'03-04 Mazda 6s advice [for this noob]

[teamprojectz]

Hello Mazdaers. I am new to this forum and new to cars to an extent. Please don't hurt me if my comments seem unintelligent. So, I would like to start off with introducing myself, I am a 16-year old about to obtain a license and a new car (possible a mazda 6s). My question is how does the '03-04 Mazda 6s compare to a '03-04 H. Accord V6? To what extent and in what ways does the price/specs affect total performance? Being this forum is a mazda forum, I do expect to see bias opinions; however it is all good. (lol2)

Sorry if this has been posted before, totally disregarded the search button. >_< laziness.

 

[Garfinkle]

Hello Mazdaers. I am new to this forum and new to cars to an extent. Please don't hurt me if my comments seem unintelligent. So, I would like to start off with introducing myself, I am a 16-year old about to obtain a license and a new car (possible a mazda 6s). My question is how does the '03-04 Mazda 6s compare to a '03-04 H. Accord V6? To what extent and in what ways does the price/specs affect total performance? Being this forum is a mazda forum, I do expect to see bias opinions; however it is all good. (lol2)

Sorry if this has been posted before, totally disregarded the search button. >_< laziness.

I recently test drove both and went with the 6 for a couple of reasons. First off, the Accord is ugly. I guess this is largely a matter of opinion but many people agree with me. Secondly, the 6 is now available in a five door hatch which is what I bought, and I think that looks smokin' cool. As for performance, The Accord V6 struck me as being a little peppier than the 6 in the low RPM area (no difference in the higher RPM area), but I felt the 6 handled better through the curves. The loaded Accord is also slightly more expensive than the loaded 6. Both have alot of great interior luxury features, Accord has a slightly larger back seat, 6 blows the accord away for trunk storage space (if you get the hatch).

You mentioned that you're 16 and buying a new car. I hope you have checked out the insurance (or I hope you're very rich) because you will pay a fortune on either car. I was quoted significantly lower for the 6 because it has a 5 star side and front impact rating (comes with side air bags) and Hondas get stolen all the time.

 

[Da 6]

yep that "H" emblem ruined it.....(smash) but on a serious note the option that isn't available on the 6 is navi for states...thats all I know other than all the 2.3 technology isn't in the 3.0 it still should be a better bargain other than gas prices rising(reason I got 2.3) and I agree the looks of the 6 with or without the sport apearance looks 10 X's better than what honda puts out....*Pssst* go for apearance package with wing and tips *wink* test drive both and then make a decision on if you are buying a car for the badge or cause you actually like it.

 

[teamprojectz]

hahaha, well, today I got the Mazda 6i 03, was going for v6, but my dad wanted me to get the 2.3 for its gas efficiency. ^___________^

 

[Da 6]

Congrads on Your 6 Purchase

Hey congrads....welcome to the family of "Sixes" we will need your current street address(no P.O. Box) for the "Official" initiation process...I got the rope and ducktape in the trunk














J/K(rofl2)

what color and options did you get on your 6?

 

[teamprojectz]

car: mazda 6i '03
color: silver
options: (unknown) got it used lol..

Just out of curiosity, what happens to your car if you drove with the parking break on? >_< (boom05)

 

[Da 6]

2 things.......wear out brake and/or get flatspot in the verrrrrrry expencive ultra hi performance tires (they are listed as that and parts dept sells them at $175 per tire before labor and mounting!!!) to replace the MXV4+ tires I reccomend sams club if something went wrong.

 

[crossbow]

If you kill your mich's, get rid of them period. Their overpriced, and rather crappy. There are far cheaper and far BETTER performing tires, which also have better comfort and road noise then the stock ones.

The only reason the mich's are priced so high, is because of the deals that mich has with car manufacturers. They give mazda a big break on the tires, and make up that loss by jacking up replacement tire prices.

You can easily purchase a set of 4 Falken ZIEX-512's or Toyo Proxy 4's (Which are better all-seasons). for about the price of two mich's.

If you want performance, check out...(None of these are M+S rated)

Toyo T1-S Proxy's (For street/wet)
Kumo MX (For aggressive dry driving)
Falken Azenis Sports (For aggressive dry driving)
Toyo RA-1 (For ass kicking R compound goodness, not 4 street)

 

[Da 6]

damn...wish I knew that.....just replaced 2 of them(notcool) still say sams club if they carry them cause they still had the best tire+mounting prices vs dealers and local retail tire chains. I think those toyos are a similar tire to the srt ones cause they are non snow tires and wear really really fast. funny thing is sears had those falkins in too cause I was home and they were the 2nd cheapest since sams club was far enough to where you use the savings on tires in gas to get there....

guess you don't have a window sticky other than the warrrenty/as is-no warrenty one from used. Guess you could have the dealership run the vin and see or find a knoledgeable 6tech or 6 club member near you...

guess 6i means...no V6 so well rule that one out...side curtain may be out as well...abs...maybe if you have the 8 way power chair chances are you have the 16's (like veh below) with the anti theft alarm(light on dash that flashes when engine is off) if the doors say bose (and you have 1 deck speaker) then you have that
If you have a lip kit (Refer to veh below) then apperance package...wit/withought wing...auto tranny then sport auto shifter and last one that comes to mind is if the front 2 rims have the gun metal look while the rear ones are fairly clean as if you never drive it then you also have the "brake dust package" that is standard on all sixes.

 

[crossbow]

The toyo's are rated for a longer tread life then the mich's. If your driving aggressively, the mich's won't even last 10k before they completely fall apart. Their really a budget tire with a hefty overpriced sticker.

As long as you don't go ridiculous on the aggressiveness of the T1-S's, they'll last a good 20k miles. Then of course their not mud and snow rated, so they go best with a new set of rims for spring/summer/fall driving.

 

[DieNadel]

the front 2 rims have the gun metal look while the rear ones are fairly clean as if you never drive it then you also have the "brake dust package" that is standard on all sixes.

Ooooh yeah I got that one, looks great with aftermarket wheels too!! (yes)

 

[Da 6]

duh left out the one thing you prabaly killed yourself over trying to figure out.....ther is an empty housing in the headlight assembly...that was a integrated fog light package that I assume you might mo have gotten either...I got part#s and after the housing it's gonna be custom cause I'm not pulling the turn sig stalk...

 

[Da 6]

If your driving aggressively, the mich's won't even last 10k before they completely fall apart.

If you have a suv soccer mom try and run you off the highway and you don't have abs then they only last a 2.5 second skid......I went for maybe 5 or 6 seconds.....sideways so one tire took more than the other...my mich's lasted 1450 miles.... guess I don't need a brake upgrade if the tires stop spinning in less than a second.

 

[crossbow]

The 6's brakes are more then sufficent. Its the tires that need replacing. Remember, brakes stop the wheels, tires stop the car.

If you want to reduce your stopping distance, you upgrade your rubber till the wheels stop locking up. (This requires R-compounds).

A 6 with 14 inch rotors, 6 piston calipers, aftermarket pads, with stock mich's, will be out braked by a 6 with stock brakes/calipers/pads and some r-compound tires.

 

[Chilly]

The toyo's are rated for a longer tread life then the mich's. If your driving aggressively, the mich's won't even last 10k before they completely fall apart. Their really a budget tire with a hefty overpriced sticker.

just to make fun greg-how aggressively? are we talking autoxing? my car has 16K on it and my tread is in perfect condition, and i drive very, very aggressively. not disagreeing on the crappiness of the stock tires, but tread life is awesome. i much prefer high performance though .

 

[Da 6]

yeah the stock tread did last as long as you don't lock your brakes....I also drive agressively...I prabaly could do autocross from all the craters I swerve around in the roadways alone here lol...(295 south) but yeah they do grip....but I'm pretty shure the grass is greener on the other rubers out there (friday) The goodyears I had on my last car didn't grip on dry weather so imagine the painted stop lines when it rained....loss control at 8 miles an hour turning a corner and hit curbs

 

[crossbow]

Aggressively, tirewise, is described best as "heat cycling".

This is when your driving fast, slow down extremely quickly, go through some turns, speed up, repeat. Kinda of the scenario you'd encounter driving on backroads. The type of situation where you hear the tires "sing". (Not squeel, two different distinct sounds. A squeel happens when your just sliding on the tire, a singing tire is one thats approaching the edge of its stability)

After doing this a few times, the mich's can't handle the heat, and start chunking apart. They aren't designed to be aggressive tires, their just standard generic all-seasons, and do quite well in the snow, as long as you have steelies or 16's. (The 17's don't do so hot in the snow).

Compared to the wide gaumt of aftermarket tires however, the mich's are basically pos's. And those who have them, will speak ill of them the second their replaced with cheaper, quieter, and better gripping tires.

 

[Da 6]

do the better gripping tires also help for the "other problem" of the 6? Refering to loosing inside tire on turn or would it just minimize it a lil bit? also did you see my other post (6tech) about the 225 fitting the 6.5 Mz3s rims...titled new shoes under the Mz3 forum here...
http://www.protege5.com/vbb230/showthread.php?t=65566

 

[ashutoshsm]

The 16s aren't noisy - when new (and even now, when I run stock pressures - which is NEVER) they're ultra-quiet on asphalt.

Of course, I should post pics of the edge wear, roll-on sidewall wear and feathering (even with 42+ psi) - it looks quite hilarious (not quite AS hilarious as your chuked apart 17s, greg!)

 

[crossbow]

I should refine my statements to apply directly to the "17 inch" mich's.