This car is the best choice you can make for an entry level, but competitive sports car. This is the car you get when you dont want everyone to know about your dangerous addiction to going fast. Priced $5-8K less than cars at it's performance level, it holds the most immediate value for the money spent, and has the best gas mileage of them all. The only comparible AWD car to MPG is a WRX, which makes 1-2mpg more, but suffers in performance level in comparision.

as far as everyday driving goes, the awd drive is incredible, this car runs on rails, and geting it to lose traction is very difficult, even in the rain. I have had the car for a 1 year and 3 months, and have had the chance to push it to the limit in the rain, SAFELY able to drive 100+mph without any sign of instability as BMWs, Audis, and 4x4 trucks all get passed and left behind. going over railroad tracks even rough ones is more pleasant than my old 240sx.

The car is intense to drive fast. the hydraulic clutch is tricky as first, but once you get it, you GET it. The car comes with the same LSD as the RX8 in the back so doing power slides and other tricks is a cinch. Pull the E-brake at medium speed with the wheel slightly turned and a blockbuster-movie stunt 180 degree turn is achieved to give you an idea of how nimble and easy the car is to drive fast.

Plenty of room for all sorts of people, the seats in back could be a bit more bolstering as my passangers slide from side to side on the smooth leather. The front seats are extremely comfortable, but i suppose Mazdaspeed should have also included a Recaro type option, as they do not hold you nearly as something like Mitsubishi Evolution seats. But thats where luxury is traded for hopped up match car looks.
And you save a good $7K.

With 7k (the difference from a WRX Sti/EVO) you can absolutely bolt on this car to out-do both boy racers, while keeping the sleeper appearance and the attention away from Highway Patrolmen.

I love this car, the only other car I would consider replacing it with would be an 335xi BMW, but for 15,000$ more and only .5 second faster, I think I made an excellent choice that is responsible and reasonable for someone who doesn't want to show off, but would rather embarass the people that do.

THE BAD

This car is EXPENSIVE to maintain/fix/replace parts. It is an import from Mazda Japan and is not made by Ford like the other Mazda6's. replacing the tires costs $900-1200 and they dissapear fast if you drive like I do.

The intake and exhaust and bypass valve on this car are so power restrictive, that replacing them with better aftermarket parts can yeild over 60hp at the wheels, and that is just intake/BOV/exhaust.

The Bose soundsystem certainly does not get the job done, and replacing them with aftermarket Audio is obviously expensive and def not hassle free. There is also poor equalization options and no IPOD aux.

Over all I can openly say that this car is the best possible car you can get for the power/money/practicallity/utility.

WOW! All I can say is wow! This thing has so much torque for a 4 cylinder it's unreal. Winding the motor to redline is pretty much useless. This thing just flat out moves out though. I wish 1st gear was a litle taller. While it may be a sleeper, people will try to race you. I dusted a new BMW 325ix Sunday! lol Gas mileage is not too hot either. I took a 550 mile trip to Memphis over the weekend. I only got about 25.5 MPG. I was pretty disappointed since it is a 4 cylinder. Around the city I usually get around 19, so it's not the best. Also, premium fuel only and this thing is picky when it comes to fuel. It will cut boost if the octane is not high enough. This thing stinks in the snow with the stock tires. Going to invest in an extra set of rims with snow tires next winter.

This is the first Japanese car I've owned in a long time. Th cars performance is good but the cars finish and details are rough when compared to the German cars I've owned for the past several years.

Turning circle is wide for a car with this performance.

It's a fun toy, but I will go back to VW, Audi or BMW when my lease is up.

I've had this car for about 8 months now, and have already put 14,000 miles on her. I came from a '05 Mazda 6s, and the difference between the two cars is night and day.
I wanted a fast car that had four doors, all wheel drive, and didn't look like a hot wheels car. (sti and evo, I'm looking at you.) The MS6 was the only real option, besides the Subaru Legacy GT, which lacks behind the MS6 in the handling and power departments. Plus the LGT is a lot more expensive. Its just a shame that they only made this car for two years in such limited production, but it makes those of us who bought one feel like we've got something special!
After swapping out the wheels, and throwing the Mazdaspeed intake on the car, I have come to like it even more. The aftermarket is limited, but there are plenty of options out there to turn this car into an absolute beast.

I own the Mazda 6 MPS which is the Australian version of the Mazdaspeed 6 and is similar to the GT model.

I have owned this car for over twelve months now and am still finding reasons to appreciate this car. The mix of family car and weekend driver is near perfect in the 6 MPS.

Handling, particuarly in corners is amazing and the car has great straight line speed too. Lack of a distinctive exhaust sound and poor high beams for Australian country roads, disappoints, but thats about it.

Well built, nicely equipped and very easy to live with day to day. Always fun to drive and the best car I have owned over the last twenty years. Will make a great second hand buy for the smart buyer.

If you are in the market for a mid sized car thats special and rewards the driver you need to take one of these for a test drive.

impressed with the looks an handling for the buck!we have the mica red just like the old time candy apple red....Car IN THE DEALER for last month as several issues, engine light with turbo leakage l which created oil smoke issues ..Cat sytem emissions converter DAMAGED awaiting parts .....NOT acceptable .Mazda rep admitted they have issues with above items ..
would i purchase another yes..JUST DISAPPOINTED
as car has 13000 miles in service..GROUNDED AWAITING Mazda repair 1 month ..!!

The comments about turbo lag and stumble are minor and slight. The car is an excellent enthusiasts ride. Very good handling, even at the limits. DST is unsettling first time you feel it in a hard turn, it does slow you down, probably best to turn it off. Comments from others is important, and the car gets always get good ones. I have 2200 miles on it, and took it back to the dealer for a emission recall, only problem so far. MPG is ranging from 21 to 23 all around. Completely stock at this point, would like a little more umph. 15 spoke 18 inch wheels like lots of time cleaning, lol. But they look good.

I've had my Mazda Speed 6 Grand Touring about 2 weeks and I really love it. The ride is very smooth and nimble. It doesn't take long to become acquainted with the car. It feels like I've had it much longer than 2 weeks. This is my 1st Mazda --- and I'm sure it won't be my last.

I come from many fast and tuned cars, Turbo 300Z, 3000GT VR4, GSX, Cooper S and was looking for something with the same power and equal handling, yet a little more family minded. I checked out the EVO, STI, S60 AWD, VW R34 and M3. All my payments looked around $700 which was more than I wanted to spend. I was trading in my VR4 and was disappointed with what I could afford vs what I was coming from. I wandered across the street to find a lonely MS6 on the lot, moving fast due to being the test model. Wasnt really the color I wanted (velocity red), but I've settled for red 4 times before, so I guess its in my cards. I was sceptical but test drove it and found it was alot closer to what I wanted. The suspension was a little squishier than I am used too (still ultra stiff), and the raw power wasnt there off the line like a V8, but get it cranking and it was enough for me to sign on the line. The turbo wishes the car fom 40-70 in a single breath and though I feel I run through the gears to quickly (as with any turbo 4cyl) it had a smooth power climb all the way to 500 under redline and continues up through the 150mph range which is more than I need. The seats are comfortable, the handling is responsive and the AWD does kisck in instntly when the car gets out of hand which was something I feared in a haldex AWD system. (Haldex starts with FWD and adjusts instantly to 50/50 on accel, or when it feels the grip start to go). I feel the AWD transfer from a hard launch from FWD in a 1/4 second, but other than that its really good. I do feel the "fake" exhaust pipes a little cheezy, but at least it is a dual system, and also I find the turbo (after some quick equations) to be at maximum CFM which is rare to see from a factory vehicle, but leaves no room for a chip or boost controller. I find the chassis more stiff than the avg Mazda 6, but I'd still like to add sway bars, an upper front strut bar, stiffer shockes, lower springs (slightly, its a decent height), an air filter and an exhaust. Small compared to what I thought I'd need but at 270hp stock, its a sedan to contend with. I get 22.5mpg and I drive hard and only in the city so never get the chance to get "better" mileage. Anyone looking at sedans should defiantly consider this. Be prepared to change the tires out at 7k mi as they are too soft compound for a "factory vehicle" with such body roll and torque. I might add some wider tires as they are a bit skinny, but havnt had any slippage yet. It not an EVO or M3. but will sit beside them no problem while rolling and never bat an eye. PS I got mine for $22k, about 10 less than the competition!

Great little sleeper car. Especailly for the money. Fell in love with the very first test drive. Wife wanted an Accord. It was not bad but everyone has one. Mazda may be a Ford but just as reliable as a Honda. The accord was not very fun either. If I am going to drive this for the next several years, I want to WANT to get in the car.
I found out how much I loved this car when I had to get a rental for a week when someone busted in and tore up the center console trying to get the radio (and stole my shifter knob. ????) Helps to lock it at night. OOPS. The turbo gives awesome response. I push the petal, I want to go. Not think about it for a minute.
Best of all, not everyone has a speed6. Only 5k per yr in the US.
So sit back and hold on and try not to smile the whole time you are driving. (It can hurt after a while. But so worth it)