Awesome car!
I have a Mazda6 S, fully loaded. It is an awesome car. I drive many cars from different makes and models for my job. I drove, the Nissan Altima, Toyota Camry, Mitsubishi Galant, Hyndai sonata V6 and every other car that the Mazda is in the same category and competes with except for one, the new Honda Accord. So I cant say it is number one or not, but it is by far better then all other mid-size sedans except maybe the accord. But according to reviews I read the Accord drives great, but is is boring. The Mazda 6 is a blast!
Look Out Altima!!
I test drove the Nissan Altima 4 cylinder and then went and looked at the Mazda 6 for the sake of comparison. Once I test drove the 6 I took it home. This car has the best handling and engine performance of any mid-sized sports sedan out there and Nissan is in big trouble! The interior design of the 6 is incredible, much better than the Altima's, and you get a lot more car for less money too!
Good Value
I bought this car used at about 23k miles; now at 72k. I like the 2003 options because you can get a moonroof unbundled with other options. Reliable; only issue was a throttle body sensor I replaced out-of-warranty with a salvaged part for $120. Only drawbacks are dash and trim rattles and buzzes; I stuffed some wood pieces under the dash align pins which really helped but the center console (all plastic) makes noise and there's some kind of buzz in the B-pillar area occasionally (hence build quality = 4). Sun visors will weaken if you clip a garage opener on them.
mazda 6
I have had my 6 for three years now and love it. Besides brake and caliper issues it has had no problems. It is fun to drive and handles wonderfully. I would suggest this car to anyone wanting a family car with a fun factor.
the 6 is awesome
Tried the 4 cylinder and it was certainly peppy. However, no comparison to the 6 cylinder which also comes with ABS, traction controln auto climate control and power driver seat, well worth the $2,600. I enjoy the smooth power curve every time I drive. I drove the new Accord and Camry and though these are wonderfully reliable, comfortable vehicles, they are boring in a back to back test drive compared to the Mazda. I also drove the Altima and though it was more powerful, the handling didn't seem as good and the interior trim and fit felt cheap in comparison. I love this car! And the dealer was awesome.