Topic: Test Drive: 2016 Mazda6

[Danno001]

i checked the Hyundai USA website for the service intervals on a 2013 Sonata 2.4L 4 cylinder engine...it recommends oil changes every 7500 miles.

That is the normal schedule, with all of the usual exceptions, which if you encounter, puts you into the severe schedule.
And that would work if we live in the US, but .. we don't.

My manual package came with a specific Canada Sonata label and a thin Canada specific manual that calls out the 6,000 km and 6 month schedule - whichever comes first. That requirement follows the US severe schedule.

[Ex-airbalancer]

i checked the Hyundai USA website for the service intervals on a 2013 Sonata 2.4L 4 cylinder engine...it recommends oil changes every 7500 miles.

That is the normal schedule, with all of the usual exceptions, which if you encounter, puts you into the severe schedule.
And that would work if we live in the US, but .. we don't.

My manual package came with a specific Canada Sonata label and a thin Canada specific manual that calls out the 6,000 km and 6 month schedule - whichever comes first. That requirement follows the US severe schedule.

Weather condition in Fargo ND are that different then Winnipeg that you need to change the oil twice as much 

[Noto]

Can't believe (well actually I can) people are complaining about getting 3 oil changes a year.

...agreed.  We're talking $61/year.  Mayhaps ya'll can start brewing your own coffee rather than spending $2/day at Timmy's or $6/day at Starbucks...

I drink delicious Kauai Coffee, the grinds of which I buy for $10/bag (lasts about 50 coffees in a reusable K-cup in a Keurig).  ~$0.20/coffee.  Much better

I think the point here about the Mazda3 taking sales is likely not true...in fact, sales #s YTD this year are not on track to beat last year's #s, and quite frankly, 2012 was the best year recently for sales.  I think folks are just generally unfamiliar with Mazda, still see it as a 'cheap' car brand, and then get sticker shock compared to the standards (Fusion, Accord, Camry...).  My father once said "why the hell would I pay $20,500 for a Mazda3 when I can get a Corolla for $19,500?!  The Corolla is a good, reliable car!"

[johngenx]

I know they've had their issues (rust, ugh) but generally I've always thought of Mazda as a great maker.  We had a 626 that was an amazing car.  But, my 76yr old father is like NoTo's dad - Mazda is below Toyota/Honda and no way he'd pay the same for a comparable Mazda product.  It has to be priced less.

[OliverD]

I know they've had their issues (rust, ugh) but generally I've always thought of Mazda as a great maker.

I agree. We've had quite a few Mazdas in my family going back to a 1983 GLC that my dad owned for 8 years that was extremely reliable. None had any catastrophic issues and the majority were very reliable.

[JRM]

My daughter used to have Mazda's, and the service intervals were frequent and some were very expensive.   My Passat TSI requires oil changes once a year or 15,000 km.  It's a little more expensive at $80.00, but only synthetic oil is used and at less frequency than most. 

[Noto]

I know they've had their issues (rust, ugh) but generally I've always thought of Mazda as a great maker.  We had a 626 that was an amazing car.  But, my 76yr old father is like NoTo's dad - Mazda is below Toyota/Honda and no way he'd pay the same for a comparable Mazda product.  It has to be priced less.

My dad would pay the same, but not more.  He can see the value in a car with more features, even if you lose the "legendary" Toyota reliability (HA!).  With that being said, vanilla continues to sell for a reason...inoffensive daily driving is what sells.  Mazda is going for high styling at the expense of ease of use.  Not a great formula for winning the 'race' outright - though it is doing well-enough.

[OliverD]

I was surprised to see several new 6s while I was out for lunch. There's also a '16 blue with white leather one in my office's parking lot right now. Looks very sharp in that color.

[Noto]

I was surprised to see several new 6s while I was out for lunch. There's also a '16 blue with white leather one in my office's parking lot right now. Looks very sharp in that color.

I saw 3 Focus STs on the way to work this morning (Black, Orange, and Red)...not determinative of anything

IMO, the orange was the nicest

[OliverD]

I wish the Focus ST orange was more... orange.

[Noto]

I wish the Focus ST orange was more... orange.

it's pretty orange...



...and since it's a Mazda6 forum:


Sadly, no orange for the 2015 model.

Edit: found this:

[Serniter]

That concept car looks good in orange!

[OliverD]

I wish the Focus ST orange was more... orange.

it's pretty orange...

I didn't think we got that color. Just tangerine scream, which is more yellow:



Meanwhile the Fiesta offers molten orange:

[Noto]

Meanwhile the Fiesta offers molten orange:

That looks pretty red to me

[OliverD]

It is a reddish orange although I think that pic exaggerates it.

[Solstice2006]

Big accusations without much proof.  No known problems with the Skyactiv engines.  It's only oil changes, it's not like having your DSG transmission flushed that costs over $700!

 

Try $300 or less every 64,000 kms.

Can't believe (well actually I can) people are complaining about getting 3 oil changes a year.

I didn't argue the interval.  But it's still more frequent and more then double the cost of a conventional automatic.  A VW dealer around here wanted $600 plus tax.  Not sure when to do the 6, as it is supposed to be lifetime...

[mixmanmash]

Mazda has the 4 month oil change policy for one (or more) of three reasons (none of which are good):
1. they have concerns about their motors
2. they want to direct traffic to their service depts. to increase dollars
3. they want to use the clause to their advantage when a customer inevitably fails to abide by the warranty conditions and eventually needs warranty-based engine work.

I don't see any other choices. I have no time for arguments that support such a short interval by saying that it's a small price to pay for piece of mind and protection of a vital part of your vehicle. BS! It's actually a significant outlay of dollars and, more importantly, one's TIME. Hey, if every 4 months is good, why not go for the additional piece of mind that every 2 months would provide? Total BS.

So Toyota and Nissan are equally guilty.  They have similar intervals, only the months is different.

1. Nissan - 8000kms or 6 months, whichever occurs first.
2. Toyota - 8000kms or 6 months, whichever occurs first.
3. Honda - follow Maintenance Minder, but minimum every 12 months.  My first oil change in my Odyssey happened at 12000kms & 7.5 months. 

[Slow_lane]

Sent e-mail to Mazda Canada 2 days ago to inform them of the concern over the Mtce requirement. I told them Mazda would be off my shopping list because of it. Told them in my situation with putting few Kms on 2nd car I would be changing oil every 2000 kms. With my use of pure synthetic oil that would not only be expensive but also a pain in the butt.

I am awaiting their response. I will pass it along if and when I get it. If they do not respond it may show they cannot support this requirement with any logical explanation.

[dkaz]

Mazda's 0W20 synthetic oil change is only $60-65 incl taxes in BC. But if you live in Alberta, it's $95 incl taxes there.

[EV-Light]

No 220HP+ option? It's North 'Murica. F'get it.

Very few people buy the high powered versions of family sedans.

Except for Ford! The 2.0T gets the majority of sales.
Perhaps is Mazda offered such option and adjusted their price mix. They'd be able to get a bigger slice of the sales pie.


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