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If you haven't driven a tC, then I don't think you can speak of how much better the 6 drives compared to it. You paid for a car that is much bigger (adds weight) and arguably nicer (I could care less if silver plastic isn't really aluminum) and an engine that has a smaller aftermarket than the tC will.



I have driven a Tc, we've had them in DFW for some time now, and they most definitely don't have the handling ability nor the driving 'feel' of the Mazda6. Both are areas that Toyota has never really been able to do nearly as well as others in, nor even tried to.

And who cares about the size of the Engine Aftermarket? (although it's far from small and more than sufficient, things just cost more due to lack of competition) My engine puts out more power stock than a super-charged, near its' limits, Tc engine with $4,000 worth of work. And even with the weight difference, I'll bet you that a stock Mazda6s would still beat it in 0-60 and 1/4 and definitely in any AutoX because of how well it puts the power on the ground.

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Sure the 6 is cool, but it's no longer the screaming deal it use to be with new stuff coming to the market, and the 6 doesn't even sit in the same class as a tC (4dr sedan, 2dr coupe).



Agreed they're different classes... which leads me to wonder what "new stuff" has come to the market in the 6s' class (or even elsewhere) that makes it not a 'screaming deal' -- you can still grab a brand-new, fully-loaded, Mazda6s for $21,000.

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The 6, I feel, has become much too overrated on this site (oh, it's the next Contour!), and there are going to be/already are cars out there that have caught and passed it.




Name something within $5,000 and I'll grant you this -- the absolute closest thing I can think of is the new Legacy GT, which will set you back close to $30,000. Not a single midsize sedans in the low-20s, offering many 'luxury' features, can run a 6.4 0-60, 14.8 1/4, and pull a full g on the skidpad (once you get rid of the crappy stock Michelins).

2003 Mazda6s 3.0L MTX Webpage 2004 Mazda3s 2.3L ATX