Well, I did something I promised myself I would not do... and test drove a Mazda6 V6 Automatic (no MTX on the lot
)
Well... let's just say I had to pop the hood to make sure it wasn't a 4-cylinder. My very modded 2.5L ATX Cougar is EASILY faster than this 3.0 (and even it's too slow IMO). I know it was an automatic... but the 3.0 really should have had enough balls to churn its way though the slushbox and deliver SOME forward movement. There was absolutely nothing below 3000RPM, and there wasn't much when it finally got into its powerband. I will admit I revved this car higher than a car with only 40 miles should be revved... but only because I had some fleeting hope that the car might start to move at above 5000RPM, which it really didn't do with any sense of urgency.
I will give the car credit for having EXCELLENT handling with the stock suspension. I didn't quite reach its limits, but I had the very arrogant salesman sh*tting himself as I looked for them on a backroad. I would hesitiate to say that my Cougar feels as nimble as this car. But if I wanted an underpowered go-kart, I would already own a Miata.
I'm reserving my final judgement on an otherwise very nice car for when I can get my hands on a V6 MTX... but I think I can already tell it's not for me.
