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I own a 1998 BMW 740i, a 1997 Mustang GT and a 2004 Mazda6 (4cyl) and I subscribe to most auto magazines. I am disappointed that every magazine that has praised the Mazda6 when it first came out for it's nimbleness, handling, and looks since 2003 has fallen in line with the whole tone-deaf auto industry and praised the fact that the new 2009 Mazda6 is longer, wider, fatter... the 2009 Mazda6 is now just like the Accord, Camry amd Altima. Whoop dee doo. The Mazda6 has been stripped of it's personality and uniqueness. With few exceptions cars have gained weight and girth over the past decade and tended to follow each other instead of lead. The planet is turning out clones, not cars. My Lapis Blue Mazda6 is a blast to drive. Fantastic handling, (tepid acceleration - to be honest) plenty of room and full of nice features. I love this car. It's about the size of the current BMW 3 series. (By the way, the current BMW 5 Series is bigger tham my 740i... as is the new gigantic Dodge Challenger). The new 2009 Mazda6 is as loping and chunky as the Accord and Camry. Once again, personality has been sacrificed in the interest of maximizing market share. How sad. Worse... the fact that all car magazines (I mean ALL - Car & Driver, MotorTrend, Auroweek, Road & Track and Automobile) are ripping the fantasticly fun first generation Mazda6 while celebrating the new Mazda6 fatmobile only tells me these writers haven't a clue about what's important. They should celebrate performance that doesn't follow the crowd, instead of they open the champagne at the immersion of the Mazda6 into the teeming overcrowded ranks of the boring, wallowing, main stream.