Newbie here. How did you settle on the Mazda5?

[othercarasaab]

I have 2 kids currently and downsized this fall for the gas mileage from one of the 'large' minivans, a '98 Town & Country / Grand Caravan.
For us it's a different take, we're getting used to less space to haul all the stuff to go see grandparents (2 kids + dog + pack-n-play + duffels stroller, etc, it gets snug).
Part of our logic is that we'll have more kids eventually (taking a break for now) and then this will be my commuter vehicle when we move back up to a larger ride again. That way, when we're cruising around town we could take the 5, and when we need to haul more stuff for vacation etc, we could take the bigger car again. Just not enough space to hold 5/6 and a week's worth of essentials including stroller with little kids.

Plus, I like Zoom-Zoom, so this was just about the best car I could find that would be able to hold 6 around town and still be fun and economical.

 

[burritos]

Plus, I like Zoom-Zoom, so this was just about the best car I could find that would be able to hold 6 around town and still be fun and economical.

What does that mean zoom zoom? Does it mean that mazda cars go faster than other cars? I thought it was just a marketing ploy.

 

[AIMWO4]

Fun to drive..

What does that mean zoom zoom? Does it mean that mazda cars go faster than other cars? I thought it was just a marketing ploy.

 

[skylar2ups]

Should have looked at the Mitsubishi Outlander too! It seats 7 and is fun to drive! and the third row seats are AMAZING!

 

[skyhawk]

MAzda5... easiest vehicle to mount the baby unto the baby car seat.
Other vehicles is like climbing down or up and reaching into a cave.

Zoom-zoom is a feeling mazda5 owners miss when they drive other vehicles.

 

[coolmazda5]

Zoom-zoom is a feeling mazda5 owners miss when they drive other vehicles.

Quote of the day (2thumbs)

 

[AIMWO4]

That 2.4 L coupled with the manual transmission is awesome... (gossip)

Should have looked at the Mitsubishi Outlander too! It seats 7 and is fun to drive! and the third row seats are AMAZING!

 

[Timotee]

I have had mine for more than a year now and I still get goosebumps whenever I get in. (drive)

Simply a joy to drive.....well worth it!

 

[Zenderfall]

Didn't like the look or the "bulk" of most other minivans

Needed the room

Loved the sliding doors

One of the few vehicles out there where the "middle-trim" had sunroof, climate control, CD-changer and other extras

General price range (for me) had to be between $11,000 - $13,000 US for a one-year old model

Made in Japan

Got a white 2007 back in April 2008 with about 20,000 miles, loving it every single day

 

[x10dude]

Should have looked at the Mitsubishi Outlander too! It seats 7 and is fun to drive! and the third row seats are AMAZING!

You are kidding right? The third row seat is almost the same at the Mazda5... fine for short trips but only suited for your enemies on long trips. The room is very tight. Kids are usually fine but any adults over 5'5" will be squeezed. The third row is also not available on the lower end models. (Mazda it is standard on every model) Also no sliders.

But it still is a nice vehicle.

Probably the only 3rd row seats that I've sat it that are actually OK are really the larger conventional minivans.

 

[skylar2ups]

You are kidding right? The third row seat is almost the same at the Mazda5... fine for short trips but only suited for your enemies on long trips. The room is very tight. Kids are usually fine but any adults over 5'5" will be squeezed. The third row is also not available on the lower end models. (Mazda it is standard on every model) Also no sliders.

But it still is a nice vehicle.

Probably the only 3rd row seats that I've sat it that are actually OK are really the larger conventional minivans.

He said he was looking for an SUV and the third row seat is amazing because it folds flat without much effort and it holds one more person than the 5.

 

[MikesMazda5]

When I was car shopping, I looked at all the Ford line-up as I work at a Ford Dealership. The Freestyle was at the top of my list, but when optioned the way we would want it the price was close to 30 grand. I did look at the Toyota Highlander, but again 30 grand for a nicely optioned one. I picked up the 2006 New Car guide and set about finding our new car. Keep in mind I was in Iraq at this time. My fiance was pregnant and btween us we had 3 kids already. Now that a 4th was on the way, we needed a vehicle that would seat at least 6. Our budget was around 400/month payment, there was only one logical choice. The 5. For 20 grand, we got every option we wanted and saved 10 grand over a comparable Ford or Toyota!!!

 

[x10dude]

He said he was looking for an SUV and the third row seat is amazing because it folds flat without much effort and it holds one more person than the 5.

There are quite a few vehicles (non MVs) with fold-flat 3-row seats.... None of them are "Amazing" as said in the post about the Outlander.

 

[SFZoom]

Like others... we have twins on the way and had to get a car that could accommodate two infant car seats and a tall father... sliding doors were a must due to our tight city parking garage but did NOT want a full size minivan. The hauling capacity, and the manual transmission and of course the price made it the only car we ended up considering. After a test drive we bought it the same day.

 

[wedginator]

I bought the 5 because I occasionally haul quite a bit of cargo. The versatility of the 5 to fold down the seats was a plus. Then the ability to seat 1 more passenger vs. a sedan was another plus. The dual sliding doors topped it off and I was sold. Plus, I think it's the only van style vehicle that has a manual transmission.

 

[skylar2ups]

There are quite a few vehicles (non MVs) with fold-flat 3-row seats.... None of them are "Amazing" as said in the post about the Outlander.

I was being sarcast, it's like a jump seat in an airplane but my nine year old sister and her friends love it, and it's made for kids so... yes it is amazing. And I sat in the back of my other sisters 5 and my mom's Outlander and I enjoy the ride better in the outlander in the 3rd row.

 

[x10dude]

I was being sarcast, it's like a jump seat in an airplane but my nine year old sister and her friends love it, and it's made for kids so... yes it is amazing. And I sat in the back of my other sisters 5 and my mom's Outlander and I enjoy the ride better in the outlander in the 3rd row.

Ahhh, I get it now. Sarcasm is sometimes hard to pick in written form because of the lack of verbal cues.

 

[skylar2ups]

Ahhh, I get it now. Sarcasm is sometimes hard to pick in written form because of the lack of verbal cues.

Yeah, I saw that when I read my comment ove.

 

[Captain KRM P5]

just echoing what has been said - lots of cargo room with the seats down, six seat capacity, fuel economy, sliding doors, styling, handling comparable to a car - not a van, price. the only other vehicle in its segment is the Kia Rondo right now and to me thats just a step down. even if you get a v6 rondo, its really no more powerful on paper vs the 2.3 in the mazda, and it gets worse fuel economy.

i looked at cx-9s, nice but too expensive. i looked at cx-7s, again nice but too expensive and completely lacking in utility by comparison, no offense to cx-7 owners who love them.

 

[Nutari]

I always get a nice fuzzy feeling whenever I think of Ken the "family guy"





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(peep)