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Lemme guess. Altima and Accord. Ish and Ish.
All in good nature of course.....
CAR&DRIVER
10: Saturn L200 Manual Trans
9: Kia Optima LX Manual Trans
8: Hyundai Sonata GLSV6 Automatic Trans
7: Dodge Stratus R/T Manual Trans
5 tie: Nissan Altima 3.5SE Manual Trans
5 tie: Subaru Legacy L Manual Trans
4: Toyota Camry SE Manual Trans
3: Volkswagen Passat GL 1.8T Automatic Trans
2: Mazda 6 i Manual Trans
1: Honda Accord EX-L Manual Trans
ROAD&TRACK
5: VW Passat GLX
3(tie): Nissan 3.5SE & Camry XLE
2: Mazda 6s
1: Honda Accord
Please commence flaming US auto publications...
Ha-ha! You already know what's coming...
"What were they smokin'?!?"
"All these tests are meaningless BS."
"I can drive better than Csaba Csere!"
"These pubs value advertising dollars more than the merits of a car."
Anyone care to add any more?
With that said, it impresses the hell out of me that the M6 and the Accord would finish so far ahead of it.
You mean that stuff is optional? When I saw it I asked the salesperson if all of them looked like boy racers, and he said, "yes, that's the way they are." He wouldn't even discuss it. I immediate gave up on the idea of even checking the interior afraid that someone might actually see me sitting in this dorkmobile.
Know, though, that Toyota builds models differently for each region of the country. A leftover result from having distributors for each geographic region. All but one are now Toyota owned. That last one is a real stinker.
Thank heavens Mazda buyers do not have to put up with that system. Instead, whole countrys (US, Canada) get different option configurations.
I agree with others, though. You should be able to get the 17 inch wheels from the factory (and the sports interior) without the ground effects. Some of us live in areas where that stuff hanging down can cause problems.
shado4---Nobody said that, you did.
Chrysler built crappy cars when he was there and it doesn't appear to be any different now at GM. All hype and no substance. GM could learn alot from Honda, Toyota (and Mazda) on how to build a good basic car. Until they figure that one out, maybe they should just keep quiet...
If/When the neighbor/salesman calls me to tell me he's bring a 6i home so I can see it/drive it, I will take it for a drive at least. (yeah - that'll really make me want to wait longer, huh? ) But I'm going to try to hold off a while. Would like a bit more money in the bank. I don't NEED a new car, my old MX-6 is running just fine. So I'm going to try my best to wait.
In the meantime I will live vicariously thru all of you.
Oh - and why don't people like the spoilers? I've seen them with and without, and I think the spoilers look good. And I'm a 34yo female. I DO wish the spoilers were a separate option package...I can see your point there. That Sport Package should be broken down more. But I don't see why people don't LIKE the spoiler.
The spoiler, in my opinion, is fine looking. But it seems that EVERY car now has to have one and it has become a cliche. Yet is does make the Mazda6 look fine.
Its the ground effects that turn me off. No way am I going to drive around in something that screams "teenager toy" or "midlife crisis". But thats just my opinion.
If the spoiler was seperate from the ground effects I'd probably get it...
It is a shame that some packages can't be ordered seperately from others. But its hard enough for a manufacturer to produce and distribute the cars as they are. Add a few more option variations and they would never be able to get the right car to the right person ... unless it was custom built.
So it's like, do you spend more money up-front for 1 or 2 items that you want, and several items that you really DON'T want, just because it's a Package deal? Or do you not get the Package and buy the specific add-ons separately, but end up paying more per-item after the fact, or more in general because everything is a separate purchase and not part of a package?
If I could get just the 17" tires and the Spoiler, I'd be happy. I don't really care about a 6-CD changer and the ground effects stuff.
It seems like a lot of people don't like the spoiler at all, though. NOt just the ground effects, but they detest the look of the Spoiler on the car anyway, anyhow.
I guess everyone's opinion is just different. I think the spoiler looks good.
So it's like, do you spend more money up-front for 1 or 2 items that you want, and several items that you really DON'T want, just because it's a Package deal? Or do you not get the Package and buy the specific add-ons separately, but end up paying more per-item after the fact, or more in general because everything is a separate purchase and not part of a package?
If I could get just the 17" tires and the Spoiler, I'd be happy. I don't really care about a 6-CD changer and the ground effects stuff.
It seems like a lot of people don't like the spoiler at all, though. NOt just the ground effects, but they detest the look of the Spoiler on the car anyway, anyhow.
I guess everyone's opinion is just different. I think the spoiler looks good.
Anyone willing to check out the ride, give me a shout at rhawli5pi89@hotmail.com
did you get to meet Johnny himself?
Does he give extra discounts for U of MD alums? ;-)
Test drove the $19,050 base "6i" yesterday. The VVT felt exactly like Turbo-lag, no power below 3,000 rev's and the VVT (turbo) kicks in above 3,500 rpm and I bet it goes strong all the way to 6,000 plus.
Everyone is correct, the steering feels very precise and suspension well damped when bumps encountered. I enjoyed the steering wheel Stereo and Cruise controls. Love the outside ambient temperature.
By the way the rear speakers are terrible. Had to adjust the fader way to the rear. They seem to have totally different efficiency from the front speakers. A dumb mistake.
Almost had an accident. That rear 'C' pillar totally blocked my view. Whewwww.
The clutch, I need time to get use to its trigger. The shifter is excellent, almost feels like my short-throw. Very slick. I loved the feel-good leather on the shifter and the steering wheel. Nice touches.
HVAC controls are Protege level, base... Mazda should have added the "s" HVAC controls to the "i" and added $100 to the price.
The hubcaps were visually appealing as far as wheel covers go, also allows one to go after-market for personal taste. The dealer had the car in the shop after my drive to upgrade to alloys. Glad I got to feel how the steel wheels drive. They'll make good snow tire wheels.
The center console between driver and passenger had poor design and plastics. The dash also feels lower in quality, hinges on doors, YET the dashboard above is higher quality, richer,...nice.
I currently drive a manual 2.4 liter four with 154 horse and 163 pounds of twist. I could feel the difference when punching the "6i" at lower rpm's. Very disappointing... YET, when broken in, I think I could easily ring out pleasing performance from driving it above 3,500 rpm's, below that it's not pressing you at all. Most folks who've driven V6's will not like this car. Those who've driven 4's with an ear for rev's will really like getting into the "god that sounds good" range. The sounds made by the dual exhausts were very pleasing to the ear.
My car drags above 5,500 rpm, I feel the "6i" comes into it's own at 3,500 revs due to VVT. But below 3,000 revs it has NO Pulse. Blaaahhhh.
Oh yea, Mazda gave me $35 credit on there merchant gift card just to test drive their car. Nice touch.
Hope this helps some consumers.
Happy Motoring, Jack
Depends on who is driving.
I haven't read anything, anywhere that changes my mind about the 6. After buying Hondas for 15 years, the Mazda6 is the best of three worlds: sport, luxury, and daily commuter.
Spoilers: Many people don't like them because they block rear vision when backing up, make it difficult to clear snow off if they don't have a garage, and attract the radar guys. Plus, a spoiler on a FWD car looks dumb. I saw a big wing on the roof of a pickup truck, makes about as much sense.
fowler3
I didn't notice the C pillar blocking my view. Would it be a continual problem, or just a fluke?
BTW, spoilers do help at speeds above 100mph, FWD or not. Don't tell me you haven't experienced this for yourself?
You think a spoiler on FWD car look dumb? how about huge wing and spoiler on a limo? Saw it once, forgot where.
Why would you want downforce on the back of a FWD car?
I'm also surprised, after the NY Times article that had a group of auto journalists/ professionals compare a number of midsize cars, and the 6 won overall by a comfortable margin.
I'm really not concerned with how the M6 compares to the Accord and Camry - no one is going to threaten their dominant position in the marketplace anytime soon. I think it is interesting, however, to see how the car compares to the Altima and the Passat - the "sporty" competition.
These are the buyers that Mazda needs to go after. Given that, I think these comparisons will be very helpful.
And Groovy is dead on on the mind changing.."no one is going to threaten their dominant position in the marketplace anytime soon."
And the spoiler on my MX-6 doesn't hinder back-up vision. At least I don't think so.
Regarding car magazine tests, I, for one, am going to have to peruse the local newsstand and see exactly what was tested and what the results were.
I agree with the above posts- the real comparo will be with the Passat or Altima (or the new 200hp TSX depending on pricing)
Looking forward to meeting everyone!
KarenS
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