Hi

I hope someone can help me out with some basic info.

In China, we do not have the luxury of so many models as you describe on the forum but it's very hard for me to discern just what model (new but maybe 2006 or 7) I am looking at. They class it as a 2.3L 5AT. To me this means a 2.3cc engine, auto with the added (pretend) manual box and 5 doors. There is no manual model, no turbo, no 6 speed, no gs, no i or any other variation (other than a 4 door sedan 2.3 L (auto) and then a 2.0L). They tell me (as far as they can and for me to understand) that manuals have not been in China for some 2 years ++.

So I'd like to ask for some feedback, if anyone can advise with the basic info I can give, what do I need to be aware of in buying the car above. What model would you think it compares to? I'm not keen on auto cars but the 5 minutes I was allowed to drive one (limited to within the showroom area - don't laugh but that's the test drive allowable), the 5 speed manual/auto seemed ok (but hard to compare to an actual manual box as I hit 3rd and then braked hard). I am concerned about auto's in their reliability and high repair cost. Are my worries unfounded? Can anyone please say how the auto box drives/feels/responds etc. Most all 6 reviews I can find are based on a manual - so I've little to base my purchasing on and don't want to buy something I'll regret !!

I've neither owned nor driven a Mazda extensively before, but they're quite common in my part of China and so parts etc should be easy to get.

The car I'm looking at comes with a BOSE sound system, side skirts, black leather seats, metal pedals, rear wash/wipe, cd/radio, round centre console air ducts (3 of), air con, I think a credit card size security system, power seats - if any of this helps to say what year/model it is.

I'm not looking to mod it it any way, just want a family car with good safety and some guts to use when outside the city. Is it fair to say it will give me this and in the auto model?

Thanks in anticipation.

 

Im not sure what model that would be but i can say that the auto transmission is still pretty reliable. The car will have plenty of guts outside the city for what your going t o be using it for.

 

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm waiting on some feedback as to see if it's similar to an i grand touring.

Reliable sounds good but how is it to drive with please? I'm a manual driver so would be strange to me to use.

Thx again

 

That sounds kind of interesting? Almost like a US GT model (different from the Canadian GT's) but with the ATX option. Though no US verion 3 has power seats.
I would also guess that the ATX is pretty reliable, but the fuel mileage is reduced because it causes morepowerlossthroughout the drivetrain.
It should make a very nice family car, with some comfort and reliability, and pretty good fuel mileage.
If the 2.0L sedan comes in manual, that's what I would look at. Torque is reduced a bit as is horse power, but you may not even notice the difference between the two (2.0 5-sp vs. 2.3L auto) if you can get the 5-sp in it.

 

Hi again, more info to narrow it down:

Electric mirrors but not heated, electric seats but not heated, sunroof but not electric, gps optional and they tell me it's a 2008 model (but I'd guess it's a late 2007 being passed off as a 2008)

Thanks V1 for the suggestion but the 5 door is more practical and looks so much better to me and to have it you must go 2.3 & auto - no manual version.

Just on price alone here, I'd prefer to go 2.0, 5 door, manual. The car I'm looking at without tax etc but with a decent discount is approx 31K USD, so it's a bigger decision for me when I look at the prices the US is paying. Prices here compare to the UK but the models again don't so really hard to compare spec wise and money wise.

Could anyone tell me where I could "easily" dload some English manuals/brochures without having to fill in forms as the forms for email, telephone, state etc are a waste of time. Then I can take to the dealer and get a full spec comparison.

Thanks again.

 

What you are buying in China is a Mazda6 made in Japan. this is primarily a North American forum, but maybe some of the European members would join in the discussion.

Have you tried www.mazdausa.comor http://www.mazda.co.uk/

 

Hi sstlaure

Yes, it is a Japanese model but for China (as opposed to a Haima which is a Chinese model made in Hainan)

I don't read Japanese either, unfortunately.

And yes, I'm trying to ask in all mazda forums, just waiting to be allowed to post in them but thanks for the input.

I'd just like to hear peoples experiences with the 2.3 5 door auto, as test driving is ridiculously restricted due to the car reg process here making it almost impossible and not a viable option to the dealers and the lack of communication through my limited Chinese and their limited English.