Preview: 2003 Mazda6 **Update** Mazda 6 MPS AWD info added

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: bolido2000
Check this out Subaru Legacy STi

Besides Chrysler I don't see how domestics have better design than the japanese. The car looks kind of small. Is the interior smaller than the Accord or Altima?

I don't know WTF the GM design department is smoking b/c their cars look like sh!t.

Couldn't agree more! I mean, look at this dash layout! Look at the center console where the radio and climate controls are! GM uses the same, ugly plastics and designs for all their cars! I've seen that same center console in the Toyota Matrix (Pontiac Vibe)!!! I mean, how hard would it be to find out where Toyota, Honda, VW get their plastic made!!!

 

[BoberFett]

The last Riviera. Now there's a good looking automobile.

 

[BoberFett]

OK, GM interiors are ass. That's true.

 

[vi edit]

In my humble opinion, not that anyone cares, is that outside of Oldsmobile, there have only been about 5 or 6 decent looking cars to roll off a GM factory line in the last 5 or so years.

- Saturn Vue
- C5 Corvette
- S-10/Sonoma w/ the ZR2 Highrider package
- Pontiac GTP
- New GMC Envoy

That's uhhhh, about it.

 

[bolido2000]

Escalade and Hummer look good. The problem with GM is the interiors.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Originally posted by: bolido2000
Escalade and Hummer look good. The problem with GM is the interiors.

No they don't look good. The H2 looks functional. But the Escalade has mismatched styling. Look at the sharp, ugly front end and compare it with the bulbous, ugly styling from the A pillar backward.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

*spooooooooooooge*

 

[mithrandir2001]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed
*spooooooooooooge*

Hmm, looks like a Dodge Avenger.

 

[joe678]

Originally posted by: bolido2000
Check this out Subaru Legacy STi

Besides Chrysler I don't see how domestics have better design than the japanese. The car looks kind of small. Is the interior smaller than the Accord or Altima?

that legacy looks sweet...any interior pics?

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

How come they compare the Mazda 6 to the BMw 3-Series...aren't they in different classes?

 

[Swanny]

Hmmm, might be a good car for me....

 

[mithrandir2001]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN
How come they compare the Mazda 6 to the BMw 3-Series...aren't they in different classes?

The 3-series was Mazda's benchmark when designing the 6, not the Accord, Altima or Camry.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I just don't get it! I mean, I know everyone benches against BMW, but how can they even attempt to do so with a FWD car that most likely lacks 50/50 weight distribution???

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I just don't get it! I mean, I know everyone benches against BMW, but how can they even attempt to do so with a FWD car that most likely lacks 50/50 weight distribution???

Because 90% of us could give a flying fart about RWD and even weight distribution. And even less of us could even tell the difference.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I just don't get it! I mean, I know everyone benches against BMW, but how can they even attempt to do so with a FWD car that most likely lacks 50/50 weight distribution???

Because 90% of us could give a flying fart about RWD and even weight distribution. And even less of us could even tell the difference.

How much experience do you have driving either? The difference is clear as day to me! If no one gave a flying fart, the Lexus ES300 would be the best-selling entry-level luxury sedan of all time and not the 3-series! Physics gives a flying fart!

 

[vi edit]

Uhhh....close to 10 years driving a pickup and suv's. Does that count?

Enthusiasts....which account for...oh....roughly 10% of the car buying market care about RWD. They also are usually the same people people who claim that "real people drive sticks".

Bottom line is that outside of SUV's/Pickup trucks, RWD is a niche market, as is a manual transmission.

Piss, moan, whine, and complain all you want, but the "ultimate driving experience" is something that is more sold because of status than it is the "driving experience".

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
I just don't get it! I mean, I know everyone benches against BMW, but how can they even attempt to do so with a FWD car that most likely lacks 50/50 weight distribution???

Because 90% of us could give a flying fart about RWD and even weight distribution. And even less of us could even tell the difference.

How much experience do you have driving either? The difference is clear as day to me! If no one gave a flying fart, the Lexus ES300 would be the best-selling entry-level luxury sedan of all time and not the 3-series! Physics gives a flying fart!

The top 29 best selling cars in America are FWD. Most cars in America sold are FWD. Americans on the average don't give a sh!t.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Well, I am enthusiast damn it! I want a four-door sedan with decent power, RWD, and a good clutch/stick! If the Mazda Miata came in four doors with a hardtop, I'd buy it before I bought a BMW! I don't give a rats-ass about status! I want something that will bring me to the edge of death and back...safely...and will therefore put a smile on my face and soak my back in sweat!!!

 

[WinkOsmosis]

I don't see success in this car's future.... ~200 hp is not enough anymore with Nissan's 255 and Honda's 240hp!

 

[mithrandir2001]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
I don't see success in this car's future.... ~200 hp is not enough anymore with Nissan's 255 and Honda's 240hp!

If horsepower was all that mattered, the Miata would have been a flop. The Accord, probably the best selling car over the last 20 years, didn't get a V6 until 1995! A well-designed and executed 4 cylinder is really all you need.

 

[bolido2000]

Originally posted by: mithrandir2001

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
I don't see success in this car's future.... ~200 hp is not enough anymore with Nissan's 255 and Honda's 240hp!

If horsepower was all that mattered, the Miata would have been a flop. The Accord, probably the best selling car over the last 20 years, didn't get a V6 until 1995! A well-designed and executed 4 cylinder is really all you need.

No he has a point. Comparing grocery getters to Miatas is nonsense. Most people won't hava a Mazda on their shopping list. The Camry has little HP but is a Toyota and is a safe bet for most people. Same goes for the accord. The Altima is finally making a name for itself with sharp styling, HP and "sporty image". Now Mazda is even "worse" imagewise than Nissan. The 6 has to have something special for the avg joe to consider it. HP is not everything but it definitely sells. Driving dynamics goes only by word of mouth. Hopefully the Ford supplied V6 is enough. My guess is that if the Miata gets a rotary so will the 6 in the future.

 

[Nemesis77]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
Couldn't agree more! I mean, look at this dash layout! Look at the center console where the radio and climate controls are! GM uses the same, ugly plastics and designs for all their cars! I've seen that same center console in the Toyota Matrix (Pontiac Vibe)!!! I mean, how hard would it be to find out where Toyota, Honda, VW get their plastic made!!!

:Q:disgust:

Just how crappy can an interior look???

 

[Kelvrick]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
I don't see success in this car's future.... ~200 hp is not enough anymore with Nissan's 255 and Honda's 240hp!

The 160 is the 4 banger, compared to the Camry's 157 (LE) and the Accord's 160 (LX). Not much of a difference to me. The numbers you're looking at are V6's. The mazda 6 V6 has 220.

<== monkey dance

 

[T2T III]

Quote
Originally posted by: wje
I think the Mazda 6 looks good on paper. However, I couldn't wait until December for it to arrive, so I purchased a 2002 Millenia instead. I noticed that the warranty on the "6" is only 3 years / 36,000 miles. Our Millenia, has a warranty of 3 years / 50,000 miles. However, the "6" has a base price of $14,500 !!??!! At that price, they might just cannibalize their sales of their Protege / "3" series.



The 6 is newer, has a more powerful engine, can be had with a 5-speed manual/5-speed auto, uses a more sophisticated suspension setup and tuning, has a structure that is stiffer/more modern, with more advanced safety features. The current Millenia is a rehash of a model that was introduced in '95.

Unless my car was spitting smoke and oil, I would have waited a two months

Actually, it was more like 6 months because we purchased ours in July. Plus, there's going to be a lot of hype during the first few months and the cars will easily sell of the sticker price. Additionally, the Millena @ 170 HP provides more than enough torque/power for the congested area we live in - and I need a good family sedan, not something to take on exit ramps at 65 MPH. Finally, the price that I paid for the Millenia would have only gotten me a partially-upgraded Nissan Altima.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Jellomancer
I don't see success in this car's future.... ~200 hp is not enough anymore with Nissan's 255 and Honda's 240hp!

80% of Camrys, Altima, and Accords sold are 4-bangers. So what's your point?