Perro del Sol
Member
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- 2003 MSP, Spicy Orange, 2004 Mazda 6 Hatch, 2004 Mazda 6 Wagon
A Coupe with a 6spd, not the Sedan which is where Mazda is looking to make inroads in the marketplace.
Pllleeease Mazda, give us a V6 with a manual tranny!!!
- Thread starter Newf
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A Coupe with a 6spd, not the Sedan which is where Mazda is looking to make inroads in the marketplace.
That was an accord sedan i was driving 6mt
Again, by "drooling" I mean the size & specs. AWD midsize sedan w/ 6MT.
:/ But it's not any FASTER
Yup, needed a sedan, if the Honda Sedan had a V6 MT, I'd have been all over that.
All that said though, I could have had an Altima in a MT V6 now that I think about it . . . something in me can't be brought to actually OWN a Nissan (a Z is nice, though).
Still, I'd love an AWD high-HP Mazda . . . if not it's on to the Legacy though.
-Ernie
There are still rumours of an AWD 6 flolating around. But it will be automatic as Mazda thinks the reason why the MS6 was a sales flop was due to it being a manual. While there is some merit to that as some people just don't want anything but auto tranny, Mazda just doesn't GET IT still.
Nobody knew what a MS6 was,most people still don't, nobody knew it was AWD which at least here in the northern part of the world was it's biggest selling point and why The AWD fusion is selling like hot cakes up here. They failed in advertising the car and relied on the word of mouth and reviewers to pass along how cool the car was and it failed. Just as the MSP and MP3 failed before it. Outside of the car enthusiast, the average joe didn't know wtf a MS6 was and even if it was a "Mazdaspeed" the car had way more to offer then just a "suped up 6" that the Mazdaspeed name implied. Heck, even the car itself doesn't have a single badge on it to indicate it was AWD....name another AWD car, SUV, Truck etc that doesn't have AWD or 4x4 on it to advertise it in your face. When your sitting at a stop light/sign/traffic, staring at the back end of the car in front of you and you see badges says AWD or Turbo..would that not be a good advertising? They missed every aspect of advertising the car completely and that is why it failed. Till this day there is still not another AWD, 275HP car with the same amount features, manual tranny in the same price range here in Canada - 38k. Sorry but the legacy is not cheap.
Nobody knew what a MS6 was,most people still don't, nobody knew it was AWD which at least here in the northern part of the world was it's biggest selling point and why The AWD fusion is selling like hot cakes up here. They failed in advertising the car and relied on the word of mouth and reviewers to pass along how cool the car was and it failed. Just as the MSP and MP3 failed before it. Outside of the car enthusiast, the average joe didn't know wtf a MS6 was and even if it was a "Mazdaspeed" the car had way more to offer then just a "suped up 6" that the Mazdaspeed name implied. Heck, even the car itself doesn't have a single badge on it to indicate it was AWD....name another AWD car, SUV, Truck etc that doesn't have AWD or 4x4 on it to advertise it in your face. When your sitting at a stop light/sign/traffic, staring at the back end of the car in front of you and you see badges says AWD or Turbo..would that not be a good advertising? They missed every aspect of advertising the car completely and that is why it failed. Till this day there is still not another AWD, 275HP car with the same amount features, manual tranny in the same price range here in Canada - 38k. Sorry but the legacy is not cheap.
MazdaSpeeder
Member
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- Protege5 (5-spd)
For what it is....
I *really* like the 2.5/ w/6 speed. I gave up owning fast cars last year, they don't do much for me anymore. I DO enjoy precise cars. And the 2.5 manual does have that in spades. I had to buy one without even driving one, there were only 9 available in a 250 mile circle around the dealer. (In the northeast!)
My hats off to the dealer willing to go that far to get the customer what they want!
With that sort of rarity, don't be surprised if you see manuals go the way of the dodo bird. I enjoy the driving experience, but with almost no exceptions, autos are marked with better gas mileage. I think careful driving can match them, but published is published.
Before buying this car I almost bought the accord sedan with the 5 speed. Nice car, but I think I made the right choice. There were however 2 5 speeds on the Honda lot. I had to buy this car without an actual test drive. I did drive the auto version of course, but they have (imho) very different personalities. Having the six speed certainly makes for a more involved driving experience.
I feel it is only a matter of time before manuals will not be avaialble for *any* car, even the exotics.
Shame, really. But they are getting that good.
I *really* like the 2.5/ w/6 speed. I gave up owning fast cars last year, they don't do much for me anymore. I DO enjoy precise cars. And the 2.5 manual does have that in spades. I had to buy one without even driving one, there were only 9 available in a 250 mile circle around the dealer. (In the northeast!)
My hats off to the dealer willing to go that far to get the customer what they want!
With that sort of rarity, don't be surprised if you see manuals go the way of the dodo bird. I enjoy the driving experience, but with almost no exceptions, autos are marked with better gas mileage. I think careful driving can match them, but published is published.
Before buying this car I almost bought the accord sedan with the 5 speed. Nice car, but I think I made the right choice. There were however 2 5 speeds on the Honda lot. I had to buy this car without an actual test drive. I did drive the auto version of course, but they have (imho) very different personalities. Having the six speed certainly makes for a more involved driving experience.
I feel it is only a matter of time before manuals will not be avaialble for *any* car, even the exotics.
Shame, really. But they are getting that good.
Antoine
Administrator
This is a GREAT discussion thread...A lot of good points being made from both sides and even talk of the "competition" mixed in for added flavor...All the while remaining civil...Very (cool)...Keep it up!
I'll just add that Mazda needs popular sporty "bread & butter" models to feed the development of their iconic models specifically designed for the "enthusiasts"...What seems like a bad move from the enthusiast's POV may be a good move from the mass-market POV...It's a difficult balance/cycle to maintain but I believe Mazda is getting progressively better at it...They also need YOUR SUPPORT and FEEDBACK...So keep it coming as well!
I'll just add that Mazda needs popular sporty "bread & butter" models to feed the development of their iconic models specifically designed for the "enthusiasts"...What seems like a bad move from the enthusiast's POV may be a good move from the mass-market POV...It's a difficult balance/cycle to maintain but I believe Mazda is getting progressively better at it...They also need YOUR SUPPORT and FEEDBACK...So keep it coming as well!
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- 2007 Mazdaspeed 6 Sport
The reason the MS6 was a sales flop was because they were trying to enter an already heavily-penetrated market (Mitsubishi, Subaru) with what many viewed to be an inferior product. They could not compete on a price level with the WRX, and they could not compete on a performance level with the STi and Evo. When it was realized that they could create their own sub-market with the MS3, they took the ball and ran never looking back.
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- 2011 Mustang GT
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but my very close source has assured me the MS6 is dead, and will NOT be built in AAI alongside the regular 6. It just won't be a profitable venture for them, especially with the first gen MS6 tanking from a sales standpoint.
As for a V6 manual, I think it needs to be done, but, as said before, they've changed their sales and marketing strategy, took some of the excitement away, and tried to appeal to the masses with the new 6. A bad move in many of our eyes, but not from a bottom line. Their biggest competitor is the Maxima, not the Accord/Camry/Fusion. They will perennially sell thousands more than the 6 because of sheer volume of built vehicles. AAI doesn't build that many 6's right now, and isn't going to try and sell 200k of them a year.
I personally think that they've moved the 6 too far upmarket to hurt the A/C/F buyers, and the base models are too stripped down for people to enjoy. They need to focus one way or another.
As for a V6 manual, I think it needs to be done, but, as said before, they've changed their sales and marketing strategy, took some of the excitement away, and tried to appeal to the masses with the new 6. A bad move in many of our eyes, but not from a bottom line. Their biggest competitor is the Maxima, not the Accord/Camry/Fusion. They will perennially sell thousands more than the 6 because of sheer volume of built vehicles. AAI doesn't build that many 6's right now, and isn't going to try and sell 200k of them a year.
I personally think that they've moved the 6 too far upmarket to hurt the A/C/F buyers, and the base models are too stripped down for people to enjoy. They need to focus one way or another.
well, I'm now at the "test driving" cars phase and I'm quite frustrated. First off we don't have subaru dealer here. It's coming, but that could be 5 years from now at this pace as it's been in the "it's coming" stage for near that long already. Had I a choice to grab the legacy, regardless of whether I like it's looks or not, I think I'd grab it just for the turbo/AWD/manual tranny alone.
I've been looking at the 6GT. Still the nicest looking of the A/C/F/M sedans imho. Interior also sweet, but all of a sudden it's $$$. Like 44 grand here. Whereas the Honda is 37. The Honda Sedan NEEDS a 6 speed though, gorgeous V6 with robbing tranny. The Accord coupe 6 speed is very nice, quick, really quick, what a difference a manual tranny can make, but alas I need a 4 door.
So right now I'm leaning towards Accord EXL V6 sedan and again forced into a auto tranny. It's not the type of car I usually gravitate towards, but I am looking for something for myself and woman who finds the Mazdaspeed "hard to drive". Yeah really?? WTF? Clutch is pita which imho is what killed the speed to begin with, but she finds the larger heavier Honda easier to drive. In a way I agree with her, it drives very small for a large car. Think I'm going to grab it, pay for it, that'll be her car and then I can come back to Mazda later if the right car exists.
Or I can get the accord coupe 6speed now ....hmmm. Killer is I have an injury that makes dealing with a 2 door coupe rather awkward and painful at times.
If Mazda made a 6spd Manual tranny, I could care less what the woman says and get it anyways
I've been looking at the 6GT. Still the nicest looking of the A/C/F/M sedans imho. Interior also sweet, but all of a sudden it's $$$. Like 44 grand here. Whereas the Honda is 37. The Honda Sedan NEEDS a 6 speed though, gorgeous V6 with robbing tranny. The Accord coupe 6 speed is very nice, quick, really quick, what a difference a manual tranny can make, but alas I need a 4 door.
So right now I'm leaning towards Accord EXL V6 sedan and again forced into a auto tranny. It's not the type of car I usually gravitate towards, but I am looking for something for myself and woman who finds the Mazdaspeed "hard to drive". Yeah really?? WTF? Clutch is pita which imho is what killed the speed to begin with, but she finds the larger heavier Honda easier to drive. In a way I agree with her, it drives very small for a large car. Think I'm going to grab it, pay for it, that'll be her car and then I can come back to Mazda later if the right car exists.
Or I can get the accord coupe 6speed now ....hmmm. Killer is I have an injury that makes dealing with a 2 door coupe rather awkward and painful at times.
If Mazda made a 6spd Manual tranny, I could care less what the woman says and get it anyways
The Subi GT just got a metra kit . . . I'm safe as long as they don't put in HIDs. If they put in HIDs, I may be forced to buy an ugly car 
I just found out the Altima Sedan has no M/T in the V6 . . . so Mazda's "competition" isn't there to encourage them. I poked the local dealership Friday telling them they needed a MS6 --- their response was 'we know'. Damn.
Honestly, another 50hp would be all that was needed to really make the car move like stink, a mechanical LSD would seal the deal . . .
I just found out the Altima Sedan has no M/T in the V6 . . . so Mazda's "competition" isn't there to encourage them. I poked the local dealership Friday telling them they needed a MS6 --- their response was 'we know'. Damn.
Honestly, another 50hp would be all that was needed to really make the car move like stink, a mechanical LSD would seal the deal . . .
The Subi GT just got a metra kit . . . I'm safe as long as they don't put in HIDs. If they put in HIDs, I may be forced to buy an ugly car
I just found out the Altima Sedan has no M/T in the V6 . . . so Mazda's "competition" isn't there to encourage them. I poked the local dealership Friday telling them they needed a MS6 --- their response was 'we know'. Damn.
Honestly, another 50hp would be all that was needed to really make the car move like stink, a mechanical LSD would seal the deal . . .
The 3.5 doesn't come with a M/T? Damn that sucks.... what about the Altima SE-R they had, was that was a v6 wasn't it? That came with option for 6 speed M/T.
I believe the previous year was also when the SE-Rs were out. I've never seen the SE-R in coupe only sedan. Seems like Nissan changed for this year as well. Don't car manufacturers realize a majority of us actually like manual trans cars?
I wouldn't be surprised if Mazda pulls out a manual trans for the Mazda6 V6, if they are getting word of everyone who's been asking about the V6 in manual. Car manufacturers are known for doing that. When Toyota first had the IS300 out, it was auto with no manual, next years production run included the option for manual.... so who knows.
I think we're all deluded. Look at the numbers of GM and Toyota V6s that sell every year with slushboxes. Actually liking FWD is another thing that makes us all a minority. The only other people I work with that drive M/Ts all have sports cars and race cars (Porsche mostly) . . . some STIs, but still, America doesn't want a car with a manual tranny and a usable backseat.
Toyota is a lost cause for M/Ts, I'm not sure why they even bother with one in the lexus lineup since it's the odd-man-out; it's clearly a stab at the 3series, but AWD would be more marketable.
I understand that they have to limit production per transaxle, but what was SMART was Honda when they only made M/T CR-Vs 4WD.
I have a feeling I'll be going RWD next, which stinks because I'm not a fan.
Yeah I see what you're pointing at... but there's a lot more majority than you think, there were thousands of MS6s sold, and everywhere I looked on here, 6 club and msf.org forums, etc everyone was saying they'd love a new MS6.
I usually go in this preferred order AWD>RWD>FWD on the cars I like.
However regarding america doesn't want a manual tranny with a usuable backseat.... look at corvettes, mustangs, camaros, etc..... the american brand cars offer manual trans in their stuff
I usually go in this preferred order AWD>RWD>FWD on the cars I like.
However regarding america doesn't want a manual tranny with a usuable backseat.... look at corvettes, mustangs, camaros, etc..... the american brand cars offer manual trans in their stuff
