About the Mazda 6
the pedlindonkey purchased this Mazda 6 used for $17,500 (including all on-road costs) in 2016. the pedlindonkey would buy this car again because: “Would I buy the Mazdarati again? Long story short… yes.
Why do I call it the Mazdarati? Don’t ask, it just is.
Was picked up from a dealer the summer of ’16. Built late 2012 about 80,000km on the clock.
How could I forget the day of NEW secondhand wheels as the dealership was struck by lightning, intermittent blackouts, a slightly leaking showroom from the monsoonal downpours and those thick voluminous ugly green clouds saying… hail.
This is all unfolding with key in hand readying to join the joys of traffic for an hour or so. Just a classic Sydney summer’s day then.
So my needs at the time were for me to sleep in it, throw a mountain bike in it, a wee bit of pace, corners at will and good intent, through the powers of voodoo perhaps but windows to go both up and down at the push of a button and finally the piece de resistance, magically produce cold air out of vents – cause I had really tired of sticking my head out at speed.
All this luxurious grandeur can be had in 2016 I asked? You see I was stepping out of a humble but mighty fun Ford Laser KE TX3 turbo which consisted of 1.6L FWD, the last two aforementioned fun facts were missing hence the need list but the TX3 turbo , that’s another tale for another day.
So hell yeah I’d indeed buy again because my needs haven’t changed. It’s hard to find the equivalent or similar right now and ideally not wanting SUV thingy. It seems Mazda stop selling the equivalent around about 2019 and may alternate options being… Ford Mondeo. nope
I can’t stand Ford’s annoying open door chime policy (yes I am that shallow). Skoda Superb or a Volkswagen Passat… likeable but slightly old Euros leaves me with shaky knees. “
How reliable has your car been? Tell us about any issues.
Happy to type the car has been very good. Golly it’s nearly 10 years old and I am close to 200,000km, and yet there is no major squeaks or disturbing rattles so its still holding strong but… at the very start of this year the A/C unit failed which of course is annoying and frustrating.
I will types very good instead of great and yes I have definitely cut it some slack considering its vintage and distance.
But what of the DPF I hear you ask? Well yes that light has come on, only because the workshops that I have used couldn’t properly clear/reset the computer to say that the car has been serviced.
(The service schedule is for every 10,000km or 12 months, fine for a diesel but lousy for a petrol).
As with any and all current day diesels, the general rule of thumb is do the kilometres, do the drives, and that will ease DPF issues.
What do you think of the ownership experience with your car?
Ownership of my Mazda 6 GH Series ii No Badge – no seriously it’s called a No-Badge, look it up.
Before I do that can I introduce to y’all, the two elephants in the room. Mr Diesel and Mr Manual, come join us… yeeeep turbo diesel and manual.
Look I didn’t see it coming either but I wanted something with a bit pep, a bit of spice that’s what my prior ol’ Ford Laser TX3 Turbo ownership had spoiled me with, have a handy few kilowatts at hand have a dollop of torque at feet and give the kid a wry smile when hustled.
I was fearing getting a wagon meant a duller than dull Josh Frydenberg motoring experience but this ol’ gal has sparkle in her eye!
So yeah it’s been a great car and I am chuffed to bits, and boy has it answered above and beyond my needs for an engine with a touch of spice, the comfort of cold air, power windows, good place to bed, throw my mountain bike in, power seats with leather, a place for my CD collection, auto-speeding, even beeping noises to alert that I’m getting ever so closer to another parked object.
The good folk at Marketing and PR would say it’s zoom zoom, I’d say she’s spirited.
Are you happy with the price and features of your car?
The fact that this was a second-hand car for me so I missed the initial huge depreciation hit, tick, didn’t pay a premium for diesel on first ownership, tick, has matched and surpassed my needs, wants, features… tick tick tick so yeah, fair to say I am a happy camper.
Useless info, it has a full size spare, that I like.
Having stepped in many other current-day cars though only highlights my wants for Apple CarPlay nowadays and noticing the progress of safety tech is immense, that landscape of tech and inclusion has moved so quickly.
What do you think of the performance and economy of your car?
All you do is torque. The true beauty and what this car is all about, the power, economy, torque.
With consummate ease it seriously eats up the kays on the highway or when wanting to punt it on my favourite back country roads it will happily roar along.
It’s torque that makes driving a joy; easy and fun. You are right its no rocketship out of the gates but its once we are up and running that it just surges ahead like a brickie heading to the bar at 3:03pm.
Mechanically it’s a cinch and a pleasure to swap cogs and when the want is to overtake a James May its a case of job done with not much fuss and a surprise of, oops, I better rein it in quick smart thats a bit too quick.
The economy of Diesel? In general the fuel figures be at highway 5.2L, city 6.6L.
I have slipped into 4.8L on the highway and of course it gets worse at 7.4L when enjoying Sydney’s abhorrent stinky peak hour traffic.
Good news though being able to crack 1000km plus per tank with a mixed driving schedule. For a laugh I would like to fill’er up and just purely freeway to see how far could be done.
What do you think of the technology in your car?
Technology? By that you mean six-stacker CD and hands free Bluetooth, cause that’s all I got. We must remember this was first released way back at 2008, think GFC, The Dark Knight, Flo Rida – Low.
In all seriousness the greatest bit of tech that is used every day and I would now struggle without is parking sensors. It has become a much appreciated screaming helping friend in tight spots.
What components of tech would I steal from a brand new modern day car ?
I can happily forego Reverse Camera, keyless entry/go, power tailgate, blind-spot and other niceties, but three things I’d take is AEB, integrated CarPlay, Matrix/laser headlights it now seems I have candles for headlights compared to the latest and greatest.
What do you think of the ride comfort and handling of your car?
The comfortable hustle. This spirited gal, it has intent and goodwill, it wants to corner and go around the bend with you.
It’s one notch better than the other white goods on wheels but it’s definitely not a sportswagon. We just reign it in, be sensible, you arrive at destination and don’t have the stench of someone else’s sick.
It really is set up for comfort though and 17-inch/50-profile tyres say it all and I’m happy for that. My man boobs can also testify with a lack of jiggle jiggle around suburbia and with city roads being in a ordinary state, country roads that can have you wallowing about, again I’m happy with that comfy setup approach.
It suits the car and its needs, and that ladies and gents are the words of someone getting old.