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From www.blackengineer.com Automotive News
I had just entered the long, smooth curve in the left lane when it happened: The right rear tire blew, instantly dropping the station wagon onto its rims. Predictably, the wagon's rear started to fishtail, and I knew that, in all likelihood, I would probably lose control and go into a roll - possibly into the oncoming traffic. But that did not occur. The rear swaying decreased, and within a few feet it was back riding straight. The car never even left the lane. I hit the emergency flashers, moved across three lanes to the shoulder, and stopped. I checked the rear wheel and was startled to see that the tire had not only blown, it had disintegrated. There was no rubber cushion at all. So how had the car held the road? If you're looking for a family station wagon with grace, comfort, room, and a lot of built-in stability, a good place to start is the 2005 Mazda 6. It carries a price tag of $27,145 and gets about 26 miles per gallon in highway driving. This is a sporty, comfortable family car with a 220-horsepower, 3.0-liter V-6 engine that is the bulk version of Mazda's "zoom zoom" slogan. The front-wheel-drive station wagon hugs the road like a rock star's groupie, because it was designed that way. Mazda spokesman Jeremy Barnes says that when the car went through its paces on Mazda's winding test track in Hiroshima, Japan, "We used a radio control device and blew up the tires during the testing." The tires were exploded on inside and outside curves, on straightaways, at high speeds and low. And only when the stability was achieved at all four corners was the car's design and suspension approved. "The car does not have dynamic stability control," says Barnes, "though it does have traction control to prevent spin. Much of the control comes from the basic suspension design, which is intended to track the 6 as straight as possible. "There isn't much weight on any one wheel because of the way it was designed and packaged. It's well-balanced." The 6 uses Mazda's double-wishbone suspension system in front, which is complemented by a multilink rear suspension. The test car had a five-speed manual transmission that was smooth and responsive. The 6 I drove featured 17-inch alloy wheels and four-wheel disc brakes.
It has heated leather seats, which are useful in northern climes, and a sunroof that is appreciated even when it's too cold outside to open it. The leather-wrapped steering wheel both telescopes and tilts. And it has fingertip controls for an entertainment system featuring an in-dash, six-disc CD changer. The 200-watt, seven-speaker Bose sound system will comfortably rearrange your eardrums. The armrest on the console is too far back to be useful to the driver, but the cup holders are actually deep enough for a water bottle or standard Starbucks cup. There is also a pop-up shelf on the dashboard for small items such as an electronic toll pass or handicap sticker. The 6 is a sleek, attractive, roomy family wagon that gives the ride of a sporty model and the security of a well-built sedan. 2005 Mazda 6 MSRP: $27,145 Roger Witherspoon can be reached at RWitherspoon@ccgmag.com To read more about Safe Six, in a Mazda see Safe Six, in a Mazda in the USBE News archive. © Copyright by Career Communications Group, Inc. 729 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21202 410.244.7101 |
