Topic: Mazda6Sport V6-GT vs. TSX--opinions, please

[Fhw]

It's down to these two cars...I'm unloading a too-small Protege for a nicer family car.  I'm leasing, and about 1/3 of costs are written off.

Both are the right size for me, and I loved the handling of either car in a test drive.  The V6 Mazda is thirstier, but the TSX drinks premium, so fuel economy is probably a wash.  Insurance difference is less than 20 bucks for the year.

Cargo space is a no-contest in favor of the 6, but the TSX does get the nod for interior and ergonomics (the 6's climate control is screwy to use).  6 is a little roomier in the back, but 99% of the time the only passenger in the back is a 2 year old in a car seat.

What would be your choice, and if it's the TSX, what's the monthly cost difference that would sway you the other way?

[Black Hatch]

Depends on what you consider more important
cargo or luxury?

luxury -> TSX
cargo -> Mazda6 hatch

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.... i love my 6.

[JSCC]

Carbon Grey TSX, thank you very much.

The TSX lease rate is:
4.8% for 24-48 months

Mazda6 Sport lease rates are:
0.0% for 24
1.8% for 36
3.0% for 48

Seems like the 6s are not selling too well compared to the 3s.

[initial_D]

For me the tie-breaker will be VSA and resale value: TSX

[wing]

I'd buy a good used TSX, you can get 2004's with only a handfull of KM (less than 20,000) for between $26k-$30k

That's a HUGE savings, after you add in all the other "fees" a dealer will charge (Freight,PDI, Air-Tax, Gas Tax etc).

[Fhw]

Jamesbe,

Used TSX's (or 6 sedans for that matter) don't exist yet here in Halifax, and I'm pretty much set on a lease anyway.  Saves me and my accountant quite a good deal of headaches, and I think I'm turning into one of those "drive-a-new-car-every-3-to-4-years" types.

This is probably going to boil down to one more test drive of the TSX, to see if it's genuinely worth the additional cost (probably $40 per month, give or take).  I enjoyed my first test drive a few months back, but was quite impressed with everything in the 6 GT-V6 except the climate control on a test drive Friday.

Thanks for all the replies.

[Davidm]

Test drove the two back-to-back, and other than the differences already cited, the manual transmission comparison is no-contest in favour of the TSX.  Smoothest manual in a sedan I've ever driven (makes the bimmer feel like an 18-wheeler).  Also, the factor HIDs are nice.

TSX would be my choice - if I went 6 for space I'd go wagon, or at least hatch.

[JSCC]

New for 2005 TSX:

4 way power passenger seat.
Steering wheel control illumination.
You get the choice to add the Navi system as an option.

Other than those, not much of a difference than 2004.

[Winson]

And prices also went up. It's still a good deal though. The TSX is my pick and if I was getting a 6, it will be one of the lower end models.

[JSCC]

Yes,
Manual is up by $100 ($34,900).
Auto is up by $1300 ($36,100), ouch!

[Saint11]

go for the tsx if you don't really care about price

[Black Hatch]

I can't believe this forum is so biased
Go the 6. If you have enough money go for the TSX with NAV system and all the bells and whistles.
Also note that the 6 has a 6-speed auto this year for the V6.

Anyways there are 3 reasons I think the 6 is better than the TSX; of course maybe they are preferences.
1. the door locks; the TSX has the traditional door locks sticking out by the windows; the 6 has them inside and gives the window a smooth look; guess this much more aesthetics more than anything
2. the centre dash container; this is so convienient as the way it opens you can see what stuff you put it there and its much easier to take stuff out.
3. the hatch (which also gives you a rear wiper) has so much space; i think you can put two bikes in there without taking off the front wheels.

To me, the TSX and 6 are virtually identical; the cupholders, audio/cruise control are virtually identically and in the same place. They are approximately the same size and have the same large turning radius (6 is abit smaller); I am thinking someone must have copied the other when building these two great cars.

But then again if you care for reputation and service go with the Acura because its LUXURY. Mazda reputation and service isnt as well known.

[Fhw]

Bhatch6,

Funny you should talk about the luxury/service issues.  The top Mazda dealership in Halifax acutally includes 4 years maintenance with each car, adding only about 1/2 what you would pay for service to the price.  The Acura dealership here, however, seemed somewhat downmarket in its sales approach and physical premises (compared to say, the Lexus or BMW dealerships).

On paper I think the two cars are a wash except for cargo space.  Ultimately it will boil down to how much I think the TSX rides and handles better (if it does...I'll test it again this week), the monthly payment, and which dealer insults my intelligence the least.

I would never dream of bothering with a NAV system, regardless of the coolness factor.  99.9% of my car trips are to locations I'm familiar with.  I would think 3 dollars for a map is a far better use of money than 2500 for a NAV system.

Many thanks for not making me feel silly for thinking the 6Sport fully loaded was a better value.

[Saint11]

4 years! damn...thats awesome

[DriverJeff]

This is a tough comparison.  I really wrestled with choosing between these two almost exactly a year ago.  I found the TSX to be kind of boring -- though beautifully finished and of course the Acura reputation was very reassuring.  The Mazda was more visceral and fun to drive (of course, with predominantly highway driving around here, I value on ramp rockets more than twisty-road carvers).  The growl of that Mazda (Duratec) V6 was music to my ears.  

On a whim, I decided to stop by the local Audi dealership.  After driving an A4 Quattro with the sport package, I decided it had more of the solid, steady-handling feel that I had grown accustomed to in my BMW than either of the two Japanese cars.  A few hours of negotiation later and I left the dealership astonished that my now-ordered $42,000 Audi A4 came out to almost the same leasing cost as the $34,000 TSX.  The M6 would have cost me about $40-50/month less I guess.  Factor in the free maintenance for 4 years and the lowest insurance cost of the three and the A4 became a no-brainer.  

Mine has been 100% flawless nearly 1 year into my lease.  If it had more power I'd say it'd be darn near perfect.

Bottom line, you can't go wrong with either the Mazda6 or TSX -- both are great cars, but you might want to give a look at the A4 too, especially with new '06s coming out soon.

[JSCC]

hmmm... the Navi is 3,300 on the TSX

You can buy 1000 maps and put it in the hatch or truck

Me biased, NO!
I don't work for Acura.

Maybe I should visit Markham Mazda.

(Message edited by jscc on March 07, 2005)

[mrthompson]

That would buy a pile of maps!    Or at least some stock in Rand McNally.

[RayT]

$3,300 for a Navi would buy you a nice (just as effective) Garmin StreetPilot, and two more Streepilot as new improved models come out.

As for the original poseter. I'd go for the TSX, but I'd take a Mazdaspeed 6 over the TSX in a heartbeat.

[S60]

Fun=Mazda6
Refinement=TSX

What is more important to you.

[Black Hatch]

Okay so its snowing today in Edmonton;
That rear wiper made it so easy to look out behind.  

And in regards to interior material; the plastic looks durable and easy to clean maybe like the plastic in the cargo area of the Toyota Matrix.