regfootball

just drop the price and clear them out. put the 1.6 in it and add a stop start system as an option on like 2% for those who want it.

GM will be overtaken by VW for the number 2 spot. GM is not aggressive enough and does not have enough presence in Europe. Plus VW is gaining in China.

that is not the only reason. i think the styling was a bit amiss and there was some interior cheapness. It was trying to be too cool. This Rio is slightly cool, but still has a proper amount of mainstream. At the time, Spectra name was gaining a lot of traction but it was not cool enough, Forte killed all the brand equity in the Spectra name. If the next Forte had the looks of this Rio enlarged, and had been named Spectra all along, I think it would probably doing serious volume and making huge cuts into Corolla and Civic sales.

sort of seems like an intent to expand the italian brands...which I don't see being uber successful.

well i guess in 2013 they could shun Liberty and just call it the Jeep Progressive and even do a free insurance promotion with FLO. Cherokee it would end up to be. Jeep Liberty in 2013 does sound too cheesy.

good idea.

lol

Well, would GM and nearly every other car maker had not gone to producing primarily front drive cars for the last 30 plus years if it hadn't been cheaper and saved lots of room?

bye bye! hope a US company buys it though. keep it here.

stylish for what it is, inside and out. some cheapness that just comes in that price range. Kia has done a very good job. I think it was stupid for kia to change the Spectra name to Forte. I think they lost a lot of customers on that move. The Spectra was gaining a lot of traction in the market, and then they pulled it.......started selling the "Forte" and it got lost in translation.

likin the stingray more and more everyday. still think the dash is too 90's but that is nitpicky. Corvette or Cayman, that would be a hard decision. Vettes are more badass though.

i heard that he's a Republican....

GM will fall to 3 soon.

After driving the Mazda yesterday, (my review is in reader reviews), this is how I think a Car and Driver or a Motor Trend might rate them (averaging out the strengths of all the various trim and powertrain levels) 1. Accord 2. Mazda6 3. Fusion (haven't driven this one yet, just guessing) 4. Altima 5. Passat 6. Optima (have not driven but it may share some things with the Hyundai 7. Sonata 8. Legacy 9. Camry (Have not driven and I do not intend to) 10. Malibu 11. Avenger (sort of a throw in to make sure there was a bottom dweller) Here are some notes of what i think Mazda is probably a more balanced offering than any of these cars. The Sonata is a good mainstream public car. But the C/D type magazines will continue to give Honda the crown for whatever reason. A Motor Trend will probably move the Camry way up as well. If I were re-sorting my preferences again just based on the ones I know, this is probably how it would sort out..... Like a lot -Mazda6, Malibu (probably will like the Ford too) Like enough -Sonata, Passat, Legacy (prob Optima too) Passat would move up if it didn't have sh1tty base engine. Like some but not completely, would not really look to owning one -Accord, Altima note: both of these cars would move up a lot if they took care of noise issues / NVH. Altima feels cheesy to a degree. No thanks -Camry and Avenger Really just about any of this bunch I would enjoy but my observations so far, I would have no problems aside from a small back seat picking up a Malibu, despite its flaws. It's the best highway car, and it seemed to me to be the most quiet car as well. I think the 2.5 is a really good powertrain.

BUMP I've driven a lot of these lately so I will try to add some notes.

best color! MEGA CONGRATS!

blu does the new beetle do anything for you?

DRIVEN 2014 Mazda6, GT? MSRP 31 and change HIGHS Snazzy design inside and out EPA MPG Plenty of cabin size Nice forward view Interior laid out quite nicely and is upper tier for the class. Nice touch points. Radio with small screen actually is just fine Stable and secure on the road Some steering feel..... Feel of the vehicle is entirely similar to it's CX5 cousin Pricing Powertrain overall seems decently sorted out Console mounted knob control for screen Some aura of 'Japanese BMW' Feels like a grand touring car LOWS Tire and road noise is excessive (not by any means the worst offender in the class but enough that you notice it) Feels a bit light Not distinctive enough? From the previous gen (hard to notice they are different side by side to the casual observer in the showroom or on the lot). Power is average at best...needs another engine option. Tranny is a bit pokey. Seats seem thin and inadequate, and do not seem up to the task of holding up girthy AMURCHANS trunk's a bit compromised Not a huge improvement overall over the existing car, really makes you appreciate the existing model Traditional automatic may actually seem not as responsive as some of it's CVT competition An excellent car, but it does not really live up to some of the hype Near the top but not a defacto class leader like some may have suggested Car actually has the character such that a diesel would really make it a better car Well, let me just be brief. The new Mazda6 is a pretty good car. It seems to hit just about every market button for introducing a new entry in the midsize segment. It's got the style, it's got value and Mazda's quality rep. It has powertrain innovations and the promise of some legacy zoom zoom that the brand connotes. The current Mazda6 has not been a sales godsend. A shame really, because it's a pretty good car. Very good in fact. But it lacks some styling sizzle and gets lost in the competition. And it does not peg the meter on mpg or hp (with a 4). At first glance, you wouldn't likely be able to tell the 14 apart from a 13 parked next to it. That is both good and bad. Word from the salesperson was that this car stops people and makes their head turn where the last one does not. Perhaps that is credit to the new front end language and the aggressive grille motif. The drive lives up to the theme established by the styling. Somewhat more interesting than the milquetoast mainstream, yet not niche extreme. The ride is firm not hard. The steering is sharper, but not fast. The seats cradle you a bit more, but are not restrictive. (they are thin and unsupportive for us fatties unfortunately). Most of the promise of all the hype is delivered upon to an acceptable degree. The interior in leather is quite wonderful, and touch points including the dash top are all well done. Yet there is still enough of interior trim that is done consistent to the current midsize standard. I.e., you will stop short of comparing this car to luxury cars. this is ok. You're excited because the car is just enough different to feel unique compared to an Accord and Altima. And I would even (without having driven) say this car is a nicer place to be than the seemingly garden variety new 13 Fusion. The drive is not a breakthough though. It's still a family sedan. Just done nicely. Steering is very good, but not awesome. Powertrain has a pretty good level of refinement, but shifts are sorta slow, the engine is compliant but not eager, the transmission can be slow to execute its shifts. The 13 and previous model I think is actually quieter, and despite it's bland interior layout, maybe feels a little more cushy. In fact, the new 6 reminded me of my old 99 SHO Taurus. A half step above the mainstream, comfortable competence, but with a little residual deficiency that you noticed that kept it within the ranks of the ordinary (even if it purported itself to be on the next level). Given the nature of the typical midsize sedan buyer these days, I am certain this car will make an impact on many of those who test drive it. Will they ante up? Where does this car fall in the midsize pecking order? I'll sort of fill that in in a bit. I will say this right now. The size, ride and drive, and powertrain lack of urgency sort of remind me of the current Passat (2.5). It seems weird to suggest, but to some degree these cars feel similar to me. I do think that the character of this new Mazda6 would actually entirely fit the personality of a diesel extremely well and I can see how it would by many be seen as a better car with one. So with that in mind I cannot wait to see how the M6 diesel turns out. I just don't think the skyactiv gas powertrain makes this car memorable or what it could be. It good, just not really much above average. This might be the most balanced mid sizer in terms of lacking glaring weaknesses though. I'd like to say any of these midsizers are an A at some point, but like all the others, even this highly touted new Mazda6 is just not there yet. The diesel and some minor tweaking on road noise, seats, and handling and powertrain could very easily get it there. Despite my comments I would pretty much endorse this car to anyone though. B+

Now I gotta write up my review

they should import astra OPC's from EUROPE......

the smaller cars turn higher rpm on the highway. What i am finding is my Cobalt at 75 mph in winter I am struggling to hit 30 mpg per tank. I would guess an automatic (insert new 2013 midsize car with 4 cylinder here) and a high mpg (just about any) will get about the same or more. i.e. Fusion 1.6t or even a Malibu 2.5. And those types of cars lease well. The plain Jane... Maybe those new Mazda6 with stick will be cheap, they do get 38 mpg highway.

hope that crappy 2.5 five is not part of the deal.

dislike the color. the interiors on these most recent volvos have too sparse a look to me. overall, i do like this car... wouldn't buy one but its a nice choice in the market and it is distinctive.

this is exactly where i am at. interesting to see all the answers here.

this is exactly where i am at. interesting to see all the answers here.