Mazda 6

bazz26

Was passing my local Mazda dealership today and had a quick look at the facelifted Mazda 6. Sat in the Touring model but didn't test drive it as I didn't have time. It was a top spec Platinum model with the two tone stone white leather and dark interior.

I must say I was very impressed with the quality of the interior especially the soft touch plastics and matching stone white leather on the dashboard, very un-Japanese. I also liked the driving position, seats felt very supportive and clutter free centre console which has been totally redesigned with the facelift model. Coming from a BMW F10 it didn't feel like the big step down I was anticipating.

I'm tempted but my main concern would be the reliability of the SkyActive engine.

Any thoughts?

Oafley Jones

bazz26 wrote: »

Was passing my local Mazda dealership today and had a quick look at the facelifted Mazda 6. Sat in the Touring model but didn't test drive it as I didn't have time. It was a top spec Platinum model with the two tone stone white leather and dark interior.

I must say I was very impressed with the quality of the interior especially the soft touch plastics and matching stone white leather on the dashboard, very un-Japanese. I also liked the driving position, seats felt very supportive and clutter free centre console which has been totally redesigned with the facelift model. Coming from a BMW F10 it didn't feel like the big step down I was anticipating.

I'm tempted but my main concern would be the reliability of the SkyActive engine.

Any thoughts?

It really was an excellent update to the interior. Was looking before, but was told the estate didn't come in platinum here. I take it they've changed their minds. Ya, engine does seem troublesome. Although I'm also looking at a 12 5series tourer and I swore I'd avoid that engine. 33k though from BMW.

bazz26

Yeah the facelifted Tourer is available in Platinum spec. Was an aluminium exterior colour too which surprisingly went well with the two tone leather interior.

Yes F10's are going for crazy money, I could obviously go for another one but I'd be looking at a nearly 3 year old example with what I would be willing to spend and finding a good spec is very difficult. But seriously how anyone could chose a bog standard 3 Series or A4 over a Platinum spec 6 for similar money is madness imo.

ba_barabus

I'd love a Mazda 6. I really like them, but I've heard stories that would worry me.

On the other side 2 family members are running them and never had an issue

bazz26

That's the thing, you hear of problems and then you hear from others who have none.

ba_barabus

bazz26 wrote: »

That's the thing, you hear of problems and then you hear from others who have none.

Yep. As far as I can see most issues boil down to poor customer service. Faults occur and Mazda don't fix them in a satisfactory manner.

bazz26

I think the main gripe is that their dealers don't really have the knowledge or experience of fixing the issues.

Zurbaran

The Platinum spec ones are lovely. Not so sure about the way the HUD looks though.

I have heard a few mentions of issues with the skyactive engines on Boards but no specifics? The parents CX5 had the engine light on once but was fixed with a trip to the dealer. Other than that nothing but it only had 58K kilometres when they sold it.

Oafley Jones

bazz26 wrote: »

Yeah the facelifted Tourer is available in Platinum spec. Was an aluminium exterior colour too which surprisingly went well with the two tone leather interior.

Yes F10's are going for crazy money, I could obviously go for another one but I'd be looking at a nearly 3 year old example with what I would be willing to spend and finding a good spec is very difficult. But seriously how anyone could chose a bog standard 3 Series or A4 over a Platinum spec 6 for similar money is madness imo.

Was this an automatic Bazz? Site still showing that you can only select platinum with manual. No interest in manuals.

Vicxas

I'm driving the pre-facelift model and i'm absolutely in love, bar some massive problems down the line i think ill be sticking with Mazdas from now on.

carsfan

The top spec platinum is a lovely looking car. I would imagine the reason there aren't more of them on the roads is purely down to badge snobbery..
People would rather a bare Audi A4 instead.

bazz26

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Was this an automatic Bazz? Site still showing that you can only select platinum with manual. No interest in manuals.

No it was a manual version. From the reviews I read the auto ain't great and not worth the extra premium over the manual.

MuppetCheck

ROR might be your best bet bazz. I asked a similar question a while back and it was enough to change my mind. They may have made changes on later models mind, I hope they have as they're the nicest car in that class imo.

bazz26

Yeah, I've asked ROR before and the report wasn't good. In saying that there are a few people with them and 3s at work who haven't reported any major issues yet. I'm on my second "infamous" BMW N47 engined car so I'm a bit used to playing with fire.

I'm hoping the facelift earlier this year would improve them though.

Leprechaun77

Whatever about the chances of something going wrong with these, I believe the ability to efficiently diagnose, retrieve parts and properly solve issues when they do occur is quite poor within the dealer network. There is no doubting that the top spec 6 is a nice car, but dealer support would turn me off.

Shannon757

Is the dealer good/reliable?

clogher71

Leprechaun77 wrote: »

Whatever about the chances of something going wrong with these, I believe the ability to efficiently diagnose, retrieve parts and properly solve issues when they do occur is quite poor within the dealer network. There is no doubting that the top spec 6 is a nice car, but dealer support would turn me off.

I don't think you can blame the dealers too much, from what I understand and I stand corrected, Mazda have kinda abandoned the Irish market, they only have a handful of staff in an office in Dublin, most of the tech support is done through the uk, and the spare parts have to come from Belgium !! , so the dealers don't have much in terms of back up support .....dealers are starting to get thin on the ground too....

mailforkev

Anecdotal only I know but my father got the first soul red estate in the country when they came out and hasn't had any issues at all.

Is nice to drive and fairly well equipped from what I can see. Doors are a bit tinny when you shut them, don't have the heft of my Volvo or something German but it seems well built.

Parents are so happy with it that my mum also recently traded in her Yaris for a Mazda 2 also.

drunkmonkey

Oafley Jones wrote: »

It really was an excellent update to the interior. Was looking before, but was told the estate didn't come in platinum here. I take it they've changed their minds. Ya, engine does seem troublesome. Although I'm also looking at a 12 5series tourer and I swore I'd avoid that engine. 33k though from BMW.

Not to derail the thread but do avoid that engine, get a 530d instead. Not an estate but http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/MEGA-SPEC/201544238106644/

Oafley Jones

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Not to derail the thread but do avoid that engine, get a 530d instead. Not an estate but http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/BMW/5-Series/MEGA-SPEC/201544238106644/

Don't the 6 cylinders suffer the same as the n47. It's just that they're less common so it's not as reported as much. Would like something with a bit more poke than a 520.

drunkmonkey

Oafley Jones wrote: »

Don't the 6 cylinders suffer the same as the n47. It's just that they're less common so it's not as reported as much. Would like something with a bit more poke than a 520.

Don't know I bought a 530 inserted of the 520 (wife's idea), have had no problems. I didn't hear it's a problem in the 530's and done a lot of research befor buying one, the odd grumble on the internet wouldn't bother me, but I'd say they let it run out of oil more than anything, you won't get between services without a top up.

bazz26

The 530d is from the same family of engines as the 2.0 litre so has the same potential timing chain issues. You don't hear about it as much as the 2.0 litre engine outsells the 3.0 litre by about 50 to 1.

drunkmonkey

It's a different engine.

bazz26

Its a different engine as in it has 2 extra cylinders but it's from the same family. The 3.0 litre is known as the N57 while the 2.0 litre is the N47 but both engines have a similar underlying design hence they why they suffer from similar issues.