Mazda 6 YUM.... - CEG Archives

Originally posted by TORSVT6:

Originally posted by akrump47:
The 6 is a sweet car. The one in the picture is my fav. color too. Now Mazda just needs to come out with a "Mazdaspeed" version of the car with another +40 HP and it would be about perfect IMO

ZOOM ZOOM!

Hell yeah that would be awesome.

I just hope the seats are more comfortable than the 2002 626 that I drove. I rented a 626 with 435 miles on the odo & took it up to Atlanta. By the time I got there I felt like I had been wrestling a guerrilla all day long - man was I sore! Then I hopped into my Contour; aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!

Actually what would interest me would be an Estate/Wagon version of it.

Sporting a button downed suspension and beefed up engine.

Never happen since Ford owns Volvo though

Why build a great Wagon for mid to upper 20's when the Volvos are 40+ Corporate monopolies suck...

Oh well. There's also hope for a larger Subaru wagon.

Originally posted by DemonSVT:
Actually what would interest me would be an Estate/Wagon version of it.

Sporting a button downed suspension and beefed up engine.

Never happen since Ford owns Volvo though

Why build a great Wagon for mid to upper 20's when the Volvos are 40+ Corporate monopolies suck...

Oh well. There's also hope for a larger Subaru wagon.

isn't one coming next year (this model year)? the 6 was released as a 4-door, a 5-door hatch, and a wagon in europe at the same time, and as i recall, released here as the sedan first with the 5-door and wagon to follow a year or so later.

something like this:

Originally posted by Toadster:
so here's a goofy question... do you have to take a Mazda to a "Mazda" garage? or can Ford do all the maintainence?

anyone know about this?

The car may have a duratec engine block but all the rest of the parts are Mazda designed and engineered. Try driving your M6 into a ford dealership or garage for service and see what happens!!

LOL - i guess i deserved that

so what would be X-plan price on these guys?

Originally posted by DemonSVT:

Oh well. There's also hope for a larger Subaru wagon.

The new Legacy is coming for 2005 and will be available in Sedan/Wagon format, sporting the turbo 2.5 and an "H6" rated at 250 HP

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=29&article_id=7028

Originally posted by Toadster:

so what would be X-plan price on these guys?

SO i checked... Mazda uses the "S-Plan" for discounts

GOOD PRICES!!!

Originally posted by akrump47:

Originally posted by DemonSVT:

Oh well. There's also hope for a larger Subaru wagon.

The new Legacy is coming for 2005 and will be available in Sedan/Wagon format, sporting the turbo 2.5 and an "H6" rated at 250 HP

http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=29&article_id=7028

Here is a very smart thing for them to do...they have a N/a 250hp engine or a turbo 250hp....thats good forsight

Engines: SOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter flat-4, 165 hp (est); turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter flat- 4, 250 hp (est); DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter flat-6, 250 hp

Just don't show them your contour in case the salesman cuts it down like what happened to me....

Originally posted by Faboo:
Here is a very smart thing for them to do...they have a N/a 250hp engine or a turbo 250hp....thats good forsight

Engines: SOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter flat-4, 165 hp (est); turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter flat- 4, 250 hp (est); DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter flat-6, 250 hp

The 3L is 212HP. Not 250.

Originally posted by DemonSVT:

Originally posted by Faboo:
Here is a very smart thing for them to do...they have a N/a 250hp engine or a turbo 250hp....thats good forsight

Engines: SOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter flat-4, 165 hp (est); turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve 2.5-liter flat- 4, 250 hp (est); DOHC 24-valve 3.0-liter flat-6, 250 hp

The 3L is 212HP. Not 250.

I think he was talking about Subaru...

Quote:

To its credit, Subaru has lopped off 200 pounds by its use of aluminum in the hood, bumpers, and sunroof pieces, bringing the spread for both models to 3000 to 3200 pounds. The top-of-the-line performance model in Japan has a DOHC 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that puts out a raucous 280 horsepower�??a quantum leap of 115 over the previous Legacy's 165-hp engine sold here�??that is mated to either a five-speed automatic or five-speed manual, the latter featuring short throws and no shifting through oatmeal. (Interestingly, in Japan the turbo model with an automatic loses 20 horsepower, to 260.) For the U.S. market, that four-cylinder horizontally opposed engine that mounts low in the chassis will likely be a reworked version of the 2.5-liter engine now working in the Forester and current Legacy. The base model should carry the SOHC engine that won't produce too much over the current 165-hp output, with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox. The U.S.-market 250-hp turbo, at 2.5 liters in displacement, is down about 30 horsepower from the Japanese-market 2.0-liter turbo at 280 hp. The optional engine will be a naturally aspirated 3.0-liter flat-six, also making 250 horses, a reworking of the six currently employed in the Outback. The turbo model has a paddle-shifting option on the five-speed automatic and should come with 17-inch wheels mounted on rubber measuring 215/45, with 16-inchers on the base cars.

Toadster - A fully loaded 6s 5-speed with the S-plan is $23,400, which is within $50 of invoice. I seriously considered getting one when they first came out, but was underwhelmed with the power (about the same as the SVT, since the extra HP is negated by the extra weight), and it felt too big, like a Taurus. It does handle well (not quite as sharp as the SVT, but well above the average sedan). I would take it to the Mazda dealership. That's not saying that for a basic oil change or something Ford couldn't handle it, but for warranty issues and such, you're outta luck.

Get the RX-8 instead.

Thanks Cartman

The Blue 5-spd S model is REALLY hard to find, the dealer is trying to trade for one in the Bay area so I can try it out...

I figured this car is pretty close to the SVT in stance, performance and size - a little bigger is "ok" with me, since my kids are now 7 and 10 years old... Everyone else told me to get the RX-8 as well - but I need bigger doors in the rear

another hard vehicle to find is the Altima 3.5SE with a 5-speed - yes it's orderable, but NOBODY has one! Those cars run 14.5 out of the box... just amazing.

oh well, maybe I'll get to drive a "6" this weekend...

Getting a bunch of data from http://mazda6club.com/forums/ they seem like a bunch just like us at CEG...

[Not speaking of Toadster specifically here, can we get a "General Reply" button on this board!

] Has the IS300 COMPLETELY vanished from the radar screen?

Quote:

"another hard vehicle to find is the Altima 3.5SE with a 5-speed - yes it's orderable, but NOBODY has one! Those cars run 14.5 out of the box... just amazing."

Mossy nissan down here in San Diego has a bunch of MTX Altima SE's. You could pretty much shop based on color if you wanted too - at least they did a month or two ago.

(I just looked now and they have a no-option white 3.5SE 5 speed for 22,395 - that's a sweet deal for 14's out of the box, or a loaded 3.5SE 5 speed with leather for 26,600:)

I think Ford or Mazda for that matter didn't expect to sale that many V-6s with a manual (you know how the traditional car market is ....everyone wants an auto).....so maybe things should be in better shape for the 2004 MY.

I wanted one of these really bad, but I have had some really bad experiences with several Mazda Service Depts in the Metro area.

And as far as the Altima goes, personally (no offense to anyone I hope), I think it is a little over hyped. The steering sucks big time (not to mention all that torque steer), and the interior is worse than the ones Ford put in the Escort.

I don't know how many of you did this, but I went to that Mazda race event thing where they teach how to autocross and you get to abuse all of their cars for the day. . .for like $30 or $40. . .

So, even though the 6's we autox were "race prepped", I really like the 6. You need Eibach's like they had for sure. No questions asked. And the bosal exhausts weren't intrusive at all (I did have a helmet on, though), nice complement. . .I hated the auto, they didn't have any standards available, but if it's ANYTHING like the RX8 or Miata, I'd take th 6 in a heart beat.

The engine I'm sure is VERY tweakable. The handling was REALLY great with those Falken MX's + Eibach's. Stock, I'm sure I'd hate.

So get one assuming you'll do what we all did to our cars. . .but I don't think you'd have to put more than $900 into before it's tantalizing (springs, exhaust, intake, maybe a chip, possibly nicer tires).

Suneil

Is this grille a factory or aftermarket piece?

Originally posted by ESC:
Is this grille a factory or aftermarket piece?

The sport grille is a factory accessory piece.

Originally posted by 2&1/2:
And as far as the Altima goes, personally (no offense to anyone I hope), I think it is a little over hyped. The steering sucks big time (not to mention all that torque steer), and the interior is worse than the ones Ford put in the Escort.

My mother has a 2002 Altima 3.5 and yeah it has some torque steer, but I thought it have fairly decent steering and handling. Not up to par with the SVT but much better than say a GTP. She has a cloth interior and I find it to be better than any Ford product including my own. Side note, even with an auto, she still pulls a car or two on me

Originally posted by path914:

Originally posted by 2&1/2:
And as far as the Altima goes, personally (no offense to anyone I hope), I think it is a little over hyped. The steering sucks big time (not to mention all that torque steer), and the interior is worse than the ones Ford put in the Escort.

My mother has a 2002 Altima 3.5 and yeah it has some torque steer, but I thought it have fairly decent steering and handling. Not up to par with the SVT but much better than say a GTP. She has a cloth interior and I find it to be better than any Ford product including my own. Side note, even with an auto, she still pulls a car or two on me

People complain about tq steer like it's a horrendously bad thing - in my eyes it just means they finally built a FWD car with something we all want - torque!

RX7 > All

The new RX8 and 6 are hot though.

Toadster:

I picked up a blue Mazda 6s about a month ago. It's a great car! I go the 5spd auto because I live in a shore town and couldn't take the SVT's stick anymore. Traffic here is friggin nuts. Anyway, it's fully loaded, every option, and has the optional sport grille. The sticker was $27k and I ended up paying $22,800, which was $1500 below the dealer's invoice. I picked up the car on the last day of the month and they needed to push it out to hit their bonus, that's how I got such a sick deal on it. I really have no complaints on it. I got the Bose stereo with 6cd and it really isn't all that bad, especially if you listen to CD's. It's got heated seats and mirrors, and I can't wait to try them out this winter. It has A LOT of extra features and is a very well thought out car. Even the projector headlights are a very nice touch. I really felt like the SVT was too stripped down, more of a performance car than the Mazda. I'm at a point where I want to sacrifice a little performance and gain a lot of luxury. From the first time I saw the car on TV I knew it was my next car.

Originally posted by Dtagon:
RX7 > All

The new RX8 and 6 are hot though.

I definately agree on both counts!

well, this post got me curious - so on my way back home from a mountain bike ride this evening i stopped by the mazda dealer to see if they had any MTX 6s's. didn't expect them to be open, but they were...and they had a couple of manual V6 ones on the lot, surprisingly enough. so, i took one for a test-drive. dark gray, pretty well loaded - sticker of $25xxx.

my thoughts? one of the closest things on the market today to a CSVT - mainly b/c one of the things that makes or breaks a car for me is how it sounds, and the duratec in the 6s sounds darn good. not much of an exhaust note, but i'm sure that can be remedied easily.

the clutch was a bit soft and spongy, and the shifter seemed a little less direct and had longer throws than i remember from my CSVT, though bear in mind it has been 2 years since i owned it. might be a good use for a mild short shift kit, but i'd have to live with it for a little while and see if i got used to it. for one thing, i have to remember that i'm now accustomed to a miata, which has an even better feel and shorter throws than my RSX-S - a paragon of manual-tranny precision itself.

highway acceleration and midrange power overall seemed pretty stout - maybe not quite as frenetic as i recall from my CSVT, but still impressive nonetheless. very comfortable cruising at 80+ mph, as well - something that my jeep doesn't do all that well (at least, not without reminding me that the gas mileage at those speeds is abysmal when driving a brick). the car also seems to have a lot more room in the back than the contour....both in the back seat and, to a lesser extent, in the trunk.

interior fit and finish seemed good, though i wonder how the long-term ownership experience will treat the silver-painted parts and the harder-plastic bits...probably fine, but that was just my initial reaction.

all in all, two thumbs up. my brief test-drive definitely impressed me....not that it's an M3 or anything, but for a low-to-mid-20k car, i really enjoyed it.

my .02...

The 6 has a advantage. This platform was designed to be the new X-type and the Volvo S60. (next gen versions) And so, instead of making a mediocre family car and a POS luxoboat, it's more of a fairly good luxocar and a great family car.

Seems interesting, but I don't trust Mazda after our last 626. As well, I much prefer the RX-8.

Mazda already makes a 5-door hatch and a wagon, for everywhere else, they said the wagon was here next year and the 5-door may be a possibility (They think they will get the Saab 9000 Effect - Existence of costly hatchback model will snuff out sales of both itself and sedan models)

Originally posted by 96SEMAN:
Just don't show them your contour in case the salesman cuts it down like what happened to me....

Did you ever go back? I'd have given him what's for! That carpet bagger!

<cough> Needs AWD <ahem>

It's a beauty of a car, and it's oh-so-tempting to buy one.

There are several on the lots here, fully-loaded, for $23,300. I could probably talk them down to $21,500 at least.

The problem is I still owe 3 times what the 'Tour is worth in trade-in. I'd trade it in and still be $4,000 in the hole.

The Mazda6 is a decent car. But, if you want something as exciting as the CSVT, wait for the Mazda6 MPS.

Originally posted by Captain Bart:
The Mazda6 is a decent car. But, if you want something as exciting as the CSVT, wait for the Mazda6 MPS.

much agreed. . .much agreeed. . .