The new family truckster - 2006 Mazda 6 wagon

[marcs_sp20]

Hey guys,

As of this afternoon my wife and I will became the proud new owners of another Mazda! :D Its a 2006 GY 6 Wagon, 5spd Activematic.

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/marcs_sp20/262992_10151120085502886_417604307_n.jpg

As my wife is currently pregnant, we thought now was the best time to upgrade and get a bigger car, so the wagon replaces her old 2000 KN Laser Hatch.

Im gonna force myself not to mod this too much, but for the moment I have the following ordered:

Redlinegoods armrest cover & handbrake Boot
Rubber bootmat
Atenza rear decal

Im also considering lowering it (not too low) and maybe throwing my MPS3 rims on it, which would look like this quick photoshop :p
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o523/benn_/8163D2EE6BB34DC4A2458F0ED196449D_zpsbcc12585copy_z psc6bdad93.jpg


Cheers
Marc

[marcs_sp20]

And some photos I took this afternoon :)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/8056392132_bda2f9bf5e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056392132/)
Mazda 6 front (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056392132/) by marcssp20 (http://www.flickr.com/people/85440876@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8042/8056392530_a731e7b8b1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056392530/)
Mazda 6 rear (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056392530/) by marcssp20 (http://www.flickr.com/people/85440876@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8176/8056393290_efd07983bf_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056393290/)
Mazda 6 dash (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056393290/) by marcssp20 (http://www.flickr.com/people/85440876@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8454/8056393580_27dd1daafa_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056393580/)
rear light (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056393580/) by marcssp20 (http://www.flickr.com/people/85440876@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8317/8056392883_e9e409f4d1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056392883/)
IMG_1971 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056392883/) by marcssp20 (http://www.flickr.com/people/85440876@N07/), on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/8056395292_6c43b0e86a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056395292/)
IMG_1966 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/85440876@N07/8056395292/) by marcssp20 (http://www.flickr.com/people/85440876@N07/), on Flickr

[Rhys]

Nice! I've always liked the wagons.. They're just so... practical!

[Samsara]

Those rims look amazing on it.
But they also look amazing on the astina.

We have a conundrum on our hands.

Also, Marc, did you get my PM mate?

[Ben]

So crean and shiney! You should bring it on the upcoming cruise to glasshouse

[TheMAN]

you should get an autoexe strut bar ;)

I think the MPS 3 wheels will rub on the wheel arches if you lowered the car

[z100]

Nice color! The first thing I'd be replacing are those exhaust tips!
Has it got a tint on the windows? Hard to tell in the pics.

[70NYD]

Woah!
Congrats man :D looks awesome :D I hope Tash enjoys driving it :)

[Rupewrecht]

Nice!

[project.r.racing]

Nice. I just brought a car with the same engine.

[rodhog]

only thing I will suggest. Don't lower it - if you are going to carry kids in it.

Kids - lowered cars = headache. I don't even have my own that I know of but I do take care of many. Kids and standards cars perfect for everyday.

[JDM323]

both our cars are lowered and we have kids with no issues.

[marcs_sp20]

Nice! I've always liked the wagons.. They're just so... practical!

Cheers man, will find out how practical when we head to Ikea ;)

Those rims look amazing on it.
But they also look amazing on the astina.

We have a conundrum on our hands.

Also, Marc, did you get my PM mate?

Its either the MPS wheels or I have my eyes on a set of MPS6 rims ;)

So crean and shiney! You should bring it on the upcoming cruise to glasshouse

Hopefully will make it, and in this of course ;)

you should get an autoexe strut bar ;)

I think the MPS 3 wheels will rub on the wheel arches if you lowered the car

How so? MPS 3 wheels are only .5" wider than the stock 16x7 rims, and they have the same +50 offset.

Nice color! The first thing I'd be replacing are those exhaust tips!
Has it got a tint on the windows? Hard to tell in the pics.

Nah, the tips add style :p and yeah its factory tinted

Woah!
Congrats man :D looks awesome :D I hope Tash enjoys driving it :)

She hasnt driven it yet, or any auto cars for that matter :eek: Will get her acquainted in the local shop carpark tomorrow :)

Nice. I just brought a car with the same engine.

As I saw on facebook :D

only thing I will suggest. Don't lower it - if you are going to carry kids in it.

Kids - lowered cars = headache. I don't even have my own that I know of but I do take care of many. Kids and standards cars perfect for everyday.

both our cars are lowered and we have kids with no issues.

lowering is a maybe, but after todays drive to Toowoomba & back, I like the way it handled the crappy Warrego Highway (full of potholes)

Anyways, filled it up this morning, and have driven 230kms with 590kms until empty, and that was with the A/C on too! :D

[Cosmo Dude]

Anyways, filled it up this morning, and have driven 230kms with 590kms until empty, and that was with the A/C on too! :D

The closer it comes to empty the more realistic the distance to empty becomes. Mine has read over 1000km when full but only lasted 700km.
Now I use it for my amusement :p

[marcs_sp20]

The closer it comes to empty the more realistic the distance to empty becomes. Mine has read over 1000km when full but only lasted 700km.
Now I use it for my amusement :p

I figured as much, but its just gone under the full mark on the gauge! :eek:

[maz sp20]

Nice marc

[project.r.racing]

Spin on oil filter mod? I'm just chasing parts now.

[marcs_sp20]

Details?

[Ice88]

http://www.ozmazda.com/board/index.php/topic/7952-mazda-3-sp23-spin-on-oil-filter-conversion-23l-only/

:)

[marcs_sp20]

http://www.ozmazda.com/board/index.php/topic/7952-mazda-3-sp23-spin-on-oil-filter-conversion-23l-only/

:)

Ah Cheers Kris, never knew the 2.3L had a cartridge filter :confused:

[Ice88]

Welcome man.

Me either till i was reading about it the other day :)

[rodhog]

Ah Cheers Kris, never knew the 2.3L had a cartridge filter :confused:

Yep and a few Sp23's or 6's have had issues with cracked housings and covers.

It's a Top MOD. IMO it's bit silly.

I mean in the 60's Yes. because manufacturing a can type oil filter was more expensive via a large amount. Now it's only cost of steel difference.
Mercedes still use it and have for years but by late 70's it was gone.

[project.r.racing]

It's the first thing I'll be doing to my 2.3L.

Also been meaning to ask, what the the 'truckster' title about?

[marcs_sp20]

Also been meaning to ask, what the the 'truckster' title about?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagon_Queen_Family_Truckster

:p

[project.r.racing]

So you're saying you 6 is deliberately designed in bad taste as a ridiculous station wagon, with absurdly over-the-top styling?

[marcs_sp20]

no, moreso named it the truckster cause i'll end up carting kids over the country ;)

[Hammo]

Yep and a few Sp23's or 6's have had issues with cracked housings and covers.

It's a Top MOD. IMO it's bit silly.

I mean in the 60's Yes. because manufacturing a can type oil filter was more expensive via a large amount. Now it's only cost of steel difference.
Mercedes still use it and have for years but by late 70's it was gone.

The last steel oil filter ive seen on a benz was an old mid 80's 180E, all the newer benz's use cartrige filters, think ve commodores have them too.

[maztech]

The only problem with the cartridge filter is operator error not changing the o ring and not using the correct tool and doing em up to tight! Ifyouknow what you are doing they are fine

[TheMAN]

I changed over to a spin on filter on my SP23 when the car was still new
then I added an MPS 3 oil cooler last year

[mkid]

you always take great pics marc looks awesome mate

when i first got my sp23 i consided the spin on filter mod as well but after changing the the normal filter a few times it doesent really bother me. and i havent occured any problems yet. sure maybe you can change filter a lil quicker and normal filter might be a few $ cheaper, but you still have to buy the parts. so i didnt see the point. you can buy the tool to remove the plastic cover for the filter housing off ebay
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mazda-3-6-2-3L-Ford-Fusion-Escape-Focus-Oil-Filter-Wrench-Lifetime-Guaranteed-/221067735790?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item3378a9f2ee

(tool is shared with a few other companys)
but a pair of multigrips can do it easy

my dads mark5 golf 2.0 tdi uses a cartridge filter for oil and fuel as does my brother VE i believe, cartridge filters are more common than we think it seems
also any cartridge filter you buy will come with new orings in the box so theres never a reason not to replace them

[marcs_sp20]

The only problem with the cartridge filter is operator error not changing the o ring and not using the correct tool and doing em up to tight! Ifyouknow what you are doing they are fine

Might get you to show me what the procedure when its due for a service :)

[TheMAN]

you always take great pics marc looks awesome mate

when i first got my sp23 i consided the spin on filter mod as well but after changing the the normal filter a few times it doesent really bother me. and i havent occured any problems yet. sure maybe you can change filter a lil quicker and normal filter might be a few $ cheaper, but you still have to buy the parts. so i didnt see the point. you can buy the tool to remove the plastic cover for the filter housing off ebay
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Mazda-3-6-2-3L-Ford-Fusion-Escape-Focus-Oil-Filter-Wrench-Lifetime-Guaranteed-/221067735790?pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&hash=item3378a9f2ee

(tool is shared with a few other companys)
but a pair of multigrips can do it easy

my dads mark5 golf 2.0 tdi uses a cartridge filter for oil and fuel as does my brother VE i believe, cartridge filters are more common than we think it seems
also any cartridge filter you buy will come with new orings in the box so theres never a reason not to replace them


the thing is, these mazdas uses a plastic cap for that filter... it's cheap crap plastic that's known to break

mazda issued a very internal memo back in 2006 practically admitting it's crap by saying they revised the cap sometime in the middle of the year with thicker wall plastic.... no part number changes were made, no official bulletin or memo was made.... all I saw was it shown in front of my eyes, then the paper whisked away by the regional rep

[TheMAN]

Might get you to show me what the procedure when its due for a service :)

this probably isn't what you will end up doing, but for all intents and purposes, it has the information you need to get it done
http://www.protegefaq.net/mzroilcooler/

there's actual how-tos for the conversion out there if you don't like that.... just google

but if you can do me a favour and take some pics in the same angles I did from your car.. that will be helpful because things look a little different on the 6 :)
I'd like to update that how-to to include those pics to make it more complete :)

[project.r.racing]

I'll be changing mine. There's something about hot plastic holding in the engine's entire oil that diesn't sit with me right.

[TheMAN]

thought of mazdaspeed springs any? lowers the least but maintains comfort while improving handling on the street
http://page19.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/x229555076

[maz sp20]

Any plans for the exhaust?

[marcs_sp20]

Nah exhaust is staying nice and quiet, but my change tge tips, cant say the same intake :p

[marcs_sp20]

Just found this beauty on one of the Mazda6 forums, one day! :D

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h86/rasoo/IMG_4273.jpg

[Noble323]

These wheels would suit, probably better with the colour of your car and lowered .


http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$(KGrHqRHJFUFBh)GQSEsBQgjv16BSw~~60_3.JPG

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$T2eC16VHJGIE9nnWqr,QBQgjwI5YtQ~~60_3.JPG

[Lachlan]

20" Cx9s? Haha.

[BG1.8sp]

20" Cx9s? Haha.

There is a white Mazda 6 sedan going around near me with them.
Seriously looks wicked! Ride comfort on the 30 series must be rubbish tho.

[rodhog]

Yeah It amazes me when I see a CX -9 with 24 inch rims on it too.

[BG1.8sp]

Yeah It amazes me when I see a CX -9 with 24 inch rims on it too.

I really should upload a photo I took at a petrol station in Nashville...
New challenger with over 30 inch rims... Just riduclous! :o

[HAIGHIE]

I really should upload a photo I took at a petrol station in Nashville...
New challenger with over 30 inch rims... Just riduclous! :o

do it plz, lol never seen 30's before, although i've seen 40's on a cruiser pimp my ride though

[marcs_sp20]

Anything over 22" just looks stupid IMO :rolleyes:

I wont be going over 18", and it wont be lowered either!

Currently have my eyes on a set of 17" BL SP25 rims on ebay, so if the auction swings in my favour, the wags will get new shoes and I'll be putting the 6's 16's on the SP20 ;)

[marcs_sp20]

Chrome be gone!

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/marcs_sp20/20130215_182432.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/marcs_sp20/20130215_192402_HDR.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/marcs_sp20/20130215_212843.jpg

Will throw up the installed photo & rear badges done tomorrow pending weather ;)

[marcs_sp20]

so if youre not on teh AGT facebook page, theyre all done ;)

Grille Installed:

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/marcs_sp20/20130216_111102.jpg

Rear badges done:
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/marcs_sp20/20130216_100408.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/marcs_sp20/20130216_111031.jpg

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/marcs_sp20/20130216_111026.jpg

Oh and had an Atenza badge laying around, so through a couple coats of Plastidip on it too :D

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/marcs_sp20/20130216_111018.jpg

[maztech]

Can you take a pic of the can you used to do this please ?

[marcs_sp20]

Check ya phone ;)

[TheMAN]

the chrome grille would've looked better in gloss black instead of the plastic dip textured flat black IMO

[marcs_sp20]

Meh, each to their own

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/34938342.jpg