mazda6, or is300?

Did you have any issues with paint? Ive seen quite a few early 2000's nissans that had terrible paint problems.

lnlogauge wrote: Jag? I think reliability falls somewhere pretty high on that list :D

Honestly, no it isn't IS300 reliable but the post '00 XJs have very few problem areas. The Jags of the 21st century are not the Jags of old. There are a number of good buyer's guides out there for them. I am planning on getting one end of this year beginning of next.

Edit: Actually they are very unreliable and no one should by one. I am not saying this in order to keep prices low.

Now I'm convinced-if I could find a good manual Is300 near me, I'd pick it up. My family had a Sienna which was pretty bulletproof, so I'm pro-Toyota. I love my 6, but RWD would be fun...

IS: anvil reliable, ridiculously slow, thirsty for no damn reason, 97% are automatics, tiny backseat

Just get a G35 sedan, at least you'll have a useable backseat and have a quick car.

Also, I kinda want your MX6 GT

calteg wrote: IS: anvil reliable, ridiculously slow, thirsty for no damn reason, 97% are automatics, tiny backseat Just get a G35 sedan, at least you'll have a useable backseat and have a quick car. Also, I kinda want your MX6 GT

How expensive is the G to maintain compared to the IS300? Gas mileage is pretty similar, my concern would be reliability

G35 sedans are great, it just seems like the majority of them are poorly maintained (Infiniti tech for about a year and a half). People get them just so they can throw big wheels on them and tell their friends they have an Infiniti. Apart from that, though, I like them. Pretty easy to work on, and the common issues aren't too bad. I'll take a dark blue manual 4 dr please.

I know nothing of IS's, other than they sure are pretty! A former coworker of mine had one and absolutely loved it.
Maybe you can find a Mazdaspeed 6? That would be the way I would go--the Ford V6 kinda scares me.

The Maxima is another favorite of mine (3.5 years as a Nissan tech, 6-yr owner of a 4th gen Maxima). I don't love the 00-01's as much as Irish, but they are still good cars. Try to find one that has had cats and coils replaced, and replace the IAC valve just for good measure (they like to fry and then take out the ECU with them...$$$$$!), and unplug the stupid electronic motor mounts (they also like to fry ECUs). The 02-03's are sweet with the 3.5, but again, find one that has been well maintained. Don't bother with an 04 or newer Maxima--once they stopped making them in Japan the quality went to crap--although the brand new ones are pretty nice.

I'm sure you'l have no problem selling the MX-6...heck, I'm in the market for a car!

A Speed 6 is a FOUR and a motherberkleyer to do a turbo on (ask me how I know)

4g63t wrote: A Speed 6 is a FOUR and a motherberkleyer to do a turbo on (ask me how I know)

How do you know?

We had a 2000 Maxima that we hastily traded my wife's 1997 Eclipse for when we found out she was pregnant with our first kid. We had it for almost 2 years but it suffered from coil problems that I, at the time, was ill equipped to fix. A $200-$300 dollar trip to the dealer every month finally did it in; we traded it for an MPV. The paint was horrible and the interior trim was beat but it had been in a rental fleet prior to our ownership. It was this car that made us slow down and shop rather than jump on the first car that met our criteria. It was comfortable, even with a rear facing car seat in it. My neighbor has a newer one and it seems to be treating her well.

4g63t wrote: A Speed 6 is a FOUR and a motherberkleyer to do a turbo on (ask me how I know)

What do you mean? They come with a turbo as standard, so do you mean a turbo swap is difficult?

-Hamid

93EXCivic wrote:

lnlogauge wrote: Jag? I think reliability falls somewhere pretty high on that list :D

Honestly, no it isn't IS300 reliable but the post '00 XJs have very few problem areas. The Jags of the 21st century are not the Jags of old. There are a number of good buyer's guides out there for them. I am planning on getting one end of this year beginning of next. Edit: Actually they are very unreliable and no one should by one. I am not saying this in order to keep prices low.

I'm always looking at Jags as they're such a bargain, but their reputation is really hard to shake from my mind. If you do get one, please keep us informed. A family car is on my horizon, and right now I'm thinking a Volvo 960 wagon with the jumpseat in the back. Or a Mazdaspeed6. I swear I change my mind every week.

-Hamid

AverageH wrote: I swear I change my mind every week. -Hamid

Quoted for truth although I'd change it to several times per week (yes, I'm stalking you!)

Wizard_Of_Maz wrote:

calteg wrote: IS: anvil reliable, ridiculously slow, thirsty for no damn reason, 97% are automatics, tiny backseat Just get a G35 sedan, at least you'll have a useable backseat and have a quick car. Also, I kinda want your MX6 GT

How expensive is the G to maintain compared to the IS300? Gas mileage is pretty similar, my concern would be reliability

Well the Lexus is...a Lexus. The G35 is going to be more expensive, though all the issues I've seen with them have been minor.

4g63t wrote: A Speed 6 is a FOUR and a motherberkleyer to do a turbo on (ask me how I know)

I have it on good authority that the COBB in DFW refuses to work on Mazdaspeed6's for a variety of reasons, including this one

IS300, rwd, 2jz. /thread

kanaric wrote: IS300, rwd, 2jz. /thread

With that said, aren't the stock gearboxes (nearly all are automatic) weak past 300hp-ish? I seem to have read that despite the engine having huge potential, the gearboxes are the major weaknesses, and a manual gearbox even more-so. Now, you can get a manual Supra box installed, but I hear that it's super expensive and hard to find. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to have reached a "financial dead-end" with the potential of the IS300 when doing my research. I'd love to boost that 6cyl but there are weaknesses that take a huge amount of work and cash to get past. I'd love an older Lexus (any!) with a manual trans but they don't seem to offer many options in their lineup.

-Hamid

AverageH wrote:

kanaric wrote: IS300, rwd, 2jz. /thread

With that said, aren't the stock gearboxes (nearly all are automatic) weak past 300hp-ish? I seem to have read that despite the engine having huge potential, the gearboxes are the major weaknesses, and a manual gearbox even more-so. Now, you can get a manual Supra box installed, but I hear that it's super expensive and hard to find. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to have reached a "financial dead-end" with the potential of the IS300 when doing my research. I'd love to boost that 6cyl but there are weaknesses that take a huge amount of work and cash to get past. I'd love an older Lexus (any!) with a manual trans but they don't seem to offer many options in their lineup. -Hamid

You are correct. The autobox will take more torque than the manual but not much, maybe 400torques. If you want to be baller in an IS300 it will cost you lots. A good turbo kit, lots of tuning on dyno and supra 6spd, clutch and flywheel set up. The best is best enjoyed with stock power and some mild suspension tuning and drive it problem free for 200k miles.

I didnt realize how hard this search would be. I'm looking for either a mazda6, v6 manual under 100k, or a autotragic is300 under 130k. I want to slap every mazda6 owner that answers the auto or manual question with "both". if there is no clutch, than it is manual. morons.

I'm even willing to fly if I find the right car for the right price. My search is a 500 mile radius, and I cannot find a darn thing. I have money, i want to spend money, but I cant. so frustrating.

lnlogauge wrote: if there is no clutch, than it is manual. morons.

I know its a typo but this still made me lol.

AverageH wrote:

kanaric wrote: IS300, rwd, 2jz. /thread

With that said, aren't the stock gearboxes (nearly all are automatic) weak past 300hp-ish? I seem to have read that despite the engine having huge potential, the gearboxes are the major weaknesses, and a manual gearbox even more-so. Now, you can get a manual Supra box installed, but I hear that it's super expensive and hard to find. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to have reached a "financial dead-end" with the potential of the IS300 when doing my research. I'd love to boost that 6cyl but there are weaknesses that take a huge amount of work and cash to get past. I'd love an older Lexus (any!) with a manual trans but they don't seem to offer many options in their lineup. -Hamid

The stock is300 manual is strong enough to handle a boosted (via off the shelf bolt on turbo kit) 2jzge (the stock engine) and is easily and cheaply (like a couple hundred bucks) upgraded to the r154 out of a mkiii supra turbo. If you need a r154 you already have issues with stock compession on pumpgas. The r154 handles like 600+lb ft of torque IIRC. The auto is stout and handles more than the stick. Read up on the lexus forums before you discount the factory 5 speed as "weak", weak compared to what a 2jz can throw down or compared to what a v160 6 speed can handle is quite strong compared to what most people are making in a street car.

Also, if a boosted is300 is on your shopping list, look for one thats already built, you can save a e36m3load of $ and save yourself some work too. Check MyIS and clublexus classifieds.

Since I own an IS300 you know which way I would vote.

The Bad:

-In stock form they are slow

-lots of body roll

-in-dash CD changers are prone to breaking

-2002 and up have this stupid rubber stuff on the dash that turns into a sticky mess that also scratches way too easy

-Caster arm bushings are probably worn or ripped by now

Good:

-Reliable (I could not kill the stock engine)

-RWD and 5 speed is available

-Seat are great for long trips

Suggestions:

-Skip the stock LSD and install a MKIII Supra clutch type LSD

-Take any money you are thinking of spending on the NA motor and save it in a jar for a GTE swap. They are not as expensive as you think.

EDIT: At the request of Carbon, I have added pictures.

Stock everything except tires. Behold, all the body roll

Not so bad now...

jstancel wrote: Since I own an IS300 you know which way I would vote. The Bad: -In stock form they are slow -lots of body roll -in-dash CD changers are prone to breaking -2002 and up have this stupid rubber stuff on the dash that turns into a sticky mess that also scratches way too easy -Caster arm bushings are probably worn or ripped by now Good: -Reliable (I could not kill the stock engine) -RWD and 5 speed is available -Seat are great for long trips Suggestions: -Skip the stock LSD and install a MKIII Supra clutch type LSD -Take any money you are thinking of spending on the NA motor and save it in a jar for a GTE swap. They are not as expensive as you think.

Hey fellow is owner! Lets see some pics!

About body roll, is yours a sport package? I dont feel like mine has much roll, especially for a stock car, I wonder if spring rates or sways are different on sport pkg cars.

My lsd is holding up well with 175 on it and lots of sideways action on 225 section perelli p zero rossos, rubberized dash is in good shape and cd changer still works fine.

Here's (a crappy celphone pic) mine, it occurs to me that I havent done a proper photoshoot of the car. This spring it needs to happen.

<img src="" />

No affiliation...

Mazdaspeed6, 103k, $7k

http://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/cto/4290867615.html

$7,000 FIRM FRIM NO TRADES need this car gone 313-671-7726

Up for sale this weekend only asking $7,000 you wont find a cheaper mazaspeed 6 CLEAR TITLE Year- 2006 Make- mazda Model- mazdaspeed6 grand touring edition 6 speed manual Engine- 2.3 lt turbo charged engine Fully loaded black on black. leather moonroof heated seats plus AWD drive all the time ASKING $7,000 Issues. Needs a front bearing and a steering wheel pump other then that the car runs and drives excellent.

(313)671-7726 MIKE

• Location: Garden City, MI

In reply to fornetti14:

I love ads like that. Let me paraphrase; "I obviously can't plan anything. I have to sell the car right now and it is broken. Don't dare insult me by trying to haggle on the price."

So I hate to interupt the IS300 love fest, but can I hear more about the V6 used by Mazda? Were they all Ford sourced? Is there hope for that mill, or is reliability a real problem?