will be? um, this car has been out for months now
What do u think about the new 2009 Mazda 6?
- Thread starter the gamper
- Start date
Silver Amputee
Member
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- 2009 Mazda 6
Man I love this car too bad only lets me drive every now and then, which puzzles me because I used to have to drive her camry everywhere we used to go. I hated her camry!
I traded in my '07 3 grand touring for an '09 6 and love it. The 3 was too small and I felt every bump on the road. The 6 is alot smoother and I love the 10 speaker centerpoint Bose system. The bluetooth is nice to. I guess I'm getting old if I'm going for comfort instead of sporty.
maple_leaf
Member
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- Mazda 6, 4i - Manual
Just changed from a 5 to a 6...love it! (drive)
Too big and too squishy.
I just rented a 6 with the 2.5 and have been eager to post my impressions somewhere. I have to say that I like the car, but I think Mazda sold out (as a profitable business always should). The 6 was a niche car that was darty, and engaging to drive. An enthusiasts alternative to boring Accord and Camry. I hate to say it but when I started to drive this 6 off the rental lot my first thought was "my mother-in-law's accord has a firmer ride than this." My biggest worry is that if people look at this as an Accord try-hard, they will...buy an Accord. The car is just too big, and too squishy. Steering is numb and road feel is average at best. American cheeseburger patrons will love this car. People looking for a sports sedan will not.
Now I got a base 4-cyl model so I hope that the upscale trims have improved suspension options, and we know there are some nice wheel/tire packages so my opinion may change a little. But there can be no question this car is a compromise on the JDM Mazda corp's values.
But I LOVE the powerplant in this thing. Feels like the award winning 2.4 in the Accord, but more high-strung, though making less peak hp. It stays in it's power range longer and seems to spin tires easier. Can't wait until they put this in the Mazda5.
It's actually a great car, just not the sedan for me.
The 3 Grand Touring is way...way more playful than the new 6.
I just rented a 6 with the 2.5 and have been eager to post my impressions somewhere. I have to say that I like the car, but I think Mazda sold out (as a profitable business always should). The 6 was a niche car that was darty, and engaging to drive. An enthusiasts alternative to boring Accord and Camry. I hate to say it but when I started to drive this 6 off the rental lot my first thought was "my mother-in-law's accord has a firmer ride than this." My biggest worry is that if people look at this as an Accord try-hard, they will...buy an Accord. The car is just too big, and too squishy. Steering is numb and road feel is average at best. American cheeseburger patrons will love this car. People looking for a sports sedan will not.
Now I got a base 4-cyl model so I hope that the upscale trims have improved suspension options, and we know there are some nice wheel/tire packages so my opinion may change a little. But there can be no question this car is a compromise on the JDM Mazda corp's values.
But I LOVE the powerplant in this thing. Feels like the award winning 2.4 in the Accord, but more high-strung, though making less peak hp. It stays in it's power range longer and seems to spin tires easier. Can't wait until they put this in the Mazda5.
It's actually a great car, just not the sedan for me.
Couldn't agree more. I see it this way exactly.
The day I do this I will just have to admit...I'm getting a little older and I just want to relax while I drive.
The 3 Grand Touring is way...way more playful than the new 6.
The 6 you rented may have had 16 inch rims and that can make a mushy difference. I have the base 4cyl and had the dealership get me 17s from a custom shop and i felt the difference immediately. Also the tires can make a diff. This car is glued to the road as i take turns at around 25mph and off ramps at double their posted limits
I hear what you are saying, however I think your opinion is slightly exgaggerated. I have owned a 04 Mazda 6 GT-V6, 2006 Mazda 3 GT, 2003 Protoge ES, 2007 CX-7 GT AWD and 2008 Tribute GT AWD. The new 6 is still more engaging than its competition. Yes, it has a more comfortable ride than my 04 6, but the at the limit handling is still very comparable. Your right, the Accord does have a firmer ride, but the 6's suspension design is so far beyond the Accord it has a softer ride AND out handles it. That means I can have my cake and eat it to.
The new 6 is a great car and Mazda hit it bang on.
JoeyBoomBoom
Member
I agree.. When I was in the market for a new car, I went and test drive comparable accords and camrys (4 bangers with MT) and the quite honestly, the camry sucked...I was really turned off by the way it drove and rode, it was REALLY underpowered when compared to the M6, and the new accord, while better than the camry still underperformed the mazda. I also feel that the new mazdas look way sportier than either of the two (even the Camry S...it just looks silly driving a grocery getter with a factory body kit), and is quite honestly a nicer car. (Edit: I also drove a white 07 M6 i Touring, and I while I did like the feel, I still preferred the new M6)
That being said, I understand that the old 6 was a niche car, but that body style had gone through 6 years or so, and was in need of some updating, nobody wants to buy a 2009 and have people wonder whether it's brand new or an 02, and no matter what mazda produced, the 02-08 owners were gonna think that the car was bunk, because it wasn't the car they knew and loved. I really think that once I put some decent tires on the car and get it lowered, it will make a huge difference, and even now without the mods, I really love the way this car performs (It's been raining a lot here in DC lately, and this car is sticking to the road like glue... trust me I have been diagnosed with what they call "lead foot")
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pdodson311
Member
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- mazda protege LX 2002
when will aftermarket parts coming out for the 09 mazda6
when they bring out a MT V6 or turbo version
brad.schneid
Member
Need Help Deciding on Mazda Model
Hey guys,
I am new to the forum as well as to the Mazda Family. I am looking to purchase my first Mazda and am interested in the Mazda 6. Do you guys recommend this Mazda or is there a better Mazda Sport Sedan model?
Thanks
Hey guys,
I am new to the forum as well as to the Mazda Family. I am looking to purchase my first Mazda and am interested in the Mazda 6. Do you guys recommend this Mazda or is there a better Mazda Sport Sedan model?
Thanks
New or used?
maple_leaf
Member
- :
- Mazda 6, 4i - Manual
Personally, I love my 6. No complaints on road feel and handling. My 17s do quite a good job. Love the manual transmission. With a little help from aftermarket...when it comes.....if it comes.....it'll be even better.(scratch)
maple_leaf
Member
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- Mazda 6, 4i - Manual
(lol) Hope you spanked him a little....(rofl)
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- 2010 Mazda CX-9 GT Dolphin Gray
Test Drove Mazda 6 with 4 and 6 cynlinder engines
A friend form work was lookign for a car and wanted to test drive a Mazda6 and since I'm a Mazda nut he asked me to go along. He drove a i sport with the 6 speed manual and liked it a lot. He's in the process of thinking about buying it.
While he was working out the numbers I asked to drive a GT with the V6 and the i sport. One thing I got to say up front is that it's a nice car and I can easily see the benefit of stretching the wheelbase. The rear seat is HUGE. My friend is ~6'5" and I'm 6'2" and I was able to sit behind him - comfortably- during his test drive. And I would have been more than content spending more time in teh back seat.
The V6 is incredibly smooth and strong, compared to my MS3 's DISI Turbo it's more graceful about going fast. The DISI Turbo is all about brute force when you push it.
The 6 is more softly sprung but still very well controlled in turns. It's not as tossable as the MS3 (of course) but it is fun to take curves. The level of refinement and control is impressive. The 6 soaks up bumps that would piss off the tighter sprung MS3.
The steering is pretty light compared to the tighter feel of the MS3 yet still communicates the road surface rather well.
Like the MS3 Mazda did a fabulous job offering the driver enough controls to get a perfect driving position.
The 6 speed auto on the V6 is OK in auto and quite excellent in manual mode. I've driven other Mazda Manumatics (Mz5, Mz3, CX7) and they all seem to wait a second between driver input and the transmission actually shifting, whihc leads to unsmooth shifts. The sample on teh Mz6 was perfect: when I pulled back on teh stick to upshift it upshifted, when I pushed forward it downshifted and it was as smooth as silk.
The i Sport was also nice. The 6 speed manual tranny shifted well and the clutch was very light. Moving from my MS3 to the Mz6 6 speed was pretty dramtic with respect to clutch feel. But you know what, despite all the criticism about how hard it is to shift the MS3 I actually found it better to operate compared to the Mz6 clutch action.
The 4 cyclinder while OK wasn't great pulling around the big sedan. My friend thought it was very peppy, but admittedly I'm spoiled with the power of the MS3. The V6 would be the only option for me.
On total the Mz6 is a pretty nice ride. Nice enough in fact that I may go back and see what they would give me in trade for an 09 GT V6. The ride, extra room and interior bits like Bluetooth make for a very compelling package. The trunk is also HUGE.
Oh and the only thing I didn't like about the interior is the zebra-skin pattern on the center console.
All in all it was a more compelling package than teh accord and camry I recently test drove. Both the Camry and Accord are "old people cars" while the 6 feels younger and sportier. It isn't a sports car, but a sporty family car.
I haven't driving the Altima so I cannot comment. There are too many of them on the road for my taste though. No exclusivity.
A friend form work was lookign for a car and wanted to test drive a Mazda6 and since I'm a Mazda nut he asked me to go along. He drove a i sport with the 6 speed manual and liked it a lot. He's in the process of thinking about buying it.
While he was working out the numbers I asked to drive a GT with the V6 and the i sport. One thing I got to say up front is that it's a nice car and I can easily see the benefit of stretching the wheelbase. The rear seat is HUGE. My friend is ~6'5" and I'm 6'2" and I was able to sit behind him - comfortably- during his test drive. And I would have been more than content spending more time in teh back seat.
The V6 is incredibly smooth and strong, compared to my MS3 's DISI Turbo it's more graceful about going fast. The DISI Turbo is all about brute force when you push it.
The 6 is more softly sprung but still very well controlled in turns. It's not as tossable as the MS3 (of course) but it is fun to take curves. The level of refinement and control is impressive. The 6 soaks up bumps that would piss off the tighter sprung MS3.
The steering is pretty light compared to the tighter feel of the MS3 yet still communicates the road surface rather well.
Like the MS3 Mazda did a fabulous job offering the driver enough controls to get a perfect driving position.
The 6 speed auto on the V6 is OK in auto and quite excellent in manual mode. I've driven other Mazda Manumatics (Mz5, Mz3, CX7) and they all seem to wait a second between driver input and the transmission actually shifting, whihc leads to unsmooth shifts. The sample on teh Mz6 was perfect: when I pulled back on teh stick to upshift it upshifted, when I pushed forward it downshifted and it was as smooth as silk.
The i Sport was also nice. The 6 speed manual tranny shifted well and the clutch was very light. Moving from my MS3 to the Mz6 6 speed was pretty dramtic with respect to clutch feel. But you know what, despite all the criticism about how hard it is to shift the MS3 I actually found it better to operate compared to the Mz6 clutch action.
The 4 cyclinder while OK wasn't great pulling around the big sedan. My friend thought it was very peppy, but admittedly I'm spoiled with the power of the MS3. The V6 would be the only option for me.
On total the Mz6 is a pretty nice ride. Nice enough in fact that I may go back and see what they would give me in trade for an 09 GT V6. The ride, extra room and interior bits like Bluetooth make for a very compelling package. The trunk is also HUGE.
Oh and the only thing I didn't like about the interior is the zebra-skin pattern on the center console.
All in all it was a more compelling package than teh accord and camry I recently test drove. Both the Camry and Accord are "old people cars" while the 6 feels younger and sportier. It isn't a sports car, but a sporty family car.
I haven't driving the Altima so I cannot comment. There are too many of them on the road for my taste though. No exclusivity.
