I was enjoying my Dodge Avenger SLT very much but time and miles turned me to look at new cars. I test-drove the Highlander and Altima. But when I got into a 6 GTR, the car felt like it was built for me. Room, response, gas mileage, sound, sun roof, HUD. Wow. But I had to have the Soul Red. Waited a few months and found one in another state. Got lifetime drivetrain warranty to boot. As a recent retiree, this is my last new car so I am a bit more careful and thoughtful with it than my Avenger. Always a driving pleasure in this car!
Sporty sedan and Mazda customer ratings
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18,942 Posts
Welcome (officially) to Mazda.
There's a reason so many of us are so enthusiastic about our cars and why many, like myself, likely won't ever stray from the brand so long as they stick to their guns. For such a small manufacturer, Mazda makes some of the most fun (and beautiful) cars on the road to drive. Glad you're enjoing it!
There's a reason so many of us are so enthusiastic about our cars and why many, like myself, likely won't ever stray from the brand so long as they stick to their guns. For such a small manufacturer, Mazda makes some of the most fun (and beautiful) cars on the road to drive. Glad you're enjoing it!
Welcome!
I'm on my 4th 6 myself, and trust me, I'm VERY finicky when it comes to cars.
And it's still a pleasure to drive for myself, just like my first day with my '04... (18 years ago! Sheesh!)
I'm on my 4th 6 myself, and trust me, I'm VERY finicky when it comes to cars.
And it's still a pleasure to drive for myself, just like my first day with my '04... (18 years ago! Sheesh!)
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2,129 Posts
Folks, how have you found the cars to be, durability-wise? One thing that is alarming to me is if I knock a knuckle against the right rear quarter panel (more so than the LHS, as it is stiffened by the fuel port... but even the LHS, too)... the sound is such that it seems to me to be thin-gauge in the extreme! Now I know that so long as it does not sustain day to day abuse, it should be fine... but just saying. Unfair comparison, but if i compare to my 99 Camry, well... Or my daughter's 2005 Corolla...
My sense (and worry) is that Skyactiv methodology is ultra-light gauge bodyshells. It's also why (I believe) Mazda's do so well in crash tests (and of course that's good)... but what of durability, robust build?
Incidentally, I have zero doubts that a third gen 6 is good for 300,000 miles, well, particularly the manual transaxle ones.
My sense (and worry) is that Skyactiv methodology is ultra-light gauge bodyshells. It's also why (I believe) Mazda's do so well in crash tests (and of course that's good)... but what of durability, robust build?
Incidentally, I have zero doubts that a third gen 6 is good for 300,000 miles, well, particularly the manual transaxle ones.
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18,942 Posts
I mean, I'm 9 years in, 10 winters, tons of road brine/saline solution, 185k miles, been rear-ended (lightly), had a shopping cart thrown at my rear doors, and driven it really hard around a lot of corners.
No complaints here lol.
I'd say cars in the last ~10 years have all become crumple cars for the crash protection - it's rare to find something that doesn't feel like you can remove it with your bare hands.
No complaints here lol.
I'd say cars in the last ~10 years have all become crumple cars for the crash protection - it's rare to find something that doesn't feel like you can remove it with your bare hands.
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8,300 Posts
Thin sheet metal doesnt equate a weak structure.
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2,129 Posts
Certainly not, I know, but localized areas can and are made to be compliant and able to absorb energy. It's a complicated science, properly dissipating collision energy...
Can't say I've knocked on many, if any of the surfaces, but I have pressed on just about everything and it feels solid. No creaks, or excessive movement. For whatever reason, to me at least the car doesn't SEEM durable for whatever reason, but the interior still looks brand new and all the suspension bits still feel decent. Not gonna stop me from swapping in some new shocks and springs, but eh.
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2,129 Posts
Yeah, I hear you, re "doesn't seem durable"... "seem" vs "is" certainly appear to be two different things. What definitely is NOT durable is the paintwork, chip resistance 🙁...
Had I taken the complaints about paint durability more seriously, I may have clear wrapped the hood or something, or maybe ceramic coated at the very least. The bottom half is just hilarious to look at up close, but good lord it looks good when it's clean, even with the like 70 to 80 chips in the paint.
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