Is the first-gen Mazda 6 a good car? 2003-2008

"dogisbadob" (dogisbadob) 01/21/2018 at 12:35 • Filed to: None

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The 03-08 Mazda 6 hatchback seems like a cool car. But how are they in terms of reliability? Is the 2.3 a good engine? How are they in terms of holding up to rust? The hatchback is the biggest draw, and there seems to be decent aftermarket support, especially for a midsize.

I an NOT considering the wagon because it was only sold with the V6, which I do not want. I am DONE with transverse V6's as long as I can only afford to have one car at a time. Ford was stupid making it V6-only here. They should’ve offered the 4-cylinder wagon, but they were jealous it would steal sales from the Escape/Tribute.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 12:44

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This was mine. Very good car. V6 GT hatchback with 5MT

LOREM IPSUM > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 12:47

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I see a lot of them with rotted rear wheel wells here, so I imagine rust might be a possible concern.

Maxima Speed > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 12:51

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I had the an 2006 V6 for 11 days before somebody t-boned me totaling the car. I still cry over that car, it was amazing. I didn’t have it long enough to know about reliability, but from discussions with many, many owners and mechanics I know that they rust. The universal constant in my experience, is that Mazda 3's and 6's from that period WILL rust around the rear wheels unless in salt free zone.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 12:52

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I can’t believe I’m saying this, but if you really wanted the wagon above all else, you can do a lot of worse than the 3.0L V6 Duratec that comes with it. Just make sure someone actually took car of the damn thing...

wafflesnfalafel > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 12:52

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I had a 09' 3 with that 2.3 MZR motor, put 115,000 on it and the motor was bullet proof for me.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > LOREM IPSUM 01/21/2018 at 12:54

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Yup 3s and 6s of that generation are rust magnets. :(

Textured Soy Protein > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 13:01

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I had a 2006 Mazdaspeed 6. Even though it was built in Japan instead of Michigan like the rest of the USDM 6s of that era, it was still a rustbucket.

cluelessk > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 13:07

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They rust a ton.

The first gen Mazda 3 and 6 used shitty steel and it just doesn’t hold up in most climates.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 13:08

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How about a Mazdaspeed 3

mazda616 > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 13:08

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Excellent cars. My friend (and president of our local Mazda enthusiats’ club) has an ‘04 6i that she bought new. It has the 2.3 four-cylinder and the 5-speed manual.

It’s about to crest 400,000 miles. Original engine and transmission. Only repairs outside of normal maintenance have been the clutch and the steering rack (got a bit floaty feeling at 350k).

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 13:09

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I don’t have any personal experience with that engine, but I’ve heard that the 4 cyl duratecs were perfectly fine reliability wise.

dogisbadob > Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner 01/21/2018 at 13:34

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The MS3 doesn’t have a sunroof

Maxima Speed > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 13:44

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Out of curiosity why don’t you care for transverse V6 setup? I understand for the Mazda because they only come in autos, but why the dislike for others? Ive owned 4 vehicles now, all of them white V6's. 3 of them were transverse and 1 longitudinal.

Nothing > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 14:02

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I had a 6i Hatch, but an automatic. It never gave me any problems at all. Good little car and fun to drive. I don’t live in a rust belt, so I can’t speak to rust issues for it.

MINIGTI > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 15:40

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I put about 120k on my ‘06 3 with the 2.3 and it was 100% flawless. Only traded because rust.

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 16:09

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The 2.3L is the better of the two motors, it’s a mazda engine not a ford engine. Just like everybody else said, rust if you live in the rust belt. So buy a car from Texas, California, or Arizona.

dogisbadob > Maxima Speed 01/21/2018 at 16:18

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A transverse V6 is impossible to work on, requiring enhanced interrogation techniques to get to the back of the engine. You have to waterboard your way past the intake and shit. Valve cover gaskets do start to leak after some miles, and if you have to replace fuel injectors or spark plugs or coils, it can be impossible with a transverse V6

BTW, the V6 was indeed available with a manual in the Mazda 6, even on the wagon. You could get a manual V6 sedan, hatchback, or wagon version of the Mazda 6.

My current car is an automatic I30 (4th gen Maxima). The rust is getting bad.

Maxima Speed > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 16:34

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Manual V6 in US Market? I might have to get another one then. I used to have a 4th gen Maxima (actually my brother owns it now), its sitting in the driveway right now. I loved working on the Maxima, until the rust got so bad that everything wants to shear off. Now its past maintenance it just keeps running and limping along, un-killable. The only thing that can be maintained properly is the engine and accessories. The engine main seal leaks which is the only reason anything in the engine bay can be maintained (its getting oiled enough that it refuses to rust). I replaced spark plugs and coils on the Maxima (both sides), but never injectors. I can see how they could be a hassle. That being said, Im terrified of trying to work on the my 2004 Solara. That looks like a nightmare.

boxrocket > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 18:30

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My wife had a 2007 6 I SV (4-cylinder, sport appearance package, basically), and I’ve had a 2004 i (which I flipped to a neighbor) with I think 120K?, 2003 S V6 that I bought with 93K and sold with 97K, and my DD is a 2004 S V6 that has 92K I believe. All sedans, unfortunately, but hers was by choice, and mine were chance availabilities that were headed to our wholesale/auction lot at work.

They’ve been great cars. My wife’s wasn’t well-cared for, but mine have been in good shape for their ages and mileages.

Biggest things have been coil packs on the V6s which I did when I did the spark plugs as both preventative maintenance and to fix a wandering misfire. That requires pulling the intake off and replacing the gasket. The LCD radio/HVAC display at the top of the dash sometimes doesn’t display everything, and the only fix is removing the center stack and replacing the display. My wife’s car had an appetite for tires, but l, again, hers wasn’t well cared for. My first V6 had a leaking PCV hose but that was a 2-minute swap with an updated OEM part. It also had a slight bug ignorable oil pan leak. My current V6 has an even smaller leak from the front timing cover, which I might get around to one of these days.

They also are the basis for and share a platform and many parts with the Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan, and Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ trio, which also underpin the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX.

In short, get one. The V6 is fine, the 2.3L s fine. Later ones have 6-speed autos, but only 5-speed manuals, IIRC. Liftbacks and wagons are naturally preferable, but there’s no real gain to luggage space or functionality with the liftback as the sedan’s read seats fold flat. It looks better, and has a rear wiper, which I miss almost daily (as my prior 3 cars were wagons).

boxrocket > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/21/2018 at 20:57

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Immediate finding after exposure to salt helps this tremendously. 3/4 of our 6s didn’t have rust there, and the one with it came that way from her first owner.

for Michigan > dogisbadob 01/21/2018 at 22:11

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I have a Mazda3 from that generation (06, 155K miles) and before you spend any more time considering a 6, let me tell you that the rust is a serious problem. Mine had wheel well rust when I bought it. One year in, surface rust showed up on nearly every structural part of the car. Two years in, there’s rust developing under the hatch at the trailing edge of the roof.

I’ve done suspension work on my car that took significantly more time and effort that it should have due to rusted components. By comparison, the suspension on my friend’s 07 Sonata with about 25K less miles looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor.

They’re great cars otherwise, but the rust is a problem for long-term ownership of you live anywhere road salt is used.