Mazda6 2.3L or Subaru Legacy 2.0L

[niky]

My humble opinion, since i was able to drive both the legacy and the 2006 mazda 6 V6 couple of weeks ago, i think you are partly right about competitivenes of mazda to AWD legacy but on tight turns, winding road, wet and slippery road, snow, its a totally different story. And on the reliability department everybody knows that subie is far more reliable than mazda. ( CONSUMERS GUIDE, CNN MONEY ETC. ) By the way 2 of my current rides are 04 wrx sti, 3.0 legacy outback. Ive been a subie converts for like 7 years now.

Remember, we're talking about the bread-and-butter 2.0 AT Legacy, here... not one on stickies.

And yes, I've driven my Mazda... errh... Ford... well, it is a Mazda... on wet and slippery roads, and it communicates traction very well and loses grip progressively... and it'll carve up a mountainside quite nicely despite the lack of poke. At the speeds and situations where it'd actually give up the ghost, you're going too fast for even AWD to save you. I get a tickle out of a particular post on the Subie boards about the kid who lost control of his WRX at "only" 80 mph... in the Suburbs. Stupid kid.

Like I said re: Prelude at 90... it's all about the tires... with one caveat... the driver should know what the heck he's doing.

It's still not a 6, though... and, kulit, the 6 is not a 626 either. I've got an old 626 sitting in my garage. It's a nice, stiff, well-controlled car, but absolute rubbish in the twisties, with slow steering, lots of understeer and a skitterish rear end. The 6 is quite different, communicative, composed and very good.

While it's no match for a 2.5T or a 3.0 Legacy, that's not what you're getting for the same money. For the same money as the 6, you're getting a 2.0 AT... no turbo.

Props on the 3.0 Legacy, though... that particular variant is one of my dream cars. But the one they're selling here. I'll pass. At least they weren't so mean as to start the line with the 1.6 Impreza. That one is dog-slow, with horrible economy... I'd probably buy one myself...

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RE: Consumers Guide, Consumer Reports, etcetera, to be taken with a grain of salt. They say that Mazdas and Nissans are very reliable, too... the Protege was on their recommend list for over five years.

[e2fee]

The Legacy has less torque and an AWD system, which means:
a. It'll be slower
b. It'll drink more gas
c. It'll cost more (much more, considering this is a Subaru) to maintain.

The Legacy 2.0R specs indicate fuel consumption of:
Urban - 13.9 L/100km or 7.19 km/L
Extra-urban - 7.3 L/100km or 13.7 km/L
Combined - 9.7 L/100km or 10.3 km/L

Anyone know what the official fuel consumption estimates are for the Mazda6 2.3L, if any? It is no where to be found on local Mazda website or on the Mazda6 brochure.

Is there no Philippine government law on new cars sold in Philippines to publish this spec?

Was suprised to find out that the Legacy does not have 60/40 folding rear seats (unlike Mazda6), only a small, virtually useless pass-through hole. Big minus for the Legacy in my book. After all, the whole idea of a car in this category is to try to serve as a cross between sport, sedan, station wagon, and SUV.

Why Subaru did not put folding rear seats on the Legacy is beyond me, but that effectively puts the Legacy out of the game for me.

Bad enough that the Mazda6 hatchback isn't available, but at least you can fold the Mazda6 seats down when you need to haul cargo.

[e2fee]

The Legacy 2.0R specs indicate fuel consumption of:
Urban - 13.9 L/100km or 7.19 km/L
Extra-urban - 7.3 L/100km or 13.7 km/L
Combined - 9.7 L/100km or 10.3 km/L

Sorry, wrong figures. Those are for Legacy 3.0R spec.B with automatic transmission. For Legacy 2.0R with AT, the figures in L/100km (km/L) [mi/gal] are:
Urban - 11.7 (8.55) [20.1]
Extra-urban - 6.7 (14.9) [35.0]
Combined - 8.5 (11.8) [27.7]

[niky]

Like I said... pictures pa lang, kita mo kung saan sila nag-delete ng options to bring the price down to realistic ranges.

Okay on the WRX, because you don't buy the car for a comfortable interior... you buy it to go fast.

But on an executive mid-sizer like the Legacy? Not a good thing... And a 4-AT plus AWD versus Mazda's torquier engine with a 5AT? Definitely no contest for speed and efficiency.

[pdc2]

mazda 6 - better engine, manual mode 5a/t, good handling... cheaper by 100k pa... plus the pogi points

[basti08]

Mazda6.

~our road conditions doesnt really command you to use AWD.
~hp is available at lower RPM.
~bodykit
~price

[squala]

If I got my facts straight, just 165 hp 19.1 kg-m won't be able to maximize the benefits of AWD in a midsize car. Having to split such power and torque to 4 wheels and carry a car that isn't a lightweight will certainly do no good to its performance and efficiency. The engine will simply struggle and the car will be less quick and economical compared to a FWD equivalent.

Which brings me to this question, "What do you need AWD for?"

Handling-wise, the Legacy will do well, but with only that much engine potential, AWD is practically useless. Yes, 4 wheels will turn, but just how much force will turn them? If you have a much torquier, more powerful motor, it's all a different story. Now the other 2 wheels will be needed as the first 2 can only handle so much.

The Mazda 6 handles very well despite being FWD, thanks to its newfound chassis engineering. It also comes with traction control, which is enough for its engine capability, thus no need to drive the rear wheels.

The Legacy is no off-roader either. Its low ground clearance won't see itself climbing mountains, and will likely do even worse than the likes of the RAV 4 and CR-V. Besides, there's the Forester anyway (if ever it's sold here).

Lastly, we don't experience winter so we won't need 4WD to deal with the snow.

No prize for guessing which car I'm voting for.

[kulit]

Test drive a Subaru on any road, any weather, whatever driving style you have...and you'll know, you will feel the difference. With all due respect to Mazda 626, i'l go for the legacy.

[basti08]

Ot:

buti ka pa niky nasayo pa 626 mo. i miss the long hood of my 626.

[niky]

Haaaay... too bad we don't use it anymore. It's kind of redundant now that we have the RS, pickup and the Crosswind... I'm sad to admit, I don't have the money to take care of four cars at once...

[kulit]

sorry about the typo but i meant the 6. big mistake :-)

[niky]

Hehe... no biggie.

[Driv3er]

based on looks alone, I';d go for the Mazda 6 *drooL*

[e2fee]

Anyone know if there are significant (if any) differences between the Mazda6 2.3L sold in Philippines vs. the same/similar model sold in other Asian countries like Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, etc.

Are all the Asian Mazda6 completely built units (CBU) imported from Japan?

Are the US and Euro Mazda6 also CBUs imported from Japan?

[Blackraven]

Are all the Asian Mazda6 completely built units (CBU) imported from Japan?

Are the US and Euro Mazda6 also CBUs imported from Japan?

All Mazda 6 vehicles (for Europe and whole of Asia/Pacific) are CBU made in Hiroshima, Japan

Exception lang yata yung sa US because their Mazda 6 is made in "Flat Rock" in Detroit, Michigan (Ford Global HQ). China-spec models are from Chongqing or Nanjing in China (not sure which)

If you ask me, there's no need for the Mazda 6 2.3 Liter to be made here and I prefer that the 6 be made in Hiroshima (while the Sta. Rosa plant handles our MZ3s and Tribute). It's better that way.

I also hope that when the Mazda 6 is a next-gen, it will also be a CBU import from Hiroshima, Japan.

[e2fee]

If you ask me, there's no need for the Mazda 6 2.3 Liter to be made here and I prefer that the 6 be made in Hiroshima (while the Sta. Rosa plant handles our MZ3s and Tribute). It's better that way.

I also hope that when the Mazda 6 is a next-gen, it will also be a CBU import from Hiroshima, Japan.

I assume the Mazda6 is not made in Philippines mainly because the volume of local sales does not justify it?

On the other hand, regardless of whether or not justified, if people prefer the Mazda6 to be made in Japan, I assume that is due to a perception or a reality (not sure which) that something assembled in Philippines would be of slightly lower quality, despite all the quality control, training of local workers, specs that locally sourced parts have to meet, etc.?

Is there any doubt that there will be a 2007 Mazda6 and that it will become available in late 2006? Any clue as to what will be different?

Seem to have read somewhere that 2008 (?) may be last year for Mazda6, but can't remember where.

[niky]

US units are built stateside, I believe, as are most Japanese cars sold there. And in fact, they have "Japanese" cars that aren't available in Japan!