Why I Still Love my 2004 Mazda 6S, 5 door, 220hp V6, Stick Shift, Great Handling, Looks and a Ginormous Hatch Options

[Ykobayashi]

I recently bought a very large Craftsman rolling toolbox set for my garage to store my tools in. Pulled up to the pick up area. Guy came out with the boxes on a hand truck, looked at my 6 and said "I don't think you'll be able to take all of this home in one trip". I then proceeded to open the hatch, fold down the seats and pop off the parcel shelf, exposing a very large carrying area. The guy was amazed that the car had that much room and asked me what kind of car it was. I told him that they don't make it anymore in this form. He asked why. I said, "that is a very good question".

There is no car out there today that has as much as my 2004 Mazda 6. No car that anyone sells today, that I know of, that has a 5 door hatch (that does not look like a hatch), stick shift, V6, good handling, and the clean looks that my 2004 Mazda 6S has. Not even the new 6 can compare. The closest that I can come is the Subaru WRX STI (which most likely will be the car that replaces my 6...someday)

Why have you forsaken us (driving enthusiasts that need practicality) Mazda?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/59.gif) Why does the rest of the American car buying public not understand the concept of a tidy, sedan based, hatch with a fairly powerful motor and a stick shift?? Everyone continues to be content lumbering down the road in their SUV; forcing car manufacturers to produce yawn inducing cars. Our choices as practical enthusiasts continues to get narrower and narrower.

Love my 6, going on 6 years, can't think of a single car that could completely replace him (I have decided my car is male as he is always even keeled, consistent and completely reliable). That my friends, in the long term, is truly sad.

Attached File(s)

 iphone_10.21.09_016.jpg ( 41.14K ) Number of downloads: 72
 iphone_10.21.09_011.jpg ( 44.22K ) Number of downloads: 82
 iphone_10.21.09_026.jpg ( 39.78K ) Number of downloads: 62

 

[H15A5H1]

I recently bought a very large Craftsman rolling toolbox set for my garage to store my tools in. Pulled up to the pick up area. Guy came out with the boxes on a hand truck, looked at my 6 and said "I don't think you'll be able to take all of this home in one trip". I then proceeded to open the hatch, fold down the seats and pop off the parcel shelf, exposing a very large carrying area. The guy was amazed that the car had that much room and asked me what kind of car it was. I told him that they don't make it anymore in this form. He asked why. I said, "that is a very good question".

There is no car out there today that has as much as my 2004 Mazda 6. No car that anyone sells today, that I know of, that has a 5 door hatch (that does not look like a hatch), stick shift, V6, good handling, and the clean looks that my 2004 Mazda 6S has. Not even the new 6 can compare. The closest that I can come is the Subaru WRX STI (which most likely will be the car that replaces my 6...someday)

Why have you forsaken us (driving enthusiasts that need practicality) Mazda?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/59.gif) Why does the rest of the American car buying public not understand the concept of a tidy, sedan based, hatch with a fairly powerful motor and a stick shift?? Everyone continues to be content lumbering down the road in their SUV; forcing car manufacturers to produce yawn inducing cars. Our choices as practical enthusiasts continues to get narrower and narrower.

Love my 6, going on 6 years, can't think of a single car that could completely replace him (I have decided my car is male as he is always even keeled, consistent and completely reliable). That my friends, in the long term, is truly sad.

I agree completely with you, as I have had similar good experiences with my 6hb. I don't understand why the Mazda6 sedan is so popular in the states when the 5-door exists. The 5-door is the flagship model for Mazda6 (ads, video game apperances, toys, etc). Our hidden 5-door car is definitely unique in the united states. There is no other car that completely hides the hatchback look as well as the Mazda6.

As far as why the sedan variant is most popular in the states, i have no answer to that. It seems like a no brainer to get the 5-door since it doesn't even look like a hatch. Not only is it sportier looking, but offers so much utility and usefulness; hence the name Mazda6 sport. For people who like to mod their mazda6 with japanese parts, styling kits, etc, the 5-door is the obvious choice. Reason being, no one in japan mods the mazda6 sedan. no one. 5-doors and wagons make up the entire atenza modding scene.

And yes, we got completely shafted for the gen2 release. We get some afterthought of a car made for fat americans that think the gen1 mazda6 was a compact car. I was completely ready to get a gen2 hatch, but after seeing how mazdausa is going with the mazda6 brand.. it will never happen again.. I should have seen it coming when mazdausa completely neutered the facelift (2006-2008) mazda6. ie; flaring all edges of bumpers/skirts inwards instead of flaring out, closed off front grille instead of ms6-like grille, no sport add ons like lips or facelifted spoiler.

Aside from the inferior build quality of my 07 6hb, I really love this car.


SIGH.. this is what our car meets would have looked like if we didnt get shafted... gen2 Mazda6 5-doors.
usdm mazda6 car meet would look like a parking lot at vons.

(IMG:http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/photo/000/001/698/168/1698168/p1.jpg)

(IMG:http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/photo/000/001/698/168/1698168/p4.jpg)

(IMG:http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/photo/000/001/698/168/1698168/p8.jpg)

[sinning]

i like the tail lights on the red mazda 6 is that the euro version?

[H15A5H1]

i like the tail lights on the red mazda 6 is that the euro version?

all the pictures i posted are japanese gen2 mazda6 hatches.

the tail lights came in 2 configurations.
base: red, sport: black with chrome lining.

[danisy]

I feel the same way as you guys... I helped a friend of mine move once, he said oh i'll get my gf out here with her van. I said "there's nothing she can take in her van I can't in the Mazda". He laughed, then I said we'll see..... 2 hours later we moved a full size treadmill, end tables, chairs, and my favorite..... a fridge. not a mini fridge, an apartment fridge. All in separate loads mind you, but still impressive. He then felt forced to buy me a case of beer, and I accepted haha.

[willk]

The guy at Best Buy laughed at me when i pulled up with the 04' blazing copper 6S hb, to load a 46" plasma. Two seat folds, two headrests, and a rear deck later he understood. Should have bet him if I can get a second one in there, I can have both for free.

[Ykobayashi]

Hisashi,

Arrrghh! Why did you have to post those pics?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/38.gif) The replacement for my car is right there! Almost within reach! The rest of the world gets those SWEET Gen2 cars (with hatches and 6 speeds) and we get a big, fat, overweight, bloated, hatchless, stickless Mazda 6 on recycled Gen1 platform (IMG:style_emoticons/default/59.gif)

If they brought the "World 6" over here, I'd buy one in a heartbeat, no questions asked, no looking at any other cars, done deal. Its enough to make me want to go back to Japan! Well... maybe not quite yet, but its enough to make me want to go to Subaru for my next car. Is anyone at Mazda LISTENING?!?! You're about to lose a loyal customer, HELLO?

Yoshi

[H15A5H1]

Hisashi,

Arrrghh! Why did you have to post those pics?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/38.gif) The replacement for my car is right there! Almost within reach! The rest of the world gets those SWEET Gen2 cars (with hatches and 6 speeds) and we get a big, fat, overweight, bloated, hatchless, stickless Mazda 6 on recycled Gen1 platform (IMG:style_emoticons/default/59.gif)

If they brought the "World 6" over here, I'd buy one in a heartbeat, no questions asked, no looking at any other cars, done deal. Its enough to make me want to go back to Japan! Well... maybe not quite yet, but its enough to make me want to go to Subaru for my next car. Is anyone at Mazda LISTENING?!?! You're about to lose a loyal customer, HELLO?

Yoshi

haha, because its the painful truth we cannot ignore. and i stress, painful.

when i was overseas last year, i saw the gen2 mazda6 hb in person and it is truly breathtaking. the craftsmanship and quality is excellent and its just a beautiful car all around. when i came back to the states and saw what we got in place, it was crushing. it wasnt a dumbed down version with bigger bumpers and crappier materials, but it was a completely different car that has nothing to do with what the mazda6 is supposed to be. its like they interviewed all the gen1 owners and asked them what they wanted in gen2 and did the exact opposite.

(IMG:http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/carlife/images/usercar/353655/p1.jpg)
and, youre welcome

[Bigbaddad]

Yes I LOVE my 2004 5-door Hatch too!!!
I use the hatch quite a bit too.
Lugging stuff for our booth at car shows (rims, stands, banners, etc)
The car is great. Handles okay, decent amount of power, and after her JDM makeover I love her even more!

[seigfredm]

Yup.... same here. I love my M6.
The hatch opening is just so wide that it actually beats my wife's SUV's cargo capacity.
It just goes AAAAAHHHHH and gobbles up cargo.
Sometimes when I clean it up and fold all the back seats to expose the that big trunk space, I'd ask myself.... why the heck didn't I get this car when I wasn't married yet... it would have been a perfect love den hehehehe.... please dont tell my wife

[Spazdog]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/1.gif)

I'm embarrassed at the amount of crap I have in my hatch.

Glad I don't have a trunk. It would take all day tomorrow to get the stuff all the way at the back

[Bigbaddad]

H15A5H1, love the JDM pics by the way.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/20.gif)

[H15A5H1]

H15A5H1, love the JDM pics by the way.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/20.gif)

your'e welcome.
(IMG:http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/usercar/000/000/518/552/518552/p1.jpg)

look at that amazing build quality. 0 gaps.

[Ykobayashi]

your'e welcome.
(IMG:http://carview-img02.bmcdn.jp/minkara/usercar/000/000/518/552/518552/p1.jpg)

look at that amazing build quality. 0 gaps.

I wonder what that would look like in comparison to a N. American 6 as far as build quality?

[H15A5H1]

I wonder what that would look like in comparison to a N. American 6 as far as build quality?

mind you on the real mazda6, the grille is removeable. but on the american one its part of the bumper.

 usa6.jpg ( 150.64K ) Number of downloads: 37


compare to:

http://blog.autoworld.com.my/wp-content/up...11/dscn4799.JPG

[Mz6GreyGhost]

I wonder what that would look like in comparison to a N. American 6 as far as build quality?

Between the two pics, there isn't much of a difference.

Then again, using pictures is one of the worse things you can do to determine build quality...

[mpsanger6]

When I first looked at buying a 6, I didn't even know the hatch existed. That is a ton of cargo space! Nice!!

That white JDM 6 is hot!!

[Mr.Fancypants]

This is the reason why i chose to get the 6, My first car was a 1991 honda civic, (zippy little thing) but it's getting a little old, and costing too much to repair. and i absolutely loved the hatch on it, i could fit almost anything in it.

Now that i'm getting the 6 i love the way it looks more like a sedan and not a flat drop in the back (like the civics or Mazda 3)

[Ykobayashi]

One other thing I forgot to mention, 220 horsepower and it burns REGULAR unleaded! WHOO HOOO!