Mazda 6...any experience with this car out there? [Archive] (2024)

hdtwice

13th December 2004, 15:25

maitai92

13th December 2004, 15:38

Dr. How?

13th December 2004, 15:58

i rented one last year while my engine was being replaced. had it a couple of weeks, it was the automatic 4 cyl, it handled very very well for a front driver and had all the options.

this is not an expensive car, so for the price and that is soft now, it is a bargain.

personally i would not buy one, i would opt for a honda because of the quality and reliability, and i would probably pay more for it than the 6.

sajack

13th December 2004, 16:37

tej

13th December 2004, 16:44

Rented a 5-door Sport Hatch with a V6 last week. Spent an additional $4 over a Mercury Sable. Every good investment. Pleasantly surprised by the brakes and steering feedback. The Engine and tranny are lacking. Would be great with another 30-40hp, and possibly a 5spd auto box. However a 5spd Manual would solve most of the problems.

The Sport Hatch is a must have. The trunk is HUGE!. Plus the fastback look is much nicer than the sedan.

If the Mazdaspeed 6 ever came in a Sport Hatch, I would have to consider it for an OTM.

-Tej

chickdr

13th December 2004, 16:44

Originally posted by Dr. How?:

personally i would not buy one, i would opt for a honda because of the quality and reliability, and i would probably pay more for it than the 6. Why would you say that? The Mazda has a 4yr/50K warranty, the Honda a 3yr/36K. The 6 will be just as reliable as an Accord and you will get a better looking car at a better price. Plus the 6 is top rated in crash tests. If it were my wife - that would be a big factor.

UroTrash

13th December 2004, 16:50

Originally posted by chickdr:
Originally posted by Dr. How?:

personally i would not buy one, i would opt for a honda because of the quality and reliability, and i would probably pay more for it than the 6. Why would you say that? The Mazda has a 4yr/50K warranty, the Honda a 3yr/36K. The 6 will be just as reliable as an Accord and you will get a better looking car at a better price. Plus the 6 is top rated in crash tests. If it were my wife - that would be a big factor. I believe the depreciation curve will be much steeper with the Mazda than the Honda.

darth maulata

13th December 2004, 16:55

Affer some debating, my folks have traded thier 94 Impala SS on a new V6 Sport hatch. Nice car. Not a crazy performer, but a good, solid car with a hatch that can swallow a LOT of stuff.

I drove a sport wagon at the dealer and thier Hatch when they got it. I like it alot, if you can do the FWD thing. For me, my OTM has to have AWD, so that knocks the 6 out. However, if it were not an issue, i could nto think of a reasn not to get a 6.

HTHs

-jac

applejax

13th December 2004, 17:39

Mazda6Club Forums (http://forum.mazda6club.com/).

Lots of info and owners.

Fletcher

13th December 2004, 17:46

Search Function... Any experience with this feature out there?

If you search on "Mazda6" in the cartalk forum there's only 63 threads to choose from... :)

Fletch.

Rich Wilkman

13th December 2004, 17:50

UroTrash:

I'd take the other side of that bet. Honda doesn't seem to be quite the sure thing it used to be and you generally don't take your track record with you when you do a major re-design like the Accord did recently.

If you're worried about resale value, don't buy new.

-Rich

hepworth_clark

13th December 2004, 19:12

I nearly bought one to replace my totalled Miata. I loved the way it drove. I loved the steering. The V6 was pretty strong, but I must admit that overall it was a disappointing engine. The engine had a "gritty" feel to it and, hang me if you like, was not quite enough ponies for a real horse show.

That being said, had I not been in the market to buy a house, I would have snatched up the Mazda 6 based on the driving dynamics alone.

If you can still find an '04 model they are going for DIRT cheap.

marnold

13th December 2004, 20:31

90mtx

13th December 2004, 20:33

i have a 04 sportswagon, and i enjoy it. i bought it to replace my 94 taurus sho. the magazine stats are similar in all respects performance wise, but the 6 is more of a refined car. i guess that is what 10 years of suspension work will do for ya. i test drove a auto and manual and went with the manual, the auto really saps the power and overall feel of the car. the only thing i wish it had was an mp3 capable stereo (the 6 disc bose is nice though) and towing capacity. its wierd but mazda of england sells towing hitches for the 6?!!? must be us american drivers....

jon

Miyagi

13th December 2004, 21:16

Adrian T

13th December 2004, 22:38

enuttage

13th December 2004, 22:54

Originally posted by Dr. How?:
it handled very very well for a front driver:Snicker:

Don't tell the Lotus Elan M100 drivers!!

Or for that matter, the SCCA.

:)

orp2000

14th December 2004, 13:23

I really like the 6 wagon. If she needs an automatic the 6s gets a 6-speed auto for 2005, with manual shift capability. Certainly one of the better looking and better handling wagons out there.

The Accord handles like a waterbed.

Dave

hdtwice

14th December 2004, 17:22

Cars0n

15th December 2004, 07:59

1.6

15th December 2004, 08:56

Mad Merv

19th January 2005, 13:44

rloewy

19th January 2005, 14:20

These are nice cars - but if I were in your shoes I would go and look at the new Subaru Legacy - specifically the Legacy GT. A much nicer car for not a lot more money in my opinion.

However - they seem to have nice rebates on the 6 around here - so the financial incentive could be a lot bigger nowdays.

johnrhood

19th January 2005, 14:57

orp2000

19th January 2005, 16:47

Originally posted by johnrhood:
I rented one yesterday! It was a 6 cylinder automatic and my impressions are these: Sufficient power.. would be better with the stick, I'm sure. Huge trunk. Awful suspension...the car f;oated at speed and on a mild washboard road the suspension couldn't handle it well..much worse than any other car I have ever driven over this section of road. Finally, the cloth seats were pilling badly after 14,000 miles. Basically, I was uninpressed and would look elsewhere.. maybe an Altima or something. Wow, that just does not sound right. How was the tire inflation? Or perhaps the shocks wore out a bit prematurely. Bad alignment? The suspension and chassis (integral to proper handling) are really two of the strong suits of the 6 (though the 3 is better - partially because of size and weight). I'd say something was definitely wrong with the car you had. I've driven every model of the 6 (sedan, wagon, hatch) several times and over some pretty bad road conditions and my experience just does not match what you are describing. I can't speak for the seat issue though.

Respectfully,
Dave

Mad Merv

20th January 2005, 14:05

LBJay

20th January 2005, 15:13

95skids

20th January 2005, 16:49

Originally posted by UroTrash:
Originally posted by chickdr:
Originally posted by Dr. How?:

personally i would not buy one, i would opt for a honda because of the quality and reliability, and i would probably pay more for it than the 6. Why would you say that? The Mazda has a 4yr/50K warranty, the Honda a 3yr/36K. The 6 will be just as reliable as an Accord and you will get a better looking car at a better price. Plus the 6 is top rated in crash tests. If it were my wife - that would be a big factor. I believe the depreciation curve will be much steeper with the Mazda than the Honda. I've driven both. The Accord: High quality, bad styling, IMHO FUGLY, boring to drive. The 6 has soul and handles really well for WWD. I think the Japs make the best but ugliest cars in the world with few exceptions and most are Mazdas, especially the 3. I drive cars for 10 years or more, so resale doesn't mean much in $20,000 cars. I bought a 94 626 after wanting an Accord. I drove both, bought the 6er, and sold it last year to my brother with 170k. No, the absolute quality wasn't as good as the Accord, but I never regretted changing my mind and not buying an Accord. The 6er had better seats, legroom, superb Ford 5 speed matched perfectly to engine and was cheaper and still quite reliable...and tough...that 6er went through hell...

boognish

20th January 2005, 19:24

My wife got a 6 sedan, 6 cylinder, manual, sport package, leather, all that good stuff last March to replace her aging Honda CRX. The 4 cylinder was definitely under-powered and the 6 cylinder has ample power, but is not overly aggressive. It's faster in a straight line than my miata, I'm sure. :)

We've taken it on a few road trips, longest one about 1000 miles, and it has been a great car. It handles wonderfully at highway speeds, sure footed with enough feedback to make you happy, but not jarring enough to make you sore. I'd often stop paying attention to speed for a bit, look down, and comfortably be going near or over 100mph, which just attests to the smoothness and sure-footedness of this car.

The 6 cylinder is not the smoothest engine, but it's adequate. We're totally happy with the car, looked at a bunch of competing cars before buying and didn't find one that had the quality of interior, road feel & responsiveness that was competitive on price. We've had no problems with the car, other than it handles a little worse than we'd thought it would in the midwest snow. Next year I'll probably get some snow tires for her.

My wife was sure she was going to miss her CRX with its go-kart feel, but she absolutely loves her 6. It's way too big of a car for my daily travels, but I love taking trips in it.

Oh yeah, heated seats are nice. :)

tbearmiata

20th January 2005, 21:18

orp2000

20th January 2005, 21:49

Originally posted by boognish:
it handles a little worse than we'd thought it would in the midwest snow. Next year I'll probably get some snow tires for her.
And he says this with a straight face :)

This is a funny crowd.

Dave