Mazda 6

Siliconslave · 15 Jan 2007 at 13:27

The misses is looking at getting a slightly more sensible car - her (new shape) celica is doing her back in on the crappy roads round here. I've managed to convince her away from a mini 4x4 (thankfully)

For about 8k you can pick up a 04 mazda 6 2l ts with 50k on the clock - we took one out on a test drive and its pretty damn nice barge to drive.

Is there anything to be aware of on these? or any other cars we should be looking at in this kinda class? going to give the mondy, avensis and accord a go during the week as well

Sam

Edit: beemers are right out btw, as are anything french!

chrislusty · 15 Jan 2007 at 13:35

Mazda 6 is a great car, however make sure its been in for the recalls as there have been a few of them.
Spec wise its in the middle, S, TS, TS2, and Sport.

My gfs dad has a 6, the diesel sport though, and he likes it a lot.
Cant really go wrong with them, they look good, and are a good drive.
It will be better than the Mondeo in some areas, and the Mondeo will be better than it in others.

wez130 · 15 Jan 2007 at 16:50

the 6 is basically the mondeo with a different shell, at least they share the same engines, take a mondeo TDCi130 out for a test drive, they are damn fine engines and they handle suprisingly well for a barge and you'll get more for your money than from the mazda 6 or other your other choices, i was going to look at the avensis when i bought my mondeo TDCi but i wasn't that impressed by them but i do like the accord which i never got round to looking at. Maybe also consider older BMW 3 or 5 series, don't now what you'll get for 8k though, i'm sr fox will tell you though

al123 · 15 Jan 2007 at 17:04

My dad had a 2003 Mazda 6 TS a few years ago. I liked it 100% more than his current car (Mazda 3 TS2

) They are nice cars and have plenty of toys for what they cost new, climate, cruise control etc.

*Edit: It was recalled but I carn't remember what for off the top of my head (maybe more heat shield between exaust and fuel tank) but I can ask.

Awaiting the BMW/Modeo comments...

thedazman67 · 15 Jan 2007 at 17:15

Whats wrong with the mazda 3 isnt that pretty much a focus.

al123 · 15 Jan 2007 at 17:33

thedazman67 said:
Whats wrong with the mazda 3 isnt that pretty much a focus.

Its not as nice as the 6 he had even though its a higher spec model. The plastics etc are really thin.

I drove it from NYorskire to Portsmouth and it was ok but didn't make me even consider buying one for a second.

For the same money as he paid for it he could have had my Golf and he has driven it a few times and says that he much prefers it.

blueboy2001 · 15 Jan 2007 at 19:56

wez130 said:
the 6 is basically the mondeo with a different shell

No, it isn't. Mechanically they are very different.

wez130 said:
at least they share the same engines

The petrol engines are similar in many respects, but they're not identical to the Ford engines. The diesels are Mazda's own and are totally different.

My Dad used to have a Mazda 6 2.0d 138 Sport and it was a pretty good car - they're quite a sharp drive and it was good for space. However, they are quite noisy at speed and on the motorway compared with most other cars in the class and the early diesels are not particularly economical.

Baz · 16 Jan 2007 at 08:37

wez130 said:
at least they share the same engines,

The Mazda 6 Diesel engine is a different one to the Mundeo btw

I ot a 53 plate 2.0 TS diesel Estate, loads of room, really comfortable, not the most economical diesel in its class, but you will still get high forties out of it. For the size of car they are pretty quick as well, mid range pick up is good, and they cruise at 90+ easily. Nice stereo, gonna be reliable as a wood burning stove, and as I found out the other day, the screen wash bottle is larger than the fuel tank :eek:

only filled it up once in a year..

Plus they are a damn good looking car.

Siliconslave · 16 Jan 2007 at 09:17

Baz said:
Nice stereo, gonna be reliable as a wood burning stove, and as I found out the other day, the screen wash bottle is larger than the fuel tank only filled it up once in a year..

Plus they are a damn good looking car.

agreed on the looks, they are a class leader in that imho - the washer tank is kinda scarey though!

Not really looking at the oil burners tbh, while they look pretty good fuel econimy wise the extra servicing costs are a little off putting, plus the gf doesn't really do mega miles

Baz · 16 Jan 2007 at 09:22

Siliconslave said:
agreed on the looks, they are a class leader in that imho - the washer tank is kinda scarey though!

Not really looking at the oil burners tbh, while they look pretty good fuel econimy wise the extra servicing costs are a little off putting, plus the gf doesn't really do mega miles

To be honest, I would think the Diesel is slower than the petrol at 0-60, but quicker in the times it matters, like 40-70, 50-70. Try one, you might be surprised

My wife drives our Focus ST170, which is far quicker to 60 from a standing start, but the Mazda 6 seems a lot quicker overtaking stuff, as you don't have to drop 3 or 4 cogs to get to the power

Hands down though that the Focus handles better, but the 6 does its job very well.

Mr_White · 16 Jan 2007 at 10:09

Baz said:
To be honest, I would think the Diesel is slower than the petrol at 0-60, but quicker in the times it matters, like 40-70, 50-70. Try one, you might be surprised

It depends what one you go for, the 140BHP 2.0d TS is faster than the petrol in every aspect, and is really the one to go for, it's faster than all of the petrols bar the 2.3, but I'd still rather have the diesel even over the 2.3

You'd be silly to buy a petrol over the 140bhp diesel TS in my opinion, siliconslave, the 140D returns far better mpg, performance, and a hell of a lot more torque, you will really feel it.

The only petrol Mazda 6 I'd buy is the MPS, but that's a whole different league.

Siliconslave · 16 Jan 2007 at 10:57

Mr_White said:
You'd be silly to buy a petrol over the 140bhp diesel TS in my opinion, siliconslave, the 140D returns far better mpg, performance, and a hell of a lot more torque, you will really feel it.

the main problems with the diesel are the extra servicing costs (most services are about £50 more and theres a £700 cam belt change :eek:

which the petrols don't have) and the total lack of them on the second hand market, otherwise i would agree with you, it does overall look a better car

Baz · 16 Jan 2007 at 10:58

Siliconslave said:
the main problems with the diesel are the extra servicing costs (most services are about £50 more and theres a £700 cam belt change which the petrols don't have) and the total lack of them on the second hand market, otherwise i would agree with you, it does overall look a better car

But if you have a 3+ year old one that you are not selling for a few good years, a third party garage will slice that cost up.

lordrobs · 16 Jan 2007 at 11:18

Baz said:
as you don't have to drop 3 or 4 cogs to get to the power

When could you possibly drop 4 gears to overtake :eek:

Baz · 16 Jan 2007 at 11:19

lordrobs said:
When could you possibly drop 4 gears to overtake

In the focus ST170, doing about 40-50 in sixth, drop it to 2nd or 3rd depending of speed. If at 40, 2nd isn't a problem as it will do ~60-70 in 2nd

lordrobs · 16 Jan 2007 at 12:02

Baz said:
In the focus ST170, doing about 40-50 in sixth, drop it to 2nd or 3rd depending of speed. If at 40, 2nd isn't a problem as it will do ~60-70 in 2nd

Forgot it was 6 speed

As for the Mazda6 its on my list of maybe's depending on when I have to replace my current car. Currently its just out of budget but if I can squeeze another year out of my 306 then its right up there. The thing with the Mazda as opposed to the Octavia's, Mondeo's and Avensi that are als possibles is that to me at least they are so much more pleasing on the eye in standard form.