[trackbird]

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?

[Crazy Canuck]

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.

[35th_Anniversary...]

If the C5 isn;t your style I vote for the PONTIAC SOLSTICE. The local dealer has a black one here and it is quite exceptional. Pontiac did a good job on it, plus you can figure out how to put C5 rotors on them since the front rotors look a little small compared to the huge wheels.

[trackbird]

I drove a Mazdaspeed 6 today, and it was plenty refined for me (of course, I've been driving a Camaro, so most anything is refined). It's fast, sure footed, handles well, the ride is decent and I really enjoyed driving it.

[marka]

Howdy,

Dude.

A _Solstice_?

Did you read any of the rest of this thread? Seems to me like he's looking for a reasonable daily driver... A Solstice has about as much trunk/cargo room as an MR Spyder... I.e. none. At all.

Which is too bad. It certainly seems like a nice car otherwise. Maybe if they build the hardtop version, it'd be a little more liveable as a real car vs. a toy.

Mark

[Absolut Speed]

I drove a Mazdaspeed 6 today, and it was plenty refined for me (of course, I've been driving a Camaro, so most anything is refined). It's fast, sure footed, handles well, the ride is decent and I really enjoyed driving it.

Well, you already drove it for yourself, but I see Edmunds did a comparo http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drive...rticleId=109487

[CMC #37]

I saw a black Solstice when I was stuck in San Fransisco bay area traffic the other day....purdy cool!

[trackbird]

I saw a black Solstice when I was stuck in San Fransisco bay area traffic the other day....purdy cool!

They had one at the hockey game the other night by the elevators in the building (on display). I might consider one if it had the LS2 in it (and if my back would deal with it), but I really don't like it enough to own one. I consider it just "ok". But that's just my opinion.....

[bubba353z]

I might consider one if it had the LS2 in it

Mallett (sp?) has already built one. Quite the wicked beast, I'd imagine.

[trackbird]

Mallett (sp?) has already built one. Quite the wicked beast, I'd imagine.

That's the one I was speaking of. However, I really don't like them that well and would probably consider a Corvette if I were going to look at that one.

[Crazy Canuck]

I drove a Mazdaspeed 6 today, and it was plenty refined for me (of course, I've been driving a Camaro, so most anything is refined). It's fast, sure footed, handles well, the ride is decent and I really enjoyed driving it.

oh-ho... mine is scheduled wednesday morning.