Still working my way toward a new car later this year and am down to 3 (thread posted in car talk).

Really debating between the ILX & new Mazda 6 Touring 6MT. Going to drive one today I think.

The ILX is still the frontrunner, but the ~6k price difference is a little tempting.

 

That Mazda 6 looks awesome to me.. but then I hate the way it looks at the same time.. lol it's one that is going to have to grow on me. But, definitely shop around.. the ILX definitely doesn't fit everyones needs and not everyone will see the value in it.

 

The Mazda is an amazing car, but it sucks that the base version of the 6 is the only way to get a manual, which means you lose out on a lot of options that make a new car worthwhile -- I'd rather have an optioned old car than a new base model.

In my eyes, I prefer the Acura because it has an aftermarket following that is stronger. But if you plan on just tinting windows, I think the Mazda is indeed a great buy.

 

Shopping around is key though -- that way you aren't regretting your choice.

 

Apparently, the Touring trim is now available with a 6MT as well. Just not sure if you can get the Tech package with the MT, as the 6MT isn't available on the "build your own" on MazdaUSA yet.

Hoping to make it by the Mazda dealer by my office today for a drive. They show a 6MT Touring in stock on their website & I know one of the salesguys there.

Until I drive the 6, the ILX still has a strong lead. The only other car I'm considering right now is the Accord Sport 6MT. But, it only is available in 2 colors, black or gray.

If the 6 Wagon were available here with a 6MT in a trim higher than Sport, it would likely top the ILX. I think it's a fantastic looking car & I'm partial to a wagon.


I'd be in a TSX wagon, if it were available with a MT.

 

That'd be a hot car. I agree.

I got passed by a black 14MY Mazda 6 last night on my commute home. Definitely a nice design; saw the headlight LEDs coming up behind me - looks like they're on that bandwagon, too. Keep us posted on what you decide! You'll be hard pressed to find a stick shift as absolutely buttery smooth as a Honda/Acura 6MT.

 

Agreed here. Though reports are likening the 6's MT as similar to the Miata.
Will definitely report back with a comparison between the 6 & ILX ( might have to go drive the ILX again for a refresher )

 

I'd get the Mazda or ILX. Not a fan of the Accord look (in the front at least). And the color options are garbage, lol..

If you get the ilx, get the burgundy (forgot the official name, lol)

 

The reviews of the Mazda are solid, by the way.

 

My friend's black '13 Accord paint is already trashed, and he takes decent care of it.. Honda I think goes cheaper on their cars than the Acura cars paint.

Crimson Garnet.. Yeah, I am absolutely in love with it now after seeing a couple..

That's the best way to know!

Doesn't exist, lol. I almost bought a 8th Gen Civic Si before my TSX but the noticeable lack of torque bothered me during normal drives.. but all I could think about was "omg, I love this clutch and how smooth the shifts are".. full circle, It's one of the primary reasons I got the ILX.

 

Mazda is the new subaru.
I say this because subaru got real popular real quick and flooded the market. Now everywhere you see poorly tuned subarus with carbon fiber wings black wheels annoying replica race exhausts.

Now its mazdas turn. Mazda has now flooded the market and theae "tuners" have begun modding their murdered out fart boxes that try to race anythimg with wheels and a high revving engine.

Sorry. Mazdas. Smh.

 

If I go with the ILX, it'll be FBP.
With the 6, I'm liking the Soul Red & Snowflake White Pearl.

 

I don't think Mazda will ever become what Subaru is in terms of tuners -- I mean, if that was the case, the ms3 and miata would be all over. Also, people who drive Subarus, around here at least, are very good at not ricing them out. The biggest ricers in my neck of the woods are the honda, acura, and nissan maxima owners, lol

 

Miatas ARE everywhere

 

No I mean riced out miatas and ms3s...and given how long miatas have been around, Id hope that there would be some prevalence.

 

Ohhh.. Got ya. I feel like that's true because if you're big into mods and you choose a miata you're probably all for function over form.

 

True there are a lot of "riced" out MS3s & Miatas.
Hopefully the 6 won't get to that stage. Too pretty of a car to rice out.

Agreed here too. When I used to autocross there were lots of really nice all function Miatas out there.
Seems like some of the big Mazda aftermarket companies are starting to work stuff up for the new 6 as well.

 

Actually was miata and ms3 owners tend to be more function than form / rice

 

I've seen that too. Though there a lot more riced MS3s than Miatas.

I see a couple regularly on my commute to work. One in particular is running ridiculous camber, stretched tires & purple wheels on a silver MS3.

 

I feel like the Miata is pretty ugly.. surely they're all being bought for that go-kart feeling haha

 

I've always liked the 1st gen Miatas, the 2nd get was ok. Never liked the 3rd gen, until they got MMC'd. Now they're nice looking, but they've progressively gotten heavier.

The 1st gen was a grown-up go-kart. Didn't need much power to have fun.
A high school friend of mine had a '90 that was a ton of fun, even stock.
The late 1st gen with the 1.8l were a little more fun with a bit extra power.

Eventually I want to find a '96-'97 in good shape to have for a toy.

 

I can't fit into a first gen and I don't like the 2nd gen that much. MMC 3rd gen is what I would get, but I prefer the s2000 to them all.

 

240SX > FR-S/BR-Z > S2000 > Miata

 

fr-s / br-z does not beat the s2000...I'll put money on that.

 

LOL, I am not saying in a race. I am saying the order in which they are superior to each other as "toys"

IF we were talking stock for stock racing the S2000 would beat them all.. but I can build a 300+whp 240SX by the time you bought an S2000 and put coilovers on it lol

 

I'm talking about the s2000 and the ae86 brothers. I think the s2000 is more fun, especially seeing as its a conv. But, I think this convo is largely a matter of taste and preference.

 

Definitely I just like the look of the ae86 better

 

Wrong. Nearly all cars have a function crowd and a form crowd. When I see Miatas they normally look like this so yeah.


I wasn't speaking in terms of "tuners". I was speaking in terms of people buying a nice factory tuned race inspired car, throw a carbon fiber spoiler and hood, a race inspired HKS replica catback, and some rotas then drive like a jerk trying to race everything they see.
That is a good majority of the subaru owners in my valley and mazda is headed there. It is just too many teenagers with parents with money to spend and a death wish. They start racing around in their "touring" mazda and flip it in the canyons.

You would hope but no. Miatas are built a lot of time simply for how low they can go. I see that more often than not.


In reality, both are great cars. I feel the ILX is suited for an older crowd than the mazda you are looking at.

 

Most s2k tuners buy a hardtop first a foremost. Check out the Spoon Mooncraft hardtop or the mugen hardtop. Both are better than the soft top but the mooncraft is gorgeous!

 

wtf?!


S2k is an amazing piece of machinery. One of the best Hondas every built and it is still to this day my dream car. Only reason I didnt get one was because I wanted a brand new car.

But really, a light ass roadster with the honda logo and a rear wheel drive set up. Oh my god give me more!

 

sure, I'm just saying that I like the s2k a lot because of the way it drives and because it's a conv

 

Sure what? lol You no like? I love the s2k. Gorgeous car and so damn easily tuned.

 

My thought is that if you get the Mazda, you run the chance of trying to get in the wrong car at your local grocery store parking lot...

You get the ILX... that will never happen.

Mazda 6's are everywhere. Most of them locally are beat to hell and back and are falling apart.

Just my

 

The strangest thing happened to me the first week of owning the ILX. I ran some errands and parked and when I walked back to the car, I notice the bumper was dirty. I was thinking, what the, how did the car get so dirty in a week? And then I pull on the handle and it doesn't open. And I notice a grocery bag in the passenger side as well as the automatic shift, then it finally hit me. That wasn't my car.

This car was parked 2 spots before mine.

Anyway, never, ever saw another ILX since then. Just found it odd that I would run into one on the first week I owned it and never again so far.

 

I DO like it, lol...love it actually and want my own so bad. But, I'm saying I prefer keeping the top down

 

I think it's safe to say that we (wife and I) both miss ours. That said, I also think we like having cars that you can talk on the phone and properly secure. We had '00, '01, '04 and '05 S2000s.

 

Sorry, just not a S2K fan.

Back on the subject.. The ILX is still a Honda motor at the end of the day!

 

You don't fit in a NA? MY friend that had a '90 was 6'3" & probably 220-240lbs & he fit fine.

S2000 > Miata > FR-S/BRZ > 240
For me, at least.

I've only seen 2 '14 Mazda 6s. One is in my neighborhood, soul red Touring or Grand Touring.
I've also only seen 3 ILX on the road.

 

Stopped by the Mazda dealer after work. Toyed around with the 6GT that was in the showroom since I couldn't find the guy I know.

Turns out the salesguy I know wasn't there (even though I called & told him I was coming in), but a guy that works closely with him was there.
He was supposedly on his way back to the dealer, so I waited a bit & wandered the lot, looking at the 6s in stock. Surprisingly, a lot were unlocked on the lot & one had the key in the cupholder

The 2nd guy came out made a quick copy of my license & just gave me the keys to a 6 Touring with a 6MT (only one that had with a stick that I could find). Said to just take it out for a spin & walked off.

It's been a couple months since I drove the ILX & Accord, but I was really impressed with the 6. Coming from a TL, the 6 obviously doesn't have the power/torque that the TL does, but it has no problem getting up to speed.
Handled really well through the few turns I found to put it through.
I'm really used to a cable actuated throttle, so the electronic makes rev-matched downshifts a little different, but I imagine it's that way for most newer MT cars. The 6 could use a little more responsive throttle & a little shorter shift throws, but otherwise I really liked it.
The car definitely doesn't feel as big as it is, it's dimensions are really close to the new Accord & my '00 TL, but it feels much smaller on the road.

The guys at the dealer couldn't tell me if the Touring Tech package will be available with the MT (since technically, the MT Touring doesn't exist on the MazdaUSA website, Tech package adds: Nav, upgraded stereo, keyless entry, auto headlights, heated mirrors, rain sensing wipers & dimming ISRV mirror). But, he did say that nav could be added to the car with a module that replaces a tiny coin compartment on the bottom left of the dash. The car I drove had a nav button, but no nav installed.
I've also heard that there is an updated head unit in the works, but nothing concrete, or for which trims. The unit in the Touring was fine to me, but I think the Sport is the one that's been getting comments about being lacking.

Definitely need to go drive the ILX & Accord again sometime soon, while the 6 drive is fresh on my mind.

I thought I'd really like the white pearl, but even in the sun it didn't appeal to me much. The soul red looks nice, but I liked the silver & gray the most I think. The blue looks too bland.

 

Your craaaaaazy... IMO after I test drove the frs at my local dealer. The way the motor lags with like almost no torque is heartbreaking. I was going about 25-30mph in 3rd gear at around 2800rpm, dropped it from 3rd to 2nd and rpm went up to around 35 I believe and as I floored it..... Went no where until I reached almost 7k. I didn't even get to smash 3rd gear because by the time I got to it, I had to turn. Boxer motor is garbage. It's like driving a d15b non-vtec, I feel as if the 99-00 em1's b16a2 had more torque then the frs.