Which to choose? Mazda 6, Altima, Accord, etc..

[youtalk]

Ok everyone, I'm sure you heard it before.

Why should I buy a Mazda 6?

I have always drove Hondas, Acuras, Nissan, Toyotas, Lexus, etc.. But I have never had a Mazda. Now I'm looking into buying another car, and I came across the 6's. I have been looking at a used one, either 05', 06', or an 07'. What is the pro's and con's of each year.

Sooo, if you could please tell me a little about it.

For example I though Mazda was made by Ford, and I think that always scared my away from them. If they are or are not, do they have the Japanese car feel, or the American car feel.

Secondly I've noticed the value drops a ton the first two years, what is your take on it.

Any help would be much appreciated, thank you all in advance.

[Jax6S]

6 vs Accord
6 vs Altima

[youtalk]

6 vs Accord
6 vs Altima[/b]

Good reads.. thanks..

So really what I have come up with is, you buy the 6 if your price concerned and like to feel the road when driving.. Does that sound about right?

I mean I have had Accords that were just comfortable, and fit perfectly... but people are right, it is a little boring.

Also I'm thinking an Accord or Altima would probably have a lot less problems then the 6.

[M6mania]

my experience on an altima: i had a 95 all the way up to last July when it died completely. it had 200,000 plus miles on it. it was very reliable. and when something needed to be fixed it was cheep(compared to the mercedes) but the engine was replaced at 50,000 miles under warranty b/c of a problem with it.

all in all i wouldn't say the mazda is more reliable but that is just my 2cents

[Business]

Also I'm thinking an Accord or Altima would probably have a lot less problems then the 6.[/b]

that's a roll of the dice with any car. I've beat the living shit out of two 6's over a nearly 3 year period, 50,000+ miles, 34 drag races, 10 autocrosses and not one single problem. But there are plenty of people who have had their engines blow up, transmission fall out, whatever, with any car, any manufacturer.

You know a Mercedes dealership sued Mercedes because a CLK-GTR was a lemon? That's a $1.7 million car. And there are only 25 of them. So...now what?

Just test drive them and buy the one you like. No one can make your mind up for you.

[b12sentra]

Honestly, all cars lose a ton of value right off the lot anyway, and unless you are counting on hating the car it won't matter what it's worth in the short run since you will be keeping it for a while.

I though Mazda was made by Ford, and I think that always scared my away from them. If they are or are not, do they have the Japanese car feel, or the American car feel.[/b]

Ford doesn't make Mazdas they just own Mazda, it's kinda like how Audi owns Lamborghini and Ford owns Jaguar and Volvo.
Ford makes really awesome cars in Europe but even though they are an American company by birth they give us the crap and give the killer cars to Europe when they could easily sell the same car on both continents.

As far as the feel...it's not as easy to draw the line anymore like the old japanese cars, now the japanese manufacturers are trying ever harder to make their cars seem american in size, weight, and power. Meanwhile the american manufacturers are tightening up their platforms, suspensions and finally making overhead cam engine designs that are becoming smoother and more efficient.

My brother has the Altima with the 3.5 V6, and it's a load of fun to squeal the tires off to the redline in first and break 'em loose again in second, but after that the fun ends. It is not connected with the road very well and feels very vague in its steering and especially in it's shifting...the shifter feels very tall and plasticky and has no direct feel at all.

I drive a Speed 6 and can't believe the difference when I get back into my car after his. The feel of the interior materials, the solidity of the car, how quiet it is and most importantly how it drives is so different.

I have driven a V-6 Mazda 6 before and it was pretty satisfying to drive and had some good power to it, but it was an autotragic which made it hard to guess how the stick would be in it.

Comparitively, the rear seat room in the 6 is very good, but the Altima is like a freakin' limo...honestly, it feels huge overall.

I have not driven an Accord basically because I can't stand them because everyone has one, just like the Camry....they are nice appliances and pretty reliable overall.

The Accord and Camry are like a toaster.... it don't break and your glad you have it, but you don't pay much attention to it after your done with it.

[youtalk]

So if I start looking at the Mazda 6, what are some things I should stay away from?

Again I have never owned anything other then Hondas, Nissans, and Toyotas.

[grimlin]

Just test drive them and buy the one you like. No one can make your mind up for you.[/b]

+1

[M6nightrider]

about the different years to buy...the olders one had more hp (220), and i think in 2007 the hp dropped to 212...
reliability wise...i have owned 2 mazda's. my first was a 3 hatch. had it for a year, ran regular oil and gas in it and never had a single problem.
+ i drive the shit out of my cars wherever i go, so as far as reliabily is concerned, there is no problem. mazdas also have excellent handling

only downfall really is that mazda 6's are just now getting popular so there is not a large variety of after market parts, and when u do find the part u want it is usaully expensive...

[Kansasdog]

If you're buying used, the crappy resale for Mazda works out great. 18 months ago I paid just under $15K for an '03 V6 MTX with leather and only 24K miles.

Comparable Camrys and Accords were still over $20K