Reading Topic: A heated Mazda6 debate at Contour.org
I don't feel like registering over there, but I already wasted half an hour reading every post.
Mention these points for me, will ya? (you can copy and paste)
I bought my 2.3l '6 for $17,201 (after $500 grad rebate). A nice turbo kit would put me at $20k and make about the G35's 280hp. The V6 starts around 20k. How can that be compared to a $27k car? Let's NOT compare apples to apples (options to options); because I don't want that extra weight in my car. The stripped V6 will undoubtedly be the better performer due to reduced weight, and we all seem to be interested soley in performance.
Regardless of what the horsepower rating is of the '6, it's already strong enough to induce minor wheel hop. IMO, more horsepower would demand a RWD car. Heck, I'd want RWD even with less horsepower. The problem is, I can't get that for under $20k- at least not with usable cargo area. The '6 is an enormous value, and gives me the best FWD can offer for a price less than RWD offerings. Added bonus: a huge trunk.
A 240hp Accord? The V6 in the Accord makes it handle like garbage. With the i4 it is competent, but still feels large. Either way it doesn't even begin to approach the '6 in dynamics. I know skidpad ratings don't tell much, but the '6 scored .87g opposed to the Accord's .81 and G35's .86 (all Car and Driver). That's more lateral grip than even the new Z car, and the '6 is the only FWD car I've ever driven that will so willingly swing the rear-end around!
Now, I'd take an equivelant RWD car over a FWD car any day, but the '6 is as good-driving of a FWD car as can be built. Move up in price, and you'd better not insult me with FWD. The Accord Coupe V6/6spd and TSX both do this at about $28k.
Heck, with my car weighing in a $17,201, I'll take the ten+ grand I saved and buy a used MR2- a REAL sports car. As far as true sports cars go, don't kid yourself thinking a FWD car can be taken seriously. They're good, but they've got limits. Name a heavy FWD car that has won an autocross- all the cars discussed here are heavy! Why the hell play up horsepower numbers when you're adding a linebacker over the front wheels? Are you that unskilled of a driver that you don't care about twisties? Where's the fun in punching the throttle if you can't throttle steer? No, your torque steer isn't throttle-steering.
FWD sucks, but allows cars to be compact and lightweight- that's how Integras and Mini's do it. With the recent horsepower wars, this weight advantage has gone to hell. Weight sucks in any car, but at least RWD cars distribute it properly.
So, anyway, I dare you to find a better value than what Mazda offers. The Mazdaspeed Protege and Mazda6 are perhaps the two best-handling FWD production cars in the world, and Mazda properly steps us up to RWD at the low price of $25k with the RX-8.
Oh, and per Car and Driver's most recent edition, the RX-8 slaughters the G35 for driving fun, as one might expect. Why? WEIGHT!
This from an ecstatic FWD Mazda6 owner.
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