Mazdaspeed 6 UPDATE + Check pg 5 for detailed PICS!

[Mazda3]

if you are that damn admin about having the car why won't they sell to you? you get on their bad side or something?

I believe he said he can't spend that much money until spring time.

 

[Newf]

bingo. And them being a small dealer they probaby won't get in another speed unless it's special order. I wanted to test drive this one, so i would know if I liked it enough to put money aside for it for the spring. If the car stays there, great. If the car sells, at least I had already drove it and knew I liked it, and the dealer could order another one in the spring without worry that I would change my mind.

I'm not on their bad side. How could I be, they've been there a month, they are new, they don't know anyone yet which is why I am pissed. they are obviously making certain assumptions without ASKING me.

this is also me seeing how the new owners will treat me. If they pass the few tests i have in mind, I'll buy another Mazda. If not, I'm gone. With a Mazdaspeed product I have learned the hard way that is is critical that you have a good relationship with an understaning dealer that is willing to help.

Killer is, i don't know what else to get. Mazdaspeed 3 hatch doesn't interest me. Now a Mazdaspeed 3 sedan and that would be a different story.


Meantime I'll keep pressing my face up against the showroom glass at night to take a peek at the Mazdaspeed 6.

 

[Puckpimp71]

Depending on how sales of this one goes, it may be a regular run. Unlike the Miata, this one should be a little higher production, since there's more of a market out there. There's going to be some around come spring time.

 

[Mazda3]

I don't doubt that there will be a few kicking around in the US come spring, but in Canada there won't be without a second run. I had a long conversation with my Mazda Canada sources last night. The totally REDESIGNED 07 Mazda 6 will be out by August. This car is going to be VERY upscale, comfort and luxury will be light years from where the 6 is now AND it will be bulit in JAPAN. Some of you will like this, some of you will feel it is to refined. Mazda is convinced it will drastically increase their sales in the US. Anyway with this happening so soon it will factor into the decision of a second run of MS6's.

The new CX-7 with the MS6 engine will go into production in February. If everything sticks to schedule you could see it in Canadian showrooms as early as the last week of March.

This ones for you Newf, the MS3 is scheduled for July production, which would put it in Canadian showrooms the last week of August. It will be the Hatchback style, that is finalized. They are still working on FWD and AWD applications. The problem is they want the price point of the FWD, but with the power they want this car to have it might be to uncivilized. Mazda won't put out a car with huge torque steer and wheel hop like the SRT-4. This may force them to go with the AWD. My fingers are crossed!!

Make sure you check out the CX-7 when it comes, this vehicle is going to be impressive. It will be more sports car than SUV.

 

[Da 6]

srt-4 wheelhop can be corrected with dogbone motor mounts or the howell automotive inserts

 

[neit_jnf]

comfort and luxury will be light years from where the 6 is now AND it will be bulit in JAPAN.

My sources at AAI (Flat Rock, MI's plant where they build the Mustang and 6) say the redesigned 6 will be built there as well. It will be larger and more powerful, possibly a version with Ford's 3.5L V6. The CX-7 may possibly have this engine as well.

 

[Mazda3]

My sources at AAI (Flat Rock, MI's plant where they build the Mustang and 6) say the redesigned 6 will be built there as well. It will be larger and more powerful, possibly a version with Ford's 3.5L V6. The CX-7 may possibly have this engine as well.

Maybe the US model will be bulit there, but the Canadian 07 6 will be bulit in Japan. Bulit in Japan is a selling feature here in Canada, in the US it doesn't seem to be.

The new CX-9 will have the 3.5L V6, the CX-7 will have the 2.3L DISI.

 

[Newf]

I don't doubt that there will be a few kicking around in the US come spring, but in Canada there won't be without a second run. I had a long conversation with my Mazda Canada sources last night. The totally REDESIGNED 07 Mazda 6 will be out by August. This car is going to be VERY upscale, comfort and luxury will be light years from where the 6 is now AND it will be bulit in JAPAN. Some of you will like this, some of you will feel it is to refined. Mazda is convinced it will drastically increase their sales in the US. Anyway with this happening so soon it will factor into the decision of a second run of MS6's.

The new CX-7 with the MS6 engine will go into production in February. If everything sticks to schedule you could see it in Canadian showrooms as early as the last week of March.

This ones for you Newf, the MS3 is scheduled for July production, which would put it in Canadian showrooms the last week of August. It will be the Hatchback style, that is finalized. They are still working on FWD and AWD applications. The problem is they want the price point of the FWD, but with the power they want this car to have it might be to uncivilized. Mazda won't put out a car with huge torque steer and wheel hop like the SRT-4. This may force them to go with the AWD. My fingers are crossed!!

Make sure you check out the CX-7 when it comes, this vehicle is going to be impressive. It will be more sports car than SUV.

thanks for the info as always

 

[crossbow]

Additional info on the new 6...

3.5 V6 with 240-260 bhp. Chassis changes to allow for a larger body style which increases all dimensions. Estimate size will be larger then an altima/maxima, meant to replace the old millenia in terms of a full size sedan.

There is a slight...."very very very very very slight" rumor that the car could have an AWD option.

It will basically not be the mazda 6 as we know it.

 

[Newf]

bigger usually = worse handling, more weight
more luxury = mo money

I like the recent balance of the 6. It's something different from a camry or accord, something sporty and fun to drive without feeling like a boat. It's also 3 times sexier then the bloated look of the toyota, and the screwed up looking accord , I hate the front end( also to be redesigned in 2007 isn't it?)

That being said, the millenia was a very nice car in it's day.

 

[Da 6]

06 changed minor things, 07 becomes a complete overhaul.

 

[crossbow]

The new refresh was more for cutting costs down then anything else. The 6 is using more parts from the 3 and 8 now, so the car is overall cheaper to produce.

 

[Puckpimp71]

It looks a little nicer, too IMO. I miss the standard leather wrapped steering wheel and the cup holder cover, but other than that, it's a nicer car.

 

[crossbow]

I heavily disagree with that statement, but its all personal opinion.

They cut cost in alot of other areas too...the whole overall refinement of the car dropped.

 

[Da 6]

I'll reserve my finnal oppinion when I see the car in person. I overly talked down about the speed 6 or 06 in general, so I'm just gonna sit this one out.

 

[SVOGT]

I want to buy a MS6 but this guys comments scare me.

Can any owners comment on this? I found a dealer to sell me an MS6 GT with moonroof for $30K US. Car will show up next week and this scares me. Is the gearing screwed up? Will the gas mileage be terrible?

Link

#517 of 541 Long rambling look at Mazdaspeed6 (and my personal confusion on what to buy by blueguydotcom Nov 14, 2005 (12:11 am)


Of all Japanese makes, to me, only Mazda comes close to BMW's roadfeel and driving dynamics. My 330i, while fun, hasn't exactly wowed me in the reliabilty area. Consequently, I'm actively looking for a non-BMW replacement (FWIW, the e90 is nice but it doesn't wow me like my ZHP). After driving most of the comp I'm left with the A3 2.0 (a package I like but wish was quattro), the GTI and Mazdaspeed6.

Saturday I took a 33k fully loaded Mazdapseed6 out for a test drive. Obviously, I'd avoid the navi system (I can't pay 2k for a device that's worthless), so in reality the car's 31k.

Visually, the Mazdaspeed6 is more aggressive than the standard Mazda6 but it's certainly nothing special. The rims are pretty dorky, the body cladding is not my bag either but I do like the hood scoop and ZHP-esque lip spoiler. In the end, the looks won't sell me or dissuade me.

As for the interior, the seats are decent but they're not nearly as supportive as my ZHP's. The steering wheel felt small. All 4 windows are auto up and auto down (small thing but I love this about my BMW). The car comes with Mazda's version of comfort access and like BMW the remote can trigger the windows down (I use this feature a good 60-70% of the time with my 330i). If you forget to put the windows up, you can close the door and just touch a little opaque spot on the handle, forcing the windows closed...cool but not a deal maker or breaker.

Anyway, the 6 speed tranny pretty sloppy. It's vague, notchy and reminds me of the unit in Infiniti's G35. In other words, it's awful. I'm not sure but Mazda may have put some kind of junk on the shifter - like fake plastic chrome. I recall it was hot to the touch.

Anyway, I fired up the 2.3 liter 4 cylinder image and...well, there's no fanfare. The engine makes no real noise. The exhaust is just as mute. Again, I reflect on how I love the little subtle grumble of my 330i ZHP.

I engage the clutch, try to find 1st and...darnit, 3rd. God this thing is not to my liking. And I complain about my BMW's shifter! Rolling forward I begin to let the clutch out. Boom. Holy frijoles this thing catches instantly. The clutch pickup feels far more honda than VW/Audi/BMW. for the rest of the drive I never quite got used to the clutch. Perhaps this would come in time.

Anyway, the clutch snaps and car's at 3k-3.5k-4k, 5k, 6k really fast. And smoothly. No rush. No excitement. But not as fulfilling as the Audi 2.0T. Weird. Lack of engine sound and the car's frantic gearing may play a roll in how blah the engine and the car's acceleration feels.

I can't say for certain but I think I had to hit 3rd to get to 60. I was in 4th by 80 and 6th way before 100. The car's burning mega-high RPM at 100 mph. Okay, so that 19/25 mpg sticker wasn't a joke. This car will get flat out horrid gas mileage. Does it require premium? Does it even matter when the stuff is either 2.80 or $3 a gallon? Regardless, I'd expect 16-17 mpg with this car (I average 22 mpg in my 330i with mixed driving but long trips net 31 mpg). This seems like a little thing until you do the math...I'd assume with premium I'd spend at least $500 more a year on gas (18 mpg/15000*$3). Compared to an A3 I predict a $600 difference - 2.5k in 4 years makes a difference.

Why do I assume such horrible gas mileage? The gearing. The darned car forces you into 6th really fast or you're running around with the little turbo 4 boiling at 4k+. At 50 mph I noticed in 3rd the Mazdaspeed's RPMs were over 4k rpm.

As the first corners approached i noticed the car felt floaty and understeered. What the heck had Mazda done? Were the tires overinflated? The car felt planted but it also just didn't want to turn. I admit I'm not a fan of AWD as it tends to make driving feel like a guessing game but this really threw me. I can't say with confidence the car handles better or worse than my 330i. I can only say the handling felt vegue and strange and unMazda-like. I need to drive it again - on a twistier road - to say definitively if this car doesn't do it for me in terms of handling.

The ride was compliant. Very compliant. And quiet. The lack of sound, the weird understeering and the soft ride certainly didn't call back memories of driving a WRX/Legacy GT. This is a more refined, subdued car. Unfortunately when pressed it still felt that way. Part of my ZHP's charm is the car's dual nature - beast one second, smooth, quiet freeway cruiser with a little burble from the exhaust to never let you forget the car wants to be shifted down to 3rd.

I figure given that this is a Mazda, by May/June, it's gonna sell for at least 2-3k below sticker. In fact, the dealer said Mazda will give buyers 2250 off the sticker if the person leases. One can buyout the lease at a $400 or so penalty. so really it's like a $1850 rebate. Weird, if you ask me. A brand new car and it's got a rebate? So, I figure as a Mazda the car will sell for under sticker soon.

So 29k for the Mazda. Of course, it's going to cost for maintenance and my gas expenses will be much higher. An A3 with sport, xenons, open sky and DSG is 30.5k or about 29k. But it gets great gas mileage and maintenance is free. Plus, honestly, the Mazda's gonna tank on resale (they all do), while the A3 will hold far better.

The e90 via ED is still in the back of my mind. It's more fun than either of those cars but sort of a let down compared to my e46.

 

[crossbow]

There was a PDI repair for the 2-3 shift (shift linkage problem). It was supposed to be fixed prior to delivery. I wonder if this particular one isn't.

Mileage is around 18-20 from most owners so far. The cold air isn't helping with mileage.

 

[onedeath]

I own one and have not had any of the problems the review talked about.

As for the clutch it does take a little bit of getting used to but it is not that bad.

Try to drive a high HP Porsche with a race clutch that has like 30+ lbs of force needed to engage it. Now that is a hard clutch to use, it' either on or off.

I driven BMWs, Porsches, and others, the Speed6 pulls like a freight train from all gears. There must have been something wrong with the car that was reviewed, there is no whay the Audi A3 is faster!

True the engine is very quiet. This is good thing at times, not everyone wants to drive around all day not being able to hear the radio over the engine.

Go drive one if you have the chance, I'm sure you will like it.

Just remember all turbo cars are different, some feel faster than they are and others are just fast. The Speed6 falls into the latter.

Just my 2c.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

I don't know about that guy but I was hitting 111mph in 4th.

 

[SVOGT]

Thanks

So the car feels good, not like that guy says? ......
It's not a show-stopper but I thought the mileage would be better than 18-20?

I own one and have not had any of the problems the review talked about.

As for the clutch it does take a little bit of getting used to but it is not that bad.

Try to drive a high HP Porsche with a race clutch that has like 30+ lbs of force needed to engage it. Now that is a hard clutch to use, it' either on or off.

I driven BMWs, Porsches, and others, the Speed6 pulls like a freight train from all gears. There must have been something wrong with the car that was reviewed, there is no whay the Audi A3 is faster!

True the engine is very quiet. This is good thing at times, not everyone wants to drive around all day not being able to hear the radio over the engine.

Go drive one if you have the chance, I'm sure you will like it.

Just remember all turbo cars are different, some feel faster than they are and others are just fast. The Speed6 falls into the latter.

Just my 2c.