Mazda6 Sedan

johnclineii · January 2003

Congrats on the Altima!

(At least it wasn't an Accord....running and ducking (and kidding))

audia8q · January 2003

What good is the extra HP if the handling can't handle the hp?? The Altima is like your grandma Buick when pushed...LOL

There is also no way of determining which car will have better resale value. The 6 with a longer bumper to bumper warranty will increase tremendously over the heavily incentized 626...the Altima isnt bigger in every dimention and in many important ones its actually less than the 6..like rear head room.
so congrats on your new car, the Altima is a good quality car and you won't get hurt with the car. Its amazing how we all look at things differently...enjoy your new ride

fowler3 · January 2003

jtkz13!

Enjoy the Altima board.

fowler3

doying5 · January 2003

IMO. I look out the window at them both every day and I don' see it. The 6 is much huskier from the side and front. The lines are totally different. The front and the back have more squared off accents. The interior has no resemblance at all. Besides having four doors and a Mazda emblem I don't see the comparison. They didn't even use the same platform or anything.

If you think they are that similar you need to looka t them side by side.

anonymousposts · January 2003

regfootball · January 2003

the 6 looks a Millenia that went and got into shape. Went to the gym and went on a diet.

the_big_h · January 2003

glideslopes · January 2003

Oh yeah!!

They don't look alike.

theparallax · January 2003

one of each please.

gee35coupe · January 2003

Same C-Pillar, same grill, same intakes, same wheels, throw some Projectors in the headlights there you go. Same car.

blueguydotcom · January 2003

People aren't really buying ANYTHING right now, but I have seen a couple 6's here in Minneapolis. People in Atlanta must have bad taste.

Um, luxury line sales are up for BMW and Infiniti. Last month Infiniti sold almost 5000 G35s and the whole division was up 23% for the year. Also Nissan's sold 13k 350zs in 4 months.

Not all companies are selling poorly...

the_big_h · January 2003

none of the stuff you listed are same between the Millenia and 6. Similar maybe but definitely not a direct copy.

sarahmazda · January 2003

I've sold two Mazda6's since release. A lot of people are ordering.

My deliveries have been interesting!

A learning experience for all involved!

My customers think it's great that they never see another 6 on the road.

theparallax · January 2003

platinum gray Mazda6 w/ sport package on the road for the first time a few days ago. Beautiful. There's only 3 in stock at the local dealership, all silver, all 6i's, all auto's.

regfootball · January 2003

you another one of the nice people at Morries?

Got any 5 speed v6's I can run the crap out of on a test drive? tell those folks at Mazda marketing I want my hatchback or wagon NOW.

And hey the rest of you...the 6 does look like the Millenia. Looks like it got all toned and buffed. Been lifitng weights, been on a protein diet. Toned and tan.

The Millenia was the girl you didn't wanna date in high school but then she went to college, get really hot and now you'll date her. If she says yes, now.

youster · January 2003

My local dealer told me the sepang green color will NOT be a choice although it is in the brochure. Does anyone here know that for sure?

sarahmazda · January 2003

Youster--

Don't understand what your dealer is talking about. We haven't received one yet, but many should be arriving within the month

sarahmazda · January 2003

Yes, another nice gal at Morrie's!

You'll have to wait until next fall for the hatchbacks. I've seen pictures--very nice car. As soon as we get more info, we'll pass it on to you.

I like your high school girl analogy--very cute.

andrewb2 · January 2003

I took a look at some Mazda6's today. I think they look good, inside and out. The grille bothers me a little, but I just noticed that there is an alternate grille available as an accessory. And I like that one.

I have a question, though. Has Mazda improved the internals of the automatic transmission? Some of us 626 owners have had problems with the automatic developing harsh shifting, and it's expensive each time we have to get this corrected.

fowler3 · January 2003

stayed with the Millennia styling as their "Classic Look", both are beautiful cars. Either would be nice to own and the Millennia still attracts eyes as it goes by. So what's wrong with the 6 having some of the nice curves the previous beautiful lady displayed?

fowler3

fowler3 · January 2003

The 626 has a transmission designed by Ford, the 6's do not use that tranny, thank God. Ford didn't do their homework on the old tranmission.

fowler3

anonymousposts · January 2003

The problem is the beautiful lady that inspired the design that the 6 now displays was never very popular.

newcar31 · January 2003

But the 6 is a completely different drive. I don't see why people are infering that since the 6 looks similiar to the Millenia, it won't be popular. Besides, at most I see a slight family resemblence but they don't look identical at all.

The 6 uses a Jatco autotranny, not a Ford.

andrewb2 · January 2003

Thanks for the info about the transmission! That's great news! Now I can put the new Mazda6 on my list without anything nagging at me.

Hmmm. The Mazda6 seems to be the only car on my list right now.

anonymousposts · January 2003

newcar: Because the 6 isn't different enough from the Millenia to draw enough attention to make it a success. I might be wrong, only time will tell. But I have yet to see 1 6 on the road here and there are 2 Mazda dealers within a 20 mile radius.

doying5 · January 2003

I heard they haven't even painted any at the factory yet. It is a new color and new product. I think at takes a bit to get good paint and so forth so you don't have the issues the focus has with poor paint.
Wait for it though. I think it looks classy and may help some who think the car is too muscular looking.

Regfootball - Sorry I just sold the only V6 speed we had left at Morries. More on the way PLEASE!

doying5 · January 2003

The Millenia was never advertized. Mazda is spending 4 times the money on the 6 as they did the Tribute and that was sold out taking orders for 18 months.

newcar31 · January 2003

"Because the 6 isn't different enough from the Millenia to draw enough attention to make it a success."

The 6 is a COMPLETELY different car than the Millenia. You think the two cars look very similiar. I don't. Those are opinions. The FACT is that the 6 doesn't share anything with the Millenia except for the Mazda name.

anonymousposts · January 2003

I've seen a few commercials for the 6 but it's hardly in every 30 second spot like Ford/GM. It's going to take alot more than a couple of commercials and mail advertisings to light the sales fire under the 6. It will need alot of word-of-mouth and alot of good press. Maybe the C&D 10 Best will do the trick.

newcar31 · January 2003

the 6 should sell well...

doying5 · January 2003

Because each district has to have x number of 6s available at the dealership before the ads start.
This is much wiser than the Ford motto of starting ads too soon so peole come in to get it before it arrives.

Mazda will never have the budget of GM and Honda etc but they are spending the $$$ wisely I think.

I saw the 60 second commercial on the DISC channel last night. It has been all over monday night football for a while now. Us computer geeks are the first to know about it but people are starting to come in. It was the only car I showed today. Three times!

anonymousposts · January 2003

But Europe and Japan aren't real good indicators of good sales in the US. The US is alot different in it's priorities. Consider this, in the US 1 out of 10 cars sold are manuals, in Europe 1 out of 10 cars sold are automatics. Again, different priorities.

Also consider this, the Protege was/is a darn good car and offers alot of the same advantages over it's competition as the 6 offers over it's competition. The Protege is a great handler, good looking, and reliable. But yet Mazda had to resort to heavy incentives and 0.0% interest.

johnclineii · January 2003

Anonymousposts, your point is a good one, but your European transmission specs are way out of date. Automatics are not yet the majority over there, but they are getting close.

newcar31 · January 2003

"But Europe and Japan aren't real good indicators of good sales in the US. The US is alot different in it's priorities."

That's true, but I don't see how something so universally popular over there could turn out to be a huge dud here. Then again, who knows, Americans are morons when it comes to automobiles compared to Europe. In general, Europeans know their cars better and are more of the auto enthusiast type. Kinda like me. Does anyone have sales figures for the Euro Accord vs. the Mazda6?

anonymousposts · January 2003

"(In many ways, the U.S. market is the exact opposite of other markets around the world. For example, in the U.S., one in 10 vehicles sold has a manual transmission; in Europe, this ratio is the exact opposite, with about one in 10 cars sold being an automatic.)"

http://www.edmunds.com/news/innovations/articles/46873/article.html

johnclineii · January 2003

Yeah, I found that in Edmunds when I googled!

But I subscribe to Automotive News Europe and watch those statistics very closely. Edmunds, in this case, is NOT correct.

Doesn't matter. Your point is a good one. Success for the 6 in Japan and Europe has little to do with whether or not the car succeeds here!

newcar31 · January 2003

The Focus seems to be universally popular, here and in Europe. If it weren't for all of the recalls, I don't doubt Ford would've sold even more here.

johnclineii · January 2003

And yet, the Focus offered in Europe has substantially more equipment available, and is substantially more expensive than here. Here, Focus is an entry level vehicle. There, Ka fills that function well.

anonymousposts · January 2003

According to www.just-auto.com 85% of cars sold in Europe are manuals. So I guess I should've said 1.5 out of 10 are automatics instead of 1 out of 10 in Europe?

"Of the three main vehicle markets in the developed world, Europe remains unique in that more than 85% of passenger cars (and an even higher proportion of light commercial vehicles) are sold with manual transmission. Although automatic transmissions are gaining a greater market share, especially in northern Europe (Germany, the UK, Benelux and Scandinavia) consumer resistance remains strong. Motorists with an interest in performance prefer changing gear for themselves, while those more concerned with economy still believe that - quite apart from their initial extra cost - automatic transmissions deliver inferior economy."

newcar31 · January 2003

It was just an example of a car that is popular on both continents. I do realize though that Europeans have significantly different tastes with regards to automobiles than the US. Better taste if you ask me.

vadp · January 2003

Mazda6 is so popular in Europe because it offers a nice mix of comfort, performance, quality materials and driving fun.
Don't the American drivers value exactly the same things?

newcar31 · January 2003

"Don't the American drivers value exactly the same things?"

Unfortunately not. Witness the SUV sales....

vadp · January 2003

johnclineii · January 2003

Yes, we are. But we are a very small proportion of the American public (and some of us are not American, lest we forget...Our Canadian brethren and others are also here).

The fact we are talking about cars does not in any way lessen the point that SUV's sell like crazy in the US, while not exactly being the most wonderful combination of fuel economy, durablity and fun. But remember, SUV's do offer one thing the 6 also offers in abundance...POWER.

vadp · January 2003

Do you mean acceleration?
The most SUV's are dogs in that department.

johnclineii · January 2003

Obviously you have not driven a big Suburban or Expedition!

Power? Yes. Acceleration? No. They are too big and heavy for that. The 6 has appropriate power and can easily be HANDLED!

fowler3 · January 2003

"It will need alot of word-of-mouth and alot of good press. Maybe the C&D 10 Best will do the trick." Anonymous

Well, anon, here's some good press for you!!

MT compares the Altima V6 3.5L SE with the 6s and the Jetta GLI saying: We all agree the 6 has the most well-balanced, confidence-inspiring chassis of the group. It neither understeers nor oversteers when pushed to the limit and it's tires never scream "mercy". While it may lack the Altima's brutish power, it more than makes up for it with quick reflexes and sure-footedness."

"Everything works in harmony: the supportive seats, good driving position, broad geer ratio, quick steering and unfailing brakes."

"the Mazda6s ran a 6.67 second 0-60MPH, a quarter miles in 15.13 seconds at 94mph, and braking at 60-0MPH gave an impressivly short 121 foot stop. In the 600-foot slalom a 63.9MPH pass put it at the top of the test, as well as near the top of the sedan class."

"The 6 surely has the athleticism to compete in the big leagues."

No wonder I couldn't get it below 70MPH in a 45MPH zone! Guess I had better buy the I-4, at 72, I'm too old for the "big leagues".

fowler3

rotarykid · January 2003

driving fun doesnt neccesarily have to mean going through twisty turns with ease. driving fun can be obatained in an SUV by whatever the driver/owner enjoys about his/her suv. Although I dont presently own one, I have owned SUV's in the past and enjoy driving them very much. The first time I drove one I noted that I liked having a better view of the road, four wheel drive, and comfy room for me and my stuff. Not to mention they are a hell of a lot easier to get in and out of than sporty cars that sit low to the ground. Of course I am not referring to the extra large obnoxious sport utes. Lets just try to stop the whining.just because you dont care for SUV's your self, does not make them bad.

johnclineii · January 2003

Hey, what are you reading into things? No one said they were bad. Just not fuel efficient.

Besides, we are here to talk about the 6!

fowler3 · January 2003

there are few SUVs in Europe, because above 2.0L the governments put a HIGH user tax on big engines, more than doubling the tax compared to small sedans. In European countries owners pay thousands annually to drive V-6s and V-8s. And that's why VW cars use 1.8L engines.

That may happen here, the US government is considering such a tax on SUVs. If you had to pay a $2000 annual excise tax on an Explorer how much fun would it be then?

fowler3

Mazda6 Sedan

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