My R3 is currently at the dealer getting its transmission rebuilt under warranty (32K miles, 5th gear going out). I brought it in last Tuesday and won't be done until tomorrow, so in the meantime, they hooked me up with a 2012 Mazda 6 to drive.

Maybe I'm a bit spoiled by the 8, but I do not like driving the 6 at all.

The power-steering assist is waaaay too much on the 6. The steering is so light that it feels like I'll swerve in the lane if I sneezed wrong or twitched my fingers. I mean, the 8 has light steering, but at least it comes with feedback. The 6 has no feedback at all--like I'm playing a video game with the rumble option set to "off."

Other than that, the rest of the amenities of the car seems nice, even for a cloth-seated mid-range version.

With that being said, am I alone with my impressions about this car?

 

only drove a ms6. the gf and i have been talking about trading in our subie for a ms6

 

The MS6 is probably harder to find now. It would have been nice to have the AWD in the MS3 as it did for the MS6.

 

I had a 2011 Mazda 6i as a rental on vacation last year. Drove it up the mountains of NC. The car was an acceptable appliance. No where did it fit the 'zoom zoom' mantra though. To me it felt like a Camry or Accord.

Years ago I test drove a new 6, 2004 or whatever the first year was. That car was much more engaging to drive - or at least I thought so then.

I'm hoping the next 6 (Takari) drives as well as it looks.

 

My dad owns an 11 Mazda6 GT with the 3.7 V6. I've only driven it a couple of times but I feel the amenities are all there. Fuel economy may not be as great but hey, its got the same engine as the mom's CX-9 so what can one expect. Took me a while to get used to the whole push button start.

Funny story. Was going to move it and had never driven a car with push button start and just hopped it. Took me about 3 minutes to figure out I had to step the break before it would actually start.

I am actually looking forward to the next series 6 and hoping they put the skyactive diseal in it.

 

I had a 2007 Mazda 6I for a couple years. I loved that car while I had it. It was so smooth and comfortable. Perfect for road trips. Great gas mileage too with the 4 banger. The only reason I got rid of it was that I wanted something more sporty.

 

I have a 2007 Mazda6 Luxury Sport. I like the handling, the way it drives and the note now it has twin straight through rear mufflers. The 19's made it a little rougher on bad roads but the looks are fantastic. Not heaps of power but enough to get me out of and into the ****. Not as much fun as the 8, but still a great car with all the bells and whistles.

 

Mazda6 V-6 owners report blown engines caused by (1) PCV failure causing engine vacuum to suck oil out of the crankcase, and (2) pre-cat failure resulting in the EGR system ingesting ceramic dust and distributing it throughout the engine interior. I don't know when or if either problem was fixed during the production run.

 

Never like the shape of the newer model 6. I heard its a better engine than the recent ones. But, my 04 6i is still in good shape and runs good so far. I wouldnt trade my 04 6i to a newer one or the recently ones.