Mazda Speed 6

[enko]

Anyone own one, or know someone?

I'm considering buying one, but I'm a bit worried about the reliability. First model year, and I did read up of a few problems on forums people were having on the regular Mazda6.

What do you think of the Mazda6 line?

For those who don't know, the MS6 is similar, but turbo'd, HID Projectors and part-time AWD (Haldex system I believe). Obviously the AWD wouldn't rival a Subaru or Audi's system, but it would beat FWD for sure.

[TenzoR]

it's Japanese made entirely unlike the normal Mazda which is made in the USA

as for problems, it's too soon to tell, since it's just release not very long

[warpdrive]

It sounds like a great value, but reviews have said it's short on refinement (even compared to a regular Mazda 6). Certainly, you get more for your money than the Legacy GT.

I'd definitely try to test drive it....but I'd wait a year before jumping into this car, too many unknowns.

[Spray]

Okay first of all, I was in the market for either one of these cars, and I test drove them both extensively.

Heres my review from another forum:

Sooo I'm in the market for a new car, and i've narrowed it down to two choices. The Mazdaspeed6 or a 2005 Legacy GT. The GT comes in at $2000 cheaper with better rates because it's a previous model year.

Mazdaspeed 6:
http://www.car-data.com/photos.previews/p.mazda.mazdaspeed6.30.1.jpg

Walk around:
The extrerior of this car is very well put together. It's got a great shape, amazing wheels and a beautiful side profile. The exhausts look a little cheap, as you can see the small real exhaust through the tips. Also looking at the engine bay you can tell right away the TMIC probably isnt getting the greatest amount of airflow.

Interior: Once inside the car you realize where a lot of the money has gone. The car I drove had black and white leather, and was absolutely unbelievably looking. The fit and finish looked good, and the overall impact was very, very nice. The sound system was excellent (bose) and the seat felt decent. Something it has which is nice is an automatic turbo timer function, leaving the car idling when you lock it to go inside for 30 seconds or so.

Driving:
The gearbox felt VERY nice and precise, one of the better gearboxes I've driven. The clutch was smooth and the awd off the line was good, not great. In turns it felt very good, with a nice turning radius and little body roll through corners. Powerwise it felt nice on the highway, no need to downshift from 5th gear for passing, lots of low end grunt. The problem with this car is it doesn't FEEL like a 280hp car, it feels much slower than that although it's decently powerful.

Dealership: The dealership I went to is one of the highest volume in ontario. The salesman was way too pushy, and was almost forcing me to leave a downpayment when I told him I had to look at other cars. I also asked about the current problems with the mazdaspeed6 and how they are resol;ving it (overheat, underpowered) he said they havn't heard of it, and then without prompting said if i added anything to cool it the warranty would be instantly voided. He told me they just brought in a mazda 6 with 4000km and engine failure, and since it had an air intake the warranty was void. Overall not impressed with the dealer.

2005 Subaru Legacy GT

http://car-reviews.automobile.com/images/cars/ArtImages/38662/alt03.jpg

Walk around: Seeing this car in pictures and seeing them briefly on the highway, never really did anything for me. However getting a really good look at it at the dealership changed my mind. It has a very subtle, beautiful style that to me reminds me almost of German luxary cars. The rear of the car is beautifully perportioned and is overall very elegant and not too stand outish.

Interior: The interior of this car is...well a little tame for it's price point. The leather is nice and the seats feel very comfortable. The centre panel, although not as sexy as the mazda, is elegant in it's own subtle ways. It definately looks a lot sturdier than the mazda, I cant imagine there being any squeaks or rattles after 100,000km on the odometer. The sound system wasn't as good, but the seats did feel a little comfier.

Driving: This car is clearly a lot better engineered than the mazda. It produces 30 less hp, but is a lot faster and the AWD is just unbeatable. From the line the car has unbelievable pickup, far superior to that of the mazda. In the turns it felt the same, no body roll and felt as confident as the mazda, however coming out of it with the superior AWD and power felt much, much better. The salesman took me to a place in the forest, where it was all gravel, dirt and mud. He told me to floor it to 100kmh and brake..he said give it all it has, i looked at him in disbelief. I floored and man does this car GRIP in loose earth, felt just like i was on pavement, and hard braking from 100 was very smooth as well, kept in a straight line with no pull from the steering wheel at all either way.

Dealership: The subaru dealership was far above and beyond the mazda. There was no pressure to leave a down payment, we fanaggled over the price and I was guaranteed to get that if I came in to the dealership in the next week, no pressure and the salesman was an awesome guy to deal with.

Over all the mazda is much sexier than the subaru..but the subaru has it beats hands down performance wise.


OVERALL the subaru > Msp

[ocean9927]

Anyone own one, or know someone?

I'm considering buying one, but I'm a bit worried about the reliability. First model year, and I did read up of a few problems on forums people were having on the regular Mazda6.

What do you think of the Mazda6 line?

For those who don't know, the MS6 is similar, but turbo'd, HID Projectors and part-time AWD (Haldex system I believe). Obviously the AWD wouldn't rival a Subaru or Audi's system, but it would beat FWD for sure.

2 things to put into your considerations:

1. It only equips manual shift for 2006 model.
2. Needs premium gas.

I am also on the market for a AWD vehicle.

[DISH]

The salesman took me to a place in the forest, where it was all gravel, dirt and mud. He told me to floor it to 100kmh and brake..he said give it all it has, i looked at him in disbelief. I floored and man does this car GRIP in loose earth, felt just like i was on pavement, and hard braking from 100 was very smooth as well, kept in a straight line with no pull from the steering wheel at all either way.

A good reason to avoid demo vechiles !

What was your OTD price on the legacy ?

[ajin86]

hey i have test droven that beast as i have a frnd of mine wrking for mazda dealership ... that car is an amazin car to drive and speed around the streets .. let me knw if u want the dealers name my frnd might be able to do smthin good for u

[Spray]

legacy GT LTD was 36k + tax out the door

I'm planning on getting one from the USA
Fully optioned they're 30k CAD + tax for a brand new, non demo

I'm really dissapointed in the mazdaspeed6, it's such a POS compared to the subaru, If you read mazda forums, the owners that have them cant even make CLOSE to the power ratings. They can only make 280hp on 110 Octane race gas and bags of ice on the TMIC. Mazda seriously needs to shape up with these overexaggerated power numbers, they did it with the rx8 too. and it's noticable when you drive it..feels like a 230hp car or so.

[dablackgoku1234]

2. Needs premium gas.

not just premium gas...site recommends 93 octane, 91 octane is "acceptable"

[charliebrown]

not just premium gas...site recommends 93 octane, 91 octane is "acceptable"

havent filled up at sunoco in a while...

doesnt 93 = ONLY sunoco?

[DISH]

94 is sunoco/pioneer

[Taiphun]

Check out the March Road and Track.

They rated both cars (along with the A4, IS250, S40, 330xi, and G35x) and the LGT came in second to the A4.
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=929826

Here's another thread from the LegacyGT forums:
http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22974

There's been some problems with heat soak on the MS6's.. and MS6's numbers and rating recommend 93 or 94 octane.. with 91 that you get here in Calgary, the numbers aren't as good.

I got my LGT Wagon for $38k (not incl. taxes) out the door. Totally happy with it.. stuck in a subwoofer, EDM armrest, and planning for iON springs this summer.

[Div]

Spray, why keep the dealership names secret? That could help out some members.

[enko]

All cars I'm looking at require premium fuel, and I would only buy a manual transmittion, not a sludge box ;)

Thanks for posting your review. That's pretty much my thoughts on the MS6, it's rated for decent HP but it's pretty heavy, and the AWD couldnt' touch a Subaru.

However like you mentioned, I find the interior of Subaru's very cheap. I was considering an STI, but all the money is towards speed, the interior is crappy, and that wing is really huge :|

[warpdrive]

I was considering an STI, but all the money is towards speed, the interior is crappy, and that wing is really huge :|

Exactly the way it should be. Everybody else should buy a BMW or something.

[Taiphun]

http://standardautowreckers.net/iu/927/v/BH349-8.jpg

MS6 for teh win!

[enko]

Exactly the way it should be. Everybody else should buy a BMW or something.

I disagree. There's a balance. Otherwise I'd buy an old ass muscle car if I wanted pure speed and **** comfort.

[blue_xii]

Here's two links for some Canadian reviews of the Mazdaspeed 6 and legacy GT. You can read them and see what people have to say. For 0-100 times and 80 - 120 times check the AJAC website.

Mazdaspeed6 reviews (http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/roadtest,archive,Mazda.spy)

Legacy GT Reviews (http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/roadtest,archive,Subaru.spy)

AJAC review data 2006 (http://www.ajac.ca/english/files/TestFest2006-PerformanceData.pdf)

[careener]

My 2cents

1)It appears to be a good value for the money
2)It isn't the best handling car on the road
3)the AWD system is inferior to Subaru
4)The initial issue being reported in hot soak of the turbo..as in you let it rip a few times in a row and it feels that the turbo has lost its boost.

[ScoobySnacks]

I got the mazdaspeed 6 in dec 2005 and I've had nothing but fun, fun and more fun.

It's my first standard car, and I love it. I got the fully loaded model with the black and white leather, for an extra 3k, its an easy must.