[TodmordenLad]

Had to share the driving with a friend on a trip recently. Was in his Mazda6 tourer - the 2.2D Sport Nav version. Was surprised at how good it was. Not bad looking in dark blue with oyster colour leather seats, reasonable quality interior, drove and handled well and was quiet in the cabin. It did lack a bit of pace but it was far from terrible. When he told me what he paid for it, I was even more impressed.
I do sometimes wonder why I spend what I do on more 'upmarket' cars

[Never_Enough]

Nothing Mazda makes now, outside of the Miata, excites me. They need non-bland color choices & a new Mazdaspeed variant.

[Red Bread]

My Mazda 3 hatch was an awesome chassis in search of a motor and some rebound control. Give it a decent set of shocks, a turbo and awd and I'd gladly buy another.

[vinylengraver]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

My Mazda 3 hatch was an awesome chassis in search of a motor and some rebound control. Give it a decent set of shocks, a turbo and awd and I'd gladly buy another.

I bought a Mazda3 GT Sport (hatch) in 2004. Mica red, 6MT and soon after purchase installed Magnaflow exhaust and a set of proper springs/dampers.
Really liked driving that car.
When I go to Europe I get sad every time a see a new 6 wagon.
If only they sold it in NA...

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

My Mazda 3 hatch was an awesome chassis in search of a motor and some rebound control. Give it a decent set of shocks, a turbo and awd and I'd gladly buy another.

That was called the Mazadspeed6 lol. Speed3 was FWD FTL

I would not mind a gen1 6 wagon as a beater. Lower it w/some RX-8 wheels & done.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Never_Enough

That was called the Mazadspeed6 lol. Speed3 was FWD FTL

Yeah, but that generation 6 was an ugly pig (ducks.)

[Red Bread]

I had a first gen Mazda 3 and a 3rd gen. Interior quality and suspension tuning were so much better on the 3rd gen, but the shocks were still as bad as most Japanese and Korean cars.

What I've never understood is how MazdaSpeed packed on the pounds. My '06 was 2,800 pounds and the MS3 was nearly 3,400. I've driven a few MS3 and MS6 and while they feel more solid, the suspension was so rough and hard with no real benefit in handling. They were just using the harder is sportier method and went way too far.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

Yeah, but that generation 6 was an ugly pig (ducks.)

Gen2 6 is actually regarded as the bastard child, not gen 1.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

I had a first gen Mazda 3 and a 3rd gen. Interior quality and suspension tuning were so much better on the 3rd gen, but the shocks were still as bad as most Japanese and Korean cars.

What I've never understood is how MazdaSpeed packed on the pounds. My '06 was 2,800 pounds and the MS3 was nearly 3,400. I've driven a few MS3 and MS6 and while they feel more solid, the suspension was so rough and hard with no real benefit in handling. They were just using the harder is sportier method and went way too far.

lowering springs + bilsteins on my MS6 = much better

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Never_Enough

Gen2 6 is actually regarded as the bastard child, not gen 1.

Oh, absolutely. 2 was awful, inside and out. A full dose of Lazy Ford there.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Never_Enough

lowering springs + bilsteins on my MS6 = much better

And always a good combo. Did wonders for my M Coupe too.