Is a Mazda 6 Good?

[edgemar]

I'm looking to buy a car for around 14-15k. I'd like it to be a sporty 4 door car and Japanese. Would anyone reccomend a mazda 6? I can get a fully loaded hatchback w/45k miles for about that price. Seems that is the most bang for the buck. Thinking about a WRX as well. Would consider a Legacy GT or TSX but that is a bit too much $$$. Any other ideas?

[Rick V]

I used to be a Mazda wrench and have been to "new model" school for that car. I like it. Good all around car, some sport, 4doors, decent milage. I havn't put more than 20 miles at one time on one so the long trip I can't help with. bang for the buck one of the better deals on the market.
I also like the Sub. it has alot of extra potental. More fun than the Mazda but not as practical. JMO.

[jluetjen]

We have a Mazda6 V6 with manual and love the car. There is one thing I don't like, so I'll get that out first -- the gear shift linkage feels awful. No problems getting a gear, but it just feels like you're trying to shift via bell-cranks -- which you are. I used to have a Mazda 323 and used to have a pretty nice shift feel. OK, that I have that off my chest -- the good news:

1) I really like the interior design. It actually looks (to me) like it was designed by someone with some artistic flair as opposed to just the standard Japanese style dash. It also has queues back to the MX6/Mieta.

2) The suspension is top notch. Even with the "heavy" V6 option in front.

3) The engine (at least the V6) is quite strong and get's quite racey from 4000 RPM up through the red-line.

4) The seats are comfortable and it's quite roomy. The trunk is also huge.

That's my $0.02.

[LeeH]

Have you looked at the Mazda 3? The 3S is a great car for the money. Don't know about the 6, but we're very happy with our Mazda 3S and Mazda 5.

[kaisen]

I like that! "It has to be Japanese" Funny!

The Mazda 6 is about as Japanese as Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Built in Flat Rock, MI at a Ford assembly plant .... right along side of Mercury Milans, Ford Fusions, and Lincoln Zephyrs.

The V6s are Ford Duratec 24Vs. The 2.3L 4 cylinders, however, are Japanese-built and are 'Mazda's' design.

You are correct about 'bang for the buck'.

They are very nice cars .... they just aren't 'Japanese'.

E

[edgemar]

I knew they had a duratec in them...but I didn't know that they were built in the states. Is a Mazda basically a Ford these days?

[Porschephile944]

My Dad bought one new back in 2003. He hasn't driven it much because he travels for work so he has let me start using it as daily transportation. So far we have about 23k miles on it, mostly put on in the first 18 months.

Pros:

Fast enough for most situations

Fold down rear seats allow my snowboard to fit in the back.

Competent suspension, I've considered adding a larger rear sway bar to help with turn in response. Maybe in the future.

Nice interior. Well designed and laid out. The steering wheel mounted stereo controls are also very nice once you get used to them.

Cons:

I don’t fit in the damn thing. For the driving position to be comfortable for me my knee is poked right into the center console next to the radio volume control.

The stock tires suck and are expensive to replace should you get a flat.

The steering feel is way to light.

Front seats don’t have enough side bolstering and the side bolstering it does have is to far away from your body.

I've driven the car twice on road trips that are three hours each way (total of six hours of driving in a day) and was very pleased with the overall experience. This car will absolutely eat up highway miles with no complaint. Overall this thing has got to be more fun than an Accord or Camry, but it probably doesn’t compare to a 3 series.

The 2003s did have a recall for door seals and something to do with the fuel filler cap. I’m not sure these apply to the 2004’s though.

[dd74]

Ummm...one suggestion: how 'bout an RX8? I've been looking on and off at these:

-- good hp/ratio; revs over 8,000 RPM
-- 6 speed
-- true four-passenger seating
-- handles outrageously well b/c all weight is between the axles.
-- weighs well under 3,000#; some say 2,700# if not optioned out.
-- Porsche durable if driven like a Porsche - i.e. high revs/hard
-- track day capable

Best part: a racer buddy of mine has another friend who picked his up -- brand new -- for $19K. He saw it in the Sunday new car ads.

Of course there are two caveats:
-- very little torque - hence the need to rev the 1.3 high.
-- V8-style MPG

Anyway, that'd be my choice over a lot of other nice cars.

[HardDrive]

Originally posted by dd74
Ummm...one suggestion: how 'bout an RX8? I've been looking on and off at these:

I had a client who bought one of these. She loved the things you describe, but had some on going problems with the ignition system that the techs could not get sorted out. Left her stranded more than once. Just one persons experience of course....


I think Mazdas look great, and seem to deliver a lot of bang for the buck.

[Rot 911]

Originally posted by HardDrive
I had a client who bought one of these. She loved the things you describe, but had some on going problems with the ignition system that the techs could not get sorted out. Left her stranded more than once. Just one persons experience of course....

I just sold our '04 RX8. Was the GT version with six speed. The problem you are referring too was the engine flood issue that was corrected in a TSB by the dealer. Great car, but the gas mileage does suck. 14 mpg around town, 18 mpg on the highway.

The Mazda 6 is a great 4-door car.

[kaisen]

Originally posted by edgemar
I knew they had a duratec in them...but I didn't know that they were built in the states. Is a Mazda basically a Ford these days?

Ford has owned the controlling share of Mazda for several years.

The Duratec in the 6 (and Tribute, and MPV, etc.) is basically the same Duratec that first appeared in the 1996 Ford Taurus. Not that it's a bad thing .... I think it's a great motor.

I just think it's funny how some people will ONLY buy Japanese as if they are somehow automatically better cars.

The automotive manufacturers are all in bed together to some extent, and it has become a melting pot. It's pretty hard these days to make a blanket statement about any manufacturer, or country of origin.

E

[rammstein]

I currently lease an RX8, so I'll throw in here.

#1) I am WAY overextended, so I won't be keeping it when the lease is up even though I really like it.

Pros:

-Legitimately seats 4. Been on multiple trips with all 4 seats taken, and no complaints. People usually emerge suprised. The interior is classy and simple. The instrumentation is perfect (except for the fake oil pressure gauge- its just a gimmick. That sucks)

-The handling is fantastic. Simply fantastic.

-It has 95% Japanese parts. It was built in Hiroshima. A lot of the engine is hand built, I believe.

-The engine sound is like a drug. Transmission shifts very nicely.

-The pillarless suicide-door style opening has let me put some suprisingly big stuff in there.

-The ride is quite compliant.

-Used cars can be had for not too far from your budget.

Cons:

-You will never again see 20MPG. Never. The engine sometimes sells gasoline to other cars overnight, I swear.

-If you like 'modding' your car, this isn't a good choice, at least for now. Unless you have a lot of money. And patience.


As for the 'engine flooding issue', it does exist. The colder your climate, the more careful you have to be. Its quite simple though- if you start the car, don't shut it down until the engine gets warm. I have never flooded, and most attentive drivers have not either.

As for options, I got a stripped car, which seriously helped the car turn in better lap times compared to loaded rx8s. I heard the sunroof adds 100lbs, way up high. The only option to get is the sport package (xenons and stability control). The stability control on this car is very lenient, and can actually help you as you learn a track. Then, when you want, it can be shut down entirely.

[Laneco]

I have a 2004 Mazda6 sport wagon. I always buy used crappy cars and fix them up. This is my first "nice - bought it that way" car. I have 39,000 miles on it now - its a GREAT car.

I wanted the ford duratec engine. They are "durable" as their name entails. My last mazda with this engine was bomb proof. I sold it with 292,000 miles on the original engine and trans (clutch at about 272 ish). That car never left anyone anywhere.

This car is a white with tan leather fully optioned v6 with the five speed automatic. I wanted a stick, but Steve wanted the auto. Terrific engine, but the transmission when in full auto mode downshifts rather sluggishly. The manual shift option is pretty handy for passing in the hills or compression braking coming down the mountains.

The sport model has 17" wheels. Yeah cool. BUT turns out you cannot put snow chains on them. Clearance issue. That could make a difference for you. Still have my original tires on the car, but they will need replaced before winter.

The factory Bose sound system is pretty decent, but I think it handles bass rather poorly. CD changer etc., works flawlessly. The only defect on this car is the passenger side air bag in the dash has started to rattle. This is rather common and the dealer should be able to fix it. Ahhh, heated seats...bun warmers are so NICE! Really nice if your lower back is bothering you, the heat really soothes it.

The duratec motor is also used in the fords (duh) and the "entry" level Jaguar sedan - I forgot the model name.

angela

[edgemar]

The reason I prefer japanese is that most of the European cars in my experience tend to nickel dime you on repairs once that get into the high mileage area. I've got 170k on an accord 4 banger and the only non scheduled thing I had to replace was the master cylinder and the car uses no oil. I agree that most cars are a melting pot these days...look at Saab.

[kaisen]

Originally posted by edgemar
I agree that most cars are a melting pot these days...look at Saab.

Honda shares 3.5L V6 engines with Saturn VUE (GM)
Honda of Europe uses variations of GM's engines
Toyota Matrix = Pontiac Vibe (GM), older Toyota Corolla = Chev Prism
Nissan had a long affair with Ford .... Nissan Quest = Mercury Villager
Mazda = Ford
Isuzu = GM
Saab = GM
Jaguar = Ford
Aston Martin = Ford
Mercedes = Chrysler
Subaru used to be part-owned by GM
Mitsubishi was pretty-much Chrysler, now who cares
BMW at sold diesel engines to Lincoln
BMW used GM transmission technology
Chrysler used VW engines
GM, DCX, and BMW have developed hybrid transmissions together

And on, and on, and on

[kaisen]

Originally posted by Laneco

The duratec motor is also used in the fords (duh) and the "entry" level Jaguar sedan - I forgot the model name.

angela

Both the X-class and S-class use Duratec V6 variants. The X platform is basically a European Ford Mondeo.

E

[edgemar]

bump

[dd74]

Originally posted by kaisen
And on, and on, and on

Yep...

Porsche-Audi-Volkswagen
Ferrari-Fiat
Even Lamborghini was the poor stepchild to Chrysler for a time. Now I think some Malaysians want to buy "the 'ini."

[kaisen]

Buy the 'ini' from 'audi'....!?

I kill myself!