2009 Mazda 6: Open Thread

Is fit and finish on par with the Honda Accord? How is the leather quality? Is the Navigation System as good as other foreign rivals (despite the screen issue).

Hi Donna! Great post!
I'd like to know if this car can drive under water.
I've heard of cars that can do that, and I'm wondering if this one can.
I think it would be great if Mazda led the way in amphibious motoring!
"My two cents!" :-)

If the navi system is mostly the same Denso that's in the CX's, no it's not, it's alright but I might skip it.

Hi Donna! Great post!
I'd like to know if this car can have an open thread.
Thanks in advance!

... ...

how does the car's I4 engine compare with the Accord's 190HP I4?

What is the 0-60mph of the I4 Mazda6? What is the Accord's 190HP I4 0-60mph?

Yup yup...How well does the that 4 pull the 6?!?!

and how well does it handle?!?

I'd like to see 0-60 times compared to a v6 mazda 6.

I heard rumors on the old ones that the 4 M/T was actually as quick as the 6 A/T. just wondering if that was true or not.

LOL @ billt9

More pictures-this is a pretty car, show off your excellent photography!

My question would be along the lines of what cx7lover asked: If the staffers had to choose either an accord or a 6, which one would they choose and why?

And also, if whoever was driving on this post's picture was having as much fun as it seems he was having.

Does Edmunds still have the long term Accord?

We wrapped up the Accord a little while ago.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/LongTerm/articleId=123532
--Donna

How about an update on fuel economy - and how it compares to the V6 competitors you have tested recently - Accrod, Altima and Camry? Is the fuel economy benefit sufficient to offset the performance loss in opting for the 4 cyl.?

oh no! billt9 got into some of kissel1's meds!

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported February 2009 sales of 16,401, down 30.

4 percent versus last year (down 27.4 percent on a DSR basis), and year-to-date sales of 31,821, down 28.9 percent.

So the new car(s) is(are) not helping them.

the new cars aren't helping anyone. The industry average is down in the high 30s for percentage drop and some are in the 50% drop range.

+1 on zimtheinvader. There's too much s..t going on, and circumstances are far too different right now. Unless you adjust those numbers to account for the economy(if such a thing is practical), they won't have a lot of meaning, and even then, it would be wrong to read a lot into those stats. Meaningful comparisons will likely have to wait until you're comparing 09 Q3 vs 08 q3 and Q4s.

"We wrapped up the Accord a little while ago.
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/LongTerm/articleId=123532
--Donna"

Thanks Donna, I missed that wrap up.

I'm voting for seat comfort

Does anyone have kid impressions from the back seat?

Are people happy with the space/fun trade off that Mazda made for this gen of 6 when they made it so much larger? Would they rather it was still smaller/sportier?

Well, lets not forget the old 6 was really heavily fleeted these last few years. And from prior experience Mazda doesn't fleet their new models out in the first year.

Fleet to rental companies*

Does it have enough "Zoom-Zoom" to make it the enthusiast's alternative to the Camry/Accord?

billt and kissel= alien attack or automated spam. im scared 0.0 aside from that, i'm curious to know the brand of tires that Mazda used as OEM. Do they go with continental like Ford does with many of it's products?

@ bmw4me:
I think you missed billt9's humor. Read the last week's worth of posts from kissel1 and you'll get it.

When I first saw the new Mazda 6, I almost mistook it for a Lexus. It seems to me that it has much more luxury-oriented styling than any mazda I've seen before. Does anyone else think so too, and does the mazda 6 live up to this lux image without ruining the fun?

@ bmw4me:
I think you missed billt9's humor. Read the last week's worth of posts from kissel1 and you'll get it.

i am so ignorant. LOL

Dying to know about the new 6 versus the old 6 in regards to driving fun. It seems like the new 6 has gotten heavier and more numb for the sake of refinement, but I haven't driven both and would like the comparison from someone who has.