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Sedans Mazda6 Article Comments - 2009 Mazda 6 First Drive and Full Test
229 messages, Last post on Aug 25, 2008 at 6:33 AM
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First Drive: 2009 Mazda 6 - First Impressions: With most of its major flaws fixed, the 2009 Mazda 6 is easily one of the most impressive sedans in the midsize class. (more)
Full Test: 2009 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring - Bottom Line: Manages to keep some of the zoom-zoom athleticism despite pandering to the Accord/Camry market.(more)
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Replying to: blackadder5639 (Aug 12, 2008 3:55 pm) Hopefully, the driver is mostly referring to the Altima's superior power plant (although that's another disappointment). Let's see, Mazda could've had a smaller lighter 6 with great styling, better fuel economy, and more sportiness. But, they made the car slightly larger, slightly worse styling, worse fuel economy, less sporty. They gave up too much just to be slightly closer to a Camcord. |
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The problem is the car needed to be lager to accept the 3.7 V6. I too preferred the Euro/JDM version. But, in all seriousness, Mazda does have to compete with Camry/Altima/Accord and Mazda had numbers that they were losing sales because of size. Plain and simple. We can all pooh pooh the decision, but it was not a knee jerk thing. If they could have brought the Euro/JDM here and sold volume they would have and saved the R/D $$.
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Replying to: trobson (Aug 12, 2008 7:27 pm) But what I can't forgive is the extent of reduction in sportiness, to the extent that it is no longer the class leader........where is the zoom-zoom we were promised? (To me zoom-zoom means a Mazda model will sportier than all its non-luxury competition. All Mazda models since the zoom-zoom campaign have kept this promise until now.) The 2009 Mazda 6 has light uncommunicative steering, a soft suspension, no manual for the V6, and unimpressive braking performance. Mazda compromised on the traits that matter the most to its fans like me. And mediocre fuel economy to boot! Now the only real reason to buy the 2009 Mazda 6 is the stylishness (relative to the US competition) and the high equipment levels.
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Replying to: blackadder5639 (Aug 12, 2008 3:55 pm) |
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Replying to: blackadder5639 (Aug 12, 2008 3:55 pm) You're kidding, right? You're going to write off the Mazda6 based on one review? ONE!? AFAIC, there's so much waffling about the Mazda6 in this article that I frankly don't trust what's been written. For instance, pulling a 0.81 on the skidpad and calling it low when the current Altima sedan and coupe pulls the SAME THING, and calling the brakes "weak" when they still stop 7 feet shorter than the Altima. EVERY other article I've seen about the 6 has said (at least to me) that the car is still THE sporty choice in the field of midsize sedans. Better yet, how about you go check one out for yourself and actually get behind the wheel, then try out a comparable Accord and Altima, THEN make your decision...
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Replying to: blackadder5639 (Aug 12, 2008 9:26 pm) Since I am a 1st gen Mazda6 owner, and i have test driven the 2nd gen Mazda6 several times, I would say that none of the braking has really been lost. In 2003, Edmunds got the V6 Mazda6 to stop in 120ft, and for the much larger, heavier 2009, it stops on 127ft. That's not that bad. |
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Aug 13, 2008 5:41 am) My bigger concern would, however, be the handling and steering feel comments that I read. I am not in the market for a car anytime soon and and happy that I got the old model rather than the new, since I am not interested in pseudo-luxury cars, which seems to be where Mazda has gone with the 6...of course, this is only based on reading about it. |
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Replying to: mz6greyghost (Aug 13, 2008 3:37 am) All I'm saying is that I've moved from "my next car will be a 2009+ Mazda 6" to "my next car will be either a 2009+ Mazda 6, 2003 to 2007 Mazda 6 V6 manual, Accord or Altima". There are a lot of things I like about the 2009 Mazda 6. The exterior styling (although I prefer the old model's styling, especially with the sport kit), comprehensive equipment levels and improved power/torque output are all things that I'm VERY happy about. I would be foolish to cross it off my list.....in fact, I'm pretty sure that when I eventually test-drive it, I'll like it more than the Accord. But the 2009 Mazda 6 has lost the greatest thing that comes with driving a zoom-zoom era Mazda: the enjoyment and satisfaction that comes with driving the sportiest non-luxury midsized car. I can no longer call it a "poor man's BMW" anymore! That is a huge disappointment. I also can't hide my disappointment about the fuel economy. Yeah, it's only 2 to 3 mpg off the class leaders in that regards, but it's still disappointing nonetheless. I'm tired of Mazdas getting mediocre fuel economy.
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Aug 13, 2008 5:41 am) Part of the satisfaction of driving a Mazda is that you know you're driving the sportiest car among its competitors, and this car will deny me that satisfaction! It's just like driving a Range Rover: there's no point in buying a Range Rover if it loses its ability to spank the competition off-road......even if the owner would never use it off-road. Mazda should have ensured that the 2nd gen Mazda 6 at least stops in the distance as the 1st gen. Being heavier is no excuse. Basically, I'm saing that I would have prefered "Manages to keep all of the zoom-zoom athleticism despite pandering to the Accord/Camry market" to "Manages to keep some of the zoom-zoom athleticism despite pandering to the Accord/Camry market". "Manages to up zoom-zoom athleticism despite pandering to the Accord/Camry market" would have been even better!
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Replying to: mz6greyghost (Aug 13, 2008 3:37 am) Heck, even the previous 6 was chosen as an Editor's choice the last time they had editor's choice. This was when the 1st gen 6 was already considered fairly outdated by all other publications. To have this lackluster, waffling review is an eyeopener to me. If any publication were to post a gushing review, it would be Edmunds. And every other review that you have read was a 1st drive with limited time behind the wheel. As the article even so proudly proclaims, this is the world's first full test of this vehicle (by a publication). With the 1st gen 6, there was no question who had the "sportiest" midsize sedan. The fact that you are asking him to go drive one and then come to conclusion about that... well, that's a telling statement. |
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