Replying to Topic 'motor trend'

That Intellichoice thing sure looks funny.

I guess the Accord and 6 don't share the same set of competing vehicles?

 

Replying to Topic 'motor trend'

the both are in midsize class it states. but how one gets worse then average and one better then average for # that r so close is beyond. me maybe they cant add.

 

Replying to Topic 'motor trend'

I know why:

Mazda 6:
5-Year Ownership Cost $29,913
5-Year Cost, Similar Vehicles $28,159

Accord v6 ex:
5-Year Ownership Cost $31,940
5-Year Cost, Similar Vehicles $33,216

They obviously don't consider them similar vehicles. The reason for the rating is clear with these numbers. The mazda is more than "average" and the accord less.

 

Replying to Topic 'Motor Trend & Mazda'

Yeah, it's right there in a simple black and white decision based on the numbers.

But like I said, they must have chosen a different set of competing(similar) vehicles.

Write a letter to the editor and find out.

 

Reading Topic: Motor Trend & Mazda

Which is sort of bias under the table. It is being bias without getting finger pointing indicating bias journalism. All the 3 big car magazine in the States have so much advertising money from the big car company. It would not be in the best interest for those car company to support the magazine if they blasted their products.

They probably compared the Accord to like an Audi or BMW (other import) while they compared the Mazda to domestic like Ford and Chrysler and such.

If they wanted to, they could easily indicate the vehicle they are comparing it to so people know what class it belongs. But direct comparison is a NO NO in PR unless the company that is paying for the advertising indicate doing so for their advantage. Not only Honda, Toyota but Mazda does it too. They will not allow comparison where their product will not stack up. They have to have the advatage, it is call advertising.

 

Replying to Topic 'Motor Trend & Mazda'

ok this is wierd i put in 2004 instead of 2003 6s and look at this honda still wins and we are almost in the same class now. and numbers are even closer! wierd. at least they gave us average now. they are prob also comparing a base 6s cause you only get one choice.

Depreciation $12,945
Financing $2,711
Insurance $8,360
State Fees $441
Fuel $4,968
Maintenance $1,762
Repairs $583

Total 5-Year Ownership Cost $31,770

IntelliChoice Value Rating
Vehicle Class Midsize
5-Year Ownership Cost $31,770
5-Year Cost, Similar Vehicles $30,686
Difference $1,084
IntelliChoice Value Rating Average

 

Replying to Topic 'Motor Trend & Mazda'

Originally posted by hieppo
            Which is sort of bias under the table.

No, it is a subjective opinion. That counts as bias if not arrived at legitimately, and as other bad things if done intentionally to skew results. But just because you don't like what they say doesn't make them dishonest.

There are differences between the Mazda 6s and the Accord v6 EX. It's completely a judgement call whether those differences are enough to make one car better, or enough to make it compete with a different class of vehicles.

A quick search on edmunds.com shows some possible details they might point to:

1. Although the two v6's are the same size, the Honda one is rated as having 10% more horsepower and torque.

2. The EX is a high end trim level for the Accord, and so it has some features that are not on the "base" 6s. Now, maybe they should have considered the Mazda 6s with the options that add those features. Again, that's a judgement call. Comparing all reasonable combinations of options and describing the results would be painful. (The particular things I'm looking at are: power sunroof, which looks to be just part of the EX trim on the Accord but is a separate option; likewise some airbag details, leather, power seats, universal remote transmitter; and a few things that as far as I know are unavailable on the Mazda 6 such as dual zone climate control.)

All these things could legitimately make the Accord v6 EX compete with a different bunch of cars than the Mazda 6s. I'm curious how they analyzed the Honda Accord v6 LX. That seems a bit closer to the base Mazda 6s in terms of standard features.

It's a judgement call, one which could be reached for the right or wrong reasons, which one could agree with or disagree with, but which is basically plausible.

 

Replying to Topic 'Motor Trend & Mazda'

here is accord lx v6 info dif there is depreciation. still better. i just don't think our cars are worse then average at least the 2004 got average.

Depreciation $11,187
Financing $2,779
Insurance $8,110
State Fees $453
Fuel $4,482
Maintenance $1,302
Repairs $580

Total 5-Year Ownership Cost $28,893

IntelliChoice Value Rating
Vehicle Class Midsize
5-Year Ownership Cost $28,893
5-Year Cost, Similar Vehicles $31,070
Difference - $2,177
IntelliChoice Value Rating Better Than Average

 

Reading Topic: Motor Trend & Mazda

You guys are just playing a game of semantics now. The Accord and Mazda 6 are in the same basic class. Midsized imports, family sedans, sport sedans, whatever you want to call it both fit the bill. Now if one is a tad more or less in one thing, that is not enough to create a whole new catigory. I say its underhanded, not just because I own a mazda, but because people rely on these to chose which car to buy.

 

Replying to Topic 'Motor Trend & Mazda'

THANK YOU ! Thats how i felt a worse then average review is horrible. people see that and run or think Mazda is a POS. i just thought it was unfair to give the 6s that kind of review especially with all the good things being published about the 6. i too feel the 6s is in the same class as the honda and class or no class even if it was put against lower lined cars such as domestic like Ford and Chrysler, it still doesn't add up. Even the LX v6 Honda did better then us. ownership cost should not be worse then average for a beauitful car as the 6. at least they smarten up on the 2004 6s and bumped us up a level to average.

 

Replying to Topic 'Motor Trend & Mazda'

I dont like motor trend. i subscribe to automobile, car and driver and autoweek cause it comes twice a month so i always have something new to read. there are some great UK car magazines that i love but they are so expensive! hey deanoboy can ya help me out ?

 

Replying to Topic 'Motor Trend & Mazda'

The major mags. have always been biased towards Toyota and Honda when talking
about imports so I usually take these reports and reviews with a grain of salt.

It is sad though that someone in the market for a new car might pass up on the Mazda to end up with a boring, overpriced Accord.

 

Reading Topic: Motor Trend & Mazda

yeah, i mean, you do have to take them with a grain of salt, but how can you not have the 6 in the same class as the accord? I think it easily is, if not should be a little higher... but you know what, oh well. I love my car... screw people who take what a magazine says and not what they want... i like to make my own decisions... I am not a robot who lives by what a magazine says. I am a free thinker DAMNIT

 

Reading Topic: Motor Trend & Mazda

Mazdas got big things doing, toyota and honda just have been doing it better longer, by the end of this year into next year I see alot of the criticizing and reviews changing.

 

Reading Topic: Motor Trend & Mazda

Don't care what any of the big mag says because every time I get into my car, I just loooooove to drive it. Well except in the snow when it gets all dirty and stuff, but that's another story

 

Reading Topic: Motor Trend & Mazda

Yeah, I dn't see how people can argue in favour of that. The accord efinitely doesn't belong in a category with Audis or BMW's anymore than the 6 does, and thats because both Accord and 6s are in the same category. I don't think anyone can present reasonable arguments in favour of separating them. BAH! I say...

 

Replying to Topic 'Motor Trend & Mazda'

Quote from their site: "Ownership costs are the costs to purchase and operate a vehicle over a period of time. Understanding these costs can save you money and help you make a wiser financial decision when it comes time to select a vehicle.

Regardless of the "value" claims that you may read in car reviews or hear in ads, a vehicle's economic value is based on how much it will cost to own and operate compared to its purchase price. In a sense, ownership costs are "what you pay" and the purchase price is "what you get." The less you pay for what you get the better off you are.

Ownership costs can differ greatly. The cost to own and operate two different vehicles with equal purchase prices can differ by thousands. Of course when evaluating ownership cost for used cars and trucks, a vehicle's condition and mileage will greatly impact ownership costs, therefore it's important to compare similar vehicles in similar condition for an accurate picture."

What that means is, when you buy a <$20k 6s, in 5 years you will pay $30k for it. Thats a 50% difference from what you paid. With the Accord, you would purchase it for $23.4k and in 5 years you will pay $28.6k. A difference of ~%20.
Its not a review of any sort, its strictly numbers. It shows how the Accord is more economical than the 6 even though it cost more to buy. Now is it a better, more fun to drive car, no.

 

Replying to Topic 'Motor Trend & Mazda'

Originally posted by 6sxGTP


            Quote from their site: "Ownership costs are the costs to purchase and operate a vehicle over a period of time. Understanding these costs can save you money and help you make a wiser financial decision when it comes time to select a vehicle.

Regardless of the "value" claims that you may read in car reviews or hear in ads, a vehicle's economic value is based on how much it will cost to own and operate compared to its purchase price. In a sense, ownership costs are "what you pay" and the purchase price is "what you get." The less you pay for what you get the better off you are.

Ownership costs can differ greatly. The cost to own and operate two different vehicles with equal purchase prices can differ by thousands. Of course when evaluating ownership cost for used cars and trucks, a vehicle's condition and mileage will greatly impact ownership costs, therefore it's important to compare similar vehicles in similar condition for an accurate picture."

What that means is, when you buy a <$20k 6s, in 5 years you will pay $30k for it. Thats a 50% difference from what you paid. With the Accord, you would purchase it for $23.4k and in 5 years you will pay $28.6k. A difference of ~%20.
Its not a review of any sort, its strictly numbers. It shows how the Accord is more economical than the 6 even though it cost more to buy. Now is it a better, more fun to drive car, no.

Thanks for clearing that up, but one has to wonder how they can project those numbers for a car that's only 2 years old. Personally those numbers seem meaningless since they ignore the multitude of other factors that contribute to 'cost of ownership'.

 

Replying to Topic 'Motor Trend & Mazda'

Basically i think it comes down to this the lx v6 accord holds it value better as of right now and always had. the only operating difference of the two cars are $441 more in m6s maintenance. the biggest hit is in depreciation $2056 difference in favor of the accord. Finance,insurance,taxes and fees,fuel and repairs are only a couple of dollars off. so the accord get a better than average score for mostly holding it's value. and the m6s gets a worse than average score for not holding it's value as well as the 2003 accord. So it costs $3048 more to own the 2003 m6 in 5 years which is mostly the depreciation. which i hope will change. At least it is starting to change because motor trend now is saying the 2004 m6s is average. Thats one step up from worse than average. I really don't care much about the depreciation because i will keep my car over 5 years and i rather enjoy my car then drive a boring played out accord. Which by the way i owned a fully loaded 2000 2 door accord ex v6 which was not nearly as nice as my fully loaded 6s. Could not wait to get rid of that car for my 6s so my mom has it now. I really will be able to compare the two in the long run too see which one holds up better. had a couple of probs w/ that accord nothing too big but had to spend some $. plus it only had a 3 year warrenty. i really believe our depreciation will get better as years go by. people will see mazda grow as a company and with thier new line coming out it will change. Then we will be right up honda a-- for ownership cost lol. just my two cents.

Accord lx v6 opeations cost
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 5-yr Total
Depreciation $4,361 $2,068 $1,819 $1,613 $1,447 $11,308
Maintenance $184 $398 $329 $648 $1,516 $3,075

Yearly Totals $9,145 $5,569 $5,137 $5,262 $5,904 $31,017

m6 v6 operation cost
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 5-yr Total
Depreciation $6,592 $2,015 $1,774 $1,572 $1,411 $13,364
Maintenance $185 $397 $259 $649 $2,026 $3,516


Yearly Totals $11,485 $5,602 $5,071 $5,337 $6,570 $34,065