Orly? Not real AWD? Becuase it's not torsen it's not real? It's got the same type AWD system that the R32, S60R, and Veyron have. Haldex awd. Im not really sure i follow how it's not (real).

I drove a MS6, I didnt like it. For the price the quality wasnt there, it does NOT handle that well (no where near as well as people say). The power was simply OK, nothing to make you go "ZOMG", but enough power to pass comfortably. It's not a car to compete w/ the Evo, STi, etc. It's more geared to compete with the Legacy GT and the likes, the problem is that Subaru got the Legacy GT right the 1st time, Mazda wasn't so lucky with the MS6. The car looks very bland, and frankly it's not WORTH 35K in any trim. I loved the MS3 though. I call it a gentlemans SRT-4. Not to mention the marketing of the MS6 was less than crappy, im not suprised they have to almost literally give these cars away.

 

There are two types of awd, active and reactive - I'm not sure what the MS6 had (I'd say reactive), but it was a fwd car that could put up to 50% power to the rear wheels I believe - in other words, it drove like a fwd or fwd-bias car almost all the time.

Also, Haldex is a company with what's basically part-time awd solutions - there are many awd iterations using its systems, from fwd to rwd biased systems. We should note that Audi has its own awd - quattro - that is different from Haldex, even though it uses Haldex.

I'm waiting for the new MS6 to arrive and see what it can do.

Haldex just developed a new awd system (on the new Saab 9-3X), but here's a great example of why Subaru awd is thebest in the world. Unfortunately the video is not in English, but it shows how effective active awd is compared to reactive awd.

http://www.leftlanenews.com/video-vo...ubaru-awd.html

 

its MAZDA.

 

I know what you're saying. That doesnt make reactive awd "fake" or not "real" in any aspect. I feel hadlex has a great system. You get the grip when you need it and you don't suffer as bad from drivetrain loss.
I see why the AWD in the Mazda sucks so badly, it's not Haldex at all. It's Mazda's Active Torque Split. Having owned both a Subaru and Haldex AWD vehicle, IMO (which isn't worth much to anyone but me), the Haldex system is the system of choice for me for everyday driving. I had no problem cutting 1.8 60ft times in my R32 on street tires, but teh Subaru awd does perform better especially in poor weather conditions. Im just not so sure the better awd performance is worth the drivetrain loss and weight. I guess everyone has different opinion on what's real and what's fake.

 

Well, not to go totally OT, but if you look at the mpg numbers of Subaru awd versus Haldex awd systems, you may be surprised at how good Subaru's system is. A 2008 R32 is something like 18/23 mpg, and an 08 WRX is 20/25 mpg. Lots of people assume awd systems are heavy and not as fuel efficient, and for fwd cars that can be the case, but awd is awd when it comes to weight, and not driving the rear wheels doesn't seem to effect mpg.

Haldex is good for improving mpg as you state, but its compromise in how it powers wheels means its inherently not as good as some Japanese systems (Subaru) and Audi's quattro. Imo, Mazda went with Haldex like a lot of manufacturters do because its the only readily available awd system you can buy and it doesn't have an in-house solution to awd.

That said, Haldex is a good system and works well for road use. I doubt you'll be taking your R32 up any muddy embankments!

 

Bingo. Mazda in general is terrible in marketing their cars. They make some really nice cars but they are so under the radar.

 

The base 6 is actually quite a fun little car -- for a rental.

The MS6 is almost the opposite of the base. By virtue of the larger hood your sightlines are reduced out the front, the car feels and turns heavier and the interior seems a bit more cramped (bigger seats).

In the end Mazda built a car that is not very fast, almost impossible to tune with handling that is just so so at best. On the upside you can get killer deals on them as depreciation has been quick.

As to the AWD system I am under the impression that it shares the Volvo V70R/S60R system which preloads the rear. As such our V70R is actually a rear biased car in the snow -- you can hang the ass end out with ease.

Contrast this with my Sti which often says no no to such shenanigans and ends up being much less fun.

Anyway haldex vs Subaru, this is an oldy but goody:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/video-vo...ubaru-awd.html

 

Its sloppy in comparison to the STi/EVO. If you're looking for a more adult cheap sports sedan the natural candidate is the Legacy GT. I actually found the MS3 to be quite a bit more fun to drive than the MS6, despite the FWD.

 

Mazda 6 is not a competitor to the Lancer. The Speed6 is a much bigger and heavier car and was never intended to be a direct 'competitor' in the EVO/STI WRC world. If you expect EVO/STI performance in the Speed6, you will be disappointed.

The Mazda 3 is more of a Lancer, BMW 3, WRX -sized vehicle. The 6 is much larger car and the MS6 is a 'premium' 6 with more power, AWD, and a good powerplant to move you around (as the V6 Mazda 6 is relatively slow).


Regardless IMO the MS6 is a fun car to drive, it's no EVO/STI, but for what it was intended for, it's pretty darn fun bigger car to carry more people with all their stuff more comfortably.

0.02

 

I'm not sure what the holdup is with the Japanese automakers...they have these "sourced," sorta "in-house" tuners that can help not only sell cars for them...but increase their profits too...

Honda - has HFP (Honda Factory Performance) but doesn't do anything with it (also has Mugen...) but uses it lacklusterly...I mean, on a Civic Si, Sedan? WTF??

Toyota - TRD (Toyota Racing Division)...I've seen this logo on more 4Runners and Tacomas then on any sports cars (oh, that's right...they are short in that arena)

Nissan - NISMO, decent representation with their 350Z but that's about all.

Mazda - MazdaSpeed, they've done "ok" with their Miata during the last gen and now with the 6 and most recently (and probably best executed) with their 3.

So...what's their hesitation??