Dad and I went to an Autoshow last weekend and we sat in a silver 5 spd w/ all the options and a grey w/ only an auto. My dad loved the grey and he really wants one now which would be his third grey Mazda (89 323, 92 Pro). We also sat in a Altima 2.5S which is just about the same price for an i with auto. He was so pumped about the Mazda that he didn't care too much for the Altima. My mom however thought the Altima looked really elegant for the price more so than the 6 loking sporty for the price. She'd still buy the 6 though. For my dad though I'm not sure. Having room for rear seat occupants is a definite bright spot and the Altima also puts out 175 hp. But the 6 interior and I bet the driving dynamics are better. He's counting on input from me as part of his descision which also now includes the new Accord Sedan. Oh well I don't care, he promised me if I don't bug him for a HS graduation present he'll get me a 99/00 Audi A4 1.8T in about 18 months. But if I get the smaller Audi maybe him getting the bigger Altima would be better.

 

You'll probably be able to buy them at MSRP soon enough, it you can't already. They're selling like crap, less than 2500 in January in the US. Maybe this will teach Mazda dealers you CAN'T sell a Mazda above MSRP, unless it's an RX-8 maybe.

Link

 

Yeah. I've been in and out of my dealership the last few weeks and some of the ones I thought would have sold are still sitting around. I talked to them about getting a 6s and they are still being jerks about the price (MSRP, nothing less).

They are pulling the same crap they pulled with the Protege5 when it first came out. Stupid of them because while the 6 is a good car it is not a revolutionary vehicle in its segment (like the Protege5 still is). They are going to have to calm down and accept the buyers they can find because everyone else is paying MSRP for an Accord.

 

Find a new dealer, I only paid about $600 over invoice in Dec for my 6s. Others over on the Mazda6 forum (Mazda6Club.com) only paid several hundred over invoice.

 

I think Mazda6 is more revolutionary than Pro 5 ever was.
Pro5 could be revolutionary if we (North American market) would have got it in 1999 along with 3-rd gen. Protege, not like many times we were last behind Japan/Europe even Mexico gets more of quality european cars than we do (Peugeot, Mondeo, AudiA3)
Mazda6 have potential to be called revolutionary.
All due to fantastic suspension/steering set-up, modern engine interior/exterior design, great safety test results (europe) and very good price.
Pro5 with old 2.0l engine, and vibration (rattle) friendly interior,
and medicare safety/collision ratings can't be called revolutionary.
Pro5 is where it is because it's handling/steering (it's so hard to buy a great handling mid-size, mid-priced car in US) and very good looking exterior design.
I really like my Pro5 but it's already outdated, Mazda3 can erase all weak spots from Protege image... if Mazda will make right moves with it.
Very exciting

 

where did you get "medicare" crash rating? last time I checked the 3rd gen pro has 5 star front/rear crash ratings

 

Not to mention the Protege5 is available with side airbags.

The Mazda6 has a head curtain option as well. But what you would expect from a car in a different price bracket.

EDIT: And of course your right on the 5 stars front and rear info.

 

i drive these all day.. and park them too! ive driven every variant and i can say that they are nice but im not sure about reliability, if you look under the hood all you see is plastic, no room to work which means you have to take stuff off to work on other stuff, plus the engine is ford (same as tribute).

The tributes in the lot never start, even brand new, with 2 booster packs (battery w/ some juice + big booster + small booster) they barely start i hate them, some have come in with some emissions problems, leaking hoses, etc.

The M6 is made in north america with ford parts, you decide for yourself if you want to buy it

 

Hasn't this been discussed lots? The I4 is a totally new Mazda engine. The V6 uses the Duratec block only. A quote from Motor Trend on the the Mazda 6s says 'although the engine is sourced from Ford it's designed and tuned by Mazda. And that's a good thing.'

Ford doesn't own Mazda. It has 33.3% of the shares meaning it has controlling interest.

 

You forgot to mention the MPV as well, which shares basically the same 3.0L Duratec as the Tribute and has nearly impeccable reliability. And don't forget the tons of other vehicles that don't start. If the lot attendants would start the vehicles at least once per week instead of letting them sit forever, the batteries wouldn't die out so quickly. Or, if they are going to sit, they shouldn't go through PDI. Dead vehicles on a dealership lot is not a cause for alarm and certainly not a reliability concern. It is normal for the use they get... they never get to fully charge.