Just got my Car! (Mazda6 '15)

[Xilor]

Typically engines with high compression ratios like the Skyactiv are used for racing. They are very efficient but tend not to last very long, Go fast but die young so to say.

Mazda has managed to create a high compression engine that is very efficient, gets great mileage, runs on regular gas, all at the cost of using synthetic oil.

I mean, Mazda is a good manufacturer known for making quality reliable cars, and so far after 4 years there haven't been many reports of trouble with the Skyactiv, but it just sounds too good to be true IMO.

Another option you could consider is the VW Passat? Volkswagen always makes solid, nice to drive cars.

 

[White & Nerdy]

Skyactiv is cool... proves there's life in the old internal combustion engine yet. If using synthetic oil is the only sacrifice that has to be made to preserve it, count me in.

Speaking of, we have synthetic oil, now where's our synthetic gasoline?

 

[Azure Flare]

After doing some research, I would go with the Mazda.

And don't worry whether or not you can get a manual or V6 in your budget, you're still getting a damn good car. (Even if I think the Kia is better looking.) Also, Mazda doesn't sell as many cars as Kia does, and while they aren't exactly strapped for cash, it seems like they would appreciate it more.

 

[homeforsummer]

Speaking of, we have synthetic oil, now where's our synthetic gasoline?

That can be answered in a few different ways.

The first is that oil and gasoline obviously have very different properties - you want oil to lubricate, and gasoline to burn. It's easier to do one than the other using synthetic processes.

The next is that we use a great deal more gasoline than we do oil. If it were possible to make synthetic gasoline that worked as well as the regular stuff, the cost of making the quantities of it we need would be prohibitive - it'd probably wind up costing more than just drilling for oil, and that cost would be passed to the consumer (synthetic oil is already more expensive than semi-synthetic or the full mineral stuff).

The last is that to some degree, people are already making synthetic gasoline, though it does rely on natural products still, to a degree. Cellulosic ethanol, made by refining oil produced by algae under certain environmental conditions, is technically a synthetic fuel. But that goes back to the point above, that it's currently done on quite a small scale and isn't really suitable for filling up the planet's one billion vehicles.

 

[Beeblebrox237]

Mazda, hands down. From what I've read/heard, the Kia is okay for driving dynamics but the 6 is excellent. The 6 also looks a lot better, in my opinion. It's less fussy and a bit more flowing, and I think the styling will age better. Oh, and if you can, I'd recommend getting a manual.

Oh, one more thing. A review of each car, done by the same author for the same site, for consistency.
http://www.carwow.co.uk/blog/Kia-Optima-Luxe-Review-325
http://www.carwow.co.uk/blog/Mazda-6-Skyactiv-Full-UK-Review-757

 

[niky]

The 6 doesn't need a V6. It's fantastically peppy thanks to the new automatic, and 185 hp is no chore, thanks to the weight. When we tested it, the 6AT Mazda6 was almost as quick to 62 mph as the automatic equipped BRZ, and quicker than any other auto-equipped midsizer.

Looking at Edmunds, they have it at around a second quicker to 60 mph than the Optima.

Of course, that's not a great reason to buy a car. On to the other reasons, the 6 has more headroom (I hit my head two or three times on the roof hoop when I drove the Optima last), more legroom, better steering, better dynamics, a lighter feel, better visibility and nicer interior materials (though the Optima isn't bad... it's actually pretty nice inside)... and the fuel economy is pretty nice, with or without iStop.

My only worry is what happens when that cooled EGR goes south, but it should be cleanable... and a cooled EGR might not gum up as much as a "hot" one.

Mazda6. Hands down. Only thing Optima might have is a slightly softer ride. Slightly.

-----

RE: Synthetic Gas... Just wait for Gas-To-Liquid technology to mature. Then you'll have the pleasure of paying $8-$10 per gallon for the "good" stuff...

 

[homeforsummer]

Oh, one more thing. A review of each car, done by the same author for the same site, for consistency.

The same author that totally didn't use the same photo location for each car

Also, I really, really like both cars. But having driven both, the Mazda just noses it. It feels like the slightly tighter product you'd expect from Mazda, compared to Kia.

I marginally prefer the looks of the Mazda but in the right colour the Kia is the more striking on the road. I've just about tuned out Mazda6s now, but every time I see an Optima it really catches my eye.

Edit: It's also worth noting that the Mazda is genuinely excellent on economy. Doing very similar driving in both cars, the diesel Optima got 49 mpg, the petrol Mazda got 45 mpg. The Kia didn't do badly for its type, the Mazda did brilliantly for a fairly large petrol sedan.

 

[Grandea GTR]

The same author that totally didn't use the same photo location for each car

Also, I really, really like both cars. But having driven both, the Mazda just noses it. It feels like the slightly tighter product you'd expect from Mazda, compared to Kia.

I marginally prefer the looks of the Mazda but in the right colour the Kia is the more striking on the road. I've just about tuned out Mazda6s now, but every time I see an Optima it really catches my eye.

Edit: It's also worth noting that the Mazda is genuinely excellent on economy. Doing very similar driving in both cars, the diesel Optima got 49 mpg, the petrol Mazda got 45 mpg. The Kia didn't do badly for its type, the Mazda did brilliantly for a fairly large petrol sedan.

Problem is, here in America, we don't have a diesel variant of the Optima nor do we have one for the Mazda6 One thing I do dislike though about the Optima is that they do not offer black cloth for it here Beige interior does look good in my opinion, though.

Does the size of the fuel tank matter in relation to MPG? Because the Mazda6 has better fuel economy, but has a smaller fuel tank than the Optima (16 gal vs 18 gal).

 

[niky]

Nope. Except perhaps, the Mazda6 has even less weight to carry around without that extra 2 gallons and the extra few pounds of fuel tank needed to carry it.

I got similar economy numbers with the Mazda6 (with iStop) as I did with the Kia Optima hybrid.

The hybrid was, indeed, something special, though. That powerful 2.4 mated to a punchy assist motor made it a smooth customer. But it costs so much more than the Mazda6.

 

[homeforsummer]

Problem is, here in America, we don't have a diesel variant of the Optima nor do we have one for the Mazda6

To be honest, it's not such an issue any more.

The Optima's diesel is decent, but hardly spectacular. The Mazda's diesel is excellent, but given U.S. gas prices the gasoline one will hardly cost a fortune to fill anyway. And really, petrol is more fun than diesel 99% of the time anyway.

 

[Mikeybc]

I'd get the Mazda 6 with a manual, manual is easy to learn and within a couple days or so it will become second nature. Learn it while your young.

Unless you're racing a 184 hp I-4 with a manual is more than adequate.

 

[Grandea GTR]

To be honest, it's not such an issue any more.

The Optima's diesel is decent, but hardly spectacular. The Mazda's diesel is excellent, but given U.S. gas prices the gasoline one will hardly cost a fortune to fill anyway. And really, petrol is more fun than diesel 99% of the time anyway.

True. The only thing that I could see that a D engine has over a G engine is having loads of torque...

 

[JMoney]

That was confusing... the OP changed.

Anyway, get the Mazda... over the Kia. Actually just get a better used car. An older Merc or BMW should be good.

 

[Grandea GTR]

That was confusing... the OP changed.

Anyway, get the Mazda... over the Kia. Actually just get a better used car. An older Merc or BMW should be good.

Huh? I changed? In what way?

While an older Merc or BMW or Audi (let's just put that there for reasons...) sounds good, the problem may be that there may be problems with the car that aren't mentioned, and once that problem is found, then there's the money...


Anyway, I found out the final price I would be paying for the two:

Mazda 6: ~$23,674
Optima: $19,878 (Kia is having some special offer+apparently I get some discount)

 

[JMoney]

@Grandea GTR If you tell the Mazda salesman that Kia is giving you a discount, you could probably negotiate for a lot lower.

 

[Xilor]

Jesus, I can't believe how much cheaper the cars are in USA compared to Canada. No way you can get either of those cars for less than $25,000 here.

Anyway, JMoney has a point, with cars as with everything you get what you pay for. I've owned 4 separate cars that I've bought for less than $25,000 new and all of them have been very problematic (3 of them I got rid of before hitting 20k miles).

If you're worried about unmentioned problems, you can look into certified pre-owned cars. Those are cars that are relatively recent and with low miles, still under warranty, and serviced at the dealer throughout their life, so basically if there's anything wrong with them the dealer is obliged to get it fixed at no charge to you.

With your budget for example you can get a really nice 2010-2011 Audi A4 with less then 50k miles on the clock. That's a car that was about $40k new, in terms of quality its several levels above the Mazda/Kia regardless of the fact its used.

 

[Grandea GTR]

Alright, I've made the decision! (see original post, or title)

 

[CarBastard]

Alright, I've made the decision! (see original post, or title)

As someone completely unbiased towards the Mazda brand, I congratulate you for your choice and demand PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mikeybc]

Think you made the right decision 👍 And yes...PICS !!

 

[niky]

Horrible car. Absolutely hate it.

Pics. Bloody hell... pics!

 

[Grandea GTR]

As someone completely unbiased towards the Mazda brand, I congratulate you for your choice and demand PICS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Think you made the right decision 👍 And yes...PICS !!

Horrible car. Absolutely hate it.

Pics. Bloody hell... pics!

Haha, thanks guys, I'm about to take care of the pics right now

*grabs camera and goes outside

 

[SuperLambo570]

The first posts do not match the OP at all.

 

[Grandea GTR]

The first posts do not match the OP at all.

That is because earlier, I had a choice of cars that I thought were pretty good, and wanted 's opinion on those cars.

Anyway, I have the pics, but my computer is being a complete 🤬 and won't read the memory stick.