Friday 4th June 2010

SOTW: Mazda MX-6

Shed sends Riggers back to his childhood (cue wavy-line flashback sequence)

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A very personal Shed this week - and one that will no doubt divide opinion like a, well, like an opinion-splitting thing. But I like it, and sometimes you just have to go for a bit of what you want.

So without further ado let SOTW present the Mazda MX-6 - one of Mazda's forgotten sports cars and a much-underrated 90s coupe.

Now, I have a well-known soft spot for a bit of Japanese metal (anyone who knows how much money I ended up throwing at my old 200SX will tell you that), but the MX-6 holds a particularly dear place in my automotive heart. And for the oddest of reasons.

Back in the early 1990s, when I was old enough to want to drive, but still far too young to even imagine being 17, I remember reading an issue of Performance Car with an article in it about a club for 'young drivers'.

It was basically an organisation that allowed the teenage children to have a go at driving on private facilities (ie disused airfields) in the cars of their understanding/indulgent/ridiculously brave parents. I desperately wanted a go.

One of the lads featured in the article was a 15-year-old driving his dad's MX-6, and who reached speeds 'in excess of 100mph' when he took the author of the article for a ride-along. I thought he was possibly the coolest person on earth at that point. At the age of 10 I was impossibly jealous and, from that day to this, I have hankered after a go in an MX-6; something I've still not managed to achieve.

This particular example seems pretty tidy and, while its 2.5-litre 24-valve V6 might generate just 164bhp for the front wheels, it is at least connected to the wheels via a manual gearbox and could hit almost 140mph flat out.

The seller isn't exactly forthcoming with information, but provided 'low mileage' means something sensible, this white GT seems like quite a bit of car for the money, with a decent spec count and a full year's MOT.

It might not have the glamour of an RX-7 or the reputation of an MX-5, but I reckon that, as a fast cruiser, this often-overlooked coupe is pretty damn cool. At least that's what my 10-year-old self would say...

Advert is reproduced below

MAZDA MX6 GT V6 2.5 24 V (1994)
£995

a very nice Mazda MX6 GT In White

Low mileage

Full Black Leather interior

Electrics, Air Con, PAS, Alloys

Rust Free Example with full MOT

PX Welcome

Join SOTW on Facebook

[bones33]

A lot of car for the money

[zakelwe]

Certainly more sexy than the Ford version with it's silly name!



Andy

[Goodfella 555]

I think these things are really girly in a Penelope Pitstop kind of way

[willE36]

I've always liked these, although the wrong wheel drive kills it for me = )

[Danny S]

looks like a nice dash

does anyone know what the 200sx was like then, the one mentioned int he article?

[Rob P]

Always liked these, never realised they were FWD. For that reason I would prefer a 200SX, although this Mazda does look in good nick so worth a punt for some ultra-reliable jap miles!

[soad]

Bland (white) colour but interior is nice - all leather and looks immaculate.
If it's mechanically sound - I'd be tempted to buy it.

[Chunky La Funga]

I picked up a 67,000 mile example of one of these for £720. My wife won't let me get rid of it as she loves it so much. It's been down to the Alps twice and I've put over 20,000 miles on it without missing a beat.

Huge boot, fairly decent space in the back, characterful V6, OK handling. Interior isn't going to win any design awards and you'll only manage 34mpg on a run with a light right foot being the downsides. As much as a 200SX is more desirable, if you're not particularly concerned with getting the tail out, the MX-6 is an interesting alternative. Let's just say the modest power output doesn't corrupt the steering response too badly.


Indestructible in Vallorcine.

[Riggers]

Danny S said:

looks like a nice dash

does anyone know what the 200sx was like then, the one mentioned int he article?

I do! It was still standard, it was just that bits kept on wearing out - like the coil packs and various other bits and bobs. It's all relative, really: when I said I spent loads of money on it, you have to take into consideration that I was a student/part-time white van driver at the time...

[MiniMan64]

It's not going to set the world on fire with probably endless Jap build quality and a rather tasty interior I'd imagine that wouldn't be a bad barge to cover some motorway miles in.

Not bad.

[Gizmo!]

I've always thought these look quite cool. Wrong wheel drive of course, but as the poster above said that's not really a problem with comparatively little power in the first place. The V6 sounds good, those seats look in really good condition, the car is low and slinky in a way that cars just aren't any more; there's even a clear resemblance to the fluid shape of the RX-7. For a bag of sand, what's not to like?

[stewy68]

Danny S said:

does anyone know what the 200sx was like then, the one mentioned int he article?

As much as I like the Mazda, I know which one I'd rather have.

[leginlb]

I was a rear seat passenger in one of those, being taken out for an expense account lunch by an Advertising Sales rep. She pulled out in front of a large truck and through the side window, by life flashed before me. Luckily she floored the MX-6 and impressively (and with a fruity engine note) blasted away... all the way up to 100mph on the Industrial Estate roads. Afterwards we asked her if she was as worried as us, she simply commented that she'd been in better near accidents than that!

Still, much better looking than the Ford with the embarassing name

[leon9191]

Good shedding in essence, nice looking car with a decent engine and by all accounts it should be usable and reliable.

BUT… and here’s my issue and it’s the same one I have with any remotely desirable middle of the road 80-90’s sheds and that is fuel costs.

I can cope with 15-20mpg if the car is worth it, but for me this just wouldn’t be which is a shame cause it is a nice car.

[briSk]

this is the best shed for ages in that it doesn;t apparently need a load doing to it from the off!

i do like these. as someone else said you'd never imagine the naffness of the probe was based on the same car..!

but it does make you think - if this is what an mx6 costs..how much can you buy probes for now..?!
£450! no note of mileage though
http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1738293.htm

Edited by briSk on Friday 4th June 11:41

[Galsia]

My dad used to have one of these in black and it was a lovely car. The back seats were very comfortable and it was fairly quick. Nothing wrong with it, although I remember my dad having to put a bit of cardboard between the dashboard and windscreen to stop it from squeaking.

[varsas]

Danny S said:

does anyone know what the 200sx was like then, the one mentioned int he article?

Really? How young are you?

First video I found on youtube explains all...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMg6NhzY6u0

[Beefmeister]

A good friend of mine had a Jap import one of these, with the 200bhp engine. With a custom Hayward & Scott exhaust on it, it sounded epic at high revs, somewhat Ducati-esque.

This one is quite the bargain...

[McAndy]

Good shed. I very nearly bought one a couple of years back but went for a 3 series instead for RWD reasons. Would love to pick one up if I had space to keep it now though as they're so very cheap!

[Mazda Baiter]

Good shed!