I'm thinking about buying a new car - F-Body Road Racing and Autocross Forums

A little background is in order.

About 2 years ago I injured my back (working in the garage) and it's given me problems off and on over the last few years and recently it's been getting much worse. I've scheduled an appointment with another Dr. for later this month to see if there is something we can do besides "cracking it back into place" every few days/weeks, etc.

Anyway, due to the fact that it's recently been much worse and really starting to bother me at times, driving the Camaro is getting pretty uncomfortable some days (when it's really bad). It's pinching a nerve and on some days when I hit bumps, expansion joints, etc, it will give me a nasty headache.

So, I've been looking around at cars and I just haven't seen anything that interesting. So, I've just been driving the Camaro and trying to ignore it (some days that works better than others). Until the other night when Eugenio mentioned that he was looking at a Mazdaspeed 6. He then told me that it's AWD, turbocharged, 276 hp and 280 ft lbs and Car and Driver says 0-60 in 5.4, 1/4 mile in 14.0 @ 99 mph (nearly stock LT1 fast) and other than it weighing 3,500 lbs, it sounds rather interesting. It looks benign enough, the neighbors will probably consider it more respectable than my current ride (not that I really care in the least, nor am I in anything approaching a high end community) and it would work for hauling my great aunt and my grandmother around when they are in town (we no longer have a 4 door car, we used to drive the Mazda Protege 5 wagon when we had it for that job).

So, my wife is trying to convince me to go drive one and consider getting rid of the Camaro for the Mazda (and I'll probably wind up with a 3rd gen project car at a later date, if I get my back straightened out) and I'm getting tempted to at least go look.

It's your fault Eugenio, even if you don't buy one, I just might. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif)

I'm guessing that it will get killed in its autocross class due to the weight (not that I'd race it, but if I did). Does anyone know anything about these cars?

New car shopping for the 4 door, I feel your pain. I tried to look at the Mazda Speed 6 when I got my Infiniti. Unfortunately they had just come out and the dealers were feeling very proud of them. 5k over sticker, they would not accept Ford Z-plan supplier pricing which my wife is eligible for and no test drives. Car and Driver recently had a write up on the Mazda that you could probably find on their website. The numbers looked good but they were complaining about it feeling "unrefined".

QUOTE (2000Z-71 @ Mar 11 2006, 02:57 PM)

5k$ over MSRP... There is a law here in Canada specifying that dealers may sell for less, but illegal to sell more than MSRP. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)
I would actually be surprised about the "unrefined" since the Mazda 6 has been around for awhile and it's supposedly well refined, and has good standings in the market.
The Speed 6 ain't that much different from the regular 6... apart from the skirts, hood, new wheels, new engine, awd, the inside is exactly identical. I can bet the suspension geometry is the same... maybe different springs/shocks/swaybars, but that would be it.

trackbird View Member Profile	Mar 10 2006, 06:36 PM Post #1
FRRAX Owner/Admin Group: Admin Posts: 15,437 Joined: 13-February 04 From: Ohio Member No.: 196	A little background is in order. About 2 years ago I injured my back (working in the garage) and it's given me problems off and on over the last few years and recently it's been getting much worse. I've scheduled an appointment with another Dr. for later this month to see if there is something we can do besides "cracking it back into place" every few days/weeks, etc. Anyway, due to the fact that it's recently been much worse and really starting to bother me at times, driving the Camaro is getting pretty uncomfortable some days (when it's really bad). It's pinching a nerve and on some days when I hit bumps, expansion joints, etc, it will give me a nasty headache. So, I've been looking around at cars and I just haven't seen anything that interesting. So, I've just been driving the Camaro and trying to ignore it (some days that works better than others). Until the other night when Eugenio mentioned that he was looking at a Mazdaspeed 6. He then told me that it's AWD, turbocharged, 276 hp and 280 ft lbs and Car and Driver says 0-60 in 5.4, 1/4 mile in 14.0 @ 99 mph (nearly stock LT1 fast) and other than it weighing 3,500 lbs, it sounds rather interesting. It looks benign enough, the neighbors will probably consider it more respectable than my current ride (not that I really care in the least, nor am I in anything approaching a high end community) and it would work for hauling my great aunt and my grandmother around when they are in town (we no longer have a 4 door car, we used to drive the Mazda Protege 5 wagon when we had it for that job). So, my wife is trying to convince me to go drive one and consider getting rid of the Camaro for the Mazda (and I'll probably wind up with a 3rd gen project car at a later date, if I get my back straightened out) and I'm getting tempted to at least go look. It's your fault Eugenio, even if you don't buy one, I just might. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/nutkick.gif) I'm guessing that it will get killed in its autocross class due to the weight (not that I'd race it, but if I did). Does anyone know anything about these cars?

2000Z-71 View Member Profile	Mar 11 2006, 07:57 PM Post #2
Member Group: Advanced Members Posts: 155 Joined: 18-April 04 From: Phoenix, Az. Member No.: 314	New car shopping for the 4 door, I feel your pain. I tried to look at the Mazda Speed 6 when I got my Infiniti. Unfortunately they had just come out and the dealers were feeling very proud of them. 5k over sticker, they would not accept Ford Z-plan supplier pricing which my wife is eligible for and no test drives. Car and Driver recently had a write up on the Mazda that you could probably find on their website. The numbers looked good but they were complaining about it feeling "unrefined".

Crazy Canuck View Member Profile	Mar 12 2006, 12:48 AM Post #3
North of the border Group: Admin Posts: 2,307 Joined: 4-February 04 From: Montreal, CANADA Member No.: 177	QUOTE (2000Z-71 @ Mar 11 2006, 02:57 PM) New car shopping for the 4 door, I feel your pain. I tried to look at the Mazda Speed 6 when I got my Infiniti. Unfortunately they had just come out and the dealers were feeling very proud of them. 5k over sticker, they would not accept Ford Z-plan supplier pricing which my wife is eligible for and no test drives. Car and Driver recently had a write up on the Mazda that you could probably find on their website. The numbers looked good but they were complaining about it feeling "unrefined". 5k$ over MSRP... There is a law here in Canada specifying that dealers may sell for less, but illegal to sell more than MSRP. (IMG:http://www.frrax.com/rrforum/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) I would actually be surprised about the "unrefined" since the Mazda 6 has been around for awhile and it's supposedly well refined, and has good standings in the market. The Speed 6 ain't that much different from the regular 6... apart from the skirts, hood, new wheels, new engine, awd, the inside is exactly identical. I can bet the suspension geometry is the same... maybe different springs/shocks/swaybars, but that would be it.