Mazda 5 opinions?

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.

Ive owned 4 of those 'original' body style caravans in the past 2 years or so and they are MUCH bigger on the inside than a mazda5. Not saying the 5 is a cramped car but the early caravans have a much larger interior volume. The 96-00 ones are even more massive (ive only owned one so far) and the 01-present are slightly smaller inside than those.

Right now the biggest 'mini' vans on the market are the odyssey and the kia/hyundai van.

Josh wrote: 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.

Maybe that's a US thing? In Canada you can get a top level GT with lux package and a 5 speed manual. We are looking at the slush box, as it will primarily be my wifes vehicle and she can drive either, and likes a manual for a fun car, like my Jetta, but for a daily driver she does prefer an auto.

It's good to see so many positive opinions of them on this board. The only thing I think that may bug me about it is the poor power/weight ratio, especially as we're trading the GTP on this. Only 200lbs heavier with 100 more hp and about 140 ft/lbs...

doc_speeder wrote: The only thing I think that may bug me about it is the poor power/weight ratio, especially as we're trading the GTP on this. Only 200lbs heavier with 100 more hp and about 140 ft/lbs...

Well, I wouldn't exactly recommend it as a sports car, although mom's does handle well enough to be moderately fun on the occasional highway ramp (as long as the back isn't full of bags of cat litter, anyway). Let's just say that it accelerates adequately for what it is, and while it will never hope to excite any of us in that regard, it is geared nicely and tuned for good torque at very low RPMs, and thus actually feels pretty snappy in normal (less than 3/4 throttle) use.

I autocrossed a rental Mazda 5 once and was pleasantly surprised at the way it handled. My thought was that it was a great practical, efficient small car with lots of seating, but lacks the cargo room of a more typical minivan. If I was to be stuck daily driving a 6-7 passenger vehicle, I'd pick the 5... but thankfully we only have one kid, so I can drive what I want.

So we bought it, should be able to pick it up today! Thanks for all the input!

In reply to doc_speeder:

be sure to post a follow up, as to how it is doing for you.

It is a 3 with a larger body in the rear section. A 3 with an extra 500 lbs. I have one and love it. Handles much better than any other van. Stock tires are noisy. For the money it is hard to beat.

Rumnhammer wrote: In reply to doc_speeder: be sure to post a follow up, as to how it is doing for you.

Will do. I'll maybe take some pics today. We put some miles on it today, it really is a nice driving little van-ish type thing. The power closers on the side doors are a nice touch. It's a little short on storage cubbies, but we'll just take less stuff than we have become accustomed too.