Everything you want and need in a sedan.
Written: Jan 06 '05 (Updated Jan 10 '05)
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Pros: Style, Handling, Dependibilty, Japanese fit & finish.
Cons: Cloth Interior, slight road noise, driving position.
The Bottom Line: It does everything you need a sedan to do and does it with style and performance.
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| dwadholm's Full Review: 2004 Mazda Mazda6 |
I purchased my 2004 Mazda 6i sedan last June and I have to say that it was the right purchase for me. The car has everything that I needed, and wanted in a family sedan and more.
First off I am 26, a young educated professional with a wife and two children. I started looking at buying a new car when I found out my 93' Accord needed $1500.00 in suspension work. I knew I wanted something foreign, probably Japanese, with style, dependability, room for a family and a fun to drive factor. My search started and ended with the Mazda 6 but not but not before coming around full circle first.
I should note I love this car. I loved it the first time I laid eyes on it. The styling blew me away instantly and the available V6 with a 5 speed (6-speed for 05') was very tempting. So for a year and a half, I researched, I drooled, I researched some more. In 2003 despite some first year bugs, the Mazda 6 took home dozens of awards and won accolades from automotive magazines world wide. I knew I wanted one...it had to be mine. Then I got to the point where I could afford a newer car and needed one badly due to the aforementioned problem with my accord. For years I had always said that I would always own a Honda Accord and a Ford Explorer (my current vehicles at the time) and now was the moment of truth. We drove the Mazda 6 and the 2004 Honda Accord the same day. I bought the Accord, returned it after 5 days and bought the Mazda 6. The Accord was just not for me...plus the buyer’s remorse...the mundane styling...the one on every corner syndrome made me change my mind.
I went straight to the Mazda dealer 75 miles away in Fargo, ND, did not pass go, did not even consider going to the Honda dealer. There at Lunde Mazda were several Mazda 6 sedans, all of them had the sport package, eye candy as far as I could see. I just needed to pick a color and between a 4 cyl. or a V6. I test drove a black 6i (4cyl) first and enjoyed it tremendously. I was in love all over again.
The 4 banger has plenty of power to merge in to traffic and get good gas mileage (I average 25/30 MPG). The suspension although taught, never bottoms out or "shocks" the vehicle. Steering input is amazing. You can pull these cars around any corner at almost any speed and never feel a lack of confidence. In fact you know second before the tires beak loose before it happens from the slight under steer exhibited in corners. At the same time it tracks straight as an arrow down the interstate. The Mazda engineers did a bang up job on this car.
The car comes nicely appointed in any form. Upgrade to leather and you get ABS and Traction control standard and a Bose Radio. The cloth interior is a point of contention. The arm rests are hard and the ribbed fabric wears rather quickly (like crushed velvet). The driving position with manual adjustment leaves something to be desired despite the myriad of adjustments that can be made...tilt/telescope wheel, up/down-front/back-recline-lumbar seat adjustments. I think the problem is the high beltline of the vehicle. You want to put your arm on the top of the door but it is too high...the armrest too low. Other than that the interior is nicely appointed, titanium center stack with integrated systems is a nice touch. Aluminum trimmed spedo and tach give the gauge cluster a sporting feel. The HVAC is easy to operate and the A/C blows ice cold & the heater will keep you toasty even at -39 F as we had here in ND this week.
I could gush about this car for hours but here are the reasons why I bought the Mazda 6:
1) Style: This car is a head turner...with one caveat. It has to have the sport package with the side sills and front and rear air damn. I get lots of comments on the car looking like a Japanese BMW. Inside it has a design that will age well with out the chance of looking dated after 2-3 years.
2) Affordability: The Mazda 6 is competitively priced especially when you look at options/price. In addition Mazda offers rebates up to $2000. www.edmunds.com also showed the true cost to own to be very low at $0.39/mile.
3) Room/4 Doors - I don't understand why in the automotive world this car is considered a compact. It has the same rear seat width as a Toyota Camry and while not as voluminous as an Accord...the children will not complain about the accommodations.
4) Dependability: Japanese engineering. This car is built for the long haul. I drive about 2500 miles a month and I fully intend to put 150,000 miles on this car before I sell it. I know it will last all of that and probably another 50,000 with out any major problems.
5) Comfort & Drivability - This car does it all. Smooth ride on the highway or in town. Race Car like performance on the track.
6) Desirability - Face it, this car has everything a 20-30 something could want with one exception; status. But give Mazda time...if they keep building these kinds of cars status will surely follow.
Other cars I considered and why I did not buy them:
Honda Accord: Well actually I did buy one...then I took it back. Nothing says dull average life a Honda Accord. But that is why they sell so many: they do nothing great but do everything good. The height of mediocrity.
Toyota Camry SE - wife did not like the dash...seriously it looks like the dash from the 1993 corolla...I think it is. The Camry does everything excellent but that comes at a cost. To get the sport model you have to pay big bucks with no rebates. And...even the SE is not that sporty.
Nissan Altima - try putting a kid in that back seat. The rake of the roofline took functionality out of the equation. Back problems for years... Have you seen the interior or this car in the base model!!! Puke!!! How can infinity have such brilliant interiors and Nissans be so
sh!tty?
VW Passat - VW reliability woes in the last few years spooked me. Plus the car truly is a compact. Look at the rear seat dimentions.
Acura TSX - My next purchase...too much money for now.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 18500
Condition: New
Model Year: 2004
Model and Options: Mazda 6i Sport w/bose, auto trans
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Epinions.com ID:
dwadholm
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Member: Donovan (DJ) Wadholm
Location: Fargo, ND
Reviews written: 8
Trusted by: 0 members
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