someone to unplug/disconnect/remove ABS if my car had it. CLEAR?
I would MUCH rather have standard 4 wheel disc brakes than standard ABS. It really doesn't matter anyway because if ABS was standard on the Mazda6 base model, it would cost more. Mazda is just giving YOU one more choice. If you want ABS, you pay for it, if you don't want it, you don't pay for it. I prefer not to have ABS, even if it was free. I don't know of anyone who prefers rear drum brakes. Are rear discs available as an option on Accords that come standard with rear drums? 4 wheel disc brakes are a must on a car that is being marketed as a "sport sedan". ABS isn't. Simple. End of subject.
huh? Of course they do, and the answer is "optional equipment". With or without ABS, Mazda6 surpass competitor in many domain, including the brake. That's a fact, many reviews state it. If Mazda is cheap like Honda and put a drum in the back, they wouldn't earn that. But of course you're right, best brake is not necessary for a mid size sedan.
That's the new Accord you're describing, not the Mazda 6.
As far as ABS is concerned, if you want it, pay for it. It really doesn't matter if it's standard or not. If it was standard, the base price would be more. No matter how you look at it, if you want ABS you are going to pay for it, standard or not.
If you want an Accord with 4 wheel discs, then ...
Umm, sorry - you have to spend thousands (and thousands, depending) extra on the top of the line model. If you want an Accord with tcs, curtain air bags - same story.
I'm sorry, can't have any of that on anything but the top of the line model. Too expensive? Don't want the V6? Don't want an automatic? Sorry. Have a nice day. May I suggest looking at a Mazda 6?
Can we move on now?
The LX accord has no sporting aspirations. Just as the base 6. So the discs are unnecessary in this configuration. But even the base no option at all 6 will face rain, snow, and other slippery conditions where the discs would be worthless but the ABS would be priceless.
Again the 6 owner would ask why there is no standard ABS. There is no reason for this other than marketing. Discs look better.
Otherwise you'll force to write more and more absurdities like "base Mazda6 is not sporty" or "Mazda owners never ask where is the ABS".
This "You like 'em, he/she doesn't and wants ABS" is beyond tiresome.
It's a moot point - on the 6, discs are STANDARD and ABS isn't. Deal with it.