Official 2009 USDM Mazda6 thread

[nate0123]

Sounds like a nice car overall and has power to back it up now.

Yea, cause the 1st gen was just so slow (ugh)

 

[Mazda3]

Yea, cause the 1st gen was just so slow (ugh)

Yes, it was. There were at least a 1/2 dozen cars in its class that were faster. That's unacceptable if they want me to buy one. New 6 should be the fastest car in its class and they have Direct injection to boost the power down the road if they need to.

 

[nate0123]

Yes, it was. There were at least a 1/2 dozen cars in its class that were faster. That's unacceptable if they want me to buy one. New 6 should be the fastest car in its class and they have Direct injection to boost the power down the road if they need to.

Honestly, I couldn't give a crap less how fast other cars are. Are they fun to drive? The 6S was fast enough, and still is. It'll get out of its own way and have more than enough power for any situation.

Do you have a drag strip on your commute? The notion that any car needs 270+ horsepower or else it's slow - to me, that's mind-boggling.

 

[tunersteve]

How are the blind spots? You say the C/D pillars flow nicely but are they also positioned to minimize your blind spot?

Sounds like a nice car overall and has power to back it up now.

The blind spots aren't all that bad. The D pillar seems smaller now, as the rear sail window goes back a bit further than the old one does. I checked out the BSM system and saw how well that works, so checking blind spots wasn't really an issue.

The bluetooth button is located where the mute used to be. I guess there wasn't any room to add another button. I'll take the bluetooth over the mute button.

Yeah, basically. Instead of having big volume buttons, it has the little toggle, and the mode button hangs off the wheel slightly. I'd assume if you have BT that the car will answer, so using a mute might be useless.

Something else I realized, this car had auto dimming side mirrors, which were fantastic! I noticed the mirrors turned blue, and after researching why, it comes with auto-dimming side mirrors.

 

[mikeyb]

Yes, it was. There were at least a 1/2 dozen cars in its class that were faster. That's unacceptable if they want me to buy one. New 6 should be the fastest car in its class and they have Direct injection to boost the power down the road if they need to.

A car does not have to be the fastest out of its competitors to be the best.

Look at the BMW 3 series its not the fastest in its class but it handles better and is enjoyable to drive where its competitiors are not up on the same level of overall performance.

 

[mikeyb]

Does the mirror auto-dip when you put the car into reverse?

 

[tunersteve]

Does the mirror auto-dip when you put the car into reverse?

Not that I noticed.

 

[Mazda3]

Honestly, I couldn't give a crap less how fast other cars are.

Yeah, but I do. Mazda promotes the 6 as the sportiest car in the class. To me that means it needs the power as well as the handling. Being a tenth or two slower would be ok I guess, but when numerous competitors have 30-50 HP more that is unacceptable.

I would rather have the 170 HP 2.5L than the current 212 HP V6. No I won't take the car to the drag strip, but I'll be damned if I wanted some brainwashed Honda driver blowing me off the lights in the same class car. I care about this and it will factor into my decision. You don't care that's great, I was just stating my opinion.

Just for the record I owned a brand new 2004 Mazda 6 GT-V6 for two years and loved the car, but the motor is old and tired compared to the new cars.

 

[Mazda3]

A car does not have to be the fastest out of its competitors to be the best.

That is true, but the gap was too big and there were numerous faster cars in the class not just one or two. As a matter a fact there were very few V6 cars in the class that the 6 could out run.

Its nice that Mazda stepped up to the plate for once in the HP department. It makes the car a slam dunk in this class. It gets the people like me who care about this, it takes the HP card off the table for the competition, and I don't think the people like Nate are going to not buy the car because the engine has too much power. Mazda wanted to cover all the bases this time and did a pretty good job from what I've seen and read so far.

 

[coolmazda5]

A car does not have to be the fastest out of its competitors to be the best.

+1, driven many for rentals, few fast and powerful but their handling is poor compared to a Mazda (i.e. an Impala SS and a top trim Volkswagen Jetta I got the other day).

South of the border a recent Mazda Motor newspaper review said something like this:

"Zoom-Zoom expresses the excitement of the movement and has more to do with the car looks and feeling than with purely speed"

A little bit ridiculous (blah) but I agree with it, even for my cheap people movers and the rest of the Mazdas I've driven before...

 

[Koenig]

Ummm...what's the problem? You've seen them on the road and there are a million pictures on the internet, including this thread. What's to see?

Well if you have seen them on the street then why do you need him to post pics of it?

I haven't seen pics of black and white leather, and I haven't really seen any inside pics of the v6 version.

The bluetooth button is located where the mute used to be. I guess there wasn't any room to add another button. I'll take the bluetooth over the mute button.

I'm partially deaf so talking on the cellphone isn't an option for me, I don't really see ANY other use for bluetooth except for assholes to talk on their phone instead of paying attention to the road. I really do wish it was illegal to use the cellphone in anyway while driving.

I'll take the mute button so I can mute the radio/music/nav whatever.

 

[TinmanMS6]

I'm partially deaf so talking on the cellphone isn't an option for me, I don't really see ANY other use for bluetooth except for assholes to talk on their phone instead of paying attention to the road. I really do wish it was illegal to use the cellphone in anyway while driving.

I'll take the mute button so I can mute the radio/music/nav whatever.

On my old Avalanche, which didn't have Bluetooth, the button was the same, but it just muted the stereo. I would think that you could turn off the Bluetooth and have this button do the same.

 

[mikeyb]

That is true, but the gap was too big and there were numerous faster cars in the class not just one or two. As a matter a fact there were very few V6 cars in the class that the 6 could out run.

Its nice that Mazda stepped up to the plate for once in the HP department. It makes the car a slam dunk in this class. It gets the people like me who care about this, it takes the HP card off the table for the competition, and I don't think the people like Nate are going to not buy the car because the engine has too much power. Mazda wanted to cover all the bases this time and did a pretty good job from what I've seen and read so far.

I currently drive one of the 02-08 6s competitors. A 2003 Altima 3.5 SE with 240hp and 246lb-ft of torque with a 4AT. Which will own a 6 in the straight line but the 6 will own the Altima in the corners. The 6 has better fit and finish and is sportier then my Altima which has the SE side skirts, 17" rims, and trunk lid spoiler.

I still feel a car does not need high horsepower to be the best in its segment.

 

[Koenig]

Yeah, but I do. Mazda promotes the 6 as the sportiest car in the class. To me that means it needs the power as well as the handling. Being a tenth or two slower would be ok I guess, but when numerous competitors have 30-50 HP more that is unacceptable.

I would rather have the 170 HP 2.5L than the current 212 HP V6. No I won't take the car to the drag strip, but I'll be damned if I wanted some brainwashed Honda driver blowing me off the lights in the same class car. I care about this and it will factor into my decision. You don't care that's great, I was just stating my opinion.

Just for the record I owned a brand new 2004 Mazda 6 GT-V6 for two years and loved the car, but the motor is old and tired compared to the new cars.

uh... inline4 is supposed to be 156hp... so I would choose the V6... I drive a V6 all the time, my GF has a '05 v6 hatch... that car has plenty of get go... keep in mind it was UNCHANGED from 2003... you wanna compare it in it's class, compare it to the accords and camry's etc. It WAS the best in it's class until Toyota and Honda decided to start bumping the HP in their cars, so the the Honda Accord now has 268, and the Camry had what, 265-270? So now Mazda redid the Mazda6 to have 270 HP....

But back when the mazda6 came out that car was plenty good for it's class, it was definitely faster than the accord's and camrys of THOSE generations, before the remake. So the first gen mazda6 was plenty good.

oh and I've raced my GF's V6 (triptronic) against a friend's IS250 manual (I got about half a car on him) and against a friend in his civic Si with a chip, or whatever the hell he said he had (he was near the rear bumper)

I think the first gen v6 was pretty good for what it was. Yes the new mazda6 has more power and better pickup now.... but it's still FWD, so I know my AWD will get it, it either weighs the same or more so that also counts.

If you REALLY want to compare this car, I want to see how the new 3.5L engine matches up against the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry... if it trumps BOTH of those cars, then you know it's super sweet.

I'll be waiting til one of the car magazines releases their review.

 

[Koenig]

I currently drive one of the 02-08 6s competitors. A 2003 Altima 3.5 SE with 240hp and 246lb-ft of torque with a 4AT. Which will own a 6 in the straight line but the 6 will own the Altima in the corners. The 6 has better fit and finish and is sportier then my Altima which has the SE side skirts, 17" rims, and trunk lid spoiler.

I still feel a car does not need high horsepower to be the best in its segment.

You are correct sir. Just look at all the car magazines that do reviews Car&Driver, Motor Trend, Automobile, etc.

They don't award the car the best in it's class due JUST to having high power.... I've seen many lesser powered cars take the best in the class because of it's OVERALL greatness.

 

[mikeyb]

Koenig, I'm looking for the white and black leather interior you want to see but all I can find are black, gray, and beige. No two tone.

 

[Mazda3]

I'm partially deaf so talking on the cellphone isn't an option for me, I don't really see ANY other use for bluetooth except for assholes to talk on their phone instead of paying attention to the road. I really do wish it was illegal to use the cellphone in anyway while driving.

I'll take the mute button so I can mute the radio/music/nav whatever.

I don't even own a cell phone. I just think it is a more desirable feature for the larger % of people than a mute button. I agree about the cell phone while driving, but this makes it a little less distracting until cell phone are finally outlawed while driving.

 

[Mazda3]

uh... inline4 is supposed to be 156hp... so I would choose the V6... I drive a V6 all the time, my GF has a '05 v6 hatch... that car has plenty of get go... keep in mind it was UNCHANGED from 2003... you wanna compare it in it's class, compare it to the accords and camry's etc. It WAS the best in it's class until Toyota and Honda decided to start bumping the HP in their cars, so the the Honda Accord now has 268, and the Camry had what, 265-270? So now Mazda redid the Mazda6 to have 270 HP....

But back when the mazda6 came out that car was plenty good for it's class, it was definitely faster than the accord's and camrys of THOSE generations, before the remake. So the first gen mazda6 was plenty good.

oh and I've raced my GF's V6 (triptronic) against a friend's IS250 manual (I got about half a car on him) and against a friend in his civic Si with a chip, or whatever the hell he said he had (he was near the rear bumper)

I think the first gen v6 was pretty good for what it was. Yes the new mazda6 has more power and better pickup now.... but it's still FWD, so I know my AWD will get it, it either weighs the same or more so that also counts.

If you REALLY want to compare this car, I want to see how the new 3.5L engine matches up against the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry... if it trumps BOTH of those cars, then you know it's super sweet.

I'll be waiting til one of the car magazines releases their review.

I was referring to the new 2.5L I4 with 170 HP. I fully understand everything you said. That's why I bought a Mazda 6 in 2004. The 6 needed an upgrade and the 3.7L 272 HP V6 is awesome.

 

[mikeyb]

The 6 needs the 3.5 TT that the MKZ and Fusion will be getting.

 

[Mazda3]

I currently drive one of the 02-08 6s competitors. A 2003 Altima 3.5 SE with 240hp and 246lb-ft of torque with a 4AT. Which will own a 6 in the straight line but the 6 will own the Altima in the corners. The 6 has better fit and finish and is sportier then my Altima which has the SE side skirts, 17" rims, and trunk lid spoiler.

I still feel a car does not need high horsepower to be the best in its segment.

Again, I understand and agree with most of what you're saying. But for me personally it makes my decision easier if the 6 has class leading power.