True. If you plann to haul 4 adults and 2 kids all the time, the 5 is probably too small for you.
There is four of us (2 small kids) and we keep the 3rd row folded down. So the 5 works great for us. Also knowing that we've got the flexibility to haul another adult or two is great.
We traded in a Mazda3 hatch for the 5 and so far we've found 5 to be more flexible than the 3.
So for anyone who is interested. The Baby Trend sit n stand stroller will fit in the back of the 5 (with the 3rd row folded of course)
Yes, I regularly put two front-facing car seats in the third row. They fit great, and there is plenty of room. Although the 3rd row does not have the latch system like the 2nd row, the 3rd row seats do have tether hooks on the backs of the seats.
Careful when the dealer makes a comment like "they say MP3 capable is that the CD player will play CDs with files saved in MP3 format".
The standard CD player will only play original CD format, you may need to pay an optional upgrade for an MP3 capable player.
On other things, In Toronto's paper today there was an article called: "The American still don't get it with small cars". The article explains that Mazda Canada needs to bring 5,000 unsold Mazda 5 from the US to satisfy the demand for this car. It seems that the US car buyers still not fully committed to small vehicles.
Great choice on the color, I bought a silver touring with a manual trans 4 months ago and like it a lot. We wanted black but since there were only 2 touring manuals in the entire S.F. Bay Area we took our second choice and I like it. It looks particularly nice with the windows tinted (we tinted all of the glass behind the front doors).
I find the acceleration to be just fine with the manual transmission. It's no rocket ship but it's certainly more than adequate for my needs. It has plenty of power for passing on the freeway and cruises at 80+ with no problems.
I personally find the instrumentation lighting pleasant. We replaced a Mazda Protege5 with this car... it had red instrumentation lighting. I like them both but I particularly like the dashboard on the Mazda5. In style and materials it's definitely a couple of steps up from the Protege.
When you measured the legroom in the rear seats did you have the middle row forward or back? Remember, the middle row seats slide fore and aft so the legroom mix can be adjusted for the rear seat passengers.
We typically use the car with the third row folded flat in which case there is a ton of cargo room. We really didn't need a 6-seater all the time but have already found the added flexibility to come in handy on numerous ocassions. I've had adults sitting in the rearmost seats and they all complemented the space back there and expressed surprise about the room in the car.
When you measured the legroom in the rear seats did you have the middle row forward or back? Remember, the middle row seats slide fore and aft so the legroom mix can be adjusted for the rear seat passengers.
I adjusted the front seats to my measurements and then adjusted the 2nd row and 3rd row to have an even space. I know that the 2nd row can be slid back with ample legroom but for me, if defeats the purpose of a true 6 seater. Too bad Mazda didn't make the 2nd row seat a bench seat so at least you can still seat 5 with cargo instead of 4 with cargo or 6 without cargo. Thanks.
I agree. I'd rather have a split 60/40 2nd row bench for added flexibility in the 2nd row. To me it's just wasted space between the two 2nd row seats. Most people in this forum have commented on how they normally fold the 3rd row for the added cargo space, so it seem that most people are using only the first 2 rows but occasionally using row 3, so on those occasional uses, with a 60/40 split 2nd row bench, you can still slide & flip the 2nd row to access row 3.
It's a little different with a full size minivan where people are using the 3rd row on a daily basis. Then it's more convenient to have two 2nd row seats because there are people all the time going to row 3. But to make the Mazda 5 even more flexible, they should put in the 60/40 2nd row bench, so you have the option of putting three kids in the 2nd row and still have lots of cargo space in the rear. It's the same width as the Mazda 3, and the Mazda 3 can hold three across in the 2nd row, so why not the 5?
Here's a copy of an e-mail I wrote to James Healey in response to his article in USA Today: I just read your article on the Mazda 5 and was surprised that you found this vehicle such a disappointment. We've put over 3000 miles on our 5 and appreciate it more each day.
We get a consistent 25 mpg in mixed driving with our automatic. With $2.50/gallon gas prices I'm willing to give up a little on the 0-60 times. Still, I think 8.5 seconds is very reasonable for this sort of vehicle. When I was in high school Corvettes and Trans Ams were posting such times.
It's easy to compare the Mazda 5 to a $35K Honda Odyssey mini van and feel like something is missing. On the other hand if you consider the 5 is a sub $20K economy car with a flexible interior and an impressive list of standard features, then the package is really quite attractive.
His response: Glad to hear the 5 is treating you well. That’s the bottom line in any automotive relationship.
In my view, it was too obviously a foreign-market vehicle that had been massaged for sale in the U.S., when that never was intended by the product planners and developers. If Mazda keeps the 5 around, and emphasizes U.S. needs and tastes in the next version, it could be quite a nice vehicle -- assuming all the squeaks that were in my tester have been exorcised.
lol his response is too funny. Does he think that the US can't stomach a car of this sort? Good nite, bring us some of the "goodies" from Europe, mainly the diesel, 6 speed MT, and the 7th passenger seat.
I hate being shoved into a US box and not allowed to experience the good stuff from overseas.
That is something I didn't understand when the 2 + 2 + 2 seating was introduced on the Chrysler Pacifica. That thing is huge and seemed to be able to accommodate a second-row third passenger even more easily than the 5 would, but no center seat. IIRC, the Mercedes R-Class uses the same setup.
I've seen a couple of explanations. One is that nobody likes to sit in the middle seat, just like on an airplane, everybody wants their own window or aisle seat. Another, more likely explanation is the complexity involved in adding the mandatory 3-point shoulder belts for all passengers.
Personally, I think we'll see redesigned second-row seats in the next update, with integrated belts. And with the 5, people have also mentioned that adding a typical-sized American as a 7th passenger would push the load rating, as we tend to be a little larger than our Asian and Euro counterparts.
And BTW, not that I'm condoning it or anything, but the third row is a bench and can fit three across without a belt for the center passenger. And in Touring models, there is a flip-out tray/basket that fits between the seats and can be supported with a stiff shoebox to make an impromptu 8th seat in a pinch.
Didn't look like there was any way to restrain someone (could only be a child) sitting in that extra middle seat -- are there different safety regs in Japan that allow this?
Agreeing with previous posts: a larger family probably needs something bigger. We have a 2-year-old already, and #2 will be along in just a few weeks, so our new 5 seems perfectly sized for 2 adults and 2 small kids. For most of its life with us that 3rd row will be folded flat, but it is great to know it's there (and we will use it at least once a month or so).
Child #1 absolutely loves climbing up into the car, then into her seat -- and it's *so* much easier strapping her in than it was in my wife's old sedan.
My wife has a suprisingly short list of things her next car MUST have. At the top of that list are a sunroof/moonroof and a seat height (a.k.a. step-in height), above ground level, that is somewhere between that of her Mazda 626 (20") and my Dodge Ram (33").
She runs a lot of errands during a normal day. Falling down into, and climbing up out of her 626, is exhausting. The truck has the opposite effect, but is not as objectionable and she doesn't use it as much.
I cannot find this measurement for any car/suv on the web and I am disinclined to visit all of the dealerships with my yardstick. I estimate it by subtracting the front headroom value from the overall vehicle height value, but I think this is wildly inaccurate.
Since the list of possible-next cars includes the subject of this forum, I was hoping that somebody would, in their spare time, measure the height above ground to the middle (more or less) of the seat cushion (i.e. the top-center of the horizontal seating surface) and post that value here.
I have read these forums extensively over the past few weeks and I have not seen any discussion of this. I beg your pardon if I missed it and am being redundant.
"...measure the height above ground to the middle (more or less) of the seat cushion (i.e. the top-center of the horizontal seating surface)..."
Sorry, I don't have a tape measure here. But the answer will sort of be "what height do you want it to be" since the driver seat adjusts up and down as well as front and back.
"If Mazda keeps the 5 around, and emphasizes U.S. needs and tastes in the next version, it could be quite a nice vehicle..." Hmmm... does he mean if Mazda sticks in a big V6 that sucks gas and expands the size to make the 5 a giant-minivan, then he will give it as good as a review as, say a Caravan? I'm just glad this Bozo doesn't work for Mazda. If I wanted a true U.S. "mini" van I already had lots to choose from.
Okay, pursuant to your request, I just measured the driver's seat height of our Mazda5, which is set at its lowest position, and the front of the seat, (it angles downward to the rear), measures almost exactly 24 inches off the ground. I also measured the height of the highest step-over sill plate, which is just about 15 inches off the ground, though the interior floor board is a few inches lower than that, as you step over the sill to get into the car. I hope this helps in your decision, though a test in an actual seat would be best. If you live anywhere near New York City, you could test fit one at the upcoming NY Auto Show in April. BTW, my wife is 5'2" and she has no difficulty at all in getting in and out of the 5, and in fact, much prefers it to the seemingly necessary bending and lowering contorsion needed to get into our Subaru Legacy wagon.
Thank you very much. Good information. Again, I am sorry, everybody, for posting my question in several places. I didn't think of it as spam, but I guess it was.
That guy is seriously smoking crack. 'The 5 is slow when loaded down with people and their stuff which is why you buy a van' Hello, this is a MINI MINI VAN!! Not a full size gas guzzling mammoth! If you want to go 130 mph with 7 adults and their gear get a full size!
THe 5 doesn't handle well? Huh? What? I love taking corners at 45 mph and look forward to long winding roads as this car handles better then any car I've ever owned.
Looks not up to par? Huh? I bought this car based on it's looks. It's hot! Wife was sold upon viewing it! We get looks all the time ( as I fly past bigger vans in my slower 5)
I could go on, the reviewer is on something or against something as most of his gripes are beyond the realm of ridiculous.
No details as of yet but Kia will be releasing the new version of their Carens (to be called Rondo) in North America. There will be a seven seat version. It will be interesting to see how it stacks up against the 5.
Purchased our Canadian Whitewater Pearl GT Mazda 5 in August of 2005. We were impressed with the concept of the vehicle, its driveability, looks and overall function. Previously we owned a 95 Odyssey which apart from some brake issues was a solid vehicle. Having owned the Mazda 5 for 8 months & 15000 km I can provide some insight to a little more than its percieved capabilities.
We never looked at any competition for the Mazda 5 as in this sector there really didn't appear to be any. Never wanting to own a domestic vehicle the M5 seemed to fit nicely into our niche. 2 kids, 7 & 9 looking for a vehicle smaller than Odyssey with a bit of panache.
Driveability - Performance is excellent, never have had an issue with power, recently did a 2000 km (1200 mi trip), cruises great at 120km (75mph) and still gets 9 to 10 L/100km (25 mpg US). Handling is superb, a little tight on ground clearance with GT model ground effects, but looks cool. A 5 or 6 speed auto would be nice, in cruise even up smaller hills the thing drops to third and wails like a banshee trying to bring it back to cruising speed
Build Quality Carpeting is not what I would have expected, we take very good care of the vehicle but the carpets are already starting to ball up. Interior plastic very susceptable to scratching, soft. Exhaust system recalled - lost it for over a month, seriously, what were they thinking. Suspension as noted by many other members we have the dreaded suspension creak which has been repaired once and still creaks. Still awaiting word from the dealer on what Mazda Canada is going to do about this. Door Latches - Passenger rear door latch froze open, also as noted by many other members. Dealer did the temporary fix per service bulletin and it froze open again 1000 km from home while on a ski trip. Was lucky enough to get it closed but it would not open again until dealer fixed it. Still don't have any word from dealer on a permanent fix. Wind noise - from almost day 1 we had a wind noise around the drivers door area, took a number of trips back to dealer and many different repairs, moulding around door, assessment of aligniment of sliding door by body shop etc to finally track it down to a gap in the moulding around drivers window.
Don't get me wrong I really want to like this vehicle, I have always bought Japanese because I purchase not lease and want to own it as long as possible. My 10 year old Odyssey with 200000 km was sold for almost 20% of its original purchase price.
If I was buying today I might look a little further at potential competition, such as new Rav 4, although to find anything comparable it would be more expensive. Given the problems already and the less than expected quality, I can't see this vehicle lasting 10 years like my Odyssey, so perhaps I will just view it as a 3 - 4 year vehicle and look for a replacement sooner than anticipated.
I truly hope that my experiences are in the minority as I believe with a few tweaks this could be a real solid vehicle.
No, I'm not selling it just yet.............. :confuse:
I'm still in the evaluation phase of purchasing my Mazda5 5, and in true "uber-geek" fashion I've downloaded the owners manual to get more familiar with the car before i purchase it. I've been reading the Child restraint section (chapter 2) did amy one besides me notice the warning that side curtain air bags if deployed can cause serious injury or death if your child is seated too close to the window!?!?!? during our test drive, we liked the fact that the second row are bucket seats and our son gets his own window, but he can reach the window no matter how I adjust the car-seat. How do I stop him getting near the window??? In a few months he'll be out of the car-seat and using a booster.
How have you reconciled this issue, did you elect to purchase the model without side airbag support?? (the GS)
I couldn't get over how many times this was repeated in the manual!!!
I think the manual is talking about the head of an unrestraint child leaning up against the window (I have to confess that I never bothered to read my owners manual ).
The side curtain air bag is designed to protect the head of the occupant (in the seat nearest to it) from striking the window in an event of a side collision. So if the head is resting against the glass, then the inflating airbag would strike the head at 100 mph (give or take a few mph).
I think if the arm is resting up against the window, it would probably break the arm, but the occupant would survive.
I have a Freestyle with side airbags and the same warning in the manual. I think it's like the warning on front airbags, where you're not supposed to be too close to the steering wheel. We have a 2nd row bench, so I put the car seat in the middle for the most part, but even on the sides, when you compare the distance from an adult's head to a child in a car seat, I'd say an adults head is closer to where the side airbags would deploy anyway.
BTW...I had a rental car and in the owner's manual it warned against adjusting the radio while the car was in motion...I think most of the warnings in owner's manuals are put in by lawyers versus engineers!
I'm really interested in a getting a Mazda5, but I'm wondering if I should wait for the 2007 model. Does anyone know what improvements or changes might be planned? I keep reading about rattles (which would drive my batty) and I agree with everyone who would like to see an arm rest on the front passenger seat. Anyone know if there are plans to address this?
If I was you, I will wait for the 2007. You know that it will be improvements over the first release. As for details, probably too early to find out.
The previous message from someone else said: Don't get me wrong I really want to like this vehicle, I have always bought Japanese because I purchase not lease and want to own it as long as possible. My 10 year old Odyssey with 200000 km was sold for almost 20% of its original purchase price.
I will not consider Mazda vehicles "japanese" per say. Also, have checked the Mazda 5 and if you touch the plastic walls, they are very thin and it looks like they will fall apart and rattle with xxxx amount of time.
I think the 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander will be a good option as well. This is replacing the current Outlander and it's larger as well (7 seats). Magazines are claiming that this vehicle is outselling the RAV4 in Japan.
Don't get me wrong, I believe the Mazda 5 is a good option for the money and Iam still considering it.
If you need room for six, even occassionally, neither the Outlander or Vue will do. As for the 2007 vs. 2006, if you can wait, why not wait. The second year will usually always have more options, and maybe a few improvements, though also may come with a price increase, so you need to weight the trade-offs of that. We bought our Manual Touring 5 almost immediately after they became available on the east coast, (actually just put down a deposit hoping for dealer stock delivery, but then the recall came, so no car until November), but at a time that the only options were floor mats and wheel locks. Just in the past six months there are already a whole bunch of new options that weren't even available when we took delivery, so if its more options you want, it may pay to wait. As for rattles or problems, we have had none, except for a brief suspension creaking, but that went away on its own. I say get the 5, it's a terrific value for the money and you won't regret it.
Mazda 5, is completely Japanese vehicle, for better or worse. Now, whether "Japanese" means "quality" is subjective. Mitsubishi Motors you referenced, for example, is in the midst of a turmoil globally. They may not be around in a few years as a brand, although they could sell their vehicles as Pegeout etc.
Don't perceive every problem stated on a board as a trend. On any board. Unless it is a common issue.
I was having aread through the Owners manual, and came across the Oil fiter infromation. The manual says you need a special tool to install the oil filter, anyoe ever heard of this? I've been doing my own oil changes for years and never needed a tool to install a new oil filter, what gives?
When we decided to move down to one vehicle (I can no longer drive due to a degenerative eye disease), we started looking for something versatile to fill that need. At the time, we had a 2004 Volvo S60 and a 1994 Toyota 4Runner SR-5. Like me, my spouse loves to drive, and prefers a manual. That killed pretty much all of the minivans.
For cargo and comfort we were considering a few vehicles, but each test drive left us lacking. Then I discovered the Mazda5 and we took one for a ride. (She drove, I explored seating options.)
Perfect!! Not only did it have a manual, but (at least in the sport trim that we selected) the engine has enough grunt to not make us miss the S60. And, the cargo capacity is amazingly good. Oh, and you can PARK it! (That was not a problem with the 4Runner, but the S60 was a bear to park.)
After a month, we are still in love. There are nits: The missing passenger-side armrest really bugs me, and we both would like something other than black for an interior color.
The versatility is what really makes it. We can load it up with cargo or make a run to dinner with 6 people. (Granted, the rearmost seats are small, but they are better than the jump seats in an extended-cab pickup and I can tolerate one for an hour or so.)
If you need a "do it all" vehicle, it's hard to beat.
Yeah, it's because the 5 uses a cartridge filter instead of a screw on filter. You need a speical wrench to open the housing and remove the cartridge filter.
Here is a link to a step by step oil change with pictures for a Mazda3. It's an idential process for the Mazda5.
Mitsubishi Motors will be around and still offers the best warranty around. 10-5-5.
I belive Mitsu Motors Division is dealing with the problems and is moving forward. I like the vehicles they make.
Oh well, we will see what happens when it's decision time.
2007 Outlander: Pros - Good options, outselling Rav4 in [non-permissible content removed]., 6 seating, warranty 10 years engine and tranny, 5 years new vehicle warranty and 5 years road assistance (very important, the warranty is transferrable). Cons - New model, unknown reliability.
2006 Mazda: Pros - Good first year reliability so far, price, versatility, part-time 6 seating. Cons - No left arm rest for front passenger, no internal arm rest for second row passengers, wimpy roof rack, no stability control. Hopefully, some of these are addressed in the 2007 model.
2006/7 Saturn Vue: Pros - Polymer body, Honda tranny and engine, reliability has been great for recent years, good MPG for the V6 Honda version, best cargo capacity in it's category, price. Cons: No standard roof rack, no 3rd row seating,(if you need it)Vue will be re-engineered in 2008 from an European Opel model.
I thought the you could only get the Honda engine in the Saturn Vue Redline. The regular v-6 Vues uses a V-6 made in China.
As for mitsu, I hope they make it. Several dealership here in the DC area have shed their mitsu products. The local Carmax here was one of the largest mitsu dealership around, but they stop selling mitsu about a year ago.
The other thing to consider is price.
The Mazda5 tops out at around $22.5k with all available options. I think at that price, you're just getting started with a V-6 Vue and Outlander.
Saturn Vue all V6 models have the Honda 250HP engines.
I will see about the mitsu, here (toronto) they have opened a few new mitsu dealers lately and having more of a presence with their new line.
My problem is that I still have sometime to purchase the new vehicle, and with all the new ones coming out in 2007 it will make things a lot for difficult....LOL.
Comments
There is four of us (2 small kids) and we keep the 3rd row folded down. So the 5 works great for us. Also knowing that we've got the flexibility to haul another adult or two is great.
We traded in a Mazda3 hatch for the 5 and so far we've found 5 to be more flexible than the 3.
So for anyone who is interested. The Baby Trend sit n stand stroller will fit in the back of the 5 (with the 3rd row folded of course)
The standard CD player will only play original CD format, you may need to pay an optional upgrade for an MP3 capable player.
On other things, In Toronto's paper today there was an article called: "The American still don't get it with small cars".
The article explains that Mazda Canada needs to bring 5,000 unsold Mazda 5 from the US to satisfy the demand for this car. It seems that the US car buyers still not fully committed to small vehicles.
My '03 Forester is a nice size for a 6'3". I will be looking at the M5 as soon as they bring the diesel unit to the US.
John
I find the acceleration to be just fine with the manual transmission. It's no rocket ship but it's certainly more than adequate for my needs. It has plenty of power for passing on the freeway and cruises at 80+ with no problems.
I personally find the instrumentation lighting pleasant. We replaced a Mazda Protege5 with this car... it had red instrumentation lighting. I like them both but I particularly like the dashboard on the Mazda5. In style and materials it's definitely a couple of steps up from the Protege.
When you measured the legroom in the rear seats did you have the middle row forward or back? Remember, the middle row seats slide fore and aft so the legroom mix can be adjusted for the rear seat passengers.
We typically use the car with the third row folded flat in which case there is a ton of cargo room. We really didn't need a 6-seater all the time but have already found the added flexibility to come in handy on numerous ocassions. I've had adults sitting in the rearmost seats and they all complemented the space back there and expressed surprise about the room in the car.
I adjusted the front seats to my measurements and then adjusted the 2nd row and 3rd row to have an even space. I know that the 2nd row can be slid back with ample legroom but for me, if defeats the purpose of a true 6 seater. Too bad Mazda didn't make the 2nd row seat a bench seat so at least you can still seat 5 with cargo instead of 4 with cargo or 6 without cargo. Thanks.
It's a little different with a full size minivan where people are using the 3rd row on a daily basis. Then it's more convenient to have two 2nd row seats because there are people all the time going to row 3. But to make the Mazda 5 even more flexible, they should put in the 60/40 2nd row bench, so you have the option of putting three kids in the 2nd row and still have lots of cargo space in the rear. It's the same width as the Mazda 3, and the Mazda 3 can hold three across in the 2nd row, so why not the 5?
I just read your article on the Mazda 5 and was surprised that you found this vehicle such a disappointment. We've put over 3000 miles on our 5 and appreciate it more each day.
We get a consistent 25 mpg in mixed driving with our automatic. With $2.50/gallon gas prices I'm willing to give up a little on the 0-60 times. Still, I think 8.5 seconds is very reasonable for this sort of vehicle. When I was in high school Corvettes and Trans Ams were posting such times.
It's easy to compare the Mazda 5 to a $35K Honda Odyssey mini van and feel like something is missing. On the other hand if you consider the 5 is a sub $20K economy car with a flexible interior and an impressive list of standard features, then the package is really quite attractive.
His response:
Glad to hear the 5 is treating you well. That’s the bottom line in any automotive relationship.
In my view, it was too obviously a foreign-market vehicle that had been massaged for sale in the U.S., when that never was intended by the product planners and developers. If Mazda keeps the 5 around, and emphasizes U.S. needs and tastes in the next version, it could be quite a nice vehicle -- assuming all the squeaks that were in my tester have been exorcised.
I hate being shoved into a US box and not allowed to experience the good stuff from overseas.
John
I've seen a couple of explanations. One is that nobody likes to sit in the middle seat, just like on an airplane, everybody wants their own window or aisle seat. Another, more likely explanation is the complexity involved in adding the mandatory 3-point shoulder belts for all passengers.
Personally, I think we'll see redesigned second-row seats in the next update, with integrated belts. And with the 5, people have also mentioned that adding a typical-sized American as a 7th passenger would push the load rating, as we tend to be a little larger than our Asian and Euro counterparts.
And BTW, not that I'm condoning it or anything, but the third row is a bench and can fit three across without a belt for the center passenger. And in Touring models, there is a flip-out tray/basket that fits between the seats and can be supported with a stiff shoebox to make an impromptu 8th seat in a pinch.
It's a "mini" seat, kind of like the one for the 2nd row of the new Honda Odyssy.
I saw a picture of it somewhere. I'll see if I can dig it up again and provide a link. It's a nice set up that I wish we can get here in the states.
If you wait one sec for the flash demo, you can see the extra seat for the 2nd row.
http://www.premacy.mazda.co.jp/appeal1.html
Agreeing with previous posts: a larger family probably needs something bigger. We have a 2-year-old already, and #2 will be along in just a few weeks, so our new 5 seems perfectly sized for 2 adults and 2 small kids. For most of its life with us that 3rd row will be folded flat, but it is great to know it's there (and we will use it at least once a month or so).
Child #1 absolutely loves climbing up into the car, then into her seat -- and it's *so* much easier strapping her in than it was in my wife's old sedan.
I would guess that it would lap belts.
She runs a lot of errands during a normal day. Falling down into, and climbing up out of her 626, is exhausting. The truck has the opposite effect, but is not as objectionable and she doesn't use it as much.
I cannot find this measurement for any car/suv on the web and I am disinclined to visit all of the dealerships with my yardstick. I estimate it by subtracting the front headroom value from the overall vehicle height value, but I think this is wildly inaccurate.
Since the list of possible-next cars includes the subject of this forum, I was hoping that somebody would, in their spare time, measure the height above ground to the middle (more or less) of the seat cushion (i.e. the top-center of the horizontal seating surface) and post that value here.
I have read these forums extensively over the past few weeks and I have not seen any discussion of this. I beg your pardon if I missed it and am being redundant.
Thanks in advance.
Sorry, I don't have a tape measure here. But the answer will sort of be "what height do you want it to be" since the driver seat adjusts up and down as well as front and back.
Hmmm... does he mean if Mazda sticks in a big V6 that sucks gas and expands the size to make the 5 a giant-minivan, then he will give it as good as a review as, say a Caravan? I'm just glad this Bozo doesn't work for Mazda. If I wanted a true U.S. "mini" van I already had lots to choose from.
Well . . . I'd like it to be 24 inches.
Thanks.
I don't think you'll have any problems setting the seat height around 24 inches.
Good information.
Again, I am sorry, everybody, for posting my question in several places. I didn't think of it as spam, but I guess it was.
http://www.mpt.org/motorweek/reviews/rt2529b.shtml
I wished I had caught it on TV...
AND I want to know how they managed to get 31 mpg out of the automatic. The best I've been able to do is 28 mpg
they only drive down hill with a tailwind.
Thanks
THe 5 doesn't handle well? Huh? What? I love taking corners at 45 mph and look forward to long winding roads as this car handles better then any car I've ever owned.
Looks not up to par? Huh? I bought this car based on it's looks. It's hot! Wife was sold upon viewing it! We get looks all the time ( as I fly past bigger vans in my slower 5)
I could go on, the reviewer is on something or against something as most of his gripes are beyond the realm of ridiculous.
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I've tried to buy a generic one - but it didn't fit right and kept falling out of the window!
I know it's not much cheaper - but onlinemazdaparts.com has it for $32 including shipping
Shade
We never looked at any competition for the Mazda 5 as in this sector there really didn't appear to be any. Never wanting to own a domestic vehicle the M5 seemed to fit nicely into our niche. 2 kids, 7 & 9 looking for a vehicle smaller than Odyssey with a bit of panache.
Driveability - Performance is excellent, never have had an issue with power, recently did a 2000 km (1200 mi trip), cruises great at 120km (75mph) and still gets 9 to 10 L/100km (25 mpg US). Handling is superb, a little tight on ground clearance with GT model ground effects, but looks cool. A 5 or 6 speed auto would be nice, in cruise even up smaller hills the thing drops to third and wails like a banshee trying to bring it back to cruising speed
Build Quality
Carpeting is not what I would have expected, we take very good care of the vehicle but the carpets are already starting to ball up.
Interior plastic very susceptable to scratching, soft.
Exhaust system recalled - lost it for over a month, seriously, what were they thinking.
Suspension as noted by many other members we have the dreaded suspension creak which has been repaired once and still creaks. Still awaiting word from the dealer on what Mazda Canada is going to do about this.
Door Latches - Passenger rear door latch froze open, also as noted by many other members. Dealer did the temporary fix per service bulletin and it froze open again 1000 km from home while on a ski trip. Was lucky enough to get it closed but it would not open again until dealer fixed it. Still don't have any word from dealer on a permanent fix.
Wind noise - from almost day 1 we had a wind noise around the drivers door area, took a number of trips back to dealer and many different repairs, moulding around door, assessment of aligniment of sliding door by body shop etc to finally track it down to a gap in the moulding around drivers window.
Don't get me wrong I really want to like this vehicle, I have always bought Japanese because I purchase not lease and want to own it as long as possible. My 10 year old Odyssey with 200000 km was sold for almost 20% of its original purchase price.
If I was buying today I might look a little further at potential competition, such as new Rav 4, although to find anything comparable it would be more expensive. Given the problems already and the less than expected quality, I can't see this vehicle lasting 10 years like my Odyssey, so perhaps I will just view it as a 3 - 4 year vehicle and look for a replacement sooner than anticipated.
I truly hope that my experiences are in the minority as I believe with a few tweaks this could be a real solid vehicle.
No, I'm not selling it just yet.............. :confuse:
How have you reconciled this issue, did you elect to purchase the model without side airbag support?? (the GS)
I couldn't get over how many times this was repeated in the manual!!!
The side curtain air bag is designed to protect the head of the occupant (in the seat nearest to it) from striking the window in an event of a side collision. So if the head is resting against the glass, then the inflating airbag would strike the head at 100 mph (give or take a few mph).
I think if the arm is resting up against the window, it would probably break the arm, but the occupant would survive.
But this is just my THEORY.
BTW...I had a rental car and in the owner's manual it warned against adjusting the radio while the car was in motion...I think most of the warnings in owner's manuals are put in by lawyers versus engineers!
THanks, all -- have a good weekend!
The previous message from someone else said:
Don't get me wrong I really want to like this vehicle, I have always bought Japanese because I purchase not lease and want to own it as long as possible. My 10 year old Odyssey with 200000 km was sold for almost 20% of its original purchase price.
I will not consider Mazda vehicles "japanese" per say.
Also, have checked the Mazda 5 and if you touch the plastic walls, they are very thin and it looks like they will fall apart and rattle with xxxx amount of time.
I think the 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander will be a good option as well. This is replacing the current Outlander and it's larger as well (7 seats). Magazines are claiming that this vehicle is outselling the RAV4 in Japan.
Don't get me wrong, I believe the Mazda 5 is a good option for the money and Iam still considering it.
Short list:
2007 Mazda 5
2007 Mitsu Outlander
2007 Saturn Vue.
Good luck with your search
Don't perceive every problem stated on a board as a trend.
On any board. Unless it is a common issue.
For cargo and comfort we were considering a few vehicles, but each test drive left us lacking. Then I discovered the Mazda5 and we took one for a ride. (She drove, I explored seating options.)
Perfect!! Not only did it have a manual, but (at least in the sport trim that we selected) the engine has enough grunt to not make us miss the S60. And, the cargo capacity is amazingly good. Oh, and you can PARK it! (That was not a problem with the 4Runner, but the S60 was a bear to park.)
After a month, we are still in love. There are nits: The missing passenger-side armrest really bugs me, and we both would like something other than black for an interior color.
The versatility is what really makes it. We can load it up with cargo or make a run to dinner with 6 people. (Granted, the rearmost seats are small, but they are better than the jump seats in an extended-cab pickup and I can tolerate one for an hour or so.)
If you need a "do it all" vehicle, it's hard to beat.
Here is a link to a step by step oil change with pictures for a Mazda3. It's an idential process for the Mazda5.
http://robert.aitchison.org/tiki-page.php?pageName=Mazda3+DIY+Oil+Change
I belive Mitsu Motors Division is dealing with the problems and is moving forward. I like the vehicles they make.
Oh well, we will see what happens when it's decision time.
2007 Outlander: Pros - Good options, outselling Rav4 in [non-permissible content removed]., 6 seating, warranty 10 years engine and tranny, 5 years new vehicle warranty and 5 years road assistance (very important, the warranty is transferrable).
Cons - New model, unknown reliability.
2006 Mazda: Pros - Good first year reliability so far, price, versatility, part-time 6 seating.
Cons - No left arm rest for front passenger, no internal arm rest for second row passengers, wimpy roof rack, no stability control.
Hopefully, some of these are addressed in the 2007 model.
2006/7 Saturn Vue: Pros - Polymer body, Honda tranny and engine, reliability has been great for recent years, good MPG for the V6 Honda version, best cargo capacity in it's category, price.
Cons: No standard roof rack, no 3rd row seating,(if you need it)Vue will be re-engineered in 2008 from an European Opel model.
As for mitsu, I hope they make it. Several dealership here in the DC area have shed their mitsu products. The local Carmax here was one of the largest mitsu dealership around, but they stop selling mitsu about a year ago.
The other thing to consider is price.
The Mazda5 tops out at around $22.5k with all available options. I think at that price, you're just getting started with a V-6 Vue and Outlander.
I will see about the mitsu, here (toronto) they have opened a few new mitsu dealers lately and having more of a presence with their new line.
My problem is that I still have sometime to purchase the new vehicle, and with all the new ones coming out in 2007 it will make things a lot for difficult....LOL.
Well, this would explain why Honda couldn't make enough Odyssey last year...they probably made more $$ selling the engines to GM.
:P