Mazda 6 or other car

henryd65

I have a 00 Accord which I have had for a number of years and thinking of changing.

Don't do huge mileage and am looking for a petrol engine, c. 2007 car for eur 6-8k.

Thinking about a Mazda 6 but just wondering if I should be looking elsewhere.

(also, if anyone in the Cork area is looking for a well maintained Accord, tax and nct Apr. '12, feel free to pm me)

thanks

unkel

Mazda 6 petrol is a very reliable, but a bit dull car. It sure is better value for money second hand compared to a similar age / spec Accord (a bit dull too . If you like it, go for it!

Waterford26

choose some car..not mazda6

henryd65

alternative suggestions welcome

CiniO

unkel wrote: »

Mazda 6 petrol is a very reliable, but a bit dull car.

Why're you saying it's dull?

Just asking because of curiosity.

colm_mcm

Nothing wrong with a 6. You're unlikely to find excitement in a 1.8 family saloon either way, the 6 is nicely styled, reliable and reasonably priced.

Waterford26

I had 6 couple months ago.. lot of rust around engine area and suspension. Common problems with electric .Volvo S40 or Mondeo mk4 or Subaru Legacy..thats my options. All three 2008 year and reliable petrol engines .. prices around 7 - 7,5K with low mileage.

MidlandsM

Waterford26 wrote: »

I had 6 couple months ago.. lot of rust around engine area and suspension. Common problems with electric .

mazda electrical issues are few and far between to be fair.

Bobo78

unkel wrote: »

Mazda 6 petrol is a very reliable, but a bit dull car. It sure is better value for money second hand compared to a similar age / spec Accord (a bit dull too . If you like it, go for it!

How you ever drove Mazda 6?

If you have ever drove Mazda 6 you would relies that it s the least dull car in comparing to the other alternatives.

CiniO

colm_mcm wrote: »

Nothing wrong with a 6. You're unlikely to find excitement in a 1.8 family saloon either way,

Who said he was looking for 1.8???

gyppo

CiniO wrote: »

Who said he was looking for 1.8???

its a reasonable assumption.
the accord hes changing from is either a 1.8 or 2.0l car, and hes looking at a mazda6 thats usually powered by a 1.8 or 2.0l engine

colm_mcm

Because he said petrol?

Because if if wanted 2.0 he'd be looking at accords?

Or because anyone looking for an mps would've mentioned it, its not the kind of thing you leave out :-)

henryd65

op here.

thanks for the replies so far.

1.8 would be the minimum size, not maximum. Car would be a family car and reliability is important as not mechanincally minded.

bazz26

Why not another Honda Accord:

http://cars.donedeal.ie/for-sale/cars/2351906

CiniO

henryd65 wrote: »

op here.

thanks for the replies so far.

1.8 would be the minimum size, not maximum. Car would be a family car and reliability is important as not mechanincally minded.

I got Mazda 6 2.0 few months ago.
I'm more than happy with that car.
You can feel the difference in power between 1.8.
Since I bought it, I changed oil and filter, air filter, cabin filter and spark plugs. and couldn't find anything else to do really.
5k miles since, and nothing broke.
I'm getting bored in the evenings, as I always owned Fiat's before and they alwyas kept me busy

PS. It's not that bad. I still have a Fiat as well, so it keeps me busy

CiniO

colm_mcm wrote: »

Because he said petrol?

Because if if wanted 2.0 he'd be looking at accords?

Or because anyone looking for an mps would've mentioned it, its not the kind of thing you leave out :-)

I suppose OP would mention MPS if he was looking for it.
But beside MPS you still have 1.8, 2.0, or 2.3 petrol to choose from.

And why would he be looking for accord if he wanted 2.0? I don't get this one.

coolbeans

The 6 in petrol is well styled, very reliable, and handles much better than the Accord if that matters to you. On the flip side the sharp handling means they're a bit harsher in terms of ride comfort and noise than rivals but that's a small price to pay for a car that can negotiate the corners so well.

unkel

CiniO wrote: »

Why're you saying it's dull?

Well there's nothing wrong with it. But it's not particularly good at anything except being reliable. That said, I'd have it over any base Avensis, Passat, Vectra etc. of the same value

I'd go one step further. If the Rover 75 (also a very reliable car in the right hands ) I'm driving at the mo should die a death, I could well end up buying a 6 myself. If you're in the situation that you only can afford to buy the car, but can't afford to spend any money on it except basic servicing, the car becomes an option all of a sudden

The early model 6s are only one step removed from bangernomics at this stage...

coolbeans

unkel wrote: »

Well there's nothing wrong with it. But it's not particularly good at anything except being reliable. That said, I'd have it over any base Avensis, Passat, Vectra etc. of the same value

I'd go one step further. If the Rover 75 (also a very reliable car in the right hands ) I'm driving at the mo should die a death, I could well end up buying a 6 myself. If you're in the situation that you only can afford to buy the car, but can't afford to spend any money on it except basic servicing, the car becomes an option all of a sudden

The early model 6s are only one step removed from bangernomics at this stage...

Have you driven one? They've got a very well sorted chassis, class leading if you ask me.

Bobo78

+1

I had Mazda 6 for nearly 2 years and to say it s a dull car, it s nonsense especially when comparing to Passat, Vectra, Avensis...

The only downside of the car is as someone mentioned ride quality and noise at higher speed but in everything else it s much better than most of it s rivals.

It has very good handling and really good steering and usually has good spec.

bazz26

unkel wrote: »

Well there's nothing wrong with it. But it's not particularly good at anything except being reliable. That said, I'd have it over any base Avensis, Passat, Vectra etc. of the same value

I'd go one step further. If the Rover 75 (also a very reliable car in the right hands ) I'm driving at the mo should die a death, I could well end up buying a 6 myself. If you're in the situation that you only can afford to buy the car, but can't afford to spend any money on it except basic servicing, the car becomes an option all of a sudden

The early model 6s are only one step removed from bangernomics at this stage...

The 6 has always received great reviews from motor journalists over the years for it's sharp driving dynamics. Not much between it and the Mondeo which was rated best in class at the time.

Waterford26

Bobo78 wrote: »

+1

I had Mazda 6 for nearly 2 years and to say it s a dull car, it s nonsense especially when comparing to Passat, Vectra, Avensis...

The only downside of the car is as someone mentioned ride quality and noise at higher speed but in everything else it s much better than most of it s rivals.

It has very good handling and really good steering and usually has good spec.

NOt better handling than mondeo and u forgot on very poor quality of bodywork all around..cheap metals are not too safe! But true is that lots of 6 comes with cruise control, el sunroof and automatic A/C..thats big positive.

langdang

unkel wrote: »

The early model 6s are only one step removed from bangernomics at this stage...

Yup, soon to feature in my bangernomics list. Hard to find the estates tho.

MetzgerMeister

CiniO wrote: »

I suppose OP would mention MPS if he was looking for it.
But beside MPS you still have 1.8, 2.0, or 2.3 petrol to choose from.

And why would he be looking for accord if he wanted 2.0? I don't get this one.

The MPS is the 2.3

langdang

einheisserschre wrote: »

The MPS is the 2.3

MPS is 2.3 turbo. There is a straight 2.3 (outside of Ireland mainly!) that is not an MPS.

CiniO

einheisserschre wrote: »

The MPS is the 2.3

That reminds me of logic lesson on Math in school...

MPS is 2.3 - true.

2.3 is MPS - not necesserily true.

It's the same logic as: Every Mondeo is a Ford, but not every Ford is a Mondeo.

MetzgerMeister

langdang wrote: »

MPS is 2.3 turbo. There is a straight 2.3 (outside of Ireland mainly!) that is not an MPS.

Indeed but with regards to the topic of this thread, I don't think there's a point in saying that there is a straight 2.3 as it insinuates that it's available along with the 1.8 and 2.0 in Ireland

langdang

einheisserschre wrote: »

Indeed but with regards to the topic of this thread, I don't think there's a point in saying that there is a straight 2.3 as it insinuates that it's available along with the 1.8 and 2.0 in Ireland

But.. but.. someone was wrong on the internet! I couldn't let it slip
Yeah, tis a wonder they sold any Mazda 6 here at all without putting a weeny 1.6 in it. (Avensis style)

coolbeans

Waterford26 wrote: »

u forgot on very poor quality of bodywork all around..cheap metals are not too safe!

To be honest I don't know what you're on about. The bodywork is as good as any other car. If it's all the same to you I'll ignore your reasoning on car safety and trust EuroNCAP who gave the 6 the same score as the Mondeo and others.

Tea 1000

Waterford26 wrote: »

NOt better handling than mondeo and u forgot on very poor quality of bodywork all around..cheap metals are not too safe! But true is that lots of 6 comes with cruise control, el sunroof and automatic A/C..thats big positive.

Actually I'd rate it higher than the Mondeo for handling. It's every bit as composed in the corners, the chassis is equally good for feel and feedback, but where the Mondeo does have better steering feel, it has a crap driving position, which off-sets some of the merits of it's handling. Therefore I'd rate the 6 as being better.
Quality of the bodywork? Back to school with you! Does your mother know you're on the internet?

MetzgerMeister

I have a 6MPS and I can tell you this much, the bodywork is perfect. Fine, the doors are light but does it matter?

With regards handling, this car is in a segment where a car's handling is 2nd to its comfort. My 6 handles well but not as well as the RX8 I had previously. I intend to lower it soon and it's said that with Eibachs, it handles nearly as well as the 8.

Waterford26

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Actually I'd rate it higher than the Mondeo for handling. It's every bit as composed in the corners, the chassis is equally good for feel and feedback, but where the Mondeo does have better steering feel, it has a crap driving position, which off-sets some of the merits of it's handling. Therefore I'd rate the 6 as being better.
Quality of the bodywork? Back to school with you! Does your mother know you're on the internet?

Back to school?? Have more miles drive on reverse than u on other gears lad ..just try to push the bonnet or doors on 6 with one finger ..heh..softer than lenor! ****y car for me..never more.

MetzgerMeister

Waterford26 wrote: »

Back to school?? Have more miles drive on reverse than u on other gears lad ..just try to push the bonnet or doors on 6 with one finger ..heh..softer than lenor! ****y car for me..never more.

What do you want, doors from a tank that're going to drain the tank?

pburns

Waterford26 wrote: »

Back to school?? Have more miles drive on reverse than u on other gears lad ..just try to push the bonnet or doors on 6 with one finger ..heh..softer than lenor! ****y car for me..never more.

It's a Hillman Hunter you want so...

Seriously, as long as the crash structures are strong lightness is an advantage. That's the way things are going for low CO2 and Mazda is proably the most anal about weight savings.

BTW, I've had a 6 and would recommend it for reliability, handling etc. Only weakness is slight lack of refinement. Post 05 facelift models supposed to be better in this regard.

Victor Meldrew

Bobo78 wrote: »

How you ever driven a Mazda 6?

If you have ever driven a Mazda 6 you would relies that it is the least dull car in comparing to the other alternatives.

Probably the only car I have ever driven that has encouraged me to drive like a hooligan around roundabouts and enjoy sudden weight transfer mid corner.

Sad, I know, but compared to a Passat (dull, dead) and a vectra, (understeer city) this car is a revelation.

I bought it because I could not face driving a cop car (Mondeo). which is also brill.

CiniO

einheisserschre wrote: »

. I intend to lower it soon and it's said that with Eibachs, it handles nearly as well as the 8.

I might try the same.
I've seen a set of new eibachs for mazda 6 for around €200.

I got a set of eibachs for my 01 Fiat bravo in addition to set of new KYB shocks and strut brace, and increase in handling was unbelievable.

I can actually say, that my Bravo handles better on bends than stock Mazda 6, even though it has only macpherson columns in the front, and not even anti rollbar on the back, while mazda has full multiarm suspension, with proper antirollbars both front and rear.

Might be acutally worth putting set of eibachs to it as well, to make it even better.
Do you think though, that stock shocks, which already have 100k miles done on them, will survive this swapover (eibach is -30mm for mazda6). Usually older shocks go pretty soon after lowering the car

MetzgerMeister

CiniO wrote: »

I might try the same.
I've seen a set of new eibachs for mazda 6 for around €200.

I got a set of eibachs for my 01 Fiat bravo in addition to set of new KYB shocks and strut brace, and increase in handling was unbelievable.

I can actually say, that my Bravo handles better on bends than stock Mazda 6, even though it has only macpherson columns in the front, and not even anti rollbar on the back, while mazda has full multiarm suspension, with proper antirollbars both front and rear.

Might be acutally worth putting set of eibachs to it as well, to make it even better.
Do you think though, that stock shocks, which already have 100k miles done on them, will survive this swapover (eibach is -30mm for mazda6). Usually older shocks go pretty soon after lowering the car

I already have one rear shock on the way out. It would be more cost effective to swap over to new shocks at the same time as doing the springs but you just don't know how long the shocks will last.

You also have to remember that the Bravo is a smaller/lighter car and has a lower centre of gravity compared to the Mazda.

-Corkie-

Mazda 6 is a fantastic car IMO... Pity about the diesels though allthough I blame poor servicing for a lot of it...