Newbie - help me decide to keep this car!

[dishe]

Hey guys,
I've been drooling over the Mazda5 for a few years now, ever since we had a second kid and I started looking for alternatives to a minivan.

I really enjoy the handling of driving cars versus larger SUVs and vans, which is why up until now I've only driven small economy sized manual shift cars. The Mazda5 seemed like a great compromise- drives like a smaller vehicle, but you have that third row of seats for the little kids.

Well, 3 months ago we had our third baby, and I jumped at a used 07 Mazda5 for sale at an auction.

I brought it home, and immediately wondered if I had made a HUGE mistake. My other car is a tiny Nissan Sentra, and has barely any trunk space at all... but at least IT HAS A TRUNK AT ALL! I don't even know where to put a stroller in this thing! With three kids, at least one of the rear seats must be up at all times. I suppose I could fold one of the rear seats down, but I'm picturing trying to load this thing up for a camping trip and scratching our heads...

I love everything else about this car... the looks, the handling, the cute under-seat storage, the MPG, and its a blast to drive! Help me figure this out, guys!

I'm not opposed to a luggage rack on the roof if that works, but I'm very unfamiliar with how that works (again, my cars were always the tiny economy sized cars that wouldn't be able to hold anything on top if their little lives depended on it). Do I need to drill holes in the roof? Is it complicated? Is it expensive?
More importantly, is it worth it, or should I admit defeat and try to sell the car before I get too emotionally attached to it?

What do you guys suggest?

 

[njaremka]

the 5 is set up to accept a roof rack already - it has integral mounting lug locations. so, you could either get the mazda roof rack, thule, or yakima and then add a cargo box. that will add tot he cargo capacity quite a bit, and wont take away too much from the great handling of the 5.

 

[dishe]

Do the aftermarket ones work as well as the official Mazda ones? I searched the forum and found some pictures of an aftermarket roof that looked like it clamped into the sliding door frame, crimping some weather stripping... not cool!

What do people use that they are happy with (and is easy to install for a newbie)? Links, prices, whatever info you have will be helpful!
I love this car and want to make it work for us!

 

[njaremka]

Do the aftermarket ones work as well as the official Mazda ones? I searched the forum and found some pictures of an aftermarket roof that looked like it clamped into the sliding door frame, crimping some weather stripping... not cool!

What do people use that they are happy with (and is easy to install for a newbie)? Links, prices, whatever info you have will be helpful!
I love this car and want to make it work for us!

i have the thule rack setup for our mazda5, and it mounts to the roof lugs just like the stock setup. check out the roof rails - there are little clips covering the rack mounts. those are the locations that the stock (and thule) racks mount.

 

[dishe]

i have the thule rack setup for our mazda5, and it mounts to the roof lugs just like the stock setup. check out the roof rails - there are little clips covering the rack mounts. those are the locations that the stock (and thule) racks mount.

I see those now that you mention it... cool!
How much did it cost you and where did you get it?

 

[njaremka]

I see those now that you mention it... cool!
How much did it cost you and where did you get it?

i bought our set-up from http://www.rackattack.com/

the foot pack, fit kit, and cross bars should run about $250-300. then you just have to add for a roof box of your choice. i only use ours when we go on camping trips and stuff.

 

[Silentnoise713]

More importantly, is it worth it, or should I admit defeat and try to sell the car before I get too emotionally attached to it?

You are asking this question in a Mazda 5 forum...
1) you are already attached to the car
2) you will get unbiased *cough opinions/suggestions

Seriously, everything is a trade off and comes down to the benjamins. Sounds like you are a frugal person and I think the Mazda 5 suites you fine. Another approach is to think if you can sell/trade/donate your current stroller for one that is lower profile.

How often do you go camping? Can you borrow/trade/rent another car if it is once-twice a year event? If frequent you will need a rack or trailer. You can also buy a compact/folding camping trailer home that you can tow around and keep camping stuff in. Many options.


I do not own a Mazda 5, but am ‘considering’ one. As a city dweller, I like to keep things small and as compact as possible.

 

[DKaz]

Get a smaller stroller like the Graco Mosaic, it folds to less than half the size of a conventional stroller yet accepts a car seat, it fits behind the third row too so you can seat six. It's only for urban areas but if you need a bigger stroller like one for jogging, just throw it onto a roof rack.

 

[dishe]

Get a smaller stroller like the Graco Mosaic, it folds to less than half the size of a conventional stroller yet accepts a car seat, it fits behind the third row too so you can seat six. It's only for urban areas but if you need a bigger stroller like one for jogging, just throw it onto a roof rack.

LOL- its a double stroller! And its already the smallest we can get- a Jeep-branded double umbrella-style stroller!

The Mrs. actually wanted to get a bigger, easier to push one, but it never fit in the back of the cramped Sentra. Looks like this car isn't any better! But at least my 5 year old can buckle herself into the back seat instead of trying to squeeze 3 car seats onto the same bench!

Meanwhile, I think we'll do fine for day-to-day driving, but for long trips (the grandparents live at least 200+ miles away, and we go on frequent family road trips), I'll need a roof luggage attachment.
Are they hard to take on/off casually? Like, just put it on for a trip and then take it off when you get back?

njaremka mentioned the thule ones attach to the stock mount points. I assume the Thule one is cheaper than the official Mazda one?
Does anyone else have any to suggest looking into? I'm trying to figure out how I can do this as inexpensively as possible...

Thanks for all the helpful replies so far!

 

[professorhank]

Too late now but did you test drive or at least see the Mazda5 up close at a dealer/auto show before buying it at auction? I hate to be the naysayer here but maybe the 5 isn't a great fit for your situation. Besides the roof rack options, you'll still be squeezed inside. And you may not want to drive that much with a fully loaded roof rack because of wind noise and lower MPG. Not to mention the added weight will tax the brakes and suspension which seems to be the 06-07 Mazda5 achilles. Maybe a Mazda MPV or even a mid-size wagon with 3rd row seating might've suited your needs better. Have you gone on a family trip to your local mall or warehouse store recently? It'll be tight...

I love to zoom-zoom just as much as the next guy and I'd love to drive a small 2-door coupe reminiscent of my younger days but sometimes, circumstances dictate you get something bigger. I only have 1 kid but carry recreational toys in the back so the 5 suits my needs just fine. Does your current situation allow you to sell/trade-in the Sentra instead and get something slightly bigger to be your main family vehicle?

 

[skiph]

If you decide to keep your M5, and get a roof rack system, read ALL of this thread (all 3 pages, look at the attached pictures). You will see that the general concensus is the Yakima set-up with the Control Towers is the preferred method to attach a roof rack:

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123637424&highlight=roof+rack

There are also several threads on here about roof racks, either use the search function or expand the date range covered by posts in the lower area of the main forum page and browse the thread titles manually.

 

[njaremka]

LOL- its a double stroller! And its already the smallest we can get- a Jeep-branded double umbrella-style stroller!

The Mrs. actually wanted to get a bigger, easier to push one, but it never fit in the back of the cramped Sentra. Looks like this car isn't any better! But at least my 5 year old can buckle herself into the back seat instead of trying to squeeze 3 car seats onto the same bench!

Meanwhile, I think we'll do fine for day-to-day driving, but for long trips (the grandparents live at least 200+ miles away, and we go on frequent family road trips), I'll need a roof luggage attachment.
Are they hard to take on/off casually? Like, just put it on for a trip and then take it off when you get back?

njaremka mentioned the thule ones attach to the stock mount points. I assume the Thule one is cheaper than the official Mazda one?
Does anyone else have any to suggest looking into? I'm trying to figure out how I can do this as inexpensively as possible...

Thanks for all the helpful replies so far!

i can get our rack on and off in about 15 minutes. if you scour ebay, you might be able to find the stock set-up for less than the thule rig. you might also follow some of the rack sites and get the thule rig for less when they have sales. EMS often runs 20% off sales, and they carry thule gear.

 

[dishe]

Too late now but did you test drive or at least see the Mazda5 up close at a dealer/auto show before buying it at auction? I hate to be the naysayer here but maybe the 5 isn't a great fit for your situation. Besides the roof rack options, you'll still be squeezed inside. And you may not want to drive that much with a fully loaded roof rack because of wind noise and lower MPG. Not to mention the added weight will tax the brakes and suspension which seems to be the 06-07 Mazda5 achilles. Maybe a Mazda MPV or even a mid-size wagon with 3rd row seating might've suited your needs better. Have you gone on a family trip to your local mall or warehouse store recently? It'll be tight...

I love to zoom-zoom just as much as the next guy and I'd love to drive a small 2-door coupe reminiscent of my younger days but sometimes, circumstances dictate you get something bigger. I only have 1 kid but carry recreational toys in the back so the 5 suits my needs just fine. Does your current situation allow you to sell/trade-in the Sentra instead and get something slightly bigger to be your main family vehicle?

Ouch, I was wondering how long it would take for the negative nancy to pipe in and say this. Yes, my wife and I went to test drive one a couple of years ago. We didnt have the money for a new car at the time, and one less kid as well... it seemed perfect.
When I found an 07 at the auction for $9k, I decided to jump on it, although we hadn't re-evaluated since the baby was born.

Now, wanting this car has a lot more to it than just wanting to drive "a coupe reminiscent of my younger days"... Its a financial decision. The m5 is generally cheaper to buy, own, and maintain than a van or suv, and gets better MPG. I'm tight for cash right now, and spending MORE money on a larger vehicle that will still cost MORE money in fuel to drive, well that just seems silly if I can make this work. The fact that it is fun to drive is icing on the cake!

But I took your advice last night and packed up the family for our first test trip: COSTCO! We bought a folding table, amoung other things. I put half the rear seat down, put most of the stuff there, then slid the table standing up in the aisle between the two middle seats.
The car passed our test so far! In fact, my daughter really liked having the groceries next to her instead of in the trunk... she could be "in charge of it", and poke around at the food, etc.

I'm definitely leaning towards keeping this.

If you decide to keep your M5, and get a roof rack system, read ALL of this thread (all 3 pages, look at the attached pictures). You will see that the general concensus is the Yakima set-up with the Control Towers is the preferred method to attach a roof rack:

http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123637424&highlight=roof+rack

There are also several threads on here about roof racks, either use the search function or expand the date range covered by posts in the lower area of the main forum page and browse the thread titles manually.

Thanks- funny, I searched the forum and thought Yakima was the one that pinched the door weather stripping. I'll have to read through that thread, I suppose. Most of my searches came up with threads dating back to '06, when the car was first released and the discussion is mostly about how options are scarce. Alot changed so I gave up trying to follow that.

Thanks again for all your help, guys. I really like this little car!

 

[Tsuru]

Keep in mind that some of the 5 roof rack threads go all the way back to the beginning (Read: 2006) when the aftermarket manufacturers had not had a chance to make a proper fit-kit for the 5. Thule, Yakima and Inno all have fit kits that fit flush to the factory mount points. I have an Inno rack (the cheapest option ~$220 from orsracksdirect) which has the same square bars as the Thule rack. The down side to the Inno is the lower weight capacity. (110 lbs vs ~165 lbs for the Yakima or Thule)
There's a thread here for the Thule rack. There's been some fit issues with the earlier fit kits (model 3069 IIRC) but the 3080 fit kit is supposed to work correctly.

I've got three little ones so I'm in the same boat as you. You'd be surprised how much you can cram into a 5 when you put your mind to it. On the other hand a roof rack adds so much versatility to an already versatile vehicle.

Since you've already bought it, I'd say give it a chance.

 

[flcruising]

Is a double umbrella stroller bigger than 2 regular umbrellas? We've got this, and could defintitely see 2 umbrellas taking up about the same space.

Get you one of these for the 'trunk' and you're all set.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Canopy-La...e-Storage-Bin-Rich-Brown-Fresh-Ivory/13246773
Or better yet, get 2 and stack them.

I honestly don't see the 5 being too small for us unless ('til, hopefully) we have 4 kids, then the lack of trunk would be an issue.

 

[Heat]

When you open the back door there is a plastic door on the right side that can be removed. The purpose of this door is to make it so that you can fit a golf bag behind the third row of seats. It may help you with your stroller issue.

Another thing is that you could remove one of the second row of seats, it’s held on by a few bolts. This would give you a lot more storage in the middle of the car. You can put the seat back in as needed, would take just a few minutes to put it back.

And I also wanted to mention that with the '07 you will need to keep an eye on your rear tires. Make sure the tread on the inside of the tire is still there (even treadwear). The '06 / '07 models have an issue with toeing which chews through tires.

 

[Silentnoise713]

its a double stroller!

What are the ages are of the two older kids? Not sure if a sit and stand suites you but they are lower profile and accommodate a car seat for the infant. Assuming they are not twins, the second/oldest will appreciate the free will of coming in/out. Recommend Joovy Caboose Ultra light has ball bearing wheels for easier maneuverability (consider the added weight of two kids).

I really like this little car!

Be honest, you weren't really considering selling it

 

[dishe]

Ok- so I've been doing a lot of reading up here, and I think the car will work for us for now, especially if I invest in a roof mounted storage bin.

So now my question is what is the most hassle-free yet inexpensive way to get roof storage. I've been reading up a storm here, but still have so many questions!

Here is the information I've gathered so far, please feel free to add to it and/or correct anything that is wrong:
In order to mount something on the roof of a stock M5, I need to invest in 2 things:
1. An actual storage box
2. Some kind of mount to attach it to

So, as far as mounts go, There are 3 major options everyone is talking about. The stock Mazda ones, the Thule ones, and the Yakima.
Someone in this thread mentioned Yakima is the BEST option. Honestly, I've been reading up on it, and I don't see why... I mean, it looks like many members had already invested in Yakima stuff, boxes, bike mounts, etc, so it was a no-brainer to go with that brand. However, if you don't own and Yakima stuff already, is it still the best deal? Why?

The mounting model they recommend for the Mazda5 clips under the door frame, pinching the weather stripping and just not looking all that great personally. Someone else seems to have found out that a different offering from Yakima will actually work in the stock mounting points on the Mazda, no pinching, etc... however it is not recommended by Yamika OR Mazda, and it seems that people are modifying it a bit to fit (cutting poles, inserting spacers for sunroof clearance, etc).

The Thule offering seems OK, and someone mentioned that they think Thule actually made the OEM Mazda rack as well. So, that seems a decent option.
There isn't much talk about the Mazda branded one at all, honestly. Which I found odd. Too expensive maybe? Not worth it?

Meanwhile, is there anything to know about how the box attaches? Will only certain brands work on certain racks? I'm really a newbie at this concept. I don't even know what people are cutting in those discussions about the Yakima... are there different sized poles that I would need?

SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE A ROOF MOUNT FOR DUMMIES THREAD!

 

[njaremka]

i'm a thule fan, so my opinion may be biased. i never liked yakima, because the onyl ones i ever saw were rusty! yuck!

the thule website has a nice fit guide that will tell you everything you need to get a box on the roof. you just have to tell it what car you have.

 

[thaxman]

You can always get a beater minivan or 5-seat truck to do your bidding when you aren't tooling around town in your stylish Mazda5. I throw everything in the bed of the truck for camping or hauling junk around. Its there when I need it, but the truck only sees maybe 2000K/year.