The MazdaSpeed 6 Was An AWD 274-Horsepower Subaru Fighter. It’s Also Horribly Unreliable.

In case you’re considering of shopping around for a Japanese sports sedan from the early 2000s (perhaps your favorite two-door automotive from the era is just too expensive), there are a number of obvious decisions which can be probably high up in your want list. STI-badged Subarus are perhaps the go-to option here, with an enormous base of enthusiast support, standard all-wheel drive, and powerful boxer engines with their immediately recognizable soundtracks. Other decisions include Mitsubishi’s Lancer Evolution models and the relatively rare R34 sedan.

These are all highly sought-after models, though, and as such, they attract higher prices. Way back, they crossed the bridge from accessible each day sports sedans to desirable collector models. For a cheaper alternative, you might all the time consider Mazda’s effort from the era: The turbocharged, all-wheel drive, and all-too-often slept-on Mazdaspeed6.

Because the name suggests, it hails from Mazda’s now-defunct Mazdaspeed department, which handled a few of the brand’s hottest offerings. While the equally hot Mazdaspeed3 still gets much attention and many enthusiast support, the 6 regularly flies under the radar. And reviewing the automotive’s specs and qualities, it’s really tough to grasp why.

Mazda’s hotted-up 6 was way greater than just an everyday sedan with deeper bumpers and a flowery badge on the back. It had performance oozing out of each corner and crevice, and it was an actual alternative to spicy sedans just like the Subaru WRX. Starting under the hood, the Mazdaspeed model was powered by a boosted 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, which churned out 274 horsepower alongside 280 lb-ft of torque. Compare that to the 230 horses and 235 lb-ft on offer from the non-STI version of Subaru’s WRX, and it’s point one for the Mazda. The 6 boasted a six-speed manual transmission too, in comparison with the Subaru’s five-speed, but power was sent to all 4 corners in each cars.

It was much the identical story inside, too, where Mazda left no stone unturned. Sports seats with protruding bolsters would keep the motive force firmly in place. There was carbon-look trim scattered throughout the cabin, aluminum pedals, and amenities like a Bose sound system. Manufacturer estimates had the Mazda going just a little slower from zero to 60 mph than the WRX, but road tests revealed it was quicker: The Mazda took 5.4 seconds for the sprint to 60 while the WRX took 5.6 seconds. 

Sounds perfect, right? Well, it would’ve been a robust option when it launched, however the Mazdaspeed 6’s hidden gremlins began emerging shortly after, and sadly, they detracted from the ownership experience somewhat. While it was definitely capable, it was also unreliable, which took a few of the shine off this WRX rival.

Remember those old Mazda adverts with “Zoom Zoom Zoom” because the tagline? While that could be appropriate for the 6’s sporting nature, enthusiasts in Mazda 6 forums have tweaked the unique tagline to “Zoom Zoom Boom.” For them, that turn of phrase more accurately depicts the common Mazdaspeed owner’s experience. 

In keeping with those that have experience with the souped-up 6, the engine has an inclination to present up the ghost if maintenance has been anything shy of immaculate. Timing chains — while often good for 100,000 miles plus in other engines — need renewing every 50,000 miles here, resulting from weaknesses within the VVT system. A lumpy idle and accompanying rattle are the giveaways here of impending failure, so listen up fastidiously in the event you’re inspecting a possible purchase. Elsewhere under the hood, the turbo might be particularly troublesome also. These engines are being pushed even at factory output, so modified examples can easily munch through turbochargers — expect to pay north of $500 for a rebuild kit, and double-that for a brand new unit entirely. Then there’s the labor to put in a brand new turbo, plus the extra cost of addressing the leaks and other hidden surprises you come across.

Problems don’t stop there, either. The factory suspension and brake packages are fairly sturdy, but can wear through quickly if abused. The true headache is available in the shape of rust, though, as these old 6’s like to corrode — they were never galvanized from the factory, unfortunately. Buying garage-kept examples in dry climates is the dream, but how many homeowners of 20-year-old $5,000 sports sedans really keep them in such a way? Rust can easily write off your dream Mazda, so inspect fastidiously and prepare to walk away if the undercarriage looks like Swiss cheese.