almost perfect
the respose rate of 4-cylinder is not fast enough during acceleration. sport- type automatic transmission is not smooth enough. So if you know shift stick and have money to get a S-model, you'll have a perfect car!!
Mixed Bag
I am easy on my vehicles and drive them for 10-12+ years. I hope this car passes the Toyota quality/dependability test. Inside quality seems good (although the small door forward of the shift lever comes unhinged and a lens on the lower driver door light fell out) Controls for the HVAC are dumb. Did any of the designers try to work these things? Knobs either need to project farther and have knurling on them or they need to be rotary dials. Ditto for the radio. The same goes for the multi-function stalks. Move the rear wiper to the dash and simplify. Fuel mileage stinks. I would like to see the 4 cylinder and 16" tires available in the full tilt wagon pkg. I hope reliability is good.
MAZDA6 i hatch
Lots of features in an attractive package. Reliability unfortunately has declined just as Consumer Reports has indicated in the 6. Throttle problems and now a malfunction in the Bose stereo. A few rattles as well. My previous '90 MX-6 GT was a better car, actually the best car I ever owned. May trade it for a Toyota. I bought it due to the safety ratings.
Zooooooooommmmmmmmm!
One of the best car out there for the money! Have the Onyx Black. Very beautiful color. The 5-speed shifter is nice and smooth. Love the styling of both the interior and exterior. Even had an infiniti g35 sedan on order, but choose this because it had almost everything I wanted for $10000 less! Also considered Accord and Altima but this won me over. Extremely fun to drive.
Zoom Zoom with room
I had previously owned a Chevy Avalanche for my dj business. Even though I loved my truck, I felt it was time to downsize. I saw the Mazda wagon at the Chicago Auto Show. My wife and I liked the car very much. The next day, we bought one. She had a 2001 Protege so I knew about Mazda's reliability. This car handles all of my equipment without a problem. This car can really move and handle like a race car. I just love driving it. The color is Steel Gun Grey and it is fully loaded. Everyone I run into thinks it's a Dodge Magnum. The Dodge is too expensive and really isn't that much roomier than the 6. You really cannot beat the price of the 6 and everything you get for the money.