Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see May lease deals!
Options
Mazda MX-Flexa / Mazda5
This discussion has been closed.
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
see it for yourself
http://www.mylemon.com/Lemon_Car_Complaints.htm
Real story came from my sister in law working as an assistant on an attorney's office specialized in auto lemon "cases". She warned me based on her boss's abundance work involving new MPV's lemon files....
Unbelievable for a made in Japan product... but hey, isn't Mazda a Ford??? :lemon:
Also, why doesn't the Mountaineer, an Explorer clone, even make the list?
-juice
I'm not sure that I believe the "lemon law" page that you posted though, because I can find numerous other websites with different versions of the same list. For example, here's one "lemon law" list that doesn't even contain the MPV: http://www.lemonlaw.com/carcomplaintindex.html
prime source for my info about MPV's record lemon complains was, as mentioned, my inlaw sis.
She drives an M6, no bad feelings against Mazda ,though.
And she's very cute too
That said, I've seen a good deal of poor reviews regarding the MPV. Every company has got at least junker. Until we have data to suggest otherwise, I'd have to assume the Mazda5 is going to do about as well as most other Mazda products. Which is about average.
John
The 5 Touring has auto climate control which is not available on the 3 so perhaps it is a different unit. If not, I am very concerned because I live in Arizona - today 109 degrees. Anyone who is now driving a 5 would be able to provide valuable information about their experience with this situation. Since there are no rear vents this seems a critical factor..
-juice
We bought the first year (2003) Honda Civic Hybrid and just recently received our first recall. The engine condrol module is improperly programmed making the engine run lean. I've already had the catalytic converter replaced because of this. Overall, we are satisfied with our first year model and are willing to take the chance with the 5. It is based on the 3, which is reliable, and is made in Japan Just hope I don't get a :lemon: .
This is a great only car for anyone with 1-2 kids, and a great second car for us (we have 3 kids under six; other car is an Odyssey). I think it is a deal even at MSRP (as long as you skip the nav). Huge kudos to Mazda for bringing this vehicle to the US.
That makes sense if your second vehicle is not already a minivan. I'm directing this question for those who already have a minivan and are buying the Mazda5 as their second car.
With the M5, on the other hand, you can fit 2 carseats in the third row, one in the second, and still have plenty of room for 3 adults.
The reason we have a minivan and a microvan is for maximum flexibility when playing the school/daycare/camp/playdate/sports team pick up and drop off game.
Also the option for three seats in the middle would be nice.
Maybe these things will be considered for the refreshening.
This is such a great car otherwise but in this hot climate it is my number one conern.
I understand what you are saying regarding folks who already have a minivan and that criticism does make some sense, however, I challenge you to find a sporty station wagon with the same features as the M5 that is considerably less expensive. Right now, I cannot think of one.
Also, is the dearth of cars sold in the North America with manual transmissions in general really a result of customer's distaste for them or is it that automatics have been pushed on us (not to mention the additional profit they bring)?
My family bought and still own the first year model of a new Mazda Protege 1990 with GT trim level.
It still starts every time and takes my family members home safely every trip over the last 15 years and still counting, under Canadian harsh weather
The car is almost maintenance free if not for for the gas, occasional oil change.
Except for the usual one set of new replacement spark plugs and cables, worn out 2 sets of snow tires, 2 batteries, muffler replacement (with life-time warranty), and brake pad and rotor replacement, almost every component that came factory installed with the Protege 1990 GT remains intact and operational as of today.
By the way, our Madza Protege 1990 GT is built in the same location that is building the Mazda5. So most of the same assembly and engineering crew may still be working in the same plant ?!
My hats off to any of those that built our family Mazda Protege 1990 GT, if they are still around.
I wish I can say the same to our family VW GOLF :lemon:
" I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that the 5 will be reliable. That is one major problem for someone who is willing to purchase a first year model." [bwaters]
I'm asking because the salesperson I talked to said it was because of the increased drag on the Mazda5. But I noticed this morning that the coefficient of drag on the Mazda5 is listed as 0.31 on the Mazda Canada site, but the coefficient of drag for the MAzda3 5-door is listed HIGHER at 0.346. Is it possible that the 3 actually has more drag than the 5, or must this be a typo on Mazda's part? If the 5 actually has less drag than the 3 and a nearly identical engine/gearing, then wouldn't the 5 get better highway mileage than the 3?
Just a curiousity...of course it doesn't affect my decision to buy one
I prefer the tall profile and sliding doors of the 5 over a traditional station wagon. Right now, the 5 is the only game in town in it's category. Smaller than a minivan, taller than a station wagon, able to leap tall buildings...
I hope the 5 is a great success and spurs development of other similar vehicles.
I admit I'm disappointed in the 5's mpg. I had a 2000 V6 Buick Century that got over 30 on the highway. With the 5's weight and slick profile, it should be able to hit 30. It doesn't have a significant mpg advantage over larger minivans like it should.
So a brick that is 31 square feet frontal area with a cd of 1.0 (1.0 x 31 = 31) would have the same drag as a Mazda 5 that is 100 square ft frontal area (.31 x 100 = 31). Of course a Mazda 5 has less than 100 square ft frontal area. I used round numbers for simplicity.
A M5 is taller than an M3, so it has a larger frontal area.
Steve
A 2.3 liter 4 cylinder engine has about the same cylinder volume as a 3.5 liter v-6. If all other things are equel the 6 can get better mileage by reducing rpm vs the 4, and a V-6 that turns 2000 rpm at 60 mph has the same number of explosions of the same same size as a 4-cyl that is turning at 3,000 rpm. The larger Honda and Toyota minivans actually cruise at less than 2,000 rpms at 60. Additionally the Toyota engine is only 3.3 liters and the Honda uses VCM. This is why the larger minivans equel the mileage of the 5.
Also the 2.3 is not as efficient as the 2.4 from Honda and Toyota (down about 2 mpg on the highway) to begin with, so that is part of the problem.
I do think in real life the manual tranny 5 will not be too bad as the EPA does favor automatics.
Part of the reason that the 4 revs higher with a Manual transmission is that Mazda believes (along with many other car manufacturers) that people will percieve the vehicle as underpowered if they have to shift down on the highway. How often do you hear people on these forums brag about going uphill without downshifting or complain about having to downshift. Higher revs mean more power and less likelyhood of having a down shift.
My feeling is that people who buy manuals don't mind the occasional down shift if they are rewarded with better gas mileage, quieter cruising, and less engine wear, but obviously Mazda feels different.
This is not unique to Mazda. The Acura TSX is the same way. The automatic loafs along, but the manual revs much higher.
Yes. It stays on for about a minute. Also, the dashboard lights stay on for the same length of time.
When you open the back door, the dome light in the back lights, and if you open either of the front doors both the front and back dome lights go on.
I hope this illuminates your question.
Not everything that flies, is a bird
Time will tell about M5's reliability, IMHO, not the "made in" factor.
Dan
We wanted a phantom blue touring manual w/nav - but they said that all they had coming in were automatics. The next day we went to another dealership (where my brother works) to take a closer look and test drive even if it was an automatic. After the test drive we sat down to order our own! They looked at their incoming shipment list and had 2 pages of automatics....until...the very last vehicle on the list was.....can you guess? A phantom blue touring manual trans w/nav!!
Next week is the expected arrival date - it'll be the first manual trans to arrive at the dealership and our salesman (my brother!) promised to make sure that no workers abuse it before we pick it up. Getting more excited every day.
I've thought about the possible difficulty of reselling a manual trans mini-minivan, but I'm hoping that when the time comes there will be another miata/M3/"choose your sportscar" fanatic that is in need of some family wheels. I think that the M5 is such an exciting option to have for the someone who would love to be driving an M3 but needs a people mover/grocery getter.
I am about to take the plunge and purchase the Mazda 5! We test drove the manual and like it. I read some posts which mentioned a Gerber $500.00 rebate. Does anyone know if this is still available? I checked Gerber's website but did not readily find any reference to this.
Also, it seems the invoice is now listed on several sites for both models. While I will negotiate for the best price, I refuse to pay a $1,000.00 "availability fee" (I'm very patient!). I suppose if people pay the fee, the dealer can get away with it. Is it possible to make the purchase without it?
Does anyone know if security glass is an option?
Thanks to all of you for your information posted here! It has proven very enlightening and informative!
ratina
351.79 miles
12.099 gallons
----
29.07 mpg
:-)
Oh, I'm relaxed Your Protege story is great. The Civic Hybrid was the first new car that I have purchased.
Here's my life list of cars: I drove our family 1972 Malibu from 1976, when I turned 16, until I was 19. I then purchased a red 1970 Peugeot 404 Wagon, 4 on the column, for $600. It Lasted 7 years and I gave it away in 1986 to someone who wanted to keep it running. It had a rusted out unibody. I drove it over 180k. My next car was a green 1974 Volvo Wagon, 4 speed overdrive, purchased for $1,200 in 1985, I had 2 cars until I gave away the Peugeot. It lasted 5 years until 1990. I drove it over 160k. I sold it to a friend for $500 in 1990, who then totaled it in 1991. I then purchased a 1987 Toyota 4 Runner, 5 speed, in 1990. It had 70K when I bought it for $9,000 and I sold it for $2,500 in 2002 with 240k. I then drove my wife's 1988, 5 speed Corolla Wagon, which we purchased used in 1996 for $4,000, until March of 2003, when we purchased the Civic Hybrid. We sold the Corolla that we named "Tigger" because our daughter scratched "Tigger" into the paint when she was 8 years old, to to our neighbors for $1,200, in September of 2003, who are still driving it daily. We purchased a 95 Camry Wagon in 2000, and had 3 cars for 2 years. The Camry Wagon (7 seater) is still my wife's only car. She also drove a 72 Volvo Sedan, 4 speed, overdrive, before we purchased the 88 Corolla wagon in 1995. Now it is time to replace her 95 Camry Wagon with a Mazda5. The Camry is still very comfortable. We have always maintained our cars carefully. The jump seats in the back are small. My wife wants another manual transmission after driving the Camry Wagon. So... Now we will probably buy a new Mazda 5, manual transmission, Phantom Blue Sport.
Ideally, I'd like one cable that hooks up to the iPod dock connect to provide both power, audio, and makes use of the steering wheel audio controls. And, daring to dream, also sends track info to the radio display.
I'd settle for one cable that provides power and audio, and makes use of the "media" button on the factory stereo.
Anyone already do this, if not in the 5, perhaps in the 3?
I have purchased 2 cars through cars direct. A 2001 Jetta( $800.00 below msrp) and a 2004 Nissan Quest ($2,000 below msrp.) You basically place your order on line, a representative calls the next day to confirm your order. They then look for your car through a network of dealers. It took about a week and 1/2 for them to find the exact car I wanted and for me to pick it up. I had my own financing, so I walked in gave them a check, signed a few papers and drove out in 1/2 hour. It was truly the most pleasant car buying experience.
If you do go through a dealer contact the internet department, rather than go through a sales person. Edmunds own research has found that dealer internet departments quote better prices and less hassle. They have an article about it somewhere in this website.
I hope this helps. Good luck