Test Drive: Mazda 6, Sealed the Deal

I sneaked out one afternoon and went to a nearby Mazda showroom to look at the brand new Mazda 6. This particular showroom is a small one and I remember my previous experience here where it is difficult to get a test drive unit due to the lack of units available. I found the showroom unit and the moment I lay my eyes on it, I was mesmerized. I have seen the car on brochures and the internet but when you see it physically, it gives an entirely different feeling to it. I tried my luck, knowing that it will not be possible and asked for a test drive. The sales representative told me each unit they have there is sold but he could arrange one the next day if I could confirm about the test drive. So, I just took a brochure and left. Then, I was told that a friend of a friend owns a Mazda 6 and could arrange for me to meet and get a test drive.

I hesitate at my dad's decision to buy a large/executive/luxury sedan for my next car because these cars always give me the impression that it suits older gentleman that prefers a comfortable ride. As for me, I do not want any of those luxuries and instead, I want a powerful, road hugging, handling machine. So, finding one that fulfills my requirement is a very long shot. Having that in mind, I did not have much expectation when I went for the test drive. During the test drive, I was grinning and smiling from ear to ear as I did not expect the kind of ride the Mazda 6 gave me. In short, the test drive sealed the deal. I was set on getting one despite not testing other cars. The next day, I gave my dad the thumbs up approval for the Mazda 6 and he ordered one.

I will tell you why it sealed the deal. First of all, it is already obvious the looks inside and outside is sporty and an eye candy. First I tested the power of the Mazda 6's 2.5 L SkyActiv engine. It is a 4 cylinder engine that produces 185 hp and 250 Nm of torque. Bear in mind that I tested the 2.5 L V6 from the Lexus IS 250 and to my surprise the Mazda 6 seems faster than the Lexus. The torque can be felt when stepping on full throttle and it is responsive even at wrong gear. Next I tried its manual mode with the gear lever shifting and the paddle shift on the steering. I had bad experience with my dad's Benz' manual mode and nowadays it is a trend to have it so not many are refined enough. The Mazda 6 have nice gear ratio and the shifting is smooth for a large sedan with 6 speed.

After that, I tested the suspension setting of the Mazda 6. It is promoted to have sporty setting for a car of its class. I quickly steered left and right on a straight road and a big flyover u-turn to test its handling. You can tell there is a slight stiffness that I like but still not enough. However, considering a car in this segment to have the slight stiffness, it is better than nothing. The brakes seem to be able to stop the car at most speed. It is no 4 pot like my Celica but I guess it does its job. Overall built seems good and its spacious. A little too big in overall width and length. All of the above points made me smile like a young boy at a candy store while driving the car. Definitely, a good car. Can't wait for mine to arrive.

Demod Part 1

I finally had the time to send my Celica to my friend's workshop for the demodding process. It was a long process with many parts to be removed and replaced with stock parts. It took 6 hours from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and I was helping out too. All my mods were concentrated on the front end of the car and we began with the engine bay. The tower plate, engine oil cap, spark plug cover and short ram air filter are the first to be removed. Then, the difficult part. the 4 pot brakes and the anti roll bar were next. It was the most time consuming part of the whole process. Next to come off is the oil cooler, originally used for cooling my ATF. After the mechanical side mods are done, the electronic side is next. The combination of M7 EM-CON and the Camcon plus the Pivot Speed Meter caused a big wiring mess with wires spliced here and there, and connecting like a spider web. It took a lot of eye power to separate it one by one. Although most of the parts that I want to remove is removed, there are still some remaining small details that need to be taken care of. So, there will be a part 2.

Some of the mods such as the 4 pot brakes and anti roll bar were put in the Celica to increase handling and braking ability. Immediately after removing those and replaced with stock, I can totally feel the difference with and without those parts. The car's alignment is off and is not adjusted because of missing rims and when I was driving to my friend's workshop, I felt like I was at the gym because I have to fight to make the car go straight but I still feel in control. However when I remove the anti roll bar, the oversteer becomes more obvious and harder to step on the throttle most of the time. The original stock brakes feels like jelly or cake compare to the 4 pot. I had to downshift for engine braking instead of just relying on the brakes. I was really worry as the brakes only bite when I step the brake pedal hard giving me a sense of anxiety. Having the 4 pot brakes for 2 years made me forgot the horrible original brakes but now I am haunted by it.  I just hope the parts and the Celica can be sold quickly. So, far I have a few interest on my parts but it is too expensive for them.

She's Back

After 2 months and more at the workshop causing me countless trips, looking for parts, my Celica is finally back to me. Before today, the workshop called me to retrieve the car and attempted to send the car to me but there were some problems. The third time is the charm because finally it is handed back to me without a problem. The first attempt I went to the workshop to collect the car but as soon as I drove the car I noticed something is amiss. Firstly, the speedometer is not moving, both my analog and digital one. Secondly, the handbrake light is on no matter the handbrake is on or off. Thirdly, my manual mode is blinking which is not the first time and certainly never a good thing. Lastly, the aircond is not working with no cold air at all. Immediately, I made an U-turn and return the car back to the workshop. I told the mechanic off for wasting my time as the owner of the workshop told me the car is ready.

The second time he attempted to deliver the car to avoid me telling them off in case the car is not ready again. Everything from the previous attempt is solved but just as expected, something went awry. The aircond died while on the way to my place. The owner had to return back to his workshop to wait for it. Another few days has gone by and finally today he delivered the Celica back to me. I have been told that my aircond pump is the source of its aircond problem. I checked for everything and with a breath of relieve, it is all good. It is very obvious where the hood, roof, boot and spoiler looks a different tone with the other parts having new paint. Now that the car is done, I can finally move to the next step. I have to look for the perfect rim as it is using 2 different sizes and the de-mod to prepare the car to be sold off. The sooner I can finish these task, the sooner I could sell it and clear some garage space.

New Fog light giving it an aggressive stare compare to previous white one.

Different set of rims 

Mazda 6

When I was 17, I got my driving license and my dad asked me what sort of car do I fancy. At that time I did not know anything regarding cars. So, I began noticing cars on the road while I drive to see what will catch my eye. All I knew was that I like sedans and lights where there is a row circular lights in a housing. One day while I was driving my old Corolla, I saw a car that fits the description and I could not get enough of it but sadly I did not catch the name of the car from its emblem. Then I saw the same car in a newspaper ad and told my dad about it. He told me I could not get it because it is a big sedan with 2.0 L or 2.3 L engine which is too big for a new driver like me to handle. Nevertheless, the first model of Mazda 6 becomes a car that I will keep an eye on for its progress.

The Mazda 6 has always been a little different compared to its rival such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It gives of a more of a sporty look than the rivals that give of a more mature feeling. It is more well build and if you look deeper into it, you will realize that all Mazda were fully imported from Japan. Meanwhile its rival are mainly assembled locally or made in the neighbor country, Thailand. When the second generation came out, again it retains its advantage over the rivals with more gadgets and sport oriented vehicle. Although it ditched the lights I adored, in place is another sporty design. I continue to admire the bold design that Mazda goes with and it definitely stands out compare to its rival. In addition, there are plenty of extra goodies that could be found in the Mazda 6 and not its rival. Everytime I think of a car for when I am in my mid 30s, the Mazda 6 will definitely be my choice.

The latest model of Mazda 6 changed the game for Japanese D-Segment cars. Similarly with previous 2 models, the Mazda 6 took a giant leap ahead from its rivals. This time the size and wheelbase have increased so much that it is now at the same size as a Mercedes Benz W212 E Class and without a doubt the BMW F10 5 series as well. It is bigger, roomier and much more sleek than any of its boxy rivals. In addition to that, Mazda came up with its own SkyActiv engine aiming to increase power and fuel efficiency couple with many, many new technology such as i-Stop and i-Eloop just to name a few examples. It is not something that I would expect from a Japanese maker. However, although it is all good but from my research the latest Mazda 6 is around RM 10,000 costlier and a price tag of near RM 200,000. Asian drivers would definitely have a hard time to decide on purchasing one because of the extra. For me, a better car is much more important. Mazda 6 would be my choice for a Japanese D-Segment car.