Subaru Outback vs Mazda6 Sport Wagon

[Andrew Elder]

I haven't had a chance to testdrive the Mazda6 SportWagon yet.
The way I see it the PROs and CONs are:

Mazda6
PROs:
Smooth V6 at reasonable price.
Reasonable fuel ecomony.
CONs:
No AWD.

Subaru Outback i
PROs:
AWD
Very reliable
CONs:
No so great fuel economy.
Not such a smooht engine.

What do others think ?
I do currently own a Subaru Outback Wagon.

 

[TG]

After owning many Mazda's and many Subaru's I would expect the Mazda to be
at least as reliable and probably more so and also less maintenance
intensive. TG

 

[Ragnar]

I haven't had a chance to testdrive the Mazda6 SportWagon yet.
The way I see it the PROs and CONs are:

Mazda6
PROs:
Smooth V6 at reasonable price.

If you haven't test driven it, how do you know its smooth?

 

[Subbies Two]

x-no-archive: yes

I haven't had a chance to testdrive the Mazda6 SportWagon yet.
The way I see it the PROs and CONs are:

Mazda6
PROs:
Smooth V6 at reasonable price.
Reasonable fuel ecomony.
CONs:
No AWD.

Subaru Outback i
PROs:
AWD
Very reliable
CONs:
No so great fuel economy.
Not such a smooht engine.

What do others think ?
I do currently own a Subaru Outback Wagon.

Do you want or need AWD? This is the "BIG" question. Only you can
answer this question.

 

[JDC]

I test drove a Mazda 6 wagon and then bought a Subaru 3.0-H6 Outback 35th
anniversary edition wagon. I liked the sportiness of the Mazda, the quick
and easy way the rear seats flopped down but found the road noise
objectionable, didn't like the coarseness of the seat fabric, didn't like
the sport shift feature as implemented by Mazda (you have to push the stick
forward to down shift which is counterintuitive) and finally felt that there
was more content in the Subaru than in the Mazda for the same price. Oh yes,
I also decided that I wanted all wheel drive.

 

[John]

you have to push the stick forward to down shift which is counterintuitive

I suspect this is true if you've been used to driving an automatic.
Intuitive to me on a stick is forward, replicating the 4th to 3rd gear
shift.

Too bad Mazda doesn't just add the button shifter on the steering wheel as
an option.

 

[Bryan Lee]

I was at almost the same choice you. I was stuck between the WRX wagon, the
mazda 6 wagon and the RX-8. The RX-8 was out because I'm 6' 240 wih long
legs I head my head when I got in the car. I got the WRX. I wanted to go
fast( almost 2 sec. faster to 60mph) and I never had a awd car. I'm very
happy with my car. I get in the low 20's mpg in "sprited"(thats great for
me my other cars are a '64 Grand Prix w/tri-power and '56 Ford PU w a chevy
327) driving and take a corner like it's on rail( I upgraded to 17 X 7.5 w/
225/45/17). I love my car. It's my favorite car so far. Drive both I
think you will like the WRX.

 

[Subbies Two]

x-no-archive: yes

I test drove a Mazda 6 wagon and then bought a Subaru 3.0-H6 Outback 35th
anniversary edition wagon. I liked the sportiness of the Mazda, the quick
and easy way the rear seats flopped down but found the road noise
objectionable, didn't like the coarseness of the seat fabric, didn't like
the sport shift feature as implemented by Mazda (you have to push the stick
forward to down shift which is counterintuitive) and finally felt that there
was more content in the Subaru than in the Mazda for the same price. Oh yes,
I also decided that I wanted all wheel drive.

In the end, when the rubber meets the road, it is not the lack of coarse
seat fabric, it is the AWD that sells the Subbies. People don't buy
Subarus because they are worried about chafing their behind in other
car's seats. They buy Subbies because they go where other cars wont go.

 

[John]

my other cars are a '64 Grand Prix w/tri-power

Yeah!

 

[Henry Paul]

What transmission do you have? Is it a manual?
I have been thinking of either a Forester or an Outback for the second car,
but am still trying to make up my mind.

 

[Henry Paul]

I haven't ridden in a Forester or an Outback yet. I love the Impreza chassis
though. I took mine for a single test drive, popped the hood, and pretty
much bought it right on the spot. I love the comfortable seats and the
handling.

I have a 5-spd manual and in 5th gear @ 75mph I am running about 3,200-3,500
rpm

 

[Guest]

I haven't had a chance to testdrive the Mazda6 SportWagon yet.
The way I see it the PROs and CONs are:

Don't know about the Mazda 6 but after owning only Subarus since 1978
I broke down and bought a new Mazda3 Sport GT in April mainly because
it reminded me of WRX in handling and performance but was Can $10,000
cheaper.

But one week ago I traded it in for a 2005 Outback 2.5i automatic and
after a couple of long trips already in the Subaru I could not be
happier to be back driving a *real* car!

Here's why I returned to Subaru even though trading early cost me some
$$$. The Mazda had excellent "zoom zoom" performance and handing, firm
suspension, high quality finish, lots of hi-tech gizmos - and the
price was really low for what you got.

But it also had low ground clearance, an overly hard ride with
excessive road noise, lo-profile tires with wheels that looked like a
kiddy cart, a tinny feel to it, easily scratched paint, the most
uncomfortable seats I've ever had on a car, black upholstery and
inside finish that showed every scuff mark and bit of dirt, and a
small tank that seemed to eat gas like a thirsty camel (or maybe it
was the zesty way I drove it).

With my Outback I feel like I'm home again A quality car with some
heft to it, real man's tires, ground clearance that gives me
confidence in going on backcountry forest dirt roads with high crowns
and potholes, and an amazingly comfortable 8-way power seat.

Due to an emergency at home I had to return yesterday in a blistering
heat wave from Vancouver to the Interior of BC yesterday in heavy
traffic - a tiring 9-hour drive but the seat was still comfortable. I
now have about 1500 km on the car altogether and am still babying it
by keeping below the recommended 4000 rpm but it still had adequate
power.

But the amazing thing has been the good gas milage so far. I have been
keeping a very accurate record and yesterday's trip involving two
mountain passes with A/C going all the time averaged out at 36.9 miles
per gallon (Imp) or about 7.8 litres/100 km. I find that incredible
but assume it's due mainly to the 4th. gear ratio. At exactly 100 kph
the engine was only turning 2300 rpm!

So in my books your choice is a no-brainer. If you can afford it buy
the Outback!

P.S. No, I don't work for Subarau nor do I own shares - wish I did

 

[Guest]

What transmission do you have? Is it a manual?
I have been thinking of either a Forester or an Outback for the second car,
but am still trying to make up my mind.

Automatic. I've always had manuals before but now I'm sold on the
automatic partly becuase of the manual shift feature and "sport"
setting.

I looked at the Forester but don't like their proportions since they
are based on the Impreza chassis with an expanded body, whereas the
Legacy based Outback just looks "right" and of course has more room
and rides better. The 2005 Legacy/Outbacks are an excellent, major
redesign of a proven line.