There's no bi-xenon bulbs on the on the Accord headlights. It's only halogen. Please refer to the artcile below and the feedback by a user name RAM;

http://blog.autoworld.com.my/index.php/200...accord-24-vtec/

You can also refer to Australia's Honda Accord website;

http://www.honda.com.au/wps/wcm/connect/in...Specifications/



I agree with you. Might as well ask the car manufacturers to give us 14" wheels then and don't give us so expensive 17" / 18" wheels. Saves money on tyres.

18" and above (to a certain extent) is performance related. Road holding and cornering is much beter on a set of 18" wheels.



When you say "both", what car are you referring to? Please don't veer to far away. Accord and Mazda6 only please.

As far as I can recall, the Accord only has LED lights on the puny 3rd brake light. Camry? No idea.

For a list of cars that are fitted with ISOFIX mountings, please refer to website below;

http://isofix.pegperego.com/p.php?l=en&p=5

For a family man like me, I place these kind of safety features on the top of the list.



My replies would be the same as genkis3's.

If you have money also you cannot buy upgrades to features like rain sensing wipers, auto-sensing Bi-Xenon (AFS) headlights and paddle shift.

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Added on August 17, 2008, 10:15 pm

Agreed.



If they give 18" Dunlop SP Sport tyres on the CBU Mazda6 for around the same price as the CKD Accord that comes with 17" and Goodyear tyres, you want to reject meh? Just take only lor...



I believe the Lancer GT comes with Nappa leather. I sat in my colleagues Lancer GT and I thought it was quite nice. When I got the Mazda6 this weekend and inspected it, it's way better than what is given in the Lancer GT's Nappa leather.

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Added on August 17, 2008, 10:17 pm

Wait till you have kids. Any amount of space also not enough.



In UK, yes roadtax is based on emission. That is why the Mazda6 is quite favourable as excecutive company cars as they pay less tax. In Holland, roadtax is based on car weight. On a side note, I also like the idea that tax on cars (and hence car prices) are cheap and while tax on fuel is high. Those who use the car more (and hence more fuel) would bear the cost. I think that's fair.

FYI, emission on the 2.4L Accord is 209 g/km while the Mazda6 is 192 g/km.

This post has been edited by jchue73: Aug 17 2008, 10:17 PM

Errr, Autoword.com.my not a Malaysian website meh? HID does not mean it uses Xenon headlights. Read the Autoworld website. Why would the owner complain that his Accord does nto have Bi-Xenon headlights if it already had?

Besides, if the usually higher spec Australian Accord from Tom Yam land does not have it, do you think Malaysian version would?

Reason why I quoted Australian website is because Malaysian and Singaporean Honda websites don't mention it.



I use that website because it has a generic database. It makes it's business to know about cars that have or do not have ISOFIX fixtures in cars. Euro NCAP has got nothing to do with ISOFIX. The seating arrangement indicated on the website is just for reference only. Basically it's only to tell where the ISOFIX fixtures are located in the car and how many are available in the car.

And here you are talking again about the Euro Accord which is totally out of topic. 2009 version at that.

Euro Accord is not equal to 8th Gen Accord made in Alor Gajah or made in Thailand.

So do you have any info that mentions that the 8th Gen Accord (Thailand or Malaysian made) comes with ISOFIX fixtures?



I added the AFS thing to prove a point. But since the Mazda6 already comes with leather seating which can be as good if not better than Nappa leather seats, the only "missing" thing is the good tinting.

HID in this case does not mean Xenon. A lot of people confuse and take HID to mean Xenon while most of the time they are actually Halogen.

If like that the Mazda5 that comes with HID lights also comes with Xenon which it does not !



I'm fully aware that US calls the current year car models +1. But like I mentioned, the 8th Gen Accord is no Euro Accord and the thread does not discuss Euro Accord.



Good quality tints? Which car comes with tints like Llumar? If they did, the tinting is always done locally and handled by some shop somewhere else and price adder is given for it. At the end of the day, it boils down to the same thing. Do it yourself and you get to pick which one you like according to your budget and tinting preferances.

GPS is nice to have and it's still at it's infancy in Malaysia but with the Malsingmaps, it's still quite useful and usable. Yes, I've always wanted this on the Mazda6 but then I thought would I be able to afford the price if the 2.5L Mazda6 came with one... For the moment, my solution is to get a portable Garmin Nuvi 200w or something similar.







A car is not always meant to be caught in a traffic jam. there are times when you travel long distances with your car on the highways or B roads. Giving those options you mentioned above distinguishes C and D segment cars.



Actually, you forgot that the additional 7 to 8k is not for those accessories you mentioned only. But other things like the fact is it's CBU Japan (not CBU Thailand), Bose audio, power seats with memory and many other things not found on the Accord which would easily justify the additional 7 to 8k price tag.

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Added on August 18, 2008, 3:40 pm

There's actually a video on youtube by a German auto show which pitted the new Audi A4 against the Mazda6.



- Edited with the correct youtube link.

Base on that video, the Audio is 1 second faster at 0-100km/hr acceleration and FC for both cars are similar at 9.3L/100km.

This post has been edited by jchue73: Aug 18 2008, 04:15 PM

On our bumpy roads, I think the 17" tyres would perform more favourably. But then again, changing a set of 17" tyres + rims would cost a bomb.

That's true. Not too sure about the rims that come with the Mazda6 2.5L but if they come with a certain offset, then how? Don't know if the shops would want to trade it in.

I'm more worried about no shop wanting to buy / trade in the 18" tyres and rims because if it comes with a weird offset, and that the shop can only sell it to Mazda6 owners.

Bi-Xenon would mean both low and high beams are using Xenon bulbs. Do you think if the Accord would have this, they would not advertise it as a premium feature? Why would people complain that the Accord does not have it if indeed it actually does? Something to think about.



Precisely. You've answered your own question and my own doubts for me. Your Altis included it as part of Toyota's sales' package for the Altis. Many other cars do this too. The Suzuki Vitara and the SX4 Sedan / Hatchbacks also do this too. Most of the time, the origin of the tinting is unknown and taken as correct from the SA.

So, do you still insist that the price of the car should include tinting package for the likes of Accord and Mazda6 base on your indispensible ammendities for comfort and take out "unnecessary" options like rain sensing wipers, paddle shift, 18" wheels and auto headlights?



Precisely. But I chose to select a balance of comfort, performance, driving satisfaction and safety. If I had used comfort as my only primary yardstick, I would have gone with the Camry. If I had used brand name as my only primary yardstick, I would have gone with the Accord. My wife would be happy too with those other choices. Well, I cannot blame her for her herd mentality. But now after finally getting the Mazda6, there's not one bit of regret from my wife going with the Mazda6 and she was very happy with the choice made.



I believe the ratings and categories C/D etc are just not categories made up in Malaysia. The categories C/D etc are defined by the generic autoworld industry and not defined by Malaysian auto industry? No?



I personally don't feel the need to change to 17" tyres. I mentioned 17" would be good for ride comfort because it is indeed the truth. Secondly, I personally think it's a lot of wastage just changing brand new tyres + rims even before using them. That's partly one fo the reasons why I choose the Mazda6 instead of Accord or Camry and made my buying decission base on several test drives with the Mazda6 on 18" wheels. Why would I revert to 17" and pay more money? It just does not make sense to me.

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Added on August 19, 2008, 4:10 am

Haiya... If other people say 8k, we just agree lor...



Well, certain people do not think it's worth it just because Camrys and Accords that are selling around the same price do not have them. Therefore these other equipments normally found on premium cars like Lexus and BMW are considered as worth nothing on a car like Mazda6.


This post has been edited by jchue73: Aug 19 2008, 04:10 AM

You're right. I forsee that Mazda6 2.0L owners as the only potential clients for the 18" tyres and rims. But then would it void their warranty if they change from stock 16" to 18" tyres? Acceleration would certainly suffer since it's 2.0L.

Normal cars won't have it. Premium cars would. Is it a sin to have these features for the same price range as cars that do not have it?

Putting the question the other way around... Do you see a mark decrease in price for Accord's case? Why is the Accord only slightly cheaper than the Mazda6 despite not having all the features like rain sensing wipers, paddle shift, 18" wheels and auto headlights? Is CKD price indeed more expensive than CBU?



Yes, but I'm sure you've experienced situations when heavy rain is mixed with light intermittent rain and this can go on. The rain sensors would determine the aqequate speed of the wiper without us having to manually intervene to increase wiper speed when the rain pours down heavy or reduce speed when rain is light. Isn't that comforting for the driver? Isn't that what application of technology is all about?



Going in and out of tunels, the light sensor switches on the lights when it thinks that the surrounding ambient light is insufficient. Going from darkness to daylight say coming out of a parking lot would automatically switch off the headlights.



I guess you and my wife can belong to the same group. If you're not the sort who likes driving, then paddle shifting is not for you. The old style manual overide in Automatic gearboxes are usually the ones using the conventional stick to manually upshift or downshift the gears. Now they put it on the steering wheel (technology and idea borrowed from F1) and makes it convenient for the driver to make downshifts and upshifts without taking their hands off the steering wheel thus making it safer and more convenient for the driver to concentrate on driving. Isn't this what technology is about?



Don't confuse between drifting and racing with better driving excitement and high performance by associating things like 18" wheels and paddle shifting with racing. If I was racing, I would not even consider the Mazda6. If you're not the sort who thrives for better driving excitement, then 18" wheels are not for you. Period. Yeah there's always 17".

Perhaps you should write to BMW, Audi and Lexus and post a question to them on why they offer 18" wheels as option on their cars. Maybe it's a good idea that they follow the cue and stick with 14" in their standard family saloons. Saves everybody money since 18" tyres belong on the track.



Can you give examples? Better tinting (which this argument has already been shot down)? Replace the stock seats with OSIM iMedic? Come on. We need to be realistic here.

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Added on August 19, 2008, 3:44 pm

What I meant by features is the gadgets in the car. Ride comfort is directly related to suspension setup. If people like floaty type of driving, the Camry is nice. But if you like a little more excitement and performance in driving, then the Mazda6 provides it.

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Added on August 19, 2008, 3:44 pm

Yeah, like the 20" tyres on the CX-9.

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Added on August 19, 2008, 3:45 pm

But that does not explain the little price differences of the Mazda6 and the Accord as both prices were established during the same time.

This post has been edited by jchue73: Aug 19 2008, 03:45 PM

Well, I'm admitedly shy to say that the Mazda6 2.0L variant is very sparse from features for it's price. From a price point of view, I believe you can get better value elsewhere.

But then again if people value the zoom zoom driving dynamics of a Mazda6, the 2.0L offers it. Just that it's plane Jane.



That's correct. I've been doing that since day one of driving. Our parents have done that and never complained. But then this is what we call technology advancement associated with premium cars. You would say the same for reverse camera and automated parking assist on Lexus that even parks the car for you automatically !

If based on current pricing and tax structure in Malaysia, cars that are sold below RM 100k would be excused for not having these features. Yes, indeed they don't look too expensive to add.



I'm still awed by the 407's inclusion of the in car Sat-Nav at such a low price point. But not having it is really nitpicking. How many cars out there besides the 407 can boast the inclusion of a built-in Sat-Nav? Those that have it are not within the price range of a normal wage income earner. But most Sat-Nav options that I've come across includes Bluetooth and Reverse Camera budled together. So probably that explains the premium price while the one on the 407 does not have Bluetooth and reverse camera.

This is the only thing on my wish list for the Mazda6. But then I would cringe at the thought of the price addition.



The recent announcement of the S40 really caught my eye. But I'm actually a little confused by what is included and what is not in that price. The downloadable brochure from the website says one thing (perhaps it's a generic brochure) but if you look at the website under Features and Options of the S40, it says the 2.4L standard version does not come with this and that. I would reserve my judgement and hold on to that thought.

Perhaps you could start a new thread discussing about the Volvo S40. I would think it would attract a lot of input.

How can you make this conclusion? Quality control is quality control. Looking at it globaly, Mazda Japan also has their quality control issues and at the same time they too need to meet their target sales with the Mazda6. So, in terms if quality issues with regards to high volume, it's no different than Honda Melaka.



Actually, when you take the Modulo accessories into consideration (making it apples to apples comparison since the Mazda6 already comes with the side, front and rear spoilers) which will cost an additional RM 5,300 extra, the RM 7k difference is now shrunk to only RM 2k delta. So there you go. RM 2k more.



Strange that if you do a rough count of postings of people who have sat and saw the Mazda6 and the Accord in the flesh, they always preferred the Mazda6 in terms of styling... Don't get me wrong. I'm just being realistic here.

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Added on August 19, 2008, 11:10 pm

Yup. That's what I mentioned earlier. The info on the website is contradictory to the downloadable brochure.

I guess it's a case of too good to be true?

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Added on August 19, 2008, 11:11 pm

The Mazda brand is never meant to topple Hondas and Toyotas. You can say that it's almost a niche player. Mazda production cannot handle market volume that is dominated by Honda and Toyota. Expect to see the Mazda2 by year end.



You're joking right? The 1 series as a family saloon? You're referring to the 116i right? 150 litres of bootspace is plenty for a family.

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Added on August 19, 2008, 11:14 pm

Bro, you beat me to it.

This post has been edited by jchue73: Aug 19 2008, 11:14 PM

Point taken. However, if your intention was not to make a particular car look bad, might as well not list out the pros and cons of each car to begin with. You're painting a wrong picture which makes the comparison not funny anymore.



Errr, where's your source? I googled and this is the only one I found relevant;

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/japan/200...s-quarterly.htm

The link above goes on to say this;

"In China, the Mazda2 as well as the Mazda 3 boosted sales to more than double the previous year."

This is in contradiction to your statement.



Just wanted to point it out so that people who are reading your post don't jump to slanted conclusions.



Ah... The herd mentality factor cannot be beaten. Like I mentioned previously, Mazda's sales philosophy is not to overtake Hondas and Toyotas. Base on sales volume alone, Mazda can never do what Hondas and Toyotas do at sales. That's why you see what you see on the road.



Yes, I understand what you're trying to put through. Again, I mentioned it so that people are aware that when comparing cars, you cannot just take similar car prices and compare them side by side. It's plain silly to do that especially since moreover they are of different categories.

Congrats ! You made the right decission. What colour?

I think your case is like iceman08. Put booking fees for the Accord but FFK and took the Mazda6 instead. His reason was similar too. He says the Accord make s him look like uncle instead of auntie.

Early reports mention that the 2.5L V6 engine is lethargic compared to the Mazda6. One more thing, I don't fancy woodgrain trim.

Anyway, I had a lookie at the Nissan website and notice that features like illuminated vanity mirrors were highlighted. I only knew about the Mazda6 2.5L having this when I got the car (not sure about Mazda6 2.0L or the Accord 2.4L) but I guess frivoulous things like this are not highlighted at all on the Mazda the website.

Speedometer is a little plain. It's still better than the Accord but the Mazda6 is very much better. Just like the Accord, no brand mentioned on the 6 speaker factory fitted audio system on the Teana. Oh yes, they mention 5.3m radius turning but small print says for the 2.5L and 3.5L with 17" wheels, it's 5.7m.

2.5L version only has 4 airbags and strange that there is no info on how big the rear bootspace and no pics on the rear bootspace itself.

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Added on August 28, 2008, 10:38 pm

TT? Can do.

The Mazdaspeed emblem is metal right?



What kind of silicone spray? I have the Abro Silicone Spray (SL-900).

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Added on August 28, 2008, 10:39 pm

Errr, sometimes pony tails are quite desirable as well.

This post has been edited by jchue73: Aug 28 2008, 10:39 PM

How do you know that the Teana is as quite as the Accord, the Camry or the Mazda6? Early assessments say that the XCVT gearbox on the Teana is noisy.



If wood grain is done tastefully as in REAL wood grain and not the cheapo plastic wannabee wood grain, then it's ok. If not, no thank you. And yes, beige colour interior is also a negative for me. This is why for me, this is why the Camry is a major turn off. But on the Teana, I can see that they try to do the wood grain as close as possible to the real thing. Commendable effort but styling still too uncle for me.



Errr, where did you get this info? Yeah, the one I checked out is the Nissan Maxima (as it's called in Australia) has a rated boot space of a whopping 476L. Still slightly bigger than Accord size though.



Everything that's found on the Mazda6? Sure? What about paddle shifters?

And more? Like what? Better drivability and road handling?

If Singapore version can be slightly stripped down, one wonders how the Malaysian version would be. Strange that China supposedly gets more specs. Perhaps the reason for this is because the Teanas sold in China are made in China themselves for their own domestic market?



Is the Teana for Singapore made in Japan? Or is it coming in from Thailand? Or Karachi, or Taiwan or China? I'm only afraid what they'll do for Malaysian version. Forget about CKD because I don't think they can churn out the same volume as the Accord or even the Camry for that matter. If it's CBU Thailand or CKD Serendah (if ever that was possible), then it will not hold an edge over the CBU Japan Mazda6.

That said, one must just not see the car in terms of specs. It needs to drive nice and part of having a nice driving characteristic is having a spirited engine. No fun if it's a lazy car unless you have a chaufer to drive you. For that fact alone, the Mazda6 does not just win in the looks department. It drives and handles well too and that is the reason why it's a winner.