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Sedans Mazda6 MAZDASPEED6 Test Drive - What did you think?
14 messages, Last post on Oct 30, 2006 at 12:32 PM
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Just test drove a Speed6 under less than ideal conditions and am dispointed. I wanted to like the car. Conditions were not ideal due to thick traffic - there were only a few stretches with any room, the salesman encouraged me to open it up whenever possible. The clutch linkage has a weird spring with a 'bump', not a linear amount of force through the pedal travel. Driving in traffic got aggravating after about 10 minutes, and I'm accustomed to a manual. I drive a stick 20yr old linkage every day and was getting ready to appreciate the difference with a new one. Power - it felt like a low end rental car; adaquate but not at all fast. I tried pulls in 2nd + 3rd starting from around 2K rpm - even in 2nd no real aceleration. There _might_ have been 87 in the tank, but this was their demonstrator with 8K miles on it and the manager's car, and a cool day so no excuse. Whatever was up was not a subtle issue - the car was just plain slow. Ride quality: Most of our route was on smooth roads and traffic didn't allow us to cover many miles. I expect and welcome a firm suspension, but this one seemed to transmit harshness over small bumps, as if the bushings were worn. I figured any new car short of on STi would offer good filtering of small impacts, the kind that get irritating after a while. This wasn't a great test, not enough miles and low speeds, but I expected better. Now I understand why they have leftover 06s. Size: While there's less space inside than a Camry, it's hardly cramped; actually it's a bit wide to zip through traffic. I would have liked an MS3 to compare it to but they expect none for 2 months. I'll check out a WRX but don't see myself driving something with a hood scoop; you may as well phone ahead to the highway patrol and request they have their ticket book ready.
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Replying to: pegasuszz (Oct 26, 2006 6:08 pm) That's interesting, it's one of the issues that is keeping me from looking harder at a Subie turbo. John |
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Replying to: pegasuszz (Oct 26, 2006 6:08 pm) As to the clutch issue you had. The clutch does not need to be depressed all the way to the floor, as I suspect you did, to shift. This is a performance vehicle, it will not shift like your everyday Honda, or what ever it is you drive. And it also seems that MS6 was a early production one, the clutch is much smoother now. When you drive it again, do not go past 6,000 RPM's, shift at or just before 6,000, and do not depress the clutch to the floor to shift, and you will find yourself running 0-60 time in the mid 5 second range. I do it every day, if you are wondering....that's not slow... |
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Oct 27, 2006 11:31 am) I did manage to get past 3K rpm for a moment, but there was only a modest push, more like a std 4 cyl engine torque curve than boost. Say, what rpm does it turn at 85? Somewhere on the forum I think I saw mph/1000 rpm in 6th, I can't find that now. Like I said, I wanted to like the car. If they can fix it maybe I'll try again. |
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Replying to: pegasuszz (Oct 27, 2006 8:20 pm) Well, it's kind of difficult to accurately value this car without dipping into the boost. This car is all about the 3,500-6,000 RPM surge. Sans turbo, you're looking at a ~160HP 2.3L 4 cylinder in a ~3,700 lb. car. I would test drive a different specimen and do so somewhere and sometime when you can open it up. -monkeymobile
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Replying to: pegasuszz (Oct 27, 2006 8:20 pm) I ended up buying something else but not because of any deficiency preceived in the MS6.
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Replying to: monkeymobile (Oct 27, 2006 10:23 pm) The sales person was clearly NOT taking you on a proper test drive in the MS6. What kind of test drive is it that does not include a run on the Highway? As recommended earlier, you need to at least try a spirited 0-60 to get the true nature of this vehicle. BTW: MS6 engine shines its brightest in the 50-75 mph passing move! |
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Replying to: pegasuszz (Oct 27, 2006 8:20 pm) There lies there problem. Get the sucker over 3,000 and it takes off, you really need to drive it again. If you read a C&D issue "Every Day Hero's" They drove the MS6 against the Accord EX V6 6-speed, Pontiac G6 GTP manual, Acura TSX manual, VW Jetta 2.0T manual, and I think there was another...anyways...it smoked all of them, with ease. Dollar for dollar, that vehicle has no competition in power or performance... |
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Replying to: cccompson (Oct 28, 2006 7:13 am) I believe the piece you test drove, had it ECU recalibrated ( related to 4106E recall). This results in a taming of inital surge till about (in my car) 3000-3500 rpm. Once you are on a proper stretch and keep the rpm between 3000-6000, it seems as if you never run out of power. Around 85 mph in 6'th , the car was doing 3200 rpm with full 3 passengers, so, even while passing, I never needed to downshift. As others have suggested, give this car another shot, and stretch its legs a bit more. Need to scrape the surface a little  Check this out too  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbBWelmX9yI |
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