Friday 23rd July 2010

SOTW: Mazda Xedos 6

Can you pronounce Xedos? Shed can't...

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Remember how Mazda went a little bit mad in the early 1990s? It bunged tiny V6s into front-wheel-drive coupes, decided that it ought to have a four-tier range of sports cars (MX-3, MX-5, MX-6 and RX-7), and prepared to go after Lexus, Infiniti and Acura, with its very own luxury brand.

This was to be called Amati, and it was due to be launched towards the end of 1993. Unfortunately, a recession-embattled Mazda cancelled the project, and the car brand was never born. It did leave two legacy products, however, in the Xedos 6 and Xedos 9.

As well as being distinctly different in style from - and better built than - more mundane Mazda fare (no doubt a result of being intended for a different name badge), the Xedoses were also possibly the most unpronounceable cars available on the market. We're told that you're supposed to say Ker-say-dos, but that still sounds weird to us...

Be that as it may, The Mazda Unpronounceables were interesting, unusual cars, and to find that they've dropped into Shed land makes them most appealing.

Even though it's based on the humble Mazda 626, the Xedos 6's 145bhp 2.0-litre V6 made it an interesting alternative to a 3-series or Mercedes C-class, and the curvy looks were either pretty or quirky, depending on your perspective.

The one we've picked out is a late-model 1998 car up for the pocket-change price of £590 and, although the seller lists neither mileage nor condition, it looks straight enough. Provided it hasn't had 68 previous owners who have clocked up half a million miles, it seems like quite a bargain.

Shame it's got 90s-grade velour seats though...

Advert is reproduced below:

1998 MAZDA Xedos 2.0i V6 Sport £590

4 Doors, Manual, Saloon, Petrol, Metallic Red, MOT-03-2011. Power assisted steering, Air conditioning, Radio/CD, Alloy wheels, Central locking, Electric mirrors, Electric windows, Passenger airbag, Driver airbag. Insurance Group:16, GREAT VALUE!.TRADE SALE.NOW ONLY. £590

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[Luke.]

Exodus surely?

[louismchuge]

Until today I had no idea that car existed. Tomorrow I shall have forgotten

[Jukesy007]

Oh my god, that has to be the ugliest shed ever.

Not the greatest shed this week im afraid, but it will probably soldier on for many years and be a great bargain for someone

[vrdhir]

My Dad has two of these, first one skidded on ice and into a tree - write off. And the other one got written off when a bus drove into it. Unlucky car - drove well though imho

[Motorrad]

SOTW should have been the supercharged Xedos Miller.

edit to add: only problem is that although I saw a few below a grand they all seem to be overpriced at 1500 quid and up!

Edited by Motorrad on Friday 23 July 12:18

[5pen]

Always liked the look of these, but never thought of pronouncing the name as Ker-say-dos!

Competed in the BTCC around 1994 I seem to recall.

[Rusty-C]

A surprise from shed - how refreshing. This is one of my favourite 90s saloons (the 9 even more so), certainly more interesting than the comparative BMW or Audi, and far rarer.

[Dr G]

About as exciting as an old Carina I'm afraid!

[LotusAlfaV6bloke]

I looked at these, having had a MX3 V6, MX5, and currently driving an RX7.

I was dissapointed. The engine did not seem to have the power I expected, and the suspension was wobbly, and many seemed to be rusting, (along the top of the windscreen in particular). Also very dull inside.

I love the look of the car, and the BTCC entries were very pretty. But a bit slow and thirsty for the way it looks.

[nosuchuser]

Motorrad said:

SOTW should have been the supercharged Xedos Miller.

+1

[Riggers]

5pen said:

Always liked the look of these, but never thought of pronouncing the name as Ker-say-dos!

Competed in the BTCC around 1994 I seem to recall.

...until they destroyed all their cars at Knockhill, IIRC...

[toys]

In a Bob Marley style...

ex - ee - dos (movement of ja people)

[Zircon]

Easy to pronounce - say 'Zedos'

My oldman has owned his for over 5 years with barely anything needing doing to it.

Great mid-90's jap reliability, great build quality, super-smooth ride and engine (apart from a bit of a fussy clutch at low speed) and fantastic equipment spec as standard.

Looks wise I think they are pretty cool - apart from the wheels which are too small and a bit ugly. Dash is a touch plastic too compared to BMW / Mercedes etc.

It is one of the biggest bargain luxury cars thet you could get over the last 10 years, now being superseded by Lexus'.

For cheap money you will love the ride.

[Riggers]

nosuchuser said:

Motorrad said:

SOTW should have been the supercharged Xedos Miller.

+1

All well and and good, but the trick would be a) finding one for b) less than a grand, surely?

[gezkc]

I've always liked the look of these. Great choice for SOTW - I'd never even have considered it!

I agree it should be pronounced Zedos though. I've never heard it pronounced Ker-say-dos?!!

[Hoppelemine]

Yuck! Wrong in so many ways.

I'm pretty certain Xedos is pronounced Zay-Dos in the same way you would say Xerox.

This car is absolute pants, I'm sure it'll be as dull to drive as any other 90's Japanese, mid-sized saloon/hatchback. Apart from a worryingly low price, probably due to undisclosed mileage, what has this car got going for it?

edit: I'll give it some credit for having a V6

Edited by Hoppelemine on Friday 23 July 12:43

[Alfanatic]

Saw one of these about a year ago in black, looked very nice, if rather dated. Contemporary road tests weren't impressed though, its exterior styling seemed to be the only thing it had going for it.

[Motorrad]

Riggers said:

All well and and good, but the trick would be a) finding one for b) less than a grand, surely?

As I tried to say in my earlier edit (and failed because I'd only been awake for 10minutes) when I was looking at sheds for my holiday in the UK this year I found a couple of decent looking Millers around the 900quid mark, obviously when I took a look after mentioning them today they've miraculously vanished!

edit to add: closest I can get today but I imagine you could knock 200 quid off the asking price
http://www.trade-it.co.uk/cars-mazda-xedos/region-...

ebay auction-finished at 650 quid!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1998-MAZDA-XEDOS-9-2-5-V6-AU...

Edited by Motorrad on Friday 23 July 12:49

[Garlick]

Mazda themselves suggest the car is pronounced 'ker-say-dos'

Odd eh? You'd have thought is was zee-dos, but apparently not.

[shouldbworking]

If you're going to get something with group 16 insurance premiums it should at least be recognisable!

could do worse though