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Comments
Remember, the Contour was heavily watered down. The Mondeo, even the old one, was successful in Europe.
Still, glad to see Mazda went on its own for the platform. More choices.
The wider track and the 219hp sound good.
-juice
In another discussion, or in a magazine/website - it was mentioned that the platform and engine for future Ford, Volvo, Mazda (and jag?) cmopact-midsized sedans would be made by Mazda. VERY smart move, IMHO - despite how good people think the Mondeo is :-)
I just hope they bring the wagon, and also combine the 6 cylinder with a manual transmission - otherwise a lot of people (including me) won't be interested!
the Mondeo platform was all new for 2000 and is considered the class-leading FWD midsized sedan in terms of ride and handling.
I'm quite aware of the Contour, as I have lived in Europe, and it wasn't watered down except for three things:
the suspension was heavily modified;
the rear taillights were different
the interior was different in the fascia
Mazdas are great cars, but their midsized platforms have usually been mushy. The Millenia / Xedos 9 was fairly boring to drive, and the current 626 even worse. The last generation 626 was better in terms of firmer springs.
The Mondeo platform is about as advanced as front wheel drive cars get except for the Mini, the modified Ford Puma chassis, and perhaps the Alfa Romeo 147.
The current 626 was designed in cost cutting times. I agree the previous gen was better (we own one, and have had new-gen loaners that aren't as good).
The new Mondeo looks good, but it is a bit narrow and small for the US market.
-juice
It's handily larger than a Jetta and interior-wise is the same size as a Passat and a Legacy.
It's too narrow and small as a Taurus replacement, but that kind of phrase makes us sound like we only drive Cadillac Fleewoods. The Mondeo is a tad larger than the current-gen 626 and it is a great machine... there's a lot of word-to-mouth demand for this car in the US market and it could theoretically do very well.
Remember when they said that the Focus would be another world car failure? The Focus and Mondeo are similar vehicles in their design, handling and market intentions (Golf and Passat competitors) .
Wait and see is my belief...
IMO the reason the Contour failed was its tight interior quarters. That plus they watered down the handling, so it wasn't the small, sporty sedan that was popular in Europe.
Focus is an excellent counterpoint, but check out the inside - it's roomy for its class, probably more roomy than the bigger Contour was.
-juice
My wife wants a car sized between a Taurus (too big for her and her daily commute, she wants something smaller and lighter...more nimble) and the Prizm she is driving now.
The Saturn L is the perfect size for her. I also see a Passat and Stratus as the right size for her. I really want the Saturn for her, but I'm hedging on the price. But the size is right.
In fact, also for her the Contour would be perfect even if the beck seat is not long enough.
Remember guys, its not always length...its the width that matters...........................................and the Contour seems to be close to ok in the width dept.
So anyways, if the Mondeo/ Sable is equal to the Passat and Saturn L in interior space......and its most likely larger, than the size of it is fine.
The new Mazda 6 looks to be a perfect size also.
i.e. the car may be wider and larger but may not have as much interior space. GM cars in particular chew up a lot of length and width but then return it in feeble interior space for their girth.....(Bonneville, Aurora, Regal....on and on).
We're talking about cars, right? *teehee*
Even the SVT was "fixed" after the first year, with some fine tuning that made it a lot better, IIRC.
-juice
Also, in blueovalnews.com , they say that the 6 is wider than most mid size cars.
Hey, speak of the devil, I saw a Euro-spec Mondeo wagon yesterday! Brand new! Must have been a diplomat's car. The rear looks like a Volvo V70 but edgier. The front is ugly though, especially the grille and headlights, yuck.
I am anxiously awaiting the chance to see the Mazda 6 in person. Looks great on paper and in photos.
-juice
I've seen a diesel Discovery, a few Peugoets, some Citroens, even a Renault or two.
-juice
I know the Mazda 6 will be and should be a very different type of car. However, it would not be a bad thing, at all, if it (or any car) were to replicate some of the SVT Contours better points.
the fact that it's more focused toward performance
than the Camry or Accord should help it sell well
in the market place, even though it seems smaller
than it's rivals.
No one wants a 240hp car whose interior looked as if it was designed by Rubber-Maid.
-juice
AWD is also heavy. A recent A4 review mentioned that the FWD felt more sprightly than the quattro.
So it seems like stability control gives more all-around safety while making for a car that's more fun to drive. Any thoughts?
The RX-8 and Mazda 6 as shown at the Tokyo Auto Show are on this page. Take a peek!
Sedan in 'Early 2003', Wagon 'May be introduced' and Hatchback is 'a future project'. Hmmm.
"Mazda was going to start its own Luxury division called Amati...the Millenia was going to be the flagship sedan."
Actually, the Millenia was supposed to be their entry level car for the Amati division. They already designed and test their much bigger flagsip car, which was going to have a V12 in it.
To me, the name is kinda lame anyway, Amati. They should've do what they did in Australia, have a luxury division called "Eunos"; it was pretty successful when I was there.
"Actually, the Millenia was supposed to be their entry level car for the Amati division. They already designed and test their much bigger flagsip car, which was going to have a V12 in it."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From a Car and Driver comparison test:
BY BROCK YATES
Photography By AARON KILEY
February 2000
"Going into this evaluation, few if any of us expected the Millenia would score high among this group. After all, it has been around since 1995, and for the past two years its price has been slashed by $4000 to $6600 (along with some feature content) to bring it into line with its Lexus and Infiniti competition (the car was originally intended to anchor Mazda's stillborn luxury Amati Division). At least our S-model tester retained its small but strapping 2.3-liter Miller-cycle DOHC V-6. It employs delayed intake-valve closing and a supercharged and intercooled induction system to produce 210 hp. This setup permitted our Millenia S Millennium Edition test car to tie the Infiniti I30t for best EPA highway fuel mileage at 28 mpg (although it trailed its unblown 227-hp, 3.0-liter rival by a half-second to 60 mph, proving once again that there is no substitute for cubic inches)."
----------------------------------------------------------------
csuftitans,
You may be right, but Car and Driver doesn't agree with you. I have also read that the 929 was to have been the original Amati flagship, but was replaced by the Millenia. Of course Amati got dropped in the mid '90's because the market was down and Mazda couldn't afford to build the dealership network. At that point the Millenia was made the top of the line Mazda.
Google "amati mazda" if you want to see all the possible answers to the Amati discussion.
RWD tends to fish tail if you either apply too much power in a turn. FWD would tend to understeer, but you still lose traction. Stability or traction control will constantly slow either FWD or RWD down by applying brakes.
It's funny because I own one of each, all with all season tires. The Miata (RWD) is bad even in rain, never mind snow. It has no weight on the driven tires and offers little protection, so I park it.
Our 626 (FWD) is fair, but in snow you have to drive rather deliberately. Accelerate in a turn and it will not complete the turn - instead understeering right off the road. We do not have traction control (not available back in 1995).
Finally, our Forester (AWD) is great in snow because it offer both the ground clearance and the traction to get around. There is really no comparison. It's fun where the others are scary.
Traction and stability control would help any of the above systems, but I'd still take AWD over FWD with that technology, no contest. Better yet, give me AWD and stability control.
-juice
I remember reading a couple of magazine back in '92 or '93 that the Millenia is supposed to be the entry level car for Amati Div (one of the magazine is either C&D or R&T). I even saw a camouflage picture of the bigger top of the line car. I also remembered that they are testing both a V8 and a V12 for the car.
Also, check this out:
First, some background about Project MX-08, Eunos 800 and Xedos 8. All are names for the car you can see in Mazda showrooms badged as the Millenia.
Project MX-08 was the code name around Mazda when the Millenia was conceived as the entry car in the now-defunct Amati luxury line.
Amati was intended to compete against Toyota's Lexus division, Nissan's Infiniti and Honda's Acura.
But in the early part of this decade the global economy went sour and Mazda almost went broke.
So Mazda scrapped plans for Amati, but not for the Millenia -- nor for the Eunos 800 as its known in Japan and the Xedos 8 in Europe.
On this continent, the Millenia S, first introduced in 1994, sits at the top of the Mazda range.
from:
http://www.carclickbc.com/carclick/articles/3309159.html
I am surprised that an editor of huge car magazine like Car and driver would say something that. He must be drunk :-)
Anyway, I've been following Mazda since I was a teenager; I'm 27 now. So I know most of the stuff happening with Mazda, here in the US and abroad.
BTW, Mazda 6 is definitely in our family's list for things to get in 2002; either sedan, wagon, or hatchback.
-juice
how did this topic get started? back to the 6 (which is the most ridiculous name EVER, especially for an auto that looks so awesome).
~alpha
(More specs, more details about a bunch of different Mazda vehicles and engines in the works, and videos of many of them in motion - including the Atenza, or Mazda 6, as it will be known here)
Concept cars Mazda's showing in Tokyo:
http://www.mazda.co.jp/motorshow/english/concept/index.html
This site highlights their new engines:
http://www.mazda.co.jp/motorshow/english/tech/eng.html
They show some bizarre stuff at Tokyo.
-juice
A little more info, too. The 4 banger will have a pretty impressive 178hp.
I'm not sure I like the interior as much as the exterior. The two tone steering wheel and seats are a little much. And why Pontiac-orange guages?
-juice
BTW, if you don't like the name "6", how about using Mazda Atenza or Cronos ('93-'97 626 was called Cronos is some part of the world; I kinda like it)
or how about Mazda 6 Series, kinda like BMW? how about Class 6 (classics ???)
In any case, I'm getting one of this 6 series Mazda.
Flagship would mean top-of-the-line such as the BMW 7-series or Mercedes S-class.
I agree - an anchor is the best selling model, the one that pays the bills, so that other, more interesting variants can be offered as well.
So the 626 and Protoge are the anchors, and the new RX is the flagship.
-juice
Ahh well. Here's a checklist for Mazda of North America to follow:
1. Bring Hatchback to USA
2. Offer manual transmission with V6
3. Don't use MTX-75 transmission
4. If you have to use MTX-75, at least re-engineer it so that it can shift in cold weather. Like, say, the Saturn, Toyota, and Honda manuals in my previous cars.