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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#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)
#92 of 120 Re: [r8cut] by r8cut Oct 07, 2008 (4:04 am)
Replying to: r8cut (Oct 06, 2008 9:18 pm) Whoops...Forgot to menton the above only applies to the G35 without the moonroof. I dare say there isn't an '08/'09 sedan with a moonroof in the universe that I can sit in (except for Scion Xb-type vehicles). Replies to this message: m6user (Oct 07, 2008 7:05 am) r8cut (Oct 07, 2008 8:54 pm)
#93 of 120 Re: [r8cut] by m6user Oct 07, 2008 (7:05 am)
Replying to: r8cut (Oct 07, 2008 4:04 am) I bet you could fit in a Taurus sedan with a sunroof. They have huge interiors and huge headroom. Replies to this message: r8cut (Oct 07, 2008 8:54 pm)
#94 of 120 by ribbonspeakers Oct 07, 2008 (1:14 pm)
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. That's exactly what I posted about...people the same ht or taller who fit in cars I can't drive (I'm 2" shorter). What year is yours & does it have PMR? IIRC the dealer told me he knows of no such thing as a current G35 w/ a solid roof. (Sidebar: IMHO the PMR is the most useless car invention ever; I assume my height & fit is somewhat related to my opinion but really: does anyone ENJOY the sun stomping down on their head while they drive? As a person having ridden over 250k miles on motorcycles I'll pass.) I get my wind thrills the real way, on local mountain bike trails going downhill at speed over rocks as big as my head (big head, big feet, two outa three ain't bad). Unfortunately can't remember exactly what didn't fit...very possibly legs...I've got huge thighs (maxed out the leg press machines back in the day). One of my most common problems is extremely (as in dangerously) limited vision around the stoooped rear view mirror (the latest Genesis comes to mind). Vision generally is improved when there is an articulating arm for this mirror, allowing me to angle the arm fore or aft in order to raise the mirror height so I can avoid running over those mundane objects such as.....oh, pedestrians & such! Unfortunately, as time progresses it becomes more common for manufacturers to stuff ever more electronics into the mirror; the more the electronics the less likely is there an articulating arm. Replies to this message: r8cut (Oct 07, 2008 9:01 pm) jeffyscott (Oct 08, 2008 11:33 am) m6user (Oct 08, 2008 1:04 pm) elroy5 (Oct 08, 2008 2:25 pm) bvdj84 (Oct 13, 2008 6:36 am) thegraduate (Oct 13, 2008 7:03 am) bvdj84 (Oct 13, 2008 5:27 pm) and 3 more...
#95 of 120 Re: [m6user] by r8cut Oct 07, 2008 (8:54 pm)
Replying to: m6user (Oct 07, 2008 7:05 am) You'd lose that bet. The G35 has eight-tenths of an inch more headroom (in the front). Interestingly it also has about 2 more inches front leg room than the Taurus.
#96 of 120 Re: [ribbonspeakers] by r8cut Oct 07, 2008 (9:01 pm)
Replying to: ribbonspeakers (Oct 07, 2008 1:14 pm) What year is yours & does it have PMR? IIRC the dealer told me he knows of no such thing as a current G35 w/ a solid roof. I bought an '08 G35 last week without the sunroof. I'm in SoCal if that helps. I found such contraptions at a couple of dealers. In fact two such vehicles were sold out from under me. That had surprised both salesmen as well. They thought there was no rush for me to come down there and seal the deal as well. does anyone ENJOY the sun stomping down on their head while they drive? LOL. I'm with ya! I've asked several people what they use them for. The only decent answer I got was that it cooled the car-off faster. One of my most common problems is extremely (as in dangerously) limited vision around the stoooped rear view mirror (the latest Genesis comes to mind). Glad to know somebody else who is bothered by those. By the way, as far as the G35 goes, since I didn't want a moonroof, I was unable to purchase any of the other packages which sucks, but I like the car so much, I can live without the extra features. Replies to this message: jeffyscott (Oct 08, 2008 11:33 am) m6user (Oct 08, 2008 1:04 pm)
#97 of 120 G35 seats by 06g1k Oct 08, 2008 (4:53 am)
I'm your size ribbonspeakers and the G35 is seat is uncomfortable to me too.I think the side thigh bolsters are to close together.And then they put the seat controls down there to boot.As far as BMW goes I think I would be scared of ownership cost.I've heard to many horror stories.And the 3 series is to small for four people for any length of time.As far as front drivers go the 6 is probably tops for a driving enthusiest.I had a 06 subaru legacy GT that was very fun.I live in PA so AWD was fine for me.As a matter of fact the subaru was more fun to me than my 03 mazda 6.Also it doesn't take much to get more HP out of a turbo car.
#98 of 120 Re: [r8cut] by jeffyscott Oct 08, 2008 (11:33 am)
Replying to: r8cut (Oct 07, 2008 9:01 pm) does anyone ENJOY the sun stomping down on their head while they drive? LOL. I'm with ya! I've asked several people what they use them for. The only decent answer I got was that it cooled the car-off faster. So I'm not the only one that see's a hole in the roof as a negative or neutral, at best. Why do I want glare from the sun? Oh, I see you don't actually open that thing... It's funny that everyone seems to want these headroom robbing things, but they never or rarely actually use them and even when they do, it is only for a little ventillation, y'know open it maybe an inch or two...well, while a little roof vent might be okay, I think I will make do with the four side vents, rather than have a 3 foot hole in the roof and no head room. Replies to this message: m6user (Oct 08, 2008 1:04 pm)