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Sedans Mazda6 2009 Mazda6
2117 messages, Last post on Nov 25, 2009 at 7:43 PM
You are in the Mazda6 Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Apr 26, 2008 7:54 am) Well, I am disappointed that Mazda decided to not put a manual in the v6. I understand why they did it, but I know I prefer it compared to current manumatics where downshifting is way too slow. Given the current market for the 6 is probably way lower than what Mazda initially thought it would be, I can understand why they are moving slowly into this market with more "sure things" while hopefully retaining what separates Mazda from the rest of the brands. I'm sure if the new model does well and gets good press, they may consider other options, hopefully the hatch and wagon get another look. But given what they've announced, there's no reason for me to change... my car's paid off, I like how it drives and love the flexibility of the 5-door, and find the size just fine. Of course I'd love to swap engines with the 3.7 but with a manual, my 3.0 does just fine. I'd love to see mazda succeed... an enthusiast's brand without snobbish attitudes or pricing is a recipe that deserves to win. |
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Apr 26, 2008 7:20 pm) Why can't a "family vehicle" have a manual transmission? I just don't get it. Is a manual any less capable of carrying the whole family than an automatic? In fact, I would want a manual as a family vehicle because it forces the driver to concentrate more on driving....... Look, I understand all the economics behind the V6-no-manual decision. But Mazda is a brand that has promised to satisfy enthusiasts. Why not provide the one thing that makes driving most satisfying for the enthusiast: the manual transmission? If, for economics reason, they won't sell V6-with-manuals to dealers, why won't they at least make them available for customers willing to order and wait for one? That way, everyone wins! I would definitely be willing to wait a few weeks for my manual Mazda 6 V6!
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Apr 26, 2008 1:46 pm) Why would they hint to future 5-door or wagon models in the future when they are trying to sell cars, today? Remember, in 2003, when the Mazda6 was introduced, there was no 5-door or wagon, nor did they hint about one either." Simple. I want to buy a Mazda 6 hatchback, but I'm not necessarily a fan of the Mazda 6 sedan. With Mazda not making the intention of introducing a hatchback known, I might assume they will not make a hatchback at all and buy a competing sedan (Accord) or hatchback (Subaru Forrester). Or I may decide to get a used Mazda 6 hatchback. [As you and I know, Mazda would make no money off a used vehicle.] But if they let it be known that there will be a hatchback in 2010, I'll simply wait till then and get the Mazda 6 hatchback! By not telling me of their intention to introduce the hatchback, they lose me as a Mazda 6 hatchback customer! Simple. Remember that when the Mazda 6 was first introduced in 2003, they weren't sure how well it would be received by the market and it therefore didn't make sense to expand the model lineup. But this time, they already have a good idea of the demand for the hatchback. So if they intend producing a hatchback later, why not make that known? Why risk losing potential hatchback customers? They've already made it known that they intend producing a Mazdaspeed 6...... "How about you wait and drive one before you call it the next Accord." I guess you have a point here. I agree. But I'm just so annoyed at Mazda for some of the decisions they've taken about the Mazda 6. Besides, I've driven several cars with manumatic automatics and they're just not compelling choices. I drove a manumatic BMW 335i and a manual 335i on the same day. The manumatic was good, but the manual was really heaven on earth. Huge difference. Because of the lack of a clutch, I often forgot to shift the manumatic after a while. Shifting became an annoyance instead of a joy. After 5 minutes or so, I simply put it to full automatic. In short, driving a manumatic feels like driving a toy (because my left foot is not involved and I don't feel any mechanical link when I shift). Manumatics are crap and I wonder why they're selling at all.....I bet most drivers just use the full auto mode. The reason I mention the 335i manumatic example is that I know a Mazda 6 V6 manumatic wouldn't satisfy me the same way a Mazda 6 V6 manual would. If Mazda wouldn't sell V6 manuals directly to dealers for understandable economic reasons, they should at least make them available by order. I don't see what's so difficult or expensive about that.
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Replying to: blackadder5639 (Apr 27, 2008 12:00 am) Yes, they do. Now what does the fact that Mazda chose not to sell the 5 door hatchback here tell you that they know about the demand? What does the fact that no manufacturer (ignoring the current Mazda6) is producing a mid-size hatchback sedan for the US market, tell you that they all know? There are also nearly no moderately priced mid size wagons in the US market. The Passat is about it, and it is not even all that moderate in price. Edmunds lists the Outback, but I think most would consider that to be a "cross-over". |
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Replying to: blackadder5639 (Apr 26, 2008 11:39 pm) |
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Apr 27, 2008 3:25 am) Mazda6 hatch has sold well in the past and there is a maket for it.
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Replying to: moparbad (Apr 27, 2008 8:34 am) One small player in the US not playing in a particular market is quite different from essentially no one doing so. Either every single manufacturer is too dumb to realize that there is a massive untapped market of would-be midsize hatchback buyers in the US or a handful of Mazda6 5-door owners are mistaken about the viability of a midsize hatch. I'm gonna go with the second option. Mazda6 hatch has sold well in the past and there is a maket for it. Is there any objective evidence of this? What are the sales figures for the hatch vs. the sedan?
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Replying to: blackadder5639 (Apr 27, 2008 12:00 am) I have 9600 miles on my 07 Mazda6 auto and have never once been out of full auto. That's not why I bought the car. I like nice handling cars but just don't want to shift. I was stuck in a traffic jam during a snowstorm one time and it took me 6 hours to go about 50 miles. I had a stick at the time and I swore my left leg was going to fall off. I swore that I would never have a stick again and haven't. However, I agree that anybody that wants one should be able to get one as long as they are willing to pay the price of a special order if necessary. Don't know how much it would be worth....guess that would determine if someone was a real enthusiast or not.
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Apr 27, 2008 8:56 am) |
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Replying to: jeffyscott (Apr 27, 2008 3:25 am) Yes, they do. Now what does the fact that Mazda chose not to sell the 5 door hatchback here tell you that they know about the demand? What does the fact that no manufacturer (ignoring the current Mazda6) is producing a mid-size hatchback sedan for the US market, tell you that they all know?" Exactly my point! If Mazda has not stated or hinted that they'll released a hatchback version of the new Mazda 6 at some point, then it's safe to assume that they won't or don't intend to.
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