I'm a bit biased owning one myself but I say go for the wagon. You'll surely invent more reasons to need it. I went with the wagon myself because my wife and I find ourselfs hauling larger items like coat racks, garage sale stuff, nieces and nephews and their stuff to what ever else. I don't always need the room but when the time comes, it's nice to have.

Aside from the practical reasons the wagon is a good choice because it's just as fun as the other models to drive, already comes with a tranny cooler

 

I biased towards the hatch... I dont thing the wagon offers much more cargo room once the rear seats are folded down in the hatch. and of course if youhave a child seat in the back, you can always just fold down one half of the seatback if you need to.

 

mym6, your wagon gallery is great! I have gone through it several times. Actually your gallery has pulled me towards wagon a bit. It's just the HB is so damn goodlooking. The wagon looks great too but looks not as fast as the HB.

The dealer where I got my Protege promised me hassle free return (there is a lit cosmetic work to do, maybe couple of hundred $) and more discount for my loyalty. I wonder how true it is though. Even a Ford dealer told me they would take my lease car without trouble. Does anyone have such experience?

 

its really your preference...
but i'd go for the hatch cause its just fitted more into my age group.
dont get me wrong but i think the wagon is aimed toward older folk.

 

I kind of like the Hatch over the wagon for some reason...

 

You can't go wrong either way.
I went in looking to get the HB but ended up getting the Wagon.
But, it's because it fit my ?"40 year old" style better than the HB (or sedan).



Mitch

 

Hatch is sexier

 

Hatch for sure!

 

"You'll surely invent more reasons to need it"

That usually means spending more coin, go with the hatch.

 

I'm only 26. I considered the hatch but in the end felt the wagon would be more useful. Don't let the general American dislike for wagons sway ya

Here is the size info from Edmunds.com

"Interior Design and Special Features:
Inside, the 6 has a clean and contemporary design with solid build quality and easy-to-operate controls. Most of the materials used are attractive, but they're a step or two below the premium-quality stuff used in class leaders like the Accord and Passat. Rear-seat occupants benefit from a center armrest, but shoulder room is a bit tight for this class. A 60/40-split rear seat folds to expand the generous 17.6-cubic-foot capacity of the sedan, while the hatchback boasts a 22-cubic-foot cargo hold that expands to 59 cubic feet. Roomiest of all is the wagon, which offers 33.7 cubic feet with the rear seat and 61 cubes with the seat folded down."

 

Originally posted by mym6@Sep 6 2004, 09:06 PM
I'm only 26.  I considered the hatch but in the end felt the wagon would be more useful.  Don't let the general American dislike for wagons sway ya

Here is the size info from Edmunds.com

"Interior Design and Special Features:
Inside, the 6 has a clean and contemporary design with solid build quality and easy-to-operate controls. Most of the materials used are attractive, but they're a step or two below the premium-quality stuff used in class leaders like the Accord and Passat. Rear-seat occupants benefit from a center armrest, but shoulder room is a bit tight for this class. A 60/40-split rear seat folds to expand the generous 17.6-cubic-foot capacity of the sedan, while the hatchback boasts a 22-cubic-foot cargo hold that expands to 59 cubic feet. Roomiest of all is the wagon, which offers 33.7 cubic feet with the rear seat and 61 cubes with the seat folded down."

[snapback]300341[/snapback]​

So the Wagon is only 2 cubic feet bigger than hatch when seat folds down. The wagon appears so much larger in the rear end...

 

Yes, the real treat is hauling 5 people and all of their stuff packed in back from floor to roof, window to window. The seats up 11 cube difference helps

 

I would go with the Hatchback. Otherwise, I would take this as my wagon:

 

I drove a wagon for a couple days, and had pretty much planned to get it as it was in my favorite color - white. But, the 5 door seemed a little less ponderous to me. It should be noted that the wagon also had tan interior, and no bose system while the 5 door had black and bose. With 2 kids, and car seats, I worried that the tan was going to age real quick. So for 500 more I ended up in the 5 door, and really like it so far. Both models are heavier than the sedan, the wagon is just around 50 lbs more than the hatch. While I was driving it it seemed like more. I'm sure I would have been happy with either, but I liked the 5 door more.

 

The wagon holds bigger crap.

 

Grandpanda - We just bought the wagon and are really happy with it. I didn't realize a HB existed until I went to drive the wagon, but it never really was an option as we plan on getting a big dog (labrador size) and I wanted it to be kept separate from us and our 2 yr old when we drive as some dogs don't travel as well as others.

Couple of things to point out (you apply the pros and cons)

1) Wagon only comes in the sport edition (6 cylinder).

2) Wagon's middle seatbelt's shoulder strap in the back is connected to the ceiling. It can be removed by owner, if you don't plan on using it.

3) We have our son's car seat in the middle and the tether strap anchor point is in the ceiling as well. Side seats' tether anchors are on the back of the seat out of site.

4) The rear windshield wiper on the wagon lays parallel to the ground when not in use. I thought I saw a HB at the dealership with the wiper pointing up when not in use.

5) With the wagon, definitely a tunnel view when looking out the rear view mirror

6) The wagon comes with a nifty cargo net that can be applied behind the rear seats or with the seats laid flat. Can't speak for the HB.


7) On the wagon, I've noticed a build up of dust on the lip of the rear bumper. HB owners, please add feedback if that is an issue.

8) There is a BIG opening to get stuff in to the back of the wagon.

9) We hear items sliding in the back of the wagon more easily. We have ordered a rubber mat from Mazda to see it will stop the sliding. Does Mazda sell one for the HB or must the owner improvise?

 

One other thing, certain colors are available exclusively for each body style.

 

If you happen to be an aggressive driver ( like to have fun behind the wheel ), than the wagon adds a certain "stealthy" quality to the mix. Not too many cops are going to be on the look-out for someone tearing through some twisties in a wagon.

 

Hatch all the way. Trust me, there is enough room in the Hatch plus it looks a whole lot better in my opinion.

Zoom Zoom

 

Originally posted by formula4dissent@Sep 7 2004, 04:56 AM
I drove a wagon for a couple days, and had pretty much planned to get it as it was in my favorite color - white.  But, the 5 door seemed a little less ponderous to me.  It should be noted that the wagon also had tan interior, and no bose system while the 5 door had black and bose.  With 2 kids, and car seats, I worried that the tan was going to age real quick.  So for 500 more I ended up in the 5 door, and really like it so far.  Both models are heavier than the sedan, the wagon is just around 50 lbs more than the hatch.  While I was driving it it seemed like more.  I'm sure I would have been happy with either, but I liked the 5 door more.

[snapback]300392[/snapback]​

I'll never own another white car. I just don't like them. They're always dirty up here in Minnesota.

I got the wagon, never drove the 5 door. My '91 626 (RIP traded in) was the 5 door. It was nice.
The wagon is better.

My first wagon (RIP lemon law bad wiring) had the bose. The 6 sedan rental I had for 3 weeks waiting for the new wagon didn't have bose. Since I don't care about thump thump, there was no
difference in them. This is a car, not a concert hall. The 6 CD changer was more hassle that useful,
IMO.

Mazda marketing is actually targeting the wagon to 32-40 range. We, over 40 year olds, have a stigma against wagons. Too much riding in the back of the fake woodys, I guess.

One of the cars (is it the 3Wagon or the 6 5D?) doesn't have the levers for flipping down the rear
seats from the rear compartment. A glaring mistake there.

The wagon does feel different driving that the sedan. It's not just the weight, or the engine (the
rental was the 4 cylinder and was fine, keeping it above 3000). It feels more substantial.

I like the Magnum wagon, up a bit, but the nose is too big.

I got the dark interior, I like it much better than the tan. The rental had the tan, and didn't
hold up well at 23k miles.

 

Oh yeah, with 3 bikes up on top (yakima not factory) rack and the youngest's 20in bike in the
back, the wagon takes us to any bike trail.

 

Who says wagons can't look hot.

 

I'd get the hatch over the wagon simply because you can't get the 4-cylinder in the wagon The wagon looks great, but I don't want a V6, so I'd go for the hatch for the combined great fuel economy and cargo hauling capability.

 

miso, that's one goodlooking wagon

 

Grandpanda - If you will regularly be hauling some type of cargo or a pet, then the Sportwagon will serve you well. However, if you haul around passengers more frequently than cargo, I would recommend the hatchback. (We ended up buying a Sportwagon to haul around our 80lb Golden Retriever and are happy with it.)