One thing I really liked about the M6 is it *looked* really easy to get the 6s with cloth, Auto transmission and sports package (including the 17 inch wheels) This is all I really wanted. But the only ones within thousands of miles of my home are white. (one lapis blue, I want grey)
I don't want a sunroof, I don't want leather. But I also don't want white. I think I have a better chance of actually finding this car the way I want than some folks who want a sunroof but no leather.
This configuration looks simple... but is like a needle in the haystack out at the dealers.
for the manual tranny in the market. It's not very active though.
If the manual transmission market in this country contracts further, then the only cars that will still be able to provide them (via special order) will be the Europeans. They still have strong demand for them largely due to the more rigorous driver training and "artistic" driving environment. Most automatics do not the offer responsiveness needed for euro city driving IMO.
Don't you think MT demand would be a little higher in the US if everyone had to drive one to get their license?
Ok so with dealers being able to trade amongst themselves and each dealers inventory (in the NW) showing about 10-20 cars (among about 7 or 8 dealerships within 50 miles of my house). You would think this gives a lot of flexibility for colors/package combos. But if you look closely at the inventory they all have the same thing, thus cookie01 can't find her car. Maybe dealers feel this is good business but if Mazda's balance sheet is any indication, it does not seem to be working (this is assuming they are doing the same thing with other cars of course).
Maybe that is the problem, we Americans are too lazy to learn a manual so we use an automatic to get our license (Not me) and then never bother to learn a manual. This could go into a brand new discussion board about why we Americans are so lazy... But I still think the lazy contingency of Americans will not be interested in this car because their large back sides will not fit in the seats well and there wont be enough "elbow room". Buy a pair of sneakers and get out and see our beautiful country up close (on foot) and you will find that some things that take a bit of extra effort are worth every calorie. (bbaggens steps down from soap box)
Americans don't have a monopoly on laziness. It's tough to get a stick here as well. My first car (back in 85) was an 81 Mustang with a manual transmission. I couldn't even drive it home the day I bought it. I learned (had no choice) and have preferred manual ever since.
I would expect the buyers of Mazda 6 with manual transmission would be higher than average- because people looking at this car want to be different.
I've always wanted a V6 with man trans, but for reasons of practicality have not been interested in a 2 door. I give Mazda credit for offering what I want.
I disagree with your view that people don't want driving fun in a car if they wanna buy a "vanilla AT". I always buy AT cars, because I commute in very heavy traffic and don't want to take the time to work a stick shift. I still like a car with driving enjoyment though. So that statement is not totally true.
I do agree with your view that people don't want driving fun in a car if they wanna buy a "vanilla AT". I always buy MT cars, because I commute in very heavy traffic which gives me the time to play with a stick shift. I am rewarded with better mileage, power, and reliability. So that statement is true.
Don't hate me Vocus!
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The benefits of a manual are greater in a city. The mileage difference is greater, and low gear (not high gear) acceleration improves the most with a manual. Driving in traffic is more fun with a manual because it gives me something to do other than... wait. I dunno about you guys, but my foot gets tired from not doing anything but covering my brake in an auto.
The 6's clutch (as are most modern clutches) is so, so light. I don't see how one's foot can get tired- especially after a week of getting accustomed to it. When the car is stopped, shift into neutral and you won't have to hold the clutch down. Does your arm get tired then? Give me a break! With radio adjustments on the left side of the steering wheel, your right arm shouldn't be doing anything.
Some have said people who buy manuals do so because they think they are superior. Well, I wouldn't say that, but the cars clearly perform better in every respect. What's worse? The more expensive, more poorly performing car or the person who wants it?
Especially for the '6, the benefits are HUGE. I wouldn't of bought this car with an auto- no stinkin' way!!! In an Accord, the benefits aren't as drastic.
Why is it that people don't want to "deal" with a MT in traffic? It's not much to deal with and most of the time it is subconscious. What else are you doing while sitting in traffic anyway? (And don't tell me talking on your cell phone...that's a whole different conversation) :-) I agree with stretchsje...the MT actually gives you something to do while in traffic and you can make the most out of it.
It's a good thing I don't order cars based upon what the edmunds boards say...LOL
Based upon what I read on here we should have 70%-80% of our mazda6's with a M/T but so far our Mazda6 M/T sales represent 5% of our sales....I've got a few sport package 'S' models with a handshaker and they are doing nothing but take up space. I was actually lured by the posts on here early on and we had M/T as part of our initial allocation....many dealers did not. So far the demand is not there to increase M/T inventory.
So more of you need to stop threating to buy a Mazda6 with a M/T and actually do it!!!. Nothing increases production like strong sales.
"Later they can produce more automatics, if they think they will sell, but personally the people who I know who like automatics don't want a tight steering, fun to drive, car but are looking more for proven reliability and space and comfort/convenience which leads them to other makers (we all know who)."
If that was the case I wouldn't be driving a PRO now (and I wouldn't be looking at the 6 as my next new car most likely).
I knew I had to get a car that my mom and I could share for 3-4 years while I finish school (to keep unnecessary expenses down - since she rarely drives anyway) and the requirements from her were:
4DR AUTO A/C Under $25.000 CAD everything included (taxes, interest, etc) Had to be NEW, not used.
Whatever I wanted I would get it (as long as it wasn't American): Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota, Kia were ok with her.
I wanted a car that could handle and still enjoy driving, even though it was going to be AT.
The PRO ES fit the bill and now I'm a HUGE Mazda fan! If Mazda would only offer the PRO as 5spd, I would have never taken one for a test drive and most likely ended up with a Sentra or Civic, and never know what driving fun is all about.
I have never owned a manual car, and no one I know knows how to drive one either. That's a bit of a factor, but not as big as the traffic thing to me.
And I wish I could take the train to work, but getting from work to the train station and back is too much work, so I drive.
The worst traffic I was ever in took me 45 mins. to get 8 miles at about 5mph or less. That cured me (for now) of a stick shift. I am going to try to learn to drive a stick this weekend with a friend of mine though, so my mind might change once I get a better feel for it. We shall see.
MT or AT, traffic has the same effect on me: I don't like it. I don't find it any worse to shift or engage/disengage the clutch. What really bugs me about an M/T car is trying to hold my cell phone, eat a burritos and shift at the same time; what a PITA that is!
I know we've told you this before, but you really owe it to yourself to learn. Driving the '6 with an auto is like eating a fancy meal with novocaine. Same food, can't taste it. An automatic numbs the driving experience.
A friend of mine learned in two hours before taking a leap of faith (on my recommendation) and buying a 5spd Protege. He was primarily motivated by the money savings. He was wishy-washy on it for a few weeks, but as best as I can tell, he's a manual-for-life guy now.
I think the people here are more "enthusiast" oriented (that's why we're here). This is why it's skewed towards the MT. If I was a dealer I sure wouldn't order stock based on what I read here. Unfortunately dealers mostly want you to buy what they have on the lot, and most I have spoken to aren't very enthusiastic about ordering one for you. The salespeople usually don't even want to discuss ordering as it takes too long to get their commission, and then it might be a "mini" anyway, so I can understand why. The thing that bugs me is that dealers will withhold information that the customer asks for, because giving out the info could make it less likely the customer will buy something they have on the lot. I don't see solution to that one, except calling Mazda durectly for the info.
"That driving a manual is too much work, consider the train..."
There is no train to get me where I need to go and I've driven a manual for 12 years. To each their own about the MT, but mine is an steptronic, which to me is the best of both worlds.
vocus, I am curious how you can say an auto is better than a manual if you don't know how to drive a manual. (Good luck this weekend but remember it does take some getting used to, after a month or so it is second nature and you don't even think about shifting).
dinu01, It sounds like you would rather have a stick but can't because its a shared car. Thats fine, I am simply saying I drove both on the 6 and the MT is sweet. The Auto laggs between shifts whether you use the "manual mode" or not and just plain wasn't as much fun. I have to agree with the person who said why pay more for a worse performing, more gas guzzling car...Unless you can't drive the alternative.
In defense of AT my wife (who much prefers MT's) has an AT now and says it is much nicer because we have two small kids and she is constantly retrieving a pacifier or a toy or whatever else... but that is on a mini van/commuter car and yes it fits for that role but I can't see anyone buying a 6 for that kind of role (there's not enough space).
I don't understand why if only 5% of the sales are MT's and 12% were allocated to MT's I can only find about 2 MT's out of about 150 cars at dealers within 50 miles of here. Also when I look at pricing and talk pricing with sales men the AT go for 1000 under MSRP where the MT get quoted at MSRP.
I just checked the online inventory for my nearest Mazda dealership (20 miles away): 9 Mazda6's. 6 6i's and 3 6s's. Zero, repeat zero with manual transmission. I can't even get my $35 gift certificate because these guys don't have a car I will condescend to test drive, let alone buy. (Did that sound snooty enough? )
I posted before that the last allocation of Mazda6 V6 MT allowed only about 35 for 170 dealers in our Midwest region. That is why they are hard to find. Was it around 200 for the whole country? I can't remember now.
Plus... A good number of the ones coming in are already spoken for because someone beat y'all to the punch and ordered the car!
I still have the latest ordering configurations but as yet have no hints on what it will look like in March. Email me if you want me to send you a copy.
I test drove a 6 at a local dealer that showed twenty 6's in their inventory, only one being a manual (6i). The one manual had been sold to someone who had come in looking for a 6s manual but found the i had plenty of power (!). The salesman commented that they couldn't get rid of their 626 manuals, but they've seen a much bigger demand for 6 manuals. The figure I've seen is 8% of all cars sold in the US are manuals; 12% for a sportier midsized sedan seems reasonable. They just need to make their way to the correct dealerships.
OK I did some research and I was slightly off on my numbers. I checked 8 dealers within 50 miles of my house (Seattle area). There were 73 vehicles of which 8 were Manual Trans so that is close to the 12% figure but only 3 were S models. The driving enthusiast is not going to want an I manual they want an S manual. The only reason I can see for there being so many I manuals is to get people into the car based on price.
Anyway, I didn't want to put numbers out there that were just my guesses. I must say now that the S MT should have more production at the begining and could taper off. This is the car that dealers seem to be more stingy with (on price) and so I believe it must be selling well. I would say they should move some of the MT allocation from I to S models. Maybe do a 95-5 mix in the I's and a 80-20 mix in the S's.
Oh well, I have time because I am not buying one until I can drive the RX8, at which point I will decide if the extra 5000 is worth it or not. By that time maybe there will be a glut of S MT's for me to choose from.
Right now the 6 is the best car for the money I have driven. It's not the most powerful but I like curvy roads with enough umph to jet out of the sharp turns.
"So more of you need to stop threating to buy a Mazda6 with a M/T and actually do it!!!. Nothing increases production like strong sales."
Hmm. When I was test driving them I could only find one S MT (it had 100 test drive miles on it) and the dealer said there were a ton of calls from other dealers trying to trade for it, they wouldn't give it up. This was in early January so maybe things have changed. Maybe the dealer wishes he would have been a little more flexible on price (wouldn't come close to TMV) but as of early January in the NW the S MT was sought after.
"The driving enthusiast is not going to want an I manual they want an S manual. The only reason I can see for there being so many I manuals is to get people into the car based on price."
The I4 is plenty when it's a 5spd. Personally I don't want a V6 car - more gas (more $), more weight, costs thousands more, and very little benefits.
I'm 100% w/Stretchsje on this one: It's WAY more fun driving a slow car fast than a fast car slow... Not to say the I4 is slow, but you get our idea.
Well, I never drove the i because in test drives of other cars I hated the gutless 4 bangers, but you guys seem pretty convinced that less hp can be more (maybe due to less weight etc..)
Maybe it is worth a try. I can't rightly knock something I haven't driven now, can I?
Consider the previous statement rescinded with my apologies.
This manual auto debate is pretty funny. I have raced cars for years and I would never buy a daily driver with a manual. I can always listen to music if I am board. I sometimes ride the train because driving in traffic is always boring, more so with a manual. The only time a manual is interesting to me is when you can drive the car at the limit; which isn't a wise thing to do on a public highway.
Maybe I will give the 6i a try (MT of course) it could be that since it is the handling I love about the car anyway, the hp is not so important.
The other cars I drove were the more typical sedans and there was nothing exciting about the drive so you needed the bigger engine to get anything out of it. But I must admit the HP is not what gave me an ear to ear grin when I drove the 6.
Definately try the 6i MT. I'm not sure if you can do the same tricks with the heavier 6s, but in the 6i it's possible to slam on the brakes, jerk the wheel, and get the rear to slip around.
I did this on accident the other day, and have been doing it on purpose ever since.
One thing reviews have noted is the 6i's natural tendency can have a slight oversteer in turns, whereas the 6s only understeers.
The 6i has plenty of go through second gear, that's all I care about. I usually don't pass much on the highway- aggressive drivers on congested highways irritate me.
Would I race a 6i? In an autocross, certainly. I'd bet it'd be equal to a 6s- making up in turns what it loses in straights. Unlike Dino, I try not to shift before 5000rpms when I have the chance. Usually I shift before 3k due to traffic, hence I'm getting great mileage.
BTW: saw my first 6 on the road today! In the snow on the Capital Beltway near the Connecticut Ave exit. Black, premium package- dunno if it was a 6i or 6s. Couldn't see the driver- they were slightly reclined. I tried giving a thumbs up, but they weren't paying attention. I was pretty excited- hadn't seen one other than my own yet. Seen hundreds of '03 Accords.
The cool thing was, I thought, "Nice Car!" Then, "Wait! That's MY CAR!!!!!"
One thing to keep in mind is that if 10% of the consumer demand is for manuals, it means the average dealer with 10 cars on the lot will have one manual and nine autos. But if one person buys a manual, then they're immediately out of stock. This is much more likely to happen than to suddenly have nine auto buyers walk through the door. It's just a statistical thing.
I think Mazda has learned a lot from their option package issues. I think it is not so much that option bundling is bad - it is that Mazda just did a miserable job of it. There was even a letter in one of the major car mag's about it this month. Honda seems to be able to get away with it much more successfully - I occasionally see someone lament that they can't get their LX or EX with what they want, but it is rare.
I drove MTs from 1974 to 1997, and before that between 1953 and 1961. The gap years I drove AT's when I was buying American cars. From 1997, I have driven AT Accords, Civic, and my current Protegé.
MT's are fun IF you have roads with sharp curves and hills, or mountains to play on. In traffic manual trannys become a chore, always in the wrong gear, and most MT drivers usually are. What I got tired of was shifting when parking in mall lots and the constant pulling up, stopping, backing, and pulling into spaces. Which will be the case with the Mazda6's unusually large 38.7 foot turning circle for such a small car. It won't be able to make a U-turn on most streets without stopping and backing up.
Young drivers enjoy it, I did too for many years, but older drivers get tired of it. Past 55 older drivers begin to have leg cramps and holding a clutch in brings them on. They have to be able to pull over quickly and get out of the car to relieve the pain. Surprisingly, orange juice prevents cramps, it's the potassium.
There is also the perception by business types that a manual tranny is "entry level". That's why luxury cars have AT trannys, it's what your business prospects expect when you drive them to lunch. Appearances play a big part in today's business world. If a client is conservative you don't want to give the impression you are a "boy racer".
As for "animal rights" folks and leather seats: most leather for car seats is obtained from slaughter and meat packing houses. They don't waste anything, there's a market for all the unused parts. Being against leather seats will not save the animals; they are headed for McDonald's and your favourite steak restaurant anyhow.
For those under 48 -- ENJOY your MT's. But I will bet most of you will drive AT's before you are 40. By the way, I didn't change back to AT's until I was 66.
But I have a automatic in the garage for days I just don't feel like shifting. I drove it today and it was a treat not to have to shift. You can listen to the radio talk on the phone and everything. Much less distraction than having to shift.
I've driven both in traffic and I'd much rather drive tha automatic. I mean you have a 6 changer and a stereo for entertainment. While I don't mind a little traffic every now and then, if I had to commute every day in it I wouldn't do it in a stick.
Now that I know I can order a 6s-MT with just the SAB/SAC package, I'm seriously considering the V6. This was the configuration I originally wanted, but before I heard about (and experienced) the exceptional handling of the 6i-MT. I don't mind the extra cost of the 6s, and I think I'm willing to take a small trade-off in handling for the extra power. Anybody wanna try to talk me out of it? Can anyone point me to a review or comparo of the 6s-MT (no autos please).
BTW, the mazdausa.com web site should be updated with the 21 new available option combos next week, or shortly after. Get ready for some pleasant surprizes. I appears they've been listening to our bitching and whining.
I say I prefer auto (for now) because of dealing with kids in the car, traffic, and not learning. I won't be able to learn this weekend now, as 10 inches of snow have fallen in the MD/DC area in the past 12 or so hours. Maybe it's a sign??
I don't understand Mazda 6 marketing--it's supposed to be a 'sporty alternative' to Acc/Cam, yet there are few, if any, sticks in the dealer mix. I visited a dealer recently and there were dozens of AT 6's on the lot, and they weren't selling. The kid salesman tried to push one on me. I declined and gave him my phone number to call if a base stick arrived. He never called back...........Everyone sez they don't want a stick b/c they're difficult in traffic. I don't believe it. Driving in traffic is easy; there's no need to be in gear constantly. If you're not moving, just drop into neutral. If traffic inches ahead, drop into 2d, give the gas a burst, dump the clutch, go back to neutral and coast. Quick and easy. And some gearboxes are so precise, it's effortless........I'm convinced a MT driver is more attentive than an AT driver. No question.
I like the cool guys who lay back and to the center in the their ATs and keep just one wrist on top of the steering wheel as they blast past me on the interstate. Those guys are my idols.
If anybody is looking for manuals in Western Michigan, the two Mazda dealers in Grand Rapids have 6 manuals out of a total stock of 32 cars, according to mazdausa.com. That's 5 i's and 1 s. Two of the i's are fully loaded, one of the other 3 is a stripper (hah), and the other two have Prem.,SAB/SAC,ABS/TCS. The s has Comf Pkg., Leather, Moonroof, 6CD.
Comments
This is all I really wanted. But the only ones within thousands of miles of my home are white. (one lapis blue, I want grey)
I don't want a sunroof, I don't want leather. But I also don't want white.
I think I have a better chance of actually finding this car the way I want than some folks who want a sunroof but no leather.
This configuration looks simple... but is like a needle in the haystack out at the dealers.
sigh...
If the manual transmission market in this country contracts further, then the only cars that will still be able to provide them (via special order) will be the Europeans. They still have strong demand for them largely due to the more rigorous driver training and "artistic" driving environment. Most automatics do not the offer responsiveness needed for euro city driving IMO.
Don't you think MT demand would be a little higher in the US if everyone had to drive one to get their license?
I would expect the buyers of Mazda 6 with manual transmission would be higher than average- because people looking at this car want to be different.
I've always wanted a V6 with man trans, but for reasons of practicality have not been interested in a 2 door. I give Mazda credit for offering what I want.
Don't hate me Vocus!
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The benefits of a manual are greater in a city. The mileage difference is greater, and low gear (not high gear) acceleration improves the most with a manual. Driving in traffic is more fun with a manual because it gives me something to do other than... wait. I dunno about you guys, but my foot gets tired from not doing anything but covering my brake in an auto.
The 6's clutch (as are most modern clutches) is so, so light. I don't see how one's foot can get tired- especially after a week of getting accustomed to it. When the car is stopped, shift into neutral and you won't have to hold the clutch down. Does your arm get tired then? Give me a break! With radio adjustments on the left side of the steering wheel, your right arm shouldn't be doing anything.
Some have said people who buy manuals do so because they think they are superior. Well, I wouldn't say that, but the cars clearly perform better in every respect. What's worse? The more expensive, more poorly performing car or the person who wants it?
Especially for the '6, the benefits are HUGE. I wouldn't of bought this car with an auto- no stinkin' way!!! In an Accord, the benefits aren't as drastic.
Mike
Based upon what I read on here we should have 70%-80% of our mazda6's with a M/T but so far our Mazda6 M/T sales represent 5% of our sales....I've got a few sport package 'S' models with a handshaker and they are doing nothing but take up space. I was actually lured by the posts on here early on and we had M/T as part of our initial allocation....many dealers did not. So far the demand is not there to increase M/T inventory.
So more of you need to stop threating to buy a Mazda6 with a M/T and actually do it!!!. Nothing increases production like strong sales.
If that was the case I wouldn't be driving a PRO now (and I wouldn't be looking at the 6 as my next new car most likely).
I knew I had to get a car that my mom and I could share for 3-4 years while I finish school (to keep unnecessary expenses down - since she rarely drives anyway) and the requirements from her were:
4DR
AUTO
A/C
Under $25.000 CAD everything included (taxes, interest, etc)
Had to be NEW, not used.
Whatever I wanted I would get it (as long as it wasn't American): Honda, Nissan, Hyundai, Mazda, Toyota, Kia were ok with her.
I wanted a car that could handle and still enjoy driving, even though it was going to be AT.
The PRO ES fit the bill and now I'm a HUGE Mazda fan! If Mazda would only offer the PRO as 5spd, I would have never taken one for a test drive and most likely ended up with a Sentra or Civic, and never know what driving fun is all about.
Dinu
I have never owned a manual car, and no one I know knows how to drive one either. That's a bit of a factor, but not as big as the traffic thing to me.
And I wish I could take the train to work, but getting from work to the train station and back is too much work, so I drive.
The worst traffic I was ever in took me 45 mins. to get 8 miles at about 5mph or less. That cured me (for now) of a stick shift. I am going to try to learn to drive a stick this weekend with a friend of mine though, so my mind might change once I get a better feel for it. We shall see.
:-)
A friend of mine learned in two hours before taking a leap of faith (on my recommendation) and buying a 5spd Protege. He was primarily motivated by the money savings. He was wishy-washy on it for a few weeks, but as best as I can tell, he's a manual-for-life guy now.
Unfortunately dealers mostly want you to buy what they have on the lot, and most I have spoken to aren't very enthusiastic about ordering one for you. The salespeople usually don't even want to discuss ordering as it takes too long to get their commission, and then it might be a "mini" anyway, so I can understand why.
The thing that bugs me is that dealers will withhold information that the customer asks for, because giving out the info could make it less likely the customer will buy something they have on the lot. I don't see solution to that one, except calling Mazda durectly for the info.
There is no train to get me where I need to go and I've driven a manual for 12 years. To each their own about the MT, but mine is an steptronic, which to me is the best of both worlds.
dinu01, It sounds like you would rather have a stick but can't because its a shared car. Thats fine, I am simply saying I drove both on the 6 and the MT is sweet. The Auto laggs between shifts whether you use the "manual mode" or not and just plain wasn't as much fun. I have to agree with the person who said why pay more for a worse performing, more gas guzzling car...Unless you can't drive the alternative.
In defense of AT my wife (who much prefers MT's) has an AT now and says it is much nicer because we have two small kids and she is constantly retrieving a pacifier or a toy or whatever else... but that is on a mini van/commuter car and yes it fits for that role but I can't see anyone buying a 6 for that kind of role (there's not enough space).
I don't understand why if only 5% of the sales are MT's and 12% were allocated to MT's I can only find about 2 MT's out of about 150 cars at dealers within 50 miles of here. Also when I look at pricing and talk pricing with sales men the AT go for 1000 under MSRP where the MT get quoted at MSRP.
Something is just not adding up?????
Oh yeah! MT all the way!
Paul: You gotta learn stick soon
Dinu
Plus... A good number of the ones coming in are already spoken for because someone beat y'all to the punch and ordered the car!
I still have the latest ordering configurations but as yet have no hints on what it will look like in March. Email me if you want me to send you a copy.
Anyway, I didn't want to put numbers out there that were just my guesses. I must say now that the S MT should have more production at the begining and could taper off. This is the car that dealers seem to be more stingy with (on price) and so I believe it must be selling well. I would say they should move some of the MT allocation from I to S models. Maybe do a 95-5 mix in the I's and a 80-20 mix in the S's.
Oh well, I have time because I am not buying one until I can drive the RX8, at which point I will decide if the extra 5000 is worth it or not. By that time maybe there will be a glut of S MT's for me to choose from.
Right now the 6 is the best car for the money I have driven. It's not the most powerful but I like curvy roads with enough umph to jet out of the sharp turns.
Hmm. When I was test driving them I could only find one S MT (it had 100 test drive miles on it) and the dealer said there were a ton of calls from other dealers trying to trade for it, they wouldn't give it up. This was in early January so maybe things have changed. Maybe the dealer wishes he would have been a little more flexible on price (wouldn't come close to TMV) but as of early January in the NW the S MT was sought after.
Whoa whoa whoa, not true! We're into this car for the handling, no? I'm quite happy with my 6i, and look forward to autocrossing with it.
"It's more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow."
The I4 is plenty when it's a 5spd. Personally I don't want a V6 car - more gas (more $), more weight, costs thousands more, and very little benefits.
I'm 100% w/Stretchsje on this one: It's WAY more fun driving a slow car fast than a fast car slow... Not to say the I4 is slow, but you get our idea.
Dinu
Maybe it is worth a try. I can't rightly knock something I haven't driven now, can I?
Consider the previous statement rescinded with my apologies.
If it was a car that would be set as a racecar (think SCCA competition) and only for racing (circuit or rally), yeah!
My daily driver is babied so it keeps running and running for many many years. No hard shifts would be allowed, no taking it to 5000+RPMs.
Dinu
The other cars I drove were the more typical sedans and there was nothing exciting about the drive so you needed the bigger engine to get anything out of it. But I must admit the HP is not what gave me an ear to ear grin when I drove the 6.
I did this on accident the other day, and have been doing it on purpose ever since.
One thing reviews have noted is the 6i's natural tendency can have a slight oversteer in turns, whereas the 6s only understeers.
The 6i has plenty of go through second gear, that's all I care about. I usually don't pass much on the highway- aggressive drivers on congested highways irritate me.
Would I race a 6i? In an autocross, certainly. I'd bet it'd be equal to a 6s- making up in turns what it loses in straights. Unlike Dino, I try not to shift before 5000rpms when I have the chance. Usually I shift before 3k due to traffic, hence I'm getting great mileage.
BTW: saw my first 6 on the road today! In the snow on the Capital Beltway near the Connecticut Ave exit. Black, premium package- dunno if it was a 6i or 6s. Couldn't see the driver- they were slightly reclined. I tried giving a thumbs up, but they weren't paying attention. I was pretty excited- hadn't seen one other than my own yet. Seen hundreds of '03 Accords.
The cool thing was, I thought, "Nice Car!" Then, "Wait! That's MY CAR!!!!!"
I think Mazda has learned a lot from their option package issues. I think it is not so much that option bundling is bad - it is that Mazda just did a miserable job of it. There was even a letter in one of the major car mag's about it this month. Honda seems to be able to get away with it much more successfully - I occasionally see someone lament that they can't get their LX or EX with what they want, but it is rare.
- Mark
MT's are fun IF you have roads with sharp curves and hills, or mountains to play on. In traffic manual trannys become a chore, always in the wrong gear, and most MT drivers usually are. What I got tired of was shifting when parking in mall lots and the constant pulling up, stopping, backing, and pulling into spaces. Which will be the case with the Mazda6's unusually large 38.7 foot turning circle for such a small car. It won't be able to make a U-turn on most streets without stopping and backing up.
Young drivers enjoy it, I did too for many years, but older drivers get tired of it. Past 55 older drivers begin to have leg cramps and holding a clutch in brings them on. They have to be able to pull over quickly and get out of the car to relieve the pain. Surprisingly, orange juice prevents cramps, it's the potassium.
There is also the perception by business types that a manual tranny is "entry level". That's why luxury cars have AT trannys, it's what your business prospects expect when you drive them to lunch. Appearances play a big part in today's business world. If a client is conservative you don't want to give the impression you are a "boy racer".
As for "animal rights" folks and leather seats: most leather for car seats is obtained from slaughter and meat packing houses. They don't waste anything, there's a market for all the unused parts. Being against leather seats will not save the animals; they are headed for McDonald's and your favourite steak restaurant anyhow.
For those under 48 -- ENJOY your MT's. But I will bet most of you will drive AT's before you are 40. By the way, I didn't change back to AT's until I was 66.
fowler3
I don't plan on giving up a manual tranny as long as they are available. Probably step up to a SMG someday, but I'm not going AT or CVT.
I've driven both in traffic and I'd much rather drive tha automatic. I mean you have a 6 changer and a stereo for entertainment. While I don't mind a little traffic every now and then, if I had to commute every day in it I wouldn't do it in a stick.
Grrr.
Thank you, I'll be here 'til Thursday. Try the veal!
Mike
And yet hundreds of people rear-end each other in traffic every day.
BTW, the mazdausa.com web site should be updated with the 21 new available option combos next week, or shortly after. Get ready for some pleasant surprizes. I appears they've been listening to our bitching and whining.
We are all aware of generalizations, here's another one. MT drivers take more risks on the road than AT drivers.
I like the cool guys who lay back and to the center in the their ATs and keep just one wrist on top of the steering wheel as they blast past me on the interstate. Those guys are my idols.