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I own a Protege5 and a Miata and love both of them. The other car she is looking at is a Lexus IS300. I told her why pay more for basically the same equipment level and warranty period. Only difference is FWD vs. RWD. She's currently driving a Audi A4 and has had quite a few problems with it and the dealer. Thankfully, I was able to sell my A4!!!
Drift
Oversteer
Understeer.
Last night I had the 6s AT on an extended 100 mile drive. With 4 adults in the car and using the sport shift I took an inviting donut on-ramp for some fun. I was accelerating up it quite well and the tires were holding a perfect line without squeeling. As I approached the much slower old "muscle" car ahead of me and let off the accelerator the tires bit hard and started to turn me even tighter. What did I experience here? (besides some adrenaline)
I own a Protege5 and a Miata and love both of them. The other car she is looking at is a Lexus IS300. I told her why pay more for basically the same equipment level and warranty period. Only difference is FWD vs. RWD. She's currently driving a Audi A4 and has had quite a few problems with it and the dealer. Thankfully, I was able to sell my A4!!!
Understeer is when the front wheels are carving a larger arc than the rear wheels. This is often described as "push" or "pushing" - as the front end feels like it is plowing off of a corner.
Further acceleration only compounds the push, as weight shifts back to the rear wheels and off of the front wheels, leading to a further lessening of the car's ability to turn in.
A drift is set up essentially when you're doing both at the same time. One way to achieve this is by oversteering while slowing a bit in the early stage of cornering. As the rear wheels start to slide outward and the front end heads towards the inside of the corner, you neutralize the steering (as in center the wheel) and add power. The car will take the corner with all four wheels sliding. Not for the faint of heart.
I just have to drive out of my way to the dealer once in a while to have them make sure the light isn't telling me something more serious and have them clear the light out. They said Mazda's working on it and will have a fix "soon."
That's the only trouble I've had with the car. As I said, though, it's nothing serious and doesn't affect my driving.
Oversteer - On top of the cow.
Understeer - Under the cow (of course).
Drift - What snow does in the winter.
Maybe I aught to post this type of sh...stuff in the Accord or Jetta topics. Ok by you Pat?
If you read all the posts here, there are a few people who have taken both out, and the concensus is that the 4cyl handles much better, even as good as the V6 is. The discussion here about the car drifting and being tossable applies mostly to the 4cyl equipped cars.
Besides, the 4cyl engine is incredible after a thousand miles on the odometer, right malt? And 30mpg city- I still can't believe that!
Now back to our regularly scheduled flames...
On the highway, it doesn't seem powerful, but 3rd gear extends to nearly 90mph. I've haven't quite carried the car that far in 3rd gear yet, but getting to 80mph came pretty quickly and still had lots of oomph at speed.
To those who don't like to shift, now, it's a different story. You won't get much in 5th gear.
So it all depends on how much work you like to do when you drive.
Now can we debate disc vs. drum brakes again? Or maybe sales totals? How about dual climate controls? LOL
During my test drive of the '6, I found the drive engaging- so much so that I was unable to talk on my cell phone. Not that I wanted to, because the lack of dual climate control made me dizzy- the three dials made it much too complex to turn off the heater. The car didn't ride as well as the Accord, which has a much softer and luxuriously floaty ride. I was able to feel the car communicate bumps, and the steering was much too quick. That could cause an accident. When I hit the brakes, the brakes were so firm that I was almost rear-ended. With Ford engineering, I'd hate to see this car after a wreck.
I saw another '6 squealing its tires around a turn, all four wheels drifting as if the car was sliding and had lost its grip. The driver seemed to be having fun- what kind of sick people drive these Mazdas? It must be the lack of anti-lock brakes, because I know that's never happened in my Camry, which has out-handled a Mustang before.
All-in-all, I was very disappointed in the '6. The V6 is missing modern advancements that come standard on other cars, such as an automatic transmission. The engine has a tendency to produce a throaty roar that succeeded only in making me miss important instructions from my self-help audio tapes. I only saw four cup holders up front, which won't cut it for my normal commute. I was so upset after my drive that I didn't even look at the trunk, but seeing as the car looks like a miniature Millienia, I'm sure the trunk isn't useful for groceries, let alone family trips.
As I got back in my Accord to drive home, I realized how numb the steering and suspension was, and I was finally able to concentrate on other things while driving. Thank goodness, thinking about driving while on the road gives me a frightful headache.
I hope everyone understands my previous post is just a joke. I bought a '6 after all, sheesh.
Really, I'm worried this thread will slow now that these arguements have been beaten to death. They don't have the longevity of the "I hate SUVs" thread. Two days ago, there were only a handful of posts the entire day. I know, I know, just one day this thread is out of the the "Hot Threads" list here on Edmunds and I panic. I rely on this thread for amusement at work, people, keep posting!
anyone see any performance mods available for the 6 yet? Anything that can squeeze out another 30hp?
The car is new, so not a lot is out, but a whole slew of stuff is being developed. There's no question the 4cyl engine is going to be the one to mod. It's an amazing engine (so say the aftermarket producers), and there isn't enough room under the hood with the V6.
http://www.duratecperformance.com has a lot of stuff in development for both engines, and says 30hp should be easy to attain.
Also, be aware that some come here and read only a post or two and leave. Some may read that post and decide to buy an Accord or Camry. Of course, if they do that, they probably were going to anyway, and you did them a service by confirming what they already knew. (Then again, why would they be here at all if that were the case?)
Thanks for the lightening it up!
Other than APPEARANCE, what will the differences be?
I'd be careful about chasing HP - (and yes, I know this is something of an old argument), but when you start adding HP, the concern becomes where the engine makes it. If it's way up near redline - who really cares? You've got to literally strangle the motor and run close to the rev limiter to get at it. Reliability then becomes an issue.
If it's down low, fabulous. But for the most part, that's unlikely. A lot of times when power is added, it pushes the overall power curve higher up into the rev range. At low, in-town speeds, the car becomes an absolute pig. Peaky is the word I guess - shrinking powerband. Looks great on paper and during bench-racing, but isn't terribly useful on the street.
Oh, and I loved the "review".
a) What is less torque steer?
b) What is a more fun and rewarding drive?
c) What is more driver interaction and shifting?
d) all of the above
Don't forget to buzz in before engaging in the debate reufus has chosen :-)
So my motorcycle heritage shines through. Ok, I admit it. Peaky engines with tiny power curves up near redline on bikes (or cars) suck.
The point was this - adding HP to the stock engine may result in more power, but packaged in a smaller power band that begins farther up the rev range.
I never said peaky engines were bad, but the transmission is geared to take advantage of the stock motor. Start pushing the power around the tach and you may not like what you end up with. The end result may not be as much fun as the original.
One thing that really annoyed me was that I saw a guy in a 6 pulling a trailer with a couple dirt bikes on it. Doesn't that idiot know that to pull anything you need an SUV (the patriotic kind)? I bet the joker got like 25 mpg on his trip too. This doesn't bode well for supporting an invasion into Iraq.
ANYWAY the engine light is on because it has recognized a change in vacuum pressure in your system causing you to be less efficient in your emissions. This is due to a small plastic clip (or ending) on one of the vacuum hoses (I think it is near the firewall) that has broken making the connection loose. This didn't change the way the car ran for me at all (even when pushing it a little).
One of those silly little things you get with new suppliers and new products.
I don't know the terms but I can handle the car. Besides always having a love for driving (especially if the wind is in my hair) I have even had a little training in spins and corrections, driving lines etc before taking the afternoon in a Formula4 car at Laguna Seca.
I posted the 4th fastest time of 16 men and 4 women (and remember I am one of the later) and am the only one of those four that never tasted dirt during the day (of course I broke loose once but that just ads the beauty of learning where the limits are). Given more time behind the wheel, the finess would have beaten the testosterone laden men, ,who were out for pure power (who pushed much harder than their skills)
What does this have to do with the 6? Everything. That is why I love the 6. Those who want pure power (not to imply that is you maltb) can buy another car that will make them happy. For me, Power and 2 way Communication between car and driver, makes us one.
While driving... I am Mazda6...hear me roar;)
but...a new package will be available starting with Feb allocation.. which means it will be in the showrroms for May.
1AP...Appearance Package which will be avail on the 'S' and 'i' models. It includes front air dam, side sill extentions, rear skirt and exhaust tips....(not avail with sport pkg & mud guards) MSRP $900
Hopefully they'll keep tweaking and make the Power Moonroof and Spoiler stand-alones, too. And do it for the Hatchback, also.
Would also like to have GRAY interior, not black. But you have to have black if you get the Sport package.
Keep emailing Mazda to let them know what you want! MUSA@mazdausa.com
/WebX?ed_displayMakeModelRelatedD- iscussions@@.ee92044!make=Mazda&model=6
LOL...ROFL...FOCROFL........
great going.....and was that original?
Good to read that they're listening to the small bunch of us who don't want a spoiler.
Now if only they'd release an MPS we'd be in business. A thicker rear swaybar (to make the car oversteer or at least neutral) would be nice too but that's a simple aftermarket mod.
It's not selling well yet. So don't speak too soon.
What you described was textbook understeer. If you let off the throttle too abruptly, the rear of the car can swing around as the fronts gain traction and the rear unloads. I spun doing exactly that in a FWD car on my first track day.