Article Comments - Mazda 6 vs. Honda Accord vs. Nissan Altima

120 messages, Last post on Feb 27, 2009 at 2:31 PM

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What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA6, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Finding the Sweet Spot in Family Sedans - After all the poking, prodding, driving and scoring, the $30,690 2009 Mazda 6 s Grand Touring earns a total of 70.3 points in our comparison for a 1st-place finish. (more)

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#82 of 120 Re: [ribbonspeakers] by bvdj84 Sep 30, 2008 (6:21 am)
Replying to: ribbonspeakers (Sep 29, 2008 7:56 pm) I would like to test drive the new Mazda6 sometime soon, I am really impressed with the new design of the 6. The red is stunning! The interior is very much improved. It looks like a fun car, and the reviews are reflecting that. Who knows, when I look for a new car next spring, maybe I'll be so impressed with it, that I'll pull myself away from the Honda name. That will be hard. I think the 6 would be more fun than the accord, If they offered a sport transmission in the Accord, that would top it all off for me. I could look at the TSX, which offers that, if I wanted the Honda name. Its not a big deal, but something I will look for in a new car. I am car nut, I trade my leased cars way earlier than needed, so I could lease a 6 and an Accord within 2yrs....lol
#83 of 120 by ribbonspeakers Sep 30, 2008 (12:44 pm)
bvd: I thought I was bad trading cars! You're much worse (I'm jealous!) Just as I've read, you can hammer the 6's throttle mid-corner & it stays in gear till you either straighten out or let up. It really gives the driver the feeling of driving a sport sedan; most cars, esp in this class, subjugate the driver to the CPU programming. Meaning they won't stay in gear & rev out when you want them to. I try to make up reasons to do errands as an excuse to get behind the wheel of the 6. Stereo on Touring model could be better but I'm sure the Grand Touring is an improvement. Problem is by that time you're getting close to the price of Cadillac CTS (really)! Only other (extreme) nitpick is that the lock functions on the key fob are inverted vs. the door panel switch. The 6 has understeered only once so far; steering is incredibly neutral, esp for FWD. The Mazda Speed version (I assume it's in the works now) is going to be hot. Edmunds car review was spot on IMO. I got a red Touring; Touring seems well worth the extra $2200 or so; beyond the mechanical upgrades the interior looks far better w/ two-tone, leather wheel/shift, etc. It's a head turner, esp since I removed all badges (trunk & wheel center caps) except the front nose, which I painted black w/ a paint marker. COLD CLIMATE ALERT: the brochure states heated front seats ONLY on Grand Touring; SURPRISE! We got them on our Touring...great for north Utah. Replies to this message: bvdj84 (Oct 03, 2008 6:33 am)
#84 of 120 They are going to make A Mazda Speed6? by maxamillion1 Sep 30, 2008 (1:49 pm)
I can only imagine what it would be like if they did! And you go heated seats in your Touring? If that's the case, and heated seats are included with the Convenience Pkg, I'd probably just get the Touring model and forgo the other features found on the GT (LEDs and a memory seats, etc.) The Touring model, in i or s trim is a really good deal IMO.
#85 of 120 Re: [ribbonspeakers] by bvdj84 Oct 03, 2008 (6:33 am)
Replying to: ribbonspeakers (Sep 30, 2008 12:44 pm) Yes, I am already trying to see when the good time to get out of my current lease, to get into another...lol. I have to be careful though, because I certainly don't want to be way upside down on a new lease. This is the earliest that I have ever wanted to get out. lol Oh well, I am going to talk to a salesmen with a good reputation, and see what he has to say. I would have to get the heated seats, I am already using them, only because now of the cold snap we are having in Indiana. It sounds like the mazda6, has a few packages to choose from, as from the Accord you have trims. You took all the badges off? How are they attached to the paint?
#86 of 120 by ribbonspeakers Oct 04, 2008 (4:49 pm)
the badges are attached w/ some goopy rubbery adhesive strip plus unfortunately (not the case w/ my Ridgeline traded in) there are also pins going into the trunk lid & into the center wheel caps. Just carefully pry them off. I intend to get some type of black rubber plugs for the holes. The only badge I left on (might look weird removed) is the grill, but I painted it black. I intend to remove it & paint it red to match the body so it doens't show. Pry the center wheel caps off first, then you can remove the bades by pushing the backside of the pins. Do this at your own risk. I have an extremely strong distaste for free advertising, esp the gaudy stuff on cars. Still have the temporary plate. Younger guys are sometimes really curious what the heck car their looking at. It's funny. The more I drive this thing the more I love it. Only understeered once w/ extreme braking so far, never on the gas yet has it understeered, pretty amazing. Only two complaints so far: key fob lock buttons are opposite the door panel (prefer the door panel functions) & the intermittent wiper adjusts the opposite of intuition (more intuitive is clockwise = faster/counter = slower). The seats are absolutely fantastic on this thing. Remember, I first test drove this car about an hour after driving the all-new $35k '09 Audi A4. The MazdaSpeed version will be sweet! Hope its a turbo-4, better balance than a V6, better mpg, etc, & hope they offer an A/T or DSG; I can't shift any more because of a physical limitation. Replies to this message: bvdj84 (Oct 05, 2008 4:50 pm) karpediem (Oct 06, 2008 3:12 pm)
#87 of 120 Re: [ribbonspeakers] by bvdj84 Oct 05, 2008 (4:50 pm)
Replying to: ribbonspeakers (Oct 04, 2008 4:49 pm) Sounds you like you know what your doing with the badges. Some logo's on cars look rather tacky. I lease my cars, I really wouldn't want to mess with this, as I have heard it would hurt my trade in. I haven't driven the car yet, I need too! I just can't get the nerve to go in by myself. I don't really want to hear a speech, and doubt, they will let myself go alone. I think having a zippy 4cyl turbo, is so much fun! I am so jealous of this person that owns an 08 Jetta Wolfsburg Edition, 2.0T DSG, its in the bright red! WOW! With the tinted windows, that car is so hot! They car is fun to drive too! From the impression I get from you, its fun like that... the engine just draws you in to the whole experience. Who knows, maybe I'll leave Honda for this car...lol
#88 of 120 ribbonspeakers by 06g1k Oct 06, 2008 (3:32 am)
Sounds like you really like to find a back road and give the car a good thrashing.Would a used g35 or something like that be of any consideration?Just curious as to why a front driver floats your boat.Regardless of how well the 6 drives and handles you cant overcome physics.
#89 of 120 by ribbonspeakers Oct 06, 2008 (11:43 am)
I've tried several times in vain to attempt to convince myself that I could fit comfortably in the G35 but I don't (6-3, 235 lbs). Other people of the same general ht/wt as me say they fit just fine & I absolutely believe they do (they have no reason to lie about such a silly thing). People closer to normal size do not & can not realize that people like me at the outer ranges of human proportions (I work out 6x week & am in good shape; 6-3+ is in the 99th percentile IIRC) can be of similar ht/wt but fit completely differently in the same vehicle. We all have our own completely personal muscle & skeletal makeup (& certain previously injured body parts) that can & do make the difference between fitting comfortably (even entry/egress can make a huge difference in overall comfort & driving pleasure) & absolutely not fitting in a particular car. Car salespeople each have their own personal schmeel/approach in "selling" their cars, asking questions, etc. I politley cut them off while we're walking toward a car & tell them nothing else matters till after I confirm whether or not I fit in the car. They often ask my height/weight & invariably they reply in absolute confidence, "Oh, you'll fit great, I just sold one to a guy the same size as you..." Some salespersons are mature & experienced enough to immediately agree when I tell them that there is a sum total one person who determines the fit, & that would be ME, AFTER I sit in the car. (Most of the time they are wrong & I don't fit.) Regarding physics, I agree. I have more fun during track days on my track motorcycle than driving any 4-wheel vehicle on the street. Also mountain biking on the Bonneville Shoreline Trail a few miles from my home; ditto similar trails in the local national forest on my dual-sport motorcycle. BTW, I drove the previous G35 ('06) on an autocross track; it severely understeered driven hard. The then-current '06 Bimmer (BEEmer is reserved for 2-wheel vehicles, NOT 4-wheel) 330i had immensely better handling on the same track. It was night & day. Replies to this message: r8cut (Oct 06, 2008 9:18 pm) r8cut (Oct 07, 2008 4:04 am) m6user (Oct 07, 2008 7:05 am) and 1 more...
#90 of 120 Re: [ribbonspeakers] by karpediem Oct 06, 2008 (3:12 pm)
Replying to: ribbonspeakers (Oct 04, 2008 4:49 pm) From pictures, it looks like the rear emblem sits in a specific spot, and removing it would make it appear to be missing something? Unlike say the Accord and Altima which have smooth backs and if you removed the emblem there would be no way to tell where it was. I understand people have their own preference, like I would have only gotten rid of the "Mazda6" and whatever trim package lettering there was and left the Mazda badge. Most people remove the badging for a "clean" look, but the way it looks in the pictures, removing that badge wouldn't look clean but like there was something missing.
#91 of 120 Re: [ribbonspeakers] by r8cut Oct 06, 2008 (9:18 pm)
Replying to: ribbonspeakers (Oct 06, 2008 11:43 am) I've tried several times in vain to attempt to convince myself that I could fit comfortably in the G35 but I don't (6-3, 235 lbs). Other people of the same general ht/wt as me say they fit just fine & I absolutely believe they do (they have no reason to lie about such a silly thing). Wow. I'm almost 6'5" and fit easily in the G35 (headroom and leg room). Does the steering wheel get in the way of your legs? Just curious where you don't fit. Replies to this message: r8cut (Oct 07, 2008 4:04 am) m6user (Oct 07, 2008 7:05 am) r8cut (Oct 07, 2008 8:54 pm)