I Ran Away from the Mazda Dealership So I Wouldn't Buy the Reflex Blue Mazda 6

I went to South Bay Mazda in Torrance to look at the CX-5 (my wife wants a larger vehicle than her Honda Fit). In spite of being impressed with online images, I was underwhelmed by the crossover CX-5 in person but felt a huge passion for the Reflex Blue Mazda 6 both inside and out. I swear had I not got my butt out of there soon, I was going to buy it. If my wife wants an upgrade, I hope she'll consider the Mazda 6. 

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Comments

[Gary]

Cars aren't just about looks. The big advantage of the CX-5 over most small SUVs is in the driving, including the handling and the steering feel. Most small SUVs have mediocre handling, and many of them have numb, lifeless steering. The lack of steering feel is often related to it being electric rather than hydraulic, which is very common these days. The RAV4 is an exception, as it has electric steering with good feel.

[Paul]

Up here in the Pacific Northwest, the CX-5's all wheel drive, while not best of breed, will help a lot in tricky rain and snow conditions. See
http://www.carthrottle.com/the-carthrottle-guide-to-awd-luxury-sedans/

Down in LA, the Mazda6 should be just fine. I would think a white car will become dirty very easily in Socal (just because of pollution).

[Gary]

The CX-5 also has electric steering, but like the RAV4 apparently it's well implemented.

[StarHalo]

Well you were warned about the 6's interior :) And skip the AWD unless you drive in the mountains frequently; you have to replace all four tires on an AWD car if one goes bad, a bit silly if you're dealing with a little rain ~30 days out of the year.

[Paul]

> you have to replace all four tires on an AWD
> car if one goes bad.

This hasn't been my experience here with a 2007 AWD car my wife has (had a really bad flat tire, and just replaced that tire at Firestone).

Anyway, no need for AWD in LA.

[Bill Bush]

I was this way with the Mini Cooper. Sat in one in the showroom but made sure not to drive it, because I knew I would bring it home, and also knew it was not what I needed for actual usability. Same with Mazda Miata. What did I buy? Toyota RAV4, which I came to love.

[J Maffuccio]

Cars with full time AWD, such as Subaru, Mercedes, and Audi, require that all 4 tires match in size and tread depth. You really don't need AWD in the PacNW, just some good snow tires. I learned my lesson on drinking that koolaid.

[jonnybardo]

Phaw, you don't need snow tires in the PacNW...I lived in Portland for 10 years and we might have gotten an inch of snow a year, and then the city would shut down.

Jeff, impulse buying a car without the wife's consent is not a good thing. A watch is one thing, but a car? Good thing you ran.

That said, nice choice - love the blue and the Mazda looks really nice, although it looks much of a "guy" car than a woman's choice. Maybe you're looking for that mid-life crisis mobile? Ha ha.

[Paul]

I live in high elevation in PNW; when it rains everywhere I get inches of snow, hence the need, not the 'desire' for AWD. Even with a capable AWD system in one our cars, we have trouble getting out of steep snow covered roads.

[J Maffuccio]

Well if you want a pissing contest, I may live in Boise but we regularly travel the Blues, Sawtooths, and on down through the Wasatch front. Passing AWD/4WD vehicles spun out. See I have great snow/ice traction for acceleration, steering, and braking. 4 driven wheels may help with the first but not the other 2 in emergencies. Try them out, even with AWD... You'll be amazed!

Back to cars: my neighbor has a stormy blue CX5 and it is quite lovely!

[J Maffuccio]

Oh, and we did have a 2007 Outback with more troubles than it was worth! Like I said, drank the koolaid.

[Angelo]

I haven't been crazy about Mazda's exterior design direction over the last few years----though the newest ones I'm seeing in the car rags look improved. I think they went too far with the swoops and somewhat detached wheel wells. Their interiors, at their price point, have been top notch for a long time. Kia's Chief design engineer, who came from Audi, is the best out there right now. He's remade KIA's designs into very desirable cars and trucks. Yes, the "Soul" is a novelty design----but it was never intended to be anything else, and it's functional. Their others----Optima, Sorrento, etc., are class leading in my opinion, in terms of how the lines meet each other, front end styling, etc. Interiors have caught up to the big boys too. Maybe I'm biased because I have a weekend hauler----Home Depot Kia Sedona minivan. But I also have a Saab and BMW-----and would strongly consider a KIA car as a future purchase. As for Jeff's sprint away from the Mazda dealer----maybe he can bring his wife back there, after a nice lunch at their favorite burrito place.

[Paul]

So here is a question for Jeff: will a real man drive a mini-SUV (Mazda CX-5, Infiniti EX35, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, ...)? Or real men only drive sedans?

[herculodge]

For me, it's not a manly issue; it's a soul issue. My wife Carrie rented a Hyndai Tucson for a week, a very good SUV, but it had no soul. The Mazda CX-5 is a little better but pales in comparison to the Mazda 6. But if I had to have an AWD cross vehicle, I'd consider the CX-5.

[StarHalo]

"Soul" and "family sedan" are mostly exclusive of one another; modern affordable sedans are like Starbucks cups - they're the minimum needed to get the job done competently, that's all anyone expects so that's all anyone gets. But there are a few surprising coffee mugs out there, and the Mazda 6 is one of them..