2008 Mazda6

[Omnis]

The red one is the US-spec version, the silver/blue one is the European version.

Hallelujah.

 

[YSSMAN]

Apparently They've Hit the Streets?

ME = WANT

 

[V1P3R]

Any in depth specs yet?

 

[YSSMAN]

Lift the "good parts" out of the current Mazda6/Fusion and you can get a good idea. I believe the 2.3L MZR engine is getting direct-injection, or is a new DI unit all together. I think the V6 is getting bumped up to 3.7L, but I may be mistaken as well. All of them are getting six-speed sticks or automatics, but I'm not sure what relation they have to current units. Other than that, I wouldn't expect most of the stuff to be too radically different from whats already available on the American cars (mechanically) and in some cases the European ones (electronics and such).

 

[V1P3R]

MPG?

No hatch coming is there...

 

[niky]

Aren't they getting the 2.5 liter I4? The extra 200ccs and the new automatic are pretty good performers.

 

[YSSMAN]

I think it is a 2.5L unit with the DIG fuel setup. Its supposed to be good for 200-ish BHP, no?

I'm really not sure. But yes, I think that's the engine there.

 

[The Vanishing Boy]

-> Based on the angle of those pics, it reminds me of this car:

Mazda's own Millenia

 

[Philly]

The local Mazda dealer said we weren't supposed to start seeing them until November. I know Michigan gets cars early, but 6 months seems a wee bit early, especially for a Japanese car. And aren't they here for MY2009?

It is interesting that you've already seen one. And in GR especially. I wonder if it's some kind of test mule.

 

[Gil]

I have 2 of the '08's on the family lot currently.
I like them.
If you decide to pick this one drive the Grand Touring and the iSport back to back before you make a decision.
The Grand Touring is much "twitchier" the the iSport, due to its more "sport" oriented suspension. It requires a good deal more attention to drive.
The 2.3 has pretty good power. Though it only has about 12 more horsepower than the 2.0 that is the base motor in the 3. So, I figure that the new 2.5 will have 175 HP max.
More likely just a bit under 170.
The 3.0 V6 is good for 200 HP in the current car. I doubt that the 2.5 will have as much power as the current v-6, unless they intend to drop the v-6, or power it up a good bit. (It does give up 60+ HP to the V-6 Camry)

I'm just mad that the only cool colors that the 6 can be had in are dark cherry mica, and red.
My son's car is dark cherry mica, and it is beautiful. My wife's car is Tungsten Gray, and it's almost as non-descript as my Camry.
Thankfully, the 6, while popular is not so prolific that "everyone" is driving one. (like the Camry).

 

[JCE]

Looks pretty sexy to me.

 

[niky]

If it's the 2.5, it's around 170-ish, a bit less, I suspect, under new SAE regimens... but it's a damn sight more lively than the 2.0, so the new 6, if yours isn't much heavier than the European one, will be a cracker to drive. I prefer the old steering, though... nothing beats a good hydraulic rack... but the new one still feels as much like a front-drive BMW as the old one did.

 

[YSSMAN]

It is interesting that you've already seen one. And in GR especially. I wonder if it's some kind of test mule.

A guy in Toronto found it, I just posted the pictures... It'll be a long while until little ol' GR gets around to getting them.

 

[Gil]

If it's the 2.5, it's around 170-ish, a bit less, I suspect, under new SAE regimens... but it's a damn sight more lively than the 2.0, so the new 6, if yours isn't much heavier than the European one, will be a cracker to drive. I prefer the old steering, though... nothing beats a good hydraulic rack... but the new one still feels as much like a front-drive BMW as the old one did.

One of my many sons has a Mazda3 with the 2.0 and auto-trans.
Another of them has the Mazda6 with the 2.3,
There is only a 12 HP difference between them. With the size and weight differential The only real difference is the Mazda3 is a bit more nimble.

The 2.0 is winning in the fuel economy wars. It's pulling down 37 MPG to the 30 MPG that the 2.3 is doing. (My wife's 6 is only doing about 27-28, but she is a bit more "spirited" driver)

I've been a fan of the 6 since I first saw it.
Now that I have 2, I find that I was right to like the thing.
It has reasonable room, better than reasonable performance for a 2.3L, decent fuel economy, and it's a good looking car to boot.

 

[Dead_Poetic]

Im currently on a vacation to the upper peninsula of michigan, and on the way up here, I spotted four of these being test driven with manufacturer plates. The back looked a little cheap, but overall, I really liked the look of the car in person as well. Though, they were all the lower end versions.

 

[ing2ning]

front looks a lot better than the back

 

[Danoff]

I've seen two of the '09 models now and I can't say I'm in love with the new styling. This statement:

Hmmm.... from that angle it looks like a cross between the 3 series and the IS. I still like it, but now I'm really scared about the price.

Was clearly off the mark. It's not horrible, but not what I was hoping for.

 

[Gil]

Styling wise, it looks like a Camry with an attitude.
Having driven one. It's a winner.
I really like my '08's but the '09 is very nice.
Keeping in mind that I drove the bottom of the heap 2.5 with a manual trans:
The thing was very nice.
Almost too quiet to drive with a manual.

 

[Jim Prower]

Styling wise, it looks like a Camry with an attitude.
Having driven one. It's a winner.
I really like my '08's but the '09 is very nice.
Keeping in mind that I drove the bottom of the heap 2.5 with a manual trans:
The thing was very nice.
Almost too quiet to drive with a manual.

Nothing a performance exhaust...or selective sound insulation removal...couldn't fix.

 

[Gil]

True, but it isn't marketed as a "sports car".
It's a great commuter. Roomy, comfy, quiet. It just happens to be good-looking, quick, and fun to drive also.
Adding a loud exhaust, would make it less fun to drive as a commuter.
Believe me when I say a low drone over a long commute is every bit as tiring as wrestling with bouncy handling.
My Excursion "requires" that you find the perfect RPM on the highway so that you dull the diesel drone.
(Even with the low miles, I know that occurs at any speed over 68 MPH )

 

[Jim Prower]

Meh, at this point, I can live with anything short of the exhaust exiting at the cat.

 

[Gil]

Meh, at this point, I can live with anything short of the exhaust exiting at the cat.

I'm not that young anymore.
I'm not sure I ever was...
I don't mind loud under hard acceleration, otherwise, I wan't to be able to hear the music.

 

[niky]

Meh, at this point, I can live with anything short of the exhaust exiting at the cat.

Exhaust? What's an exhaust.





Thinks about it....







What's a cat?

 

[buickgnx88]

I believe the cat, as he is referring to, is the general term for a member of the feline species. And he's correct, who would want exhaust exiting from the cat?

 

[niky]

Indeed... I've had my fill of stinky cats. Heck... last "luxury" car we test-drove smelled like burning cat after a rather short romp through the gears to 70 mph... probably skinned the poor sucker.

 

[Jim Prower]

Catalytic converter. nasty little thing that supposedly cleans your exhaust...