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.
Not your mama's sedan
Fun to drive, aggressive sporty design. Plenty of options to dress it up to your liking, but it is lacking some nice-to-have conveniences that are available on other cars in its class.
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.
Impressions after 2 days and 540 miles
This car really rocks. Handling is expetional, and the European tuned suspension works really well for me (since I'm European). Seats are extremely comfortable for me, but some might find them to firm. The manual transmission is near to perfect, but the cluch travels a bit too much for my taste. If you plan to buy this car, go for the stick shifter, even if it is a bit more difficult to obtain (dealers usually stock automatic ones). I would buy the same car again. I think this tells everything.