IntroductionFirst Place: 2006 Mazdaspeed 6Second Place: 2006 Subaru Legacy GT spec.BSecond OpinionsStereo EvaluationEditors' EvaluationsFinal Rankings and Scoring ExplanationTop 5 Features
Sitting down in the 2006 Subaru Legacy GT spec.B, cognitive dissonance begins to swirl. Turning the key of the 2006 Mazdaspeed 6 inspires a similar, immediate itchiness — contradictions of character sprout up within the soul.
"I smell fumes. I hear turbocharging. I feel tuned suspension. So why do I see family sedans? And storage space? I'm beginning to question everything," you say.
Ah yes, young pupil. Sit down. Calm and clear your mind. We'll be your guide through these troubled thoughts.
"But there is no wing. There are no decals. These cupholders are convenient!"
Easy there. With age comes wisdom, yes? But that doesn't mean with age comes boredom. So how can one be at once powerful, yet civilized? Or daring, yet prudent?
The answer, my dear young-to-middle-aged enthusiast, is stealth.
For those moving beyond that somewhat high school-inspired need to impress others through looks alone (Hypercolor shirts? Oakley shades? Ford Probes?), but not quite ready to do zero to 60 mph in the time it takes to change a messy toddler, there is a place for you. Or perhaps you'd like some BMW M5 or Mercedes E55-style performance, but find yourself in a slightly lower tax bracket. This is the test for you.
Classic foes in a niche market
Subaru's Legacy GT spec.B and Mazda's Mazdaspeed 6 offer an enticing blend of performance and practicality, getting you onto the on-ramp with the anonymity of a family sedan but packing the punch needed to blow some doors off if need be.
Both cars are souped-up versions of more sedate family sedans. Each packs a powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a manual transmission, all-wheel drive and sticky 18-inch tires.
From the Mazda 6 comes the Mazdaspeed 6. This particular car was a Grand Touring model propped up on Bridgestone Potenza RE050A summer tires with 18-inch rims. To get it up to the spec.B's trim level, we cherry-picked a navigation system and power moonroof to bring the price from $30,000 up to $33,425.
The spec.B stands atop the proud lineage of the Subaru Legacy. But this model comes not only with the 2.5-liter engine of the Legacy GT, but also with sport-tuned suspension, a refined interior design and nav system standard. Ours wore the same Bridgestone Potenzas as the Mazda and some equally fresh 18-inch rims. Its sticker price was $34,620.
Pitting these two Trojan horses against one another is as natural as the classic Subaru STI-Mitsubishi Evo duel. We've got 250 horses and a five-speed manual in the Subaru. There's 274 hp in the six-speed Mazda. But as with any competition between closely matched competitors, the answer to who wins likely says more about the driver than the car.
Scoreboard
The torque-soaked Subaru gives you better acceleration, jetting to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile well ahead of its competitor. But the slightly heavier Mazda gives you better handling, chewing up the slalom slightly faster than the Subaru with much better body control.
From there, the questions become murkier. Which looks better? Which sounds better? Five speeds or six? This navigation system or that navigation system?
"But with so great a decision resting on so many factors, how can I make a clear decision?" you ask. Good question.
Despite our infinite wisdom, we struggled with the same question. And in this case, among three editors, the Subaru won with one, the Mazda won with another and the third called it a draw. So making a clear call as to the superior vehicle was difficult. But this is no game for cowards, and there can be only one winner.
In the end, the Mazda won for its vastly superior handling. The body roll of the spec.B just won't fly for those tearing up this sporty detour along the path to middle age. Even while touring the highways, where the Subaru team obviously tuned the spec.B's suspension to shine, the Mazdaspeed keeps you plenty comfortable for everyday driving — all the more comfortable knowing you have world-class performance handling at the ready.
Go forth with stealth and pavement-carving prowess, young road warrior. And woe to the minivan or Camry who dares cut you off. Don't forget to give them a "Watch it, Grandpa!" on the way past.
"I smell fumes. I hear turbocharging. I feel tuned suspension. So why do I see family sedans? And storage space? I'm beginning to question everything," you say.
Ah yes, young pupil. Sit down. Calm and clear your mind. We'll be your guide through these troubled thoughts.
"But there is no wing. There are no decals. These cupholders are convenient!"
Easy there. With age comes wisdom, yes? But that doesn't mean with age comes boredom. So how can one be at once powerful, yet civilized? Or daring, yet prudent?
The answer, my dear young-to-middle-aged enthusiast, is stealth.
For those moving beyond that somewhat high school-inspired need to impress others through looks alone (Hypercolor shirts? Oakley shades? Ford Probes?), but not quite ready to do zero to 60 mph in the time it takes to change a messy toddler, there is a place for you. Or perhaps you'd like some BMW M5 or Mercedes E55-style performance, but find yourself in a slightly lower tax bracket. This is the test for you.
Classic foes in a niche market
Subaru's Legacy GT spec.B and Mazda's Mazdaspeed 6 offer an enticing blend of performance and practicality, getting you onto the on-ramp with the anonymity of a family sedan but packing the punch needed to blow some doors off if need be.
Both cars are souped-up versions of more sedate family sedans. Each packs a powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a manual transmission, all-wheel drive and sticky 18-inch tires.
From the Mazda 6 comes the Mazdaspeed 6. This particular car was a Grand Touring model propped up on Bridgestone Potenza RE050A summer tires with 18-inch rims. To get it up to the spec.B's trim level, we cherry-picked a navigation system and power moonroof to bring the price from $30,000 up to $33,425.
The spec.B stands atop the proud lineage of the Subaru Legacy. But this model comes not only with the 2.5-liter engine of the Legacy GT, but also with sport-tuned suspension, a refined interior design and nav system standard. Ours wore the same Bridgestone Potenzas as the Mazda and some equally fresh 18-inch rims. Its sticker price was $34,620.
Pitting these two Trojan horses against one another is as natural as the classic Subaru STI-Mitsubishi Evo duel. We've got 250 horses and a five-speed manual in the Subaru. There's 274 hp in the six-speed Mazda. But as with any competition between closely matched competitors, the answer to who wins likely says more about the driver than the car.
Scoreboard
The torque-soaked Subaru gives you better acceleration, jetting to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile well ahead of its competitor. But the slightly heavier Mazda gives you better handling, chewing up the slalom slightly faster than the Subaru with much better body control.
From there, the questions become murkier. Which looks better? Which sounds better? Five speeds or six? This navigation system or that navigation system?
"But with so great a decision resting on so many factors, how can I make a clear decision?" you ask. Good question.
Despite our infinite wisdom, we struggled with the same question. And in this case, among three editors, the Subaru won with one, the Mazda won with another and the third called it a draw. So making a clear call as to the superior vehicle was difficult. But this is no game for cowards, and there can be only one winner.
In the end, the Mazda won for its vastly superior handling. The body roll of the spec.B just won't fly for those tearing up this sporty detour along the path to middle age. Even while touring the highways, where the Subaru team obviously tuned the spec.B's suspension to shine, the Mazdaspeed keeps you plenty comfortable for everyday driving — all the more comfortable knowing you have world-class performance handling at the ready.
Go forth with stealth and pavement-carving prowess, young road warrior. And woe to the minivan or Camry who dares cut you off. Don't forget to give them a "Watch it, Grandpa!" on the way past.
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