MazdaSpeed 6 Article

[dval]

I just had a small comment about the below article that Justin Pritchard wrote.

I am a subaru fan, and i'm not looking at bashing the article at all, I just think that you should compare apples to apples. I think in the article the MazdaSpeed 6 should be compared to the Legacy GT (Base turbo model sedan @ ~36K ) (and not the WRX a Rally inspired car).

Yes, if you do look spec wise the Mazda is superior in power, it's a 6 speed, etc. Does the Mazda have a rear locking diff, same torque curve, etc.?

You cannot compare a MazdaSpeed 6 to a WRX. Though I do believe that with the intruduction on the Legacy GT, the WRX is overpriced for the money. I would personally spend the extra 1500$ to get the Legacy GT over a WRX.

Link: http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news/roadtest,view,.spy?artid=56369

[The General]

You cannot compare a MazdaSpeed 6 to a WRX. Though I do believe that with the intruduction on the Legacy GT, the WRX is overpriced for the money. I would personally spend the extra 1500$ to get the Legacy GT over a WRX.

I agree and dissagree. The problem is not the Mazdaspeed6, it is with Subaru. Mazda offers the best of both worlds. I personally love the size of the WRX but the interior of the Legacy is much nicer. I would probably get the WRX because of the available aftermarket toys and, again, the size.

[Pritch]

Interesting points.

I made the comparison based on the following criteria

-Turbocharged
-All Wheel Drive

as such, I certainly can make the comparison. I dont think I intended to say that all in all the Mazda was a better machine. You cant have it as a wagon, for instance, and the engine is somewhat more impressive in the WRX I found, with less lag and a more energetic power delivery.

Certainly it depends on what you are after. The Mazdaspeed 6 is a newbie, whereas the WRX is a legend. But in comparing stuff you have to live with every day, like noise levels, interior quality, etc. and taking price into consideration, the Mazdaspeed 6 wins. For the money, being as the pair are about $500 apart, you just get a ton more car with the Speed.

I do see your point about the Legacy- in fact I tried to obtain one but it wasnt available for a review or photo op when I had the Speed 6.

A simple phone call to Subaru and I will book a legacy for review and let you know!

Thanks for the input though, i really appreciate hearing from readers.

Regards

JP

[dval]

It would an interesting comparison, I hope you do follow up. I wouldn't mind seeing thoses head-to-head. I just consider the WRX is focused on performance more than refinement.

It's also a compact sedan where the Legacy and MazdaSpeed 6 are midsize sedans. This is where I saw the difference really.

BTW: How is the new engine fairing in the new WRX? (Compared to the old 2.0) Major difference?

Thanks.

dval

[Pritch]

having never tried an older WRX I couldnt say.

in terms of the comparison between mazdaspeed 6 and WRX though I have to give the WRX top marks for its engine. Its more energetic and its more of a drivers engine.

What I mean is that you can hear the turbo, which I like. The Mazda's turbo is totally silent. The subaru engine communicates more, it has a very distinct voice whereas the mazda simply comes off as too quiet for my personal taste. Its powercurve is more tempting, as the power builds up right to the redline, whereas the mazda's runs out of steam before it.

The subaru suffers from virtually no turbo lag whatsoever, whereas the Mazda has a whiff of it here and there.


Power output aside, im not sure which is faster, If i recall correctly the MS6 is slightly quicker, in a straight line anyhow.

Just a matter of taste really.

[dval]

ehhhh rrrrr, ... you seem a little frustrated, which is not my entention...


In a way your article praised the MS6's refinement over the WRX, but in your comments below; you like the end result of the WRX.

I'm not looking at giving you a hard time as you do this for a living.

Personally, for the moment (yes until I have a huge craving) I've given up owning/leasing cars as they leap frog every ~2-6 months.

Now my origins of Subaru come from the begining....My boss owned an 1999 Impreza 2.5RS at the time this car cost ~28K

And this was the time where compact sports cars had 130hp! wow!

So you come up to a Z24 (1999, and I owned one of these) , he also took on VR6's (yes, the 176hp) wow we're going down memory lane !

At the time 165hp was king of the road, it was really easy, even to beat a VR6. Rev it up to 3-4K and drop the clutch...hehehe...the car basically sucked down and took off. The VR6 stayed there spinning it's wheels.

Now, we've got SRT-4 / WRX / Integra's / SPEC-V , etc.... to fill the gap.


Please disregard the following from the article:

You'll have to excuse me, but i'm getting old school (yes, i'm all of 28...ahh no). I can't stand anymore young kids revving their 1999 Honda civics SI (or regular) to their full 127hp potnetial. OOOOOO they're just impressing someone......I don't know who, but they are

So at some point (very soon) .......I will go HEMI;for the one reason...it will be the last time it will fly. I won't be able to hit my mid-life crissis and order/find a HEMI.

I don't care about the ozone/polar ice caps/rainforest/ and the list goes on. And these young / wet behind the ears / "racing" teenagers will hear the real sound of an engine...not some lawnmower (honda engine), the "pffffffttt" turbo blow off valve puts off. Cause trust me...displacement (grumble grumble grumble) makes more vibration ( :) ) than a turbo..

....i'll store it t'ill it's dry season, they'll eat the smoke and rubber of a 300C / magnum / charger....

after all......HP sells cars, torque wins races.....

[The General]

The old 2.0L from the WRX was louder, more alive and peaky. I was totally amazing to wring the crap out of it. It yelled and it delivered. Having driven the old and new WRX and the Legacy 2.5GT, I would purchase a 2002 WRX and modify it. This would be my first choice. My second choice would be a 2006 Legacy GT. In any case, I would take any of them...

Very very soon, I will get my turn behind the wheel of the Mazdaspeed6. I am looking forward to it.

[Pritch]

General

Your gonna be converted I think but i want to hear what your impressions are the moment you get back from your drive!

Dval I dont get frustrated- we each have a different opinion so neither of us will win an argument on that basis though I understand your point.

New charger is a hoot, ecxept that every time you leave your garage you need to put $20 in gas into the tank. That old musclecar sound you mention? Nope

the hemi is probably quieter than the mazdaspeed 6 which was also too quiet. And my tester had a performance exhaust installed

picking on the youngins is fine, but FYI I am one myself. My personal car is a 1993 240sx with some mods- and as such I know where your coming from.

[The General]

General

Your gonna be converted I think but i want to hear what your impressions are the moment you get back from your drive!

Almost there but not quite yet...