As the owner of a 2002 TL Type S (18 mos old, 25k miles) that is book value about equal to a new 6s, I thought the comparison to be valid. I also wanted to test drive the 6s before participating at Houston's Rev It Up weekend. I couldn't find a single 5-speed in Houston, so while visiting my folks in San Antonio, I test drove one (black, loaded with all options).
Here's the comparison:
(1) Acceleration (seat of the pants): The Type S is a very fast car, but it is also a heavy car. The 6s, while scoring well in the car magazine's acceleration tests, couldn't really compete--even with the stick shift. The Acura's smooth 5-spd auto made the quick jump to 80 exhilarating--but hold on because torque steer will rear its ugly head on rougher roads. I never use the sportshift because the tranny always seems to know what gear to be in. The Mazda had a terrific clutch and I could immediately click off smooth starts--I miss driving a stick!
(2) Handling: Like I noted, the torque steer of the Acura can get old at times--don't hit uneven pavement from a hard standing start! The 6s didn't seem to have that problem (due to less power? I don't really know)...there was a small amount of torque steer, but otherwise it was awesome--like a big Miata (ok, a really big Miata). Both cars are a little soft in the corners, but the Mazda less so. The salesman didn't seem thrilled at my taking their only 5-speed through its paces, but heck it already had 92 miles on it! LOL
(4) Features: The Type S is pretty much loaded with every convenience you could want (sans trip computer). The latest version of the Accord trumped the Type S by adding dual zone climate control and like a couple hundred more airbags. What impressed me was that almost everything I have on the Type S is on the Mazda (6 CD, Bose, heated seats & mirrors, homelink, auto mirror, etc.). I actually think that the Bose setup sounded better than mine. But where's that auto tilt down passenger mirror? Oh well...
(3) Interior: Here is where the difference started to show up. No offense, but Mazda interiors are pretty darn cheap looking compared to the Acura (and the new Accord, which is more in the price range). The center console's hard plastic reminded me of an early 90's Accord. I'm not sure I like the display separated from the controls, but I like the red guages--sweet! I do have the Delphi XM radio in my car and can't figure out where in the Mazda it would fit
.
(4) At speed: The Acura is very quiet on smooth ashpalt and the Mazda, while not as quiet, at least had a racy engine sound to keep you "connected" to the real world.
(4) Ownership: Can't comment on how Mazda dealers work. As a former S2000 owner, I know Honda dealers are generally arrogant, regardless of whether you have a Civic or a Pilot. Acura is much better (loaner cars!); but still no Lexus. I imagine Mazda is somewhere in between, but hopefully the fact that many of them also seem to be Kia or Ford dealers doesn't hurt the service And would it be so hard to have a Mazda dealer somewhere *in* the city of Houston? driving 20 miles out to the suburbs to take one for service is awful.
Overall: The performance gap is narrow, the features are almost equivalent--Mazda totally has a winner and I'm starting to think that perhaps there might be one of these in my future (a silver one of course).
Chris
Here's the comparison:
(1) Acceleration (seat of the pants): The Type S is a very fast car, but it is also a heavy car. The 6s, while scoring well in the car magazine's acceleration tests, couldn't really compete--even with the stick shift. The Acura's smooth 5-spd auto made the quick jump to 80 exhilarating--but hold on because torque steer will rear its ugly head on rougher roads. I never use the sportshift because the tranny always seems to know what gear to be in. The Mazda had a terrific clutch and I could immediately click off smooth starts--I miss driving a stick!
(2) Handling: Like I noted, the torque steer of the Acura can get old at times--don't hit uneven pavement from a hard standing start! The 6s didn't seem to have that problem (due to less power? I don't really know)...there was a small amount of torque steer, but otherwise it was awesome--like a big Miata (ok, a really big Miata). Both cars are a little soft in the corners, but the Mazda less so. The salesman didn't seem thrilled at my taking their only 5-speed through its paces, but heck it already had 92 miles on it! LOL
(4) Features: The Type S is pretty much loaded with every convenience you could want (sans trip computer). The latest version of the Accord trumped the Type S by adding dual zone climate control and like a couple hundred more airbags. What impressed me was that almost everything I have on the Type S is on the Mazda (6 CD, Bose, heated seats & mirrors, homelink, auto mirror, etc.). I actually think that the Bose setup sounded better than mine. But where's that auto tilt down passenger mirror? Oh well...
(3) Interior: Here is where the difference started to show up. No offense, but Mazda interiors are pretty darn cheap looking compared to the Acura (and the new Accord, which is more in the price range). The center console's hard plastic reminded me of an early 90's Accord. I'm not sure I like the display separated from the controls, but I like the red guages--sweet! I do have the Delphi XM radio in my car and can't figure out where in the Mazda it would fit
.(4) At speed: The Acura is very quiet on smooth ashpalt and the Mazda, while not as quiet, at least had a racy engine sound to keep you "connected" to the real world.
(4) Ownership: Can't comment on how Mazda dealers work. As a former S2000 owner, I know Honda dealers are generally arrogant, regardless of whether you have a Civic or a Pilot. Acura is much better (loaner cars!); but still no Lexus. I imagine Mazda is somewhere in between, but hopefully the fact that many of them also seem to be Kia or Ford dealers doesn't hurt the service
And would it be so hard to have a Mazda dealer somewhere *in* the city of Houston? driving 20 miles out to the suburbs to take one for service is awful. Overall: The performance gap is narrow, the features are almost equivalent--Mazda totally has a winner and I'm starting to think that perhaps there might be one of these in my future (a silver one of course).
Chris
