Impressions After 2 Weeks in a 6 Wagon

[blackdiamond]

I bought a new 2005 Mazda 6 Sport Wagon with a manual transmission and leather interior. Black on black.

Here are some impressions:

Power. The car has ample power, although placing most of it at the top of the rev band is a bit odd. On the other hand, with a manual transmission, I rarely need to downshift to pass on the highway.

Transmission. The manual transmission is well done. My last manual was in a BMW 330i, which was abysmal. The 6 tranny shifts smoothly and accurately, although not as well as some Hondas I've driven.

Driving Impressions. If you've been considering a Dodge Magnum (my last car), let me tell you that the 6 is all sports sedan while the Magnum is a muscle car. You get to experience driving in the 6, unlike the isolation you get with a Magnum. How well does the 6 perform? It's front wheel drive so it's not as "tossable" as a rear-wheel drive sports sedan, but I suppose it may take some time to adjust. I end up with a lot of front-end plow when I exceed the limits of adhesion.

Comparison. I keep coming back to Alfa Romeo, although I've only rented one for a short time. It's got sports sedan feel, ample power, but with front wheel drive and mediocre build quality. It's a cross between a Pontiac and a BMW in that regard. I've got a couple of rattles, but that only makes it more BMW-like.

Issues.
- Gauges. The electroluminescent gauges (back-lit) stink. Besides a dislike for red gauges, they're way too washed out when driving in rainy conditions. They're either too bright or too dim, unless you fiddle with the switch every time.
- Turning Radius. Kind of big. Did I mention I smacked my bumper parking? That's a first for me.
- Rattle. The passenger door handle rattles sometimes. It's a bit annoying and is an example of the rather cheap interior quality.
- Heated Seats. Yes, it has them, but as far as I can tell you can't modulate the heat. You're either getting full heat (warm, but not hot), or nothing. Placing the switch on the center armrest is just ridiculous. The switch itself is cheap plastic.


So do I like it? Oh yes. It's been optimized for my driving enjoyment, something lacking in cars below $30,000. It's been 2 weeks and 1200 miles so who knows how it will hold up over time, but it's a drivers car, although a bit rough around the edges. The new BMW 3 series commercial is right on the mark, if you want a car with heritage, with evolutionary steps towards perfection, you know what to get. If you're short about $10,000, and don't mind front-wheel drive, a Mazda 6 is the next best alternative. Oh yeah, and you can't buy a 330i Wagon (which this would compare to), so there!

[Jax6S]

Originally posted by blackdiamond@May 19 2005, 09:26 PM
It's been optimized for my driving enjoyment, something lacking in cars below $30,000.

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I agree with you there. I have this car for 2 years now and I still love driving it everyday.

[Dotneck]

Got a leftover '04 6 wagon yesterday. I've been wanting to get one for about a year and in the meantime I considered every close competitor but kept coming back to the Six. Mine's loaded up with the AT, leather, Bose and moonroof. Wanted a MT but couldn't find a leftover without the AT. so far I'm really ahppy with it.

On Monday I leave for a six day trip Raleigh NC which will be about 500 miles each way. I ought to get a pretty good impression. I'll get to drive some flatland freeways, mountains and city traffic. I ought to have a pretty good idea of how the car will work for me by this time next week.

[Monsoon]

Hey Dotneck & BlackDiamond:

With the Sport Wagons, I would really like to hear how it handles with a pair of Racing Beat sway bars. I would think since this is probably one of the heavier Sixes this mod would only be a benefit.

[blackdiamond]

I'm new to front wheel drive sport sedans. Would that help with the massive understeer?

Originally posted by Monsoon@May 21 2005, 09:36 PM
Hey Dotneck & BlackDiamond:

With the Sport Wagons, I would really like to hear how it handles with a pair of Racing Beat sway bars.* I would think since this is probably one of the heavier* Sixes this mod would only be a benefit.*

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[Nate05]

I have come from a 02 Jeep Grand Cherokee into an 05 M6 S Wagon, I also have an 04 S2000 purely as daddy's toy.

Over the past few years the Jeep began to feel horrible to drive & I tired of Chrysler's dealer attitudes. I started to look for a more carlike wagon with sport character to replace it. The Legacy was a candidate but the best deal was on the M6. The M6 Wagon w/FWD is a pleasure to drive - it has closed the gap between family & fun car for me on those days when I need more room, need to hall the family and can't get the S out.

For a FWD vehicle it handles better than decent - it offers a great balance of comfort/performance and some level of sensation - I think the RB sway bars would help to flatten it out even more on twisties.

the m6 is definitely a fun

[pems]

Gauges. The electroluminescent gauges (back-lit) stink. Besides a dislike for red gauges, they're way too washed out when driving in rainy conditions. They're either too bright or too dim, unless you fiddle with the switch every time.

Not sure if you are familiar with the two switches to brighten the gauges during high ambient light conditions with headlights on (i.e. driving in the day with headlights on) There is one on the gauge cluster, opposite the trip odo reset, and one on the info panel (dimmer). These are in addition to the standard illumination rheostat on the dash to the left of the steering wheel.

You probably are aware of them, but feel the same as I do, what a pain in the neck. Couldn't they have either:

a- had a single switch to accomplish the actions of these two (do you ever really want the two displays at different brightness)
or
b- had some form of ambient light sensor that would keep the displays bright in high light levels, so only the rheostat was necessary for "tweaking".

-Paul

[jalexei]

We've had our '04 wagon for about 8 months, and we love it. My father-in-law just got a Mercedes C240 wagon, and while it really isn't an apples to apples comparison, I couldn't help but notice many of the areas in which I notice we've got a better car (or at least a much better deal).

His wagon is 4-wheel-drive, so that's something right off the bat I can't really trump, but:

The 6 has more head, shoulder and leg room (both front and rear)

The 6 has more storage room with the seats up (it's comparable with seats folded)

The 6 has 50+ more horsepower.

The 6 looks cooler (in my opinion, anyway)

Admittedly, I don't have a sunroof, or leather seats, or a 6-CD changer, but with the money my father-in-law spent I could have my 6 and (almost) two Hyundai Accents...

[Beanboy]

Wagon owners with manual transmissions unite!

-B

[blackdiamond]

You would not believe how tough it was to find a manual wagon with leather interior. There was one in the state (of any color) and I had to fly out to get and drive back 600 miles.

Originally posted by Beanboy@Jun 1 2005, 11:49 AM
Wagon owners with manual transmissions unite!

-B

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