Mazda 5 opinions?

So, my wife wants a van again. We've been without since we sold our tired old Safari a few months ago. Yesterday we went at looked at vans, and even though it pains me to say it, the Dodge GC really seems like the best value out there. We drove a new one, and an '07 and an '06. I think for the money saved, I'd likely go for the '06 as it's a loaded SXT and has very low miles.

On a whim, we went to the Mazda dealer and drove a 5. They've got an 09 GT with Nav and Lux package that they're offering a pretty good deal on (approx $3k below sticker). She really liked it. Like, REALLY liked it. I have always thought they were pretty cool too. The sliding doors are great for kids. It would mainly be hers, but It would be our main "family vehicle" for the long term.

Anybody have one? What do you think of it?

It's a good bit smaller than the gc, if that won't be an issue than it'll be much more enjoyable to drive as it's based on the same platform as the mazda3, s40, and focus. The ex had one as a rental once and I was impressed with the space in the back and how the seat bottoms opened upon the back for storage and such.

It would be on my short list if I were in your position

It was on our list for a while. I like the utility of big wagons. Big plus is an available manual transmission. My mom had one as a rental when her Oddy was in the shop for warranty work and I was pretty impressed by the way it drove.

Do it!

My mom has one, I like it. Much better to drive than a 6 passenger van has any right to be. Watch out for suspension noises (they've had several bushings and 2 shocks replaced under warranty) and shiny happy person dealers.

I had one a rental recently, again. It is what I chose for moving around 4 adults and it was very good at that. Hertz classes it as a mid size car and it is much better than trying to get 4 adults into a G6.
Overall, I like them.

Things I did not like:

Seat lift: There was a manual adjustment for lifting the driver's seat but as is the case with this feature on many cars, the lifting really only lifts the back of the seat and creates a slopping forward effec. Therefor, I do not use this feature and keep the seat at its lowest position.

Tilt wheel: The wheel tilts down but I think they assume that you are going to lift the seat. If you keep the seat low (see above) then the wheel really does not tilt low enough. For me, at the lowest tilted position, the wheel is not tilted low enough.

Seat removal: The middle seats never come out, only fold down. The vehicle could hold so much more cargo, if the seats came out. I guess the way to look at it is that it a people hauler. I just wish that it was more of a cargo van.

4 seater: It is a great 4 seater with luggage or up to 6 seater without luggage but the two in the back must be children (or ultra small). Just do not expect it to be a 5 or 6 adult seater and never expect it to be a 6 seater with even light luggage.

I rent a lot of cars. Nobody ever comments on them, except the one time I showed up in a Mazda 5. Then 3 different coworkers commented on it, as 'dorky.'

It is also one of the best utility cars I've rented. It was fun to drive as rentals go, and still seemed solid after 55k fleet miles. Highest mileage rental I've ever gotten.

Impalas feel like they are ready to be retired by the time they have 25-30k rental miles on them.

I'm told it's the only van sold in the States that can come with a manual trans? That's a plus for me.

*Edit

I shoulda known that would have been one of the first responses. Maybe I should read through these threads before posting.

Thanks for the opinions, it sort of confirms what I thought already. I think we would rarely need room for 6 people + stuff, and when there's just the 4 of us, the back seat folds easily. I think the fuel economy should be significantly better over the long term than a v6 van, and hopefully the build quality would be better as well. This is the first time in our 15 yr married life that we've even looked at a NEW vehicle, and also the first time we've contemplated holding onto one for the long haul. Sort of exciting and nerve wracking at the same time.

For what it is, I've thought they were pretty cool. The chrome tail light housings are cheesy, but overall it's not bad.

One of the "big" auto magazines built a Mazdaspeed5. Seems like more potential for fun than any other minivan.

Yeh but that thing was a mess. They rewired the whole car to get it to run on factory electronics. Which i GUESS is cheaper than some other options when your donor vehicle was free and you make other people do most of the work for free. Imo most of us would be way better off going at it in a different way as far as engine management.

anyway.. i love the 5!! i REALLY hope it gets the new 2.5 and 6spd manual before disappearing because that would up the fun factor significantly over 2.3/5spd.

They can probably get over 30mpg on the highway. I think they are rated 29. Our mazda 3 has touched 42 mpg in pure highway and averages 30mpg city/highway.

I love sliding doors. Best doors known to man.

We test drove an '07 GT manual when we were looking of a car, and I was really impressed on how it drove. My wife preferred the looks of the 3 GT hatch, and since we already have a van we got the 3....

Strizzo wrote: It's a good bit smaller than the gc

true, and it's a good illustration of how "mini"vans are no longer "mini." the 5 is just about the same size as the original Chrysler minivans.

We've had one for a while now. As far as vans go, it's by far the most fun to drive. My wife drives it, and she really likes it. Ours is a stick shift, and it makes her feel cool when she takes friends out in it (since nobody knows how to drive a stick shift anymore).

I'm not overly impressed with the interior fabrics. The carpet and seat cloth seems a little cheap to me, but it's typical of most new cars these days. The good news is that the fabric actually is cheap - I priced the OE seat covers once and they were not very much.

-Chris

Buzz Killington wrote:

Strizzo wrote: It's a good bit smaller than the gc

true, and it's a good illustration of how "mini"vans are no longer "mini." the 5 is just about the same size as the original Chrysler minivans.

yes, the caravan. the OP talked about cross-shopping a GC, which is why i mentioned it.

It's really too bad they only let you get a stick on the lowest models. My mom's is a GT and the leather and xenons are really nice additions on this car.

We have an 08 touring model, that we got last year to replace our dying Tribute. We LOVE the 5, it is primarily my wifes car and the family hauler, but I really enjoy driving it. A great car, we have about 25k miles on it after owning it for a year and a half now and zero problems with it so far. We set out to get one with a stick as well,but all the dealer had was the mid range touring models, it does have a tripronic type shifter on it, so if you are inclined you can put it in whatever gear you want. The only really thing I don't like about it is the tranny position indicator is big and red and it constantly draws your eye to it like an idiot light.

It actually hauls 6 pretty well, just no room for luggage with six on board, probably best for taking 6 out to dinner or something.

Oh yeah, and the stock tires suck, they are very loud on the road. but overall, it is perfect for a family vehicle.

Chris Rummel

Strizzo wrote:

Buzz Killington wrote:

Strizzo wrote: It's a good bit smaller than the gc

true, and it's a good illustration of how "mini"vans are no longer "mini." the 5 is just about the same size as the original Chrysler minivans.

yes, the caravan. the OP talked about cross-shopping a GC, which is why i mentioned it.

i meant the original late-80s minivans. newer minivans (even the non-"grand" ones) are much bigger than they used to be (although oddly the wheelbase has remained about the same).

i just thought it was interesting, considering how "small" most people consider the 5 to be...as if it won't haul their family of 6 on summer vacation (my parents stuck bags in our laps and had a rooftop carrier for our '87 Voyager).

Tyler H wrote: I rent a lot of cars. Nobody ever comments on them, except the one time I showed up in a Mazda 5. Then 3 different coworkers commented on it, as 'dorky.' It is also one of the best utility cars I've rented. It was fun to drive as rentals go, and still seemed solid after 55k fleet miles. Highest mileage rental I've ever gotten. Impalas feel like they are ready to be retired by the time they have 25-30k rental miles on them.

Well that sounds the best endorsement so far.

My GF bought a new 07 mostly because I talked her into it and she has loved it. So do I. It's the perfect balance of utility and fun with out having that truck like ride and it's a litttle smaller that a "larger" mini van....if that makes any sense. Go for it.

Do I need to be the first to ask for an MS"5" in this conversation?

would be nice but highly unlikely

Rumnhammer wrote: Oh yeah, and the stock tires suck, they are very loud on the road.

If you had the same Toyo whatevers that my Mom did, boy, are they noisy and terrible in the rain/snow. They put on some Dunlop SP Sport Signatures a couple months ago and they are a huge improvement in the everyday livability of the car. We should find out pretty soon how they fare in inclement weather.

In reply to Josh:

Yeah, I can't wait to ditch those stock Toyos, they are unbelivably noisy and yes they are pretty bad in the rain, we didn't get any real snow last year so hopefully I won't have to experience them in the snow.