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But yes, I will say the car was fun to drive. In fact, I only had about a 10 minute test drive and afterwards as I was driving home in my sensible but unexciting Civic, I did have this yearning to "go again"... kind of how you feel after you've been on a roller coaster ride. I suppose if I had that feeling everyday with a 6, that could change the way I look at driving.
As I've been researching the 6 for the last few weeks, it's been amazing to me that almost every single consumer and professional review (and I've read probably more than a hundred by now) uses the word "fun" to describe driving this car. And now I'm using that word also.
I'm still not sure why I thought it was fun. The car handled very well and really zoomed along, just like the Mazda commercials say. I also liked some of the "little things" like the remote seat release in the trunk, storage bin over the red LED stereo display (also cool) and the controls on the steering wheel (including a radio mute button). All of these were nice touches.
The inside did not seem to be much bigger than my Civic, though. Not sure if that's a bad thing yet. I guess it added to the small sport car feel.
So will I buy one? I'm not sure yet. The salesman turned me off a little right at the start by saying "No discounts or special financing, these cars are hot right now!" Guess he didn't know about the 2.9% for 60 months financing deal from Mazda. Of course, by the end of the test drive he was all eager to make a deal.
I think I'll take another, longer test drive at another dealer. Would like to take it on a freeway and some bumby roads.
I'm also going to test drive a Camry, Accord and Altmia. Looked at the new Gran Prix too, but it seems about the same size or smaller than the 6 with a lot cheaper looking interior... but costing thousands more!
yeah, but that doesn't seem to matter to the general faithful.
I wasn't blown away by the 6 on the test drive...but indeed is pleasing to drive, moreso than just about aby affordable car these days.
Mazda6 actually is hot seller, it sells better (and is better) than any other Japanese car, read this:
"The hottest-selling car in Europe? It might just be the Mazda6, which is driving a major turnaround for Ford's Japanese brand.
Mazda sold 34,869 units of the upper-medium model in the first four months of 2003. The Mazda6 went on sale almost a year ago.
Its success helped boost Mazda sales by more than 40 percent in the January to April period, to 70,184 units. Mazda sales were up nearly 57 percent in April alone, to 18,276 units.
Mazda's growth has been the single biggest reason Japanese carmakers captured 12.2 percent of the western European market in the first four months of the year, up from 11.1 percent in the same period last year. Still, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Lexus, and Suzuki all grew sales last month.
The Mazda6 has also done well in Germany. The model accounts for more than half of Mazda sales there. It helped Mazda grab nearly 3 percent of the German market in the first four months of 2003, up from 1.85 percent in the same period last year.
The Mazda6 was narrowly beaten by the second Renault Megane in the European Car of the Year voting last year.
Europe's new-car sales were 1,219,605 units in April, down 6.5 percent. ACEA, the European automakers' association, blamed the war in Iraq and depressed economies.
Volkswagen-brand sales fell by 15.4 percent in April, to 120,713 units. "The month-to-month trend is deteriorating," said Jürgen Pieper, auto analyst at Metzler Bank in Frankfurt. "I would expect that pattern to continue at least until they bring out the new Golf in the autumn."
Kia's sales surged by nearly 70 percent in April, to 10,780 units, outselling brands such as Mitsubishi, Saab and Lancia. At 0.9 percent, the Korean brand had the same market share as Britain's MG Rover.
-- Reuters News Service contributed"
What is the availability date for the Mazda3?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Is the 2.3 also going in the Mazda3?
-Jason
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
-Andrew L
I always thought that Ford lacks "cool" division like Pontiac or Dodge. Ford brand is kind of boring Chevrolet, Mercury is kind of more refined Ford for folks who want something more distinctive. So now seems that Ford finally decided to make Mazda kind of Pontiac - pseudo sport "zoom-zoom" division to catch younger audience. It is evident that Mazda cannot compete with big guys like Toyota/Honda/Nissan or GM/Ford/DC.
On the other hand Mazda is not intergrated into Ford as Pontiac, still has some unique Mazda technologies. They even refused to built Mazda6 on Mondeo platform, kind of rebelion against "parents". Mondeo might be a better platform than Mazda6, but folks from Mazda wanted to keep some distance from Ford.
On the other hand if laws in Japan change, Ford will be forced to buy remaining 70% of Mazda. If it is changed in another direction Mazda will simply die. So not much choice for Mazda. It is still alive because of Ford.
But anyway wants Mazda or not - the tendency is unification, so basically it will become kind of Pontiac of Ford sooner or later. If you don't believe - all new NA Fords will be based on Mazda6 platform and will use Mazda I4 engines and Mazda already uses Ford's (or will use new GM/Ford design)transmissions and V6 Duratec.
The big launch of the 6 did not go so well - less sales early on than they were hoping for - but that story is not complete yet. Give it a few months.
In the meantime there is the new 3 as well. They clearly did something s-o-o-o-o right with the Pro5, they should focus on that and continue it. There is a lot of slough in the Mazda closet - time to dump the ones that do not say zoom zoom!
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Toyota desparately tries to immitate VW with new Avensis (traditional rival of 626 aka Carina). But who wants immitation of Golf from Japan ? It is Europe after all.
About Ford buying only 30% I think that they spent just enough money to control the company. Why to take risk. I don't know European laws though.
As far as Mazda being Pontiac I don't think so. Both Pontiac and Mazda went different ways in the 90's: Mazda making their cars too bland and Pontiac overstyling their cars. Mazda and Pontiac both did have good sales in the late 80's/early 90's.
If Mazda just gets their act together they won't have to worry about Ford buying them. Just keep Ford Parts out of Mazda cars.
Remeber Ford has owned part of Mazda since the 70's so its nothing new.
One of the things Mazda has going for them is younger buyers. Mazda had no younger buyers in the mid to late 90's.
Mazda sales are down this year but I think they might repass Mitsu and Kia again. Mitsu sales are way down from the last couple of years. Kia really doesn't have anything exciting to offer except the 10 year warranty.
Well, there is something new to it:
Ford's original investment in Mazda was one of necessity. Ford had land in Japan that was bought by eminent domain and needed to invest it somewhere in Japan (to avoid tax penalties) so they happened upon Mazda without a big intent. It wasn't until '96 that Ford saw Mazda as an opportunity to develop in Asia. With the controlling additional investment, they have leveraged themselves into a better position there. In the current situation, Ford is in a much better position to use Mazda resources without bearing liability. Smart move on their part.
Kia is getting set to expand its lineup rapidly, while still selling on price for most of its models...price sells, and Mazda won't be able to match those prices...its only hope is to pursue the consumers who want some zip from their purchase...
Question is, if the '3' and RX8 sales don't go the way Ford wants in the first year, what will its "freak-out response" be? A lot of Mazda's future rests on that.
I REALLY hope RX8 sells like gangbusters, or you can bet that is the last rotary-powered car we will see from them.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I agree the RX-8 may be the last chance to see a rotary in the US. It shows persistence on the part of Mazda because they didn't give up on rotary design and at last talked Ford into giving it another try. I also found the P-5 to be a step in the right direction. I haven't driven a 6 yet but so far it sounds like a great car.
GM has very bad reputation, but if new GrandAm will look similar to concept shown in Detroit and based on new Vectra platform with sport tuning and good engine it may be a big hit. Will GM do it that way or will do it usually wrong we will see. I know its hard to believe that GM can do anything right, but they did exciting cars cars back in 60s. On the other hand americans like bland cars, you can do nothing about it.
I thought the early to mid 90's Toyota's were pretty boring. I thought last generation I saw an improvement in styling now with the latest they are going in step back in styling.
Keep in mind Mercedes, BMW, and VW sell well. I don't think the Passat is a boring looking car.
I think Acura's have a nice look to them. A little bland yes but still have a nice look to them.
Cadillac has managed to sell in your face styling cars and turn themselves around so has Nissan with "sporty looking cars".
I think Americans if offered will buy "sporty cars".
Ok on the subject of Kia: everything they have is based on a Hyundai platform and is basically a watered down Hyundai. They only thing they have the Optima. I wouldn't buy a Sedona. Spectra and Sephia are nothing great. I think Mazda will repass them.
About Mitsu they need a new designer. I think Chrysler is having too much input into Mitsu exterior designs. Mitsu on the new Galant really dropped the ball. I don't think buyers will come focking like they did in 98-99 when the last generation Galant came out.
Kia and Hunday are fast growing and they are taking place traditionally belonged to American cars. Those who want to buy more car for less money - the quality usually atributed to American cars, are buying Korean cars also because of good warranty (not trasferable though). So Japanese from one side and Koreans from another are just squeezing big three out of business.
Yeah speed is increasing on freeway so modern cars need better handling to be safe. Drivers need to be better educated and trained and speed limit needs to be increased to 80-85 mph on freeway (at least on the fast lane). Its 21 century.
Hey I heard in France they have something like 85 mph and it is a small country where people don't hurry !
Are we talking head count or waist size? :-)
I think Mitsu's quality has gone up in the past 5 years.
I like Hyundai a little bit. The Elantra and Tibiron are nice looking cars.
Kia I wouldn't miss them.
I read the WRX STi is not getting the same sport seats that the Canadian and other markets will get because they are too confining.
Mazda6 is a typical family midsize car in Europe that fits well to higher speed limits and better handling required on twisty Europeans road. To make a special family car only for America doesn't make much sence because Ford already covers that segment and competition is too tough with huge incentives.
I think it was right decision to keep Mazda as a cool division for younger buyers. Ford will make bigger family cars based on Mazda6 anyway.
I hope that new Stratus will have better style than Galant. But both of them have issues with quality, so it will take time to persuade buyers that now it is okey to seriously consider DC. Man, my boss has 1989 Celica and new Mercedes. He loves superreliable (and fun to drive) Celica and hates Mercedes because of quality issues. He even told me that will never consider Mercedes again, only Lexus for that matter. Can DaimlerBenz really be helpful with quality issues?
As far as DC products are concerned(Chrysler and Mercedes) Chrysler has gottten a lot better with that. Mercedes quality has seem to go downhill ever since the M-Class in what was it 1997 or 1998? I think Mercedes is making too many new products at once. I have heard representatives of dealers and representatives of Mercedes have had meetings about these quality issue's to straighten these quality issue's out.
Mike
Not gonna go into the Honda vs. Mazda thing. I'm sorry to disappoint.
I'm not buying. Along with others. I'm offering ideas as to why.
not as well in the 'heartland' (like Iowa or something, lol)
We have two Mazda dealers in the area. Plus, drivers around here do buy their share of vehicles with foreign nameplates. I don't know what is holding this car back.
Real catchy.
I prefer to call it MZ6