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2007 Mazdaspeed6 Grand Touring Long Term Update No.1

In my line of work I have the opportunity to drive just about every new vehicle on the market, including many cars, trucks and SUVsthat are well beyond the average person's means. As nice as this is (and many of them are really nice) the biggest drawback is that none of them are mine. So no matter what I am driving, it doesn't feel like any of the cars that I've previously owned and took pride in, since I (and my wife) didn't necessarily choose it as the car that meets our family's needs. As those needs are a sensible family sedan with all-season capability and a healthy dose of sport for dad (yours truly), in the end we agreed on the turbocharged AWD 2007 Mazdaspeed6 Grand Touring. With the lease of our new car came an opportunity to conduct a long term test, and report on how the Mazdaspeed6 and the Mazda dealer where I bought it and have it serviced meet our needs and expectations. After all, it's our only car, so it has a lot of roles to fill.

The highlight of this particular car, and one of the main reasons I bought it, is Mazda's incredible, award-winning all-aluminum turbocharged 2.3-liter DISI (direct injection spark ignition)

Keeping the needle on the low side of things is so difficult. Glad the break in period's over. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

MZR 4-cylinder engine that was first introduced in this application and also resides under the hood of the CX-7 crossover and Mazdaspeed3 hot hatch. However, in the MS6 it makes the most horsepower at 270, besting the CX-7 by 26 and the MS3 by 7. Just as important as horsepower is the 280 lb-ft of torque that peaks at a low 3,000 rpm. To quote Matthew McConaughey in Dazed and Confused, the Mazdaspeed6 is “packing some serious muscle.”

My particular car is Titanium Gray in color, with black leather interiorthat also includes heated seats, a sliding moonroof and Mazda's cool Smart Key proximity sensing keyless entry and start system — the fob is the shape and size of a credit card, although substantially thicker. All of these features, except

It needs high-octane gasoline, or else it's not as lively. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

the moonroof ($700), come standard in the Grand Touring and are not available in the Sport (including the moonroof). On that note, the MS6 GT offers a lot of luxury car features at a bargain price. Power windows (with auto up and down at all four corners), locks and mirrors (also heated), automatic climate control, speed sensing variable-intermittent wipers, cruise control, leather wrapped shift knob and steering wheel, front, side and curtain airbags, HID Xenon headlights, 7-speaker BOSE 6-disc in-dash CD changer with subwoofer ... the list goes on and on. MSRP before taxes or options was $31,320, which is a fair chunk of change, but as you can see you do get a lot of car for the money. It is much faster and better equipped than a similarly priced BMW 3-Series or Audi A4. You just have to live without the premium badge, which is fine by me.

As fully equipped as it is, there are a few things that, in my opinion, it shouldn't

The changes are subtle, but together, they make quite the menacing face. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

come without. If a buyer wants the BOSE stereo that will play MP3s, be prepared to shell out up to $400 for a dealer accessory; this is unacceptable for a car that costs almost $32K. This, from the company that in 2001 released a model called the Protegé MP3 no less. What does Mazda expect MP3 owners to do with allof those burnt CDs when they move up within the brand? At least SIRIUS Satellite radio is available, but as a factory-installed accessory.

But those are all minor issues in the larger scheme of things, and I can easily overlook them since Mazda didn't skimp on what matters most, the hardware underneath. In addition to the aforementioned turbocharged engine, the MS6 features a close-ratio 6-speed manual gearbox (the onlytransmission offered) and an active torque-splitting all-wheel-drive system that can send up to 50 percent of the engine's power to a limited slip differential in the rear when you need it. Mazda claims there are three automatic programs for the AWD; normal, sport and snow. Defeatable

The heart and soul of the Mazdaspeed6 is a 2.3-liter, turbo'd, direct injected inline-four. (Photo: Mazda)

dynamic stability control is standard.

The regular Mazda6 has won universal acclaim for its handling prowess and torsional rigidity, and while the Mazdaspeed6 rides on the same double-wishbone front and rear multilink suspension, it features stiffer dampers and springs combined with fatter stabilizer bars. Mazda cites 120 body or chassis improvements resulting in 50-percent greater torsional rigidity. Massive disc brakes with ABS and EBFD reside at all four corners, framed by 18-inch alloy wheels that are shod with sticky 215/45R18 inch Bridgestone Potenza RE050 ultra high performance rubber.

Study the Mazdaspeed6 while it is stationary and you'll take note of a subtle yet very attractive design that serves up just the right amount of aggression to distinguish it from the regular Mazda6 s Grand Touring sedan. From the huge bulging hood to the functional rear lip spoiler, everything is understated. Speaking of that bulging hood, if any car ever needed an aluminum or carbon-fiber hood, the 3,500+ pound MS6 is it. The only detail I'm not100-percent sold on is the rear dual exhaust—the tips look large but are actually

Great emphasis on "speed". (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

fake, as upon closer inspection they house the smaller, functional pipes.

The interior screams sport/luxury sedan with its business-like black leather, excellent fit and finish, aluminum pedals, high gloss gray dash/console trim and bright orange gauges with italicized numerals. On the road it's comfortable and quiet, a cabin to which I have quickly become adjusted. I haven't been back to the dealer for anything since picking up the car almost a month ago, which should be expected from any brand new car with less than 1,200 miles on it.

I have also decided to attend some track days this summer as the MS6 is very quick and I would like to test the car's limits in a safe and legal environment. I plan to test some of Mazda's dealer-installed accessories too, plus Mazdaspeed's performance accessories that will produce horsepower increases while retaining the manufacturer's warranty, something that isn't always the case with aftermarket parts. I might even let Jon and Justin behind the wheel, too. OK, that might be pushing it.

Now we better take a look at the log and see what was written over the last little while:

Odometer: 1,108 miles

Steven: I thought the

Almost fully loaded, except for nav. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

600-mile break-in period would never end, whereas mywife was hoping it would last longer since, after an antagonizing two weeks, I am now accelerating to the speed limit as quickly as possible, drinking deeply from the direct-injected 2.3's deep well of horsepower and torque. I've found I can achieve the quickest acceleration by short shifting the 6-speed as power drops off 1,000 rpm before the 6,500 rpm redline, so it's best to keep the engine in its 3,000–5,000 rpm powerband for maximum forward thrust. Although not great for the fuel economy, I have become addicted to having more than double the horsepower of my last car (a 2002 Protegé5) at my disposal. I have also been filling the tank with Sunoco Ultra 94, as Mazda recommends 93 octane. 91 is acceptable.

Mazdas are all about a communicative chassis and the MS6 does not disappoint. The steering is very linear with very good feedback. Handling is stellar and the DSC is not intrusive at all. The car corners very flat with minimal body roll, but try to push it too hard and the MS6 will behave like a FWD car by understeering, and it can feel a bit heavy at times. Braking is nothing short of phenomenal, but with aggressive brakepads comes extra dust on the rims, so be prepared to clean them often. While the shifter is fantastic with short positive throws, the clutch is something

It's much, much faster than his previous car, a Protegé5. (Photo: Steven James Day, American Auto Press)

different entirely. It is a bit on the heavy side and I swear the engagement point moves around. It is taking some getting used to and is a bit of bear in stop-and-go traffic.

It's nice to have heated seats since the leather is chilly, but I wish there was more than just a “roast” setting. Mazdaspeed Atenzas (the 6's name in Japan where the MS6 is built) also receive a memory function for the power driver's seat, which I wish more automakers would start adopting on the lower end of the market — my wife is 5'2” and I am 6-feet tall, so having to adjust the seat and mirrors every time we switch is a bit of a hassle. As the 6 is an older platform (a new one debuts for 2008) it doesn't have the automatic headlights and rain-sensing wipers of the Mazdaspeed3. I don't miss the lights, but in sporadic spring rain the auto wipers would be nice, as would the MS3's trip computer in any conditions. The seats are very comfortable, although the leather doesn't provide the best lateral grip in the corners; we had contemplated a cloth interior model, but there wasn't a single one to be found in the whole country.

After almost a month of ownership, we are very pleased with our car—it's the perfect sleeper, attracting very little attention from the 5-0 as it glides through traffic. Most people pay it no mind, although every once in a while someone knows what it is and gives an approving nod or smile.

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