Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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I drove my Ford Probe from 1989 through 2000 -- the entire time I was in my 20's and getting through my college debt, getting credit cards paid off, etc. I'd still be in debt if I'd had car payments that entire time.
If you're that concerned about nickels and dimes, might I suggest buying a reliable car that will last you a decade or so and not constantly trading up? (Like, oh, say, a Mazda6? :-)
Trying to draw conclusions about the re-sale value of a car (one way or the other) that has been on the NA market for what? - 45 days? - strikes me as a little bit futile.
I think its fair to look at the depreciation of the Mazda 626, but only if you're willing to recognize that the last generation 626 was a dog (I know, I used to sell them) and that the Mazda6 is a gigantic improvement. It's also wise to take into account the fact the final few 626's sold will be blown out the doors with huge discounts. That won't necesarily have an effect on the re-sale of the Mazda6 (I happen to think it will have no effect at all), but it will have a huge impact on the re-sale of 2002 Mazda 626's.
I think its also important to note that other manufacturers have been able to increase re-sale value by improving their product - VW and Nissan are tw very good examples. I think it would be interesting, for example, to compare the re-sale value of the previous generation Altima with the current generation.
No one can deny that Toyota and Honda have a well earned reputation for quality and reliablity that adds to the long-term value of their products. It is, however, silly to argue that theirs is some kind of magic formula that cannot be duplicated.
It only takes time and a good product. As a Mazda fan, I am glad to see the company back on track offering great cars - with exciting stuff on the way.
Also, when did production of the sedan start in real volume in anticipation of their intro??
Thought some of you would like some pictures. I really like the 3 tones of the beige interior, but to each their own. The pictures don't do justice to the redfire color- it's awesome in person.
Some thoughts at 200 miles that I didn't have at 8 miles-
The 4cyl manual combo just seems faster and faster the more I drive it... and I'm hardly pushing the engine until it's broken-in.
Ride is very firm, but road imperfections are absorbed well. Love the ride more and more.
The speed sensitive volume control is neat, but the car is too quiet at speed for this to be useful. The car is very quiet unless revved- then the engine lets loose.
Car heats up extremely quickly. Even quicker than my wife's Camry.
The bad-
Rear speakers suck- obviously not a two-way design. Almost all the sound comes from the front speakers, which sound better. With the bass and treble up (factory setting), it sounds tolerable. I have high audio standards though- their Bose system sounded awful to me too.
I'm not as good at driving stick as I remembered.
Every now and then I hear a rattle coming from the passenger's side. Haven't located it yet.
The fusebox cover was in the armrest storage when I got the car.
---
Now, if only someone could help me with alloy wheels. (link to another post)
do I see leather wrapped steering wheel and shift knob and e-brake handle???? very nice!
It must be something to go home knowing you have built a vehicle with the hottest "Parts" in it's class!
Mark. : )
Maybe I should've spelled it out for you mazda6 but my post was referring to how prudent of a financial decision a Mazda 6 would be i.e, is it going to hold it's value better than a spaghetti strainer holds water.
Smaller city with one dealer and they had a couple Steel Grey , one an i and the other an s that I drove. Then Saturday they got this redfire one, and I like the color better than the Steel Grey, so I asked for a price. Better than what I figured, so I now have it and Mazda has my at the end of Lease 99 Mill S. Because of the Sport pkg, my interior is BLACK, and I was hoping for a beige, but I am starting to get use to it. Great pictures of your car and I would have liked the beige.
YES, the rear speakers are not that great. I did find I could use the fade and move more sound to the rear speakers.
A bit to get use to the auto-manual shift, but it will be fun to play with and useful at times. I went to automatic first time in my life with the 99 Millenia and like the auto as I got tired of shifting, even though those cars were sure fun to drive. I have had three 626 coupes, 3 MX-6's and the Millenia since 1980.
I did not hear any noise when test driving, but just a little while ago, I think I heard something on the passenger side too. I will have to start listening for it.
And I did like that car. There are other good cars out there for competition, but I know Mazda has to be pleased with the 6 and the other vendors are back on the drawing board to see what they can do to keep up.
This is at the Mazda dealership off the 8 in Mission Valley right? Wow! I could use the grad discount too so that'd put the car at a touch over 22.5k loaded nicely. Oh my, the logical side of my brain is winning now...
Anonymous, after buying new 3 cars in 4 years, making a "financial decision" regarding depreciation is pretty much a moot point, no? I think the question is, do you want it or not. I think I'm just reiterating someone else's post though.
I personally am not worried too much about a car depreciating. They all do and the customer is going to get the butt end of the deal regardless, its only a matter of degree(which seems to be most people's hangup). 500 or 1000 bucks, who cares when you spent $20k+ new. If a couple grand is going to actually break you, you aren't in the market of buying a brand new $20k+ car or $20k anything. Buying a new car is just about one of the worst "financial decisions" you can make. Which is why if I can *afford* to buy a new car, I will buy the one I *like* the most, period.
You spend $20k on a car because you want to, not because you need to. If I needed a car for practical purposes only , I'd buy a low price used car with reliability as priority #1 - because I'd keep it forever if I was worried about the money.
Again, if you are worried about losing a couple grand to depreciation, buy used and stop looking at the 6 or any new cars
By the way nice pix and congratulations on your beautiful car!
This is from Autoweek.com's Detroit preview section:
MAZDA
Mazda is being secretive about the concept vehicle it will unveil and won't reveal its shape or size.
Any thoughts on what this might be? Tarted up Mazda3, new derivation of the Mazda9, new 2 door rotary concept, or maybe the Mazdaspeed M6?
I plan to make my order in a couple of weeks; I'll keep you posted.
The fully loaded Gray Mazda6s 5 speed MT the we test drove has already been sold.
Perhaps I inadvertantly have a piece of plastic sitting in the passenger's door pocket that is shaking. Since I couldn't reproduce the noise this afternoon when I was investigating, I couldn't pinpoint it's location.
I'll let you know.
Hey- I posted this earlier, but maybe you have a more accurate answer. I have the ULEV emissions package, but am in a state where fuel sulfer levels aren't regulated to the required low level. Could this potentially damage my catalytic converters?
Are you pulling my chain, is production of that incredible wagon just around the corner!!! I will be the first in line if the wagon is offered with the manual stick and 220hp, talk about bang for your buck!!!!!
http://www.avtoin.com/zeneva2002/slike/Mazda%206%20SW.jpg
I will take mine in silver please!!!!
Has anyone seen these in the Carolinas? I need to find one!!
Also, Emunds shows the 6 selling for about $1k below MSRP, is this realistic for any of you that have already purchased one?
My sister and mother both purchased cars from Hine, so I'm confident that if I do get a 6 I'll get a fair shake with them. Good people there from my experience.
aren't they sexy??? :-D
Tonight, I tagged along with big bro who's looking for a new car in lieu of local floods totalling his old Honda Accord. We went to the local Subaru dealership (he's shopping the WRX's) which also happens to be a Mazda dealership. They had 3 M6's in stock, all automatic 6i's: a "stripped" Speed Yellow - no sport package(!) - Steel Grey and Silver, both with all options. I have to admit that the yellow looked incredibly attractive and I'm guessing one without a sport package would be fairly rare to encounter. Looking through the brochure I probably would be satisfied with any of the colors the 6 is being offered in (First choice remains the Black). I'm surprised about the Sepang Green, I got the impression from Mazda's Web site that the car was actually green, not a "slightly green" shade of silver!
Nonetheless, I test drove the loaded Steel Grey 6i . Some observations:
Green Valley Mazda in Fairfield (where I test drove) is marking down their 6i's by $1100. The fully loaded 6iAuto was going for $23888 (this is with CA emissions). Our saleslady said they had sold only one out of four 6's in the past month... OUCH... There have been many many test drives, but no biters. Current pricing was holiday pricing, however.
When I buy this fall I'll most likely go with my brother's dealership - Royal Motors in SF - I just found out he's eligible for S-plan pricing! Add the graduate incentive and I'll go home very happy.
Thank god our saleswoman at Green Valley allowed us to take the cars wherever we wished! We had just come from the local Honda Dealership (Vacaville Honda/Mazda) and "test rode" in a Pilot, the salesman wouldn't even let us get behind the wheel! Not to mention some lies and hogwash he threw at us about marking-up, model-info, etc... Sheesh, and this was same dealership where I bought my Tribute two years ago. BTW, they had 2 Red 6's in stock (an S ans I both with sport and leather), they said they've had them both for three weeks. I didn't quite feel like testing the 6 there given our Pilot experience.
thanks,
-Alt
- Price: base $20K, and with some options can go as high as $24K. That's extremely high for a sedan of this nature. Comparable Altimas are running for $18K. Alittle more money and we're in the Lexus IS and Infinity G35 range.
- Styling: the car looks too plastic. Without looking at the name tag, this car would simply be confused with every other Honda on the road. Nothing special about the styling, and it doesn't stand out in a crowd.
- Performance: with a limited number of MT's, how can a car built for driving enthusiasts not offer the MT in wider distribution???
Overall, this car is nothing special. It won't change Mazda's lack of Zoom-Zoom, and is really another 626 in Honda clothing. For the price, there are unlimited numbers of other vehicles which are more attractive and offer more value.
Just my 2 cents.
you 6 owners and people that have driven it, please chime in at anytime
9inarow - Thanks for the input. Buh-bye.
Thanks for the other pix though.
fowler3
I'll upload it to somewhere else and repost a link here :-)
First you have to drive Altima 2.5 and MAZDA 6 2.3 and than you can try to compare.
$18K Altima is nowhere near in any aspect to $24K fully loaded 3.0 Mazda6 that you are talking about.
Your comments are wrong, and not objective.
For about $20K you can get a wonderfully equipped Mazda6 (5 speed, leather, 17" wheels/tires - sport package, Bose stereo, full power....)
And 2.3 L Duratec engine will be very easy to get more power from in the near future (Turbo can pump out 250hp out of it without any sweat)
If you did look at base econo-equipped Mazda6 with 16" wheels - there you go, it's not as presentable as much better equipped $20-22K version. Sport option adds a lot to it's interior and exterior looks as well as handling for under $1K.
Look at it again, I don't think we are both looking at (driving?) the same car.
That's not a 20K 6 that one's 22K.
the 3.0L V6 in the 6s uses the Duratec block.
http://community.webshots.com/album/59133111bvgmEU
I told the "expert" I wanted to check out the car to see how it was & if I fit (I'm 6'4", 220lbs) & that I was interested in a 6i. All they had was 2 6s's, one in the showroom & one on the lot.
He showed me NO features of the car, & after sitting in it for about 60 seconds & fiddling with things he says "I'm a straight-shooter, are you going to buy a car today?" Well, first, this isn't the model I want. Second, I haven't driven one. Third, my wife isn't here with me. Fourth, I already told him that I was comparing models & wasn't committing until after my wife gives birth in Feb.
He was very stand-offish after that. I poked around the car for another 30sec. & He says "lets go into the showroom to get a brochure". We get there, he looks in a corner & says they're out of brochures. I say "I just work around the corner & I can stop by later to get one". He says "ok" & walks away! No "good-bye", no "here's my card", no NOTHING!
I know it's probably just that particular dealership (Courtesy Mazda in Vegas), but the whole experience has soured me on this car. I have never felt more pissed off leaving a dealership. Even the greaseball sharks at Dodge were better.
From what I saw of the car, it is very nicely built & looks great. Didn't test drive one as you can tell. I really didn't fit in it too well anyways, my head was scraping the roof.
In Europe this family of engines starts at 1.8, 2.0, 2.3.
Mondeo is using it for over a year now, and it's getting great press for it.
20K will get you Mazda6 2.3 , 5 speed
ALL POWER
ABS/TRACTION CONTROL
BOSE AUDIOPHILE SOUND SYSTEM
Includes 7 speaker Bose sound system with amplifier, subwoofer and 6-disc in-dash CD changer
LEATHER
SPORT PACKAGE ( Sport Package
Includes 17" alloy wheels, 215/50 R17 V-rated tires (supercedes 16" wheels and tires when ordered with option 2I4 Premium Package), clear-lens halogen fog lights, dual exhaust with oval shaped bright tips, sculpted front air dam and rear apron, side sill extensions, rear spoiler with integrated brake light, black interior trim, Optitron gauges with red illumination, sport type instrument panel inserts and titanium colored power window switch panels.
And if you can wait a few months after Mazda6 introduction dealers will throw in few more options into this price (side bags/curtains $360, heated seats/mirrors $180)
You'll get a lot of car for $20K with great warranty and great aftermarket potential for it's engine (soon to be used in Mazda3 and next Focus)
I've driven the 4 cyl and the 6 cyl Mazda6 with the stick. The six is quieter and has more power but it requires you to hold back. You can't push it without breaking the law or tailing every other car on the road. But it sure is sweet.
The four can be wound out in most gears without worrying about running over other cars or getting tickets.
Which one is going to be more fun over the life of the car in real world driving?
However, your prediction for disaster is based on flawed assumptions. Here's why:
-You can't really compare auction prices with street prices, on any model. That's absurd. If people knew what dealers really pay for cars at auction they would be shocked.
-626 resale and residual values may or may not predict the values for the Mazda6. Leasing companies are not in business to lose money. They have to cover their butts so they will use the 626 residuals for the 6 until they have more data.
-Based on the early reviews of the 6 (not to mention the C&D 10 Best award), it will be way more popular than the 626. This is likely to translate to higher used values for the 6 than the 626.
The one you buy.
But seriously, I plan to get the 4. The car I have now can outrun most other cars on the road, but doing so would severely impact my insurance rates. I do have fun, every time some bozo in an Integra or Civic with a spoiler and one of those "farting" mufflers blows by me, because I have the pleasure of knowing that if I wanted to race them they wouldn't have a chance. But, I don't want to race them (on the street anyway), so the only thing I get from that unused power is the knowledge that I could beat them if I wanted to. Hmmm, what's that worth?