by A.Z. Enn

Created on: August 30, 2010

It has been 6 years since the unveiling of the 2004 Mazda 6. This car has proven reliability beyond the expectations of many drivers. The 2004 Mazda 6 is one of the most safest and reliable car for new drivers and old drivers. The sleek design gives the traditional family sedan a sportier look at a low MSRP cost of approximately $7,000 for a I4 version. The car comes in two trims, a V6 3.0 L Engine, called the S version, and a V4 2.3L Engine, the I version. Both trims are fine, but people who are buying these cars are advised to stick to the I version because of its capability to last longer than the S trim.

Pros:

The 6i version has a 160 Horse-Power engine.

The 6i version gets about 21 MPG combined city and highway mileage.

The 6i version is easier to tune, so car tuners find the Mazda 6i a car to have.

The 6s version has a staggering 220 Horse-Power engine.

The 6s version boasts about a 19 MPG combined city and highway mileage.

The 6s version is a lot faster than the 6i version, the horsepower difference and torque should explain that.

The 6s version has a sportier look with side skirts, rear bumper trim, and front bumper trims.

The 6i version can be bought with a ground-effects kit, available at most Mazda dealerships. This ground-effect gives the 6i version a better sportier look.

Both the 6i and the 6s come with a stock Bose stereo surround sound system. For those of you who do not know, Bose offers one of the most high-quality stereos and one of the most longest lasting stereos on the market. The sound coming from Bose stereos is unreal. Their high-quality engineering causes Bose to be the top manufacturer of stereos and audio material. Usually a car that gets a Bose System integrated into it will cost about $1,500. The Mazda 6i and 6s come with it as a stock option.

Both the 6i and the 6s have sunroofs as a stock option.

Cons:

It is actually quite a shame that the V4 engine has only 160 HP. The car is relatively slow and not as powerful as the 6s version. Mazda fails to compare to other 2004 models from other brands in horsepower and torque, but the car makes up for these features with its sleek new design.

The Mazda 6i and s have problems with shifting transmissions smoothly. Overtime, manual transmissions on both these cars begin to have worse performance. Consider this when buying a Mazda 6 with high mileage and a manual transmission.

The Mazda 6s has reportedly had clogging problems with their headers, causing engines to fail and eventually get replaced. This is a common problem for most higher mileage Mazda 6s's. Avoiding this problem can be done by adding a catback or magnaflow exhaust with an aftermarket header system. Of course, this is really costly.

Overall, the 2004 Mazda 6 is a great car to have. They offer both a sport and family package, and both trims are great balances between the two. If you are looking for power, go with the 6s. If you are looking for reliability and long lasting, go for the 6i.

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