"thebigbossyboss" (thebigbossyboss)
12/28/2013 at 19:48 • Filed to: None
1
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"thebigbossyboss" (thebigbossyboss)
12/28/2013 at 19:48 • Filed to: None | 1
| 11 |
So, I am home for the holidays. Since my parents sold their minivan, (2000 Toyota Sienna) I borrowed the 2004 Mazda6. (This is not theirs, but it looks exactly like it, colour and everything).
I drove a distance of about 100kms round trip. Mostly city, but a bit of rural highway as well.
First things first: This car was purchased because I drove my dads previous car a 1988 Toyota Corolla, into a stopped truck when I was 16. I am idiot for doing that. Anyways, that stupidity forced him to purchase another set of wheels. He got this, when it was new, in 2004.
The first thing I noticed about this car, was in just how good of a condition it was. This thing has no scratches, rust, or any noticeable wear in it's interior. And it has 128,000 kms on it. That's not a ton, but my car had a huge hole in it's drivers seat bolster at that age.
The second thing I noticed, was that this car doesn't have a column shifter. For years the only auto I drove (my car is a manual) was a Toyota Sienna with a column shifter. This habit died a hard death this morning. When trying to take the wagon out of reverse, I reached for the column shift on the right hand side of the steering wheel, and......promptly put the wipers on. Good one, idiot.
Once I got it in gear and safely on the road, I noticed that the V6 was quite powerful. For the city driving you barely have to touch the gas with this thing and you are going above a reasonable speed. I guess I am just used to mashing the throttle in my gutless Chevrolet Cavalier. The ride was quiet and composed however. It felt attached to the road and has a lot less drama than my cavalier going over bumps.
Ergonomically, my gripe is this: When trying to use the power windows, I kept on reaching for the rear window button by default. They should move the window switch back an inch. Then I'd be reaching for the drivers window control.
For some reason on the way out to my destination, the shifting between first and second was very seamless, but the shifting between (I think) 3rd and 4th, was abrupt and noticeable, and I wasn't even trying to be aggressive. It was just a very noticeable shift.
I also tried manumatic mode in some mild traffic. Let's just say, I am not at all good at driving manumatic. It's like manual, but without feeling attached to the car. I found it quite difficult to know what gear I am supposed to be in.
I will probably be driving this car around some more, so we will see how we do. overall I give this car a 7/10. Very nice, good condition, drama free, sharp looker, powerful. Now, just give it a 5 speed, and I'd be having a blast.
Flat Six
> thebigbossyboss
12/28/2013 at 20:26 |
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I have this same car. Very accurate review - I accidentally roll down the rear windows all the time, even after 9 years!
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thebigbossyboss
> Flat Six
12/28/2013 at 20:32 |
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Good to know it's not just me!!
J_P_Cars10s
> thebigbossyboss
12/28/2013 at 21:02 |
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I've noticed the same issue with the window switches on my '98 626. After ~18 months it still gets me all the time. It must be a Mazda tradition?
707Miata
> J_P_Cars10s
12/28/2013 at 21:28 |
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I also have a '98 626, and have never had this problem before. Nor in my father's previous '03 Mazda 6. Perhaps I'm just used to it?
Takuro Spirit
> J_P_Cars10s
12/28/2013 at 21:32 |
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I've had three current Mazdas. Don't think I've ever had that issue. Hmm.
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thebigbossyboss
> Flat Six
12/28/2013 at 23:27 |
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Do you use the manumatic? I suck at driving with that LOL!
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Flat Six
> thebigbossyboss
12/29/2013 at 10:40 |
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Not too much... I've used it on some mountain roads where the auto was having trouble figuring out what gear to be in. Other than that though I agree you don't have as much "feel" as on a real manual. I don't think it will let you shift into a dangerous gear so you don't have to be afraid to play with it.
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Flat Six
> Takuro Spirit
12/29/2013 at 10:42 |
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Well it was never a problem on my Miata ;) but I do this on my 6 too.
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Takuro Spirit
> Flat Six
12/29/2013 at 14:17 |
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That would be a fun problem on a PRHT MX5. Both window buttons and top button right next to each other. One handed open air-edness.
MooseKnuckles
> thebigbossyboss
01/11/2014 at 00:05 |
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I have a 2007 6S hatch (5 door, not the wagon as you drove). I hate the window switch position too, and the 4th gear (i have the 6spd auto) is a jolty mess as you noticed.
All in all, this car, I really dislike. I'm coming from being a 2006 280hp rwd CTS that I had quite a bit done to (ceramic and slotted brakes, lowered on 'FE3' sport suspension, sway bars, strut bars, Conti DW summers, CAI, CTS-V exhaust, etc) to a 220hp fwd economy car, sure.
But with that said, I enjoyed driving one of my ex-GF's Cavalier. I don't mind my friend's 03 Corolla-there is a very 'tossable' feeling to it, though I think if you tossed it would land like the toaster it is, and it's oddly amusing to mat the throttle when getting on the highway and go no where. I learned to drive on an old C10 pickup. I've had experience with less than stellar vehicles.
The Mazzy6/Ford Fusion just doesn't have anything about it. Mine has it's fair share of minor problems, that isn't why I don't like it. Hard to explain, maybe it because it's just all the things I don't like: fwd, automatic, slow, poor braking. I have zero confidence in the car, did a 1500km trip last summer, i knew it wouldn't die on me but at the same time I wouldn't have been surprised.
I bought it because I needed a car and had about a week to find one. I had just finished college but was going back for engineering, so I needed something kinda new low miles (had 35k) and sub $15k. On first impression this fit the bill, in retrospect I should have got another CTS, an IS300, F body, just something
more.
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thebigbossyboss
> MooseKnuckles
01/28/2014 at 08:25 |
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My dad has an auto too, but I'm not sure how many gears it has.