AFSCME 3357-HOF'S BLOG

Midsize Wars - Take TWO
MAZDA6

"Long Term" reports are now in on last year's prime family sedan contender, the Mazda6.

2003 Mazda 6 specs, auto safety at Edmunds

Even though it is a Mazda, this is a UAW-Built car, built in a joint venture factory with Ford in Flat Rock Michigan.

I test-drove a Mazda6 last year right after they came out, and right after I signed an order for a new Volkswagen Passat. Actually, I drove three both manual and automatic-equipped four cylinders, and a manual-equipped six. I liked the Mazda6, but I think I made the right decision for me. The Volkswagen Passat is the car that I wish the US automakers would build, and I don't want to send them a signal that what they are building is right by buying something that's not quite what I'm looking for. As for wage equity, yada yada, all I can say is that my Volkswagen was built in Germany by Unionized workers that make more than I do. I don't think this is the kind of globalism that we need to worry about. As I think about it, if I hadn't have gotten the Passat, I probably would have gotten the Mazda.

The Mazda6 has more personality than the Accord and the Camry. It blows the other domestics away. It handles tightly and confidently. Inside, it seems more cozy than its specifications would suggest. The four cylinder doesn't set the world on fire but is adequate. It is not nearly as fun as the turbo4 in my Passat which has quite a kick with the manual transmission. The Passat also beats the Mazda on fuel economy. I'm averaging over 28 mpg for mixed driving in the Passat. Actually, I should say my wife is, since she's the one that drives it most of the time. The six cylinder Mazda is fun to ride, but I don't want to have to feed it every day.

The red instruments in the Mazda are pretty cool, but not quite as cool as the red on blue of the Passat (with a trip computer), or for that matter, the white to green instruments of the Dodge Stratus. All Passats come with six airbags. You have to jump through hoops to get six airbags on most of the competition.

Since no dramatic systematic reliability flaws have shown themselves over the past year in the Mazda6, I can recommend the Mazda6 if you are looking for something fun yet practical to drive to work. I'm told that sales are below expectations, so you may be able to deal significantly in price.