Darren,
If you are looking to replace the Pro5 the Mazda 6 will be available in a
wagon version in the fall.
Bryan
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-ba-autox@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Darren Madams
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2003 5:20 PM
To: Bryan Heitkotter
Cc: John F. Kelly Jr.; ba-autox@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: !!! noel esporo (unofficially) wins Mazda Rev it Up !!!!
Interesting... I came away much more likely to investigate the 6 further.
The automatic behaved reasonably well given the circumstances, and in fact
starting in manual 1st gear and going to 2nd (giving it plenty of time
before hitting the rev limiter) and leaving it there worked out great. My
wife has a Pro5, and I was already considering the 6 but was worried it was
more sedan than sports-sedan. I thought it held it's own. The test drive
area was nice to clearly get a feel for the differences between the light &
surprisingly nimble Pro5, and the stock springs and tires 6s compared to the
competition cars. It was also nice to get to drive the 5 speed manual and
compare it. The automatic was definitely.... like a automatic. No shock
there. The 5 speed was quite nice. I was impressed by the 6, and obviously
it can take some abuse!
I came away thinking the Mazdaspeed Protege was clunky, didn't rev smooth,
had a funky shifter, and even after all that I wasn't too impressed with the
power... although admitedly that was mostly due to the tight stupid slalom
course.
I had 700 points (or will once they do a final audit of the clocks), which
was good enough for 5th at the time (noon Sunday)... where did that end up
by the end of the day?
I asked the RX-8 lady about them doing it with that car next year, and why
they didn't have an RX-8 available to test drive. She said they don't have
any production models of them yet, and didn't want to risk the hand-built
models they had. She said they were definitely considering doing the RX-8
next year but wasn't sure it was exactly what Mazda really wanted to be
pitching since it's such a low volume (although much more than I would have
thought) seller.
All in all, quite a fun event. I wish the courses had been a little more
open. Makes you appreciate both how challenging and how annoying a tight
autocross course is. Would have also liked a few more runs on the practice
course to perfect the left foot braking.
--Darren
"Bryan Heitkotter" <bryan64@earthlink.net> wrote ..
> > The object was to SELL the Mazda 6, fwd and all.
> >
> > --John Kelly
>
> And yet, after driving three 6s and then hopping into the Miata at the
> end
> of the day, I was left underwhelmed by the 6 and comforted by the
> responsiveness and feel of the Miata. I think I actually have less desire
> for the 6 now than I did before. Although to be fair I have not driven
> one
> with a manual transmission.
>
> Bryan Heitkotter | 87 MR2
> http://www.pbase.com/bryanh
> Straightaways are for fast cars. Corners are for fast drivers.
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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