So this Mazda 5 ownership is a thing...

[BunnyS4nd0]

New owner of a 2009 Sunlight Silver Sport that we picked up Saturday.

I have to be honest I wasn't thrilled when my wife was hot for this thing. I tried looking for one on the road, saw plenty of Odysseys and Siennas...Have you seen the Odyssey commercial with the Judas Priest soundtrack...I about pee'd my pants. I should preface my intro with a couple of facts...My '00 VW GTI VR6 died on me a few months ago after 14 years of loyal service...and it turns out the '04 Subaru Legacy Outback we were hauling around in had a few mechanical problems (rod knock, broken AC, gasket leaks and exhaust leak) that we didn't want to pay for because we had just gotten burned on the GTI...2013 was not turning out to be a great year for cars in my world.

So back to the 5...

yeah...wasn't feeling it...finally saw one on the freeway and it's back tires looked shoved too far in...I dunno sweetie...But my wife kept saying smaller than a mini van; great for San Francisco driving...3 rows; play dates (woo woo) and decent gas(better than mini van) and impact ratings...I googled some images...a mod community and RACING? Well color me interested.

Well turns out I liked her right away on the lot and it didn't long for me to give the go ahead to get her home.

Love the turning radius, love the acceleration(coming from a guy who had a v6 in his Golf), love the lines, love the space...I love it so much that I joined a random Mazda forum because I am excited about the purchase.

So we'll definitely get a roof rack and cargo nets, window tint...I haven't seen the shark antenna yet but everyone seems excited about it...We bought a warranty so I don't expect any engine mods anytime soon, the DVD system seems way over priced, we'll just duct tape the ones we have to the seat for the kids

Down the road I could imagine a new set of rims...I wanted to put a Slayer sticker on it, my wife says no, so I snuck a SF Giants one on today...

 

[hibern8r]

Looks good! Great first post and welcome to the forum!

 

[DougNuts]

Good choice and welcome aboard. I bought one 2 months ago and every time I drive it, I am glad I bought it. I also have purchased a Thule roof rack (for bikes), a trailer hitch (for bikes), a canvasback cargo liner, a Corksport antenna and I'll be buying a cargo net soon.

Mine also had the windows tinted when I got it and I do recommend it.

 

[Davicho]

Welcome! Love The City...I miss going often for my fix on Boudini. Used to live in Davis. Enjoy your 5!!

 

[Silentnoise713]

Hey, we are the only Mazda5 forum, than you very much. You don’t have a choice – ha!

Yes, the turn radius is a wonderful thing and is a great great attribute, among others. I'm sure you are use to full hand brake lock but be warned that this car's parking pawl is like a tooth pick. Welcome and look forward to more sharing.

 

[thaxman]

It was the turning radius that had me. Wife wanted one waaay back in 05-06. Saw one & was like...meh. Then I saw a white 06 or 07 Touring that seemed to make a trip to Taco Bell every time I did (not that frequently, I promise) and the way it made a right turn into the tiny sideways lot to go to the awkward drive-thru just screamed "MANEURVERABLE!!!!!" and it was actually kinda sexy they way it did it. Maybe it was because I was in the last year Accord wagon, which is as little an Elise as it is a Crown Vic, or maybe it was because it was so tall and seemed to follow the path a Miata would, but it was so different in its handling capabilities compared to anything else like it (well, minivans, CUVs and SUVs) that I was sold.

 

[Wishmaster]

Wow, think that might be the first time I've heard someone praise the acceleration! Better check under the hood, maybe it's a MS3 swap, haha! Great post, glad you're enjoying it and welcome to the forum!

 

[Secondtyme]

Welcome! You will find we are rabid group, though small, of very enthusiastic owners here. Most of us are family types, but our choice in cars shows we haven't given up LOL Happy Zooming....

 

[BunnyS4nd0]

Wow, think that might be the first time I've heard someone praise the acceleration! Better check under the hood, maybe it's a MS3 swap, haha!

I know right? It certainly doesn't compare to the GTI...but the Suby for all it's problems would still motor on but not winning land speed records...The pep of the 5 was unexpected off the lot and now that I have some freeway miles under my belt, this acceleration is perfect for me...I don't need to go GTI fast anymore, not with 2 in child seats still.

I have checked out the Overdrive a little bit...I might use that more in the City on some steeper hills...it's weird to be honest, I am so used to a clutch.

 

[BunnyS4nd0]

Also...there is the Sci-Fi feel to the Mazda 5...which straight up my alley. Do you guys know who Syd Mead is?

Somewhere in all those images is the feeling I get from the car...I know that sounds weird, but as an artist and huge fan of Sci-Fi, with this car it seems like I have stepped into his world.

 

[Brains]

i wasn't too excited when my dad opted to go mazda5 instead of mazda3, but i got to like the 5 and now i love ours. Of course, a year later we got a 3 SO.....
You won't hear me complain about the 5's acceleration... it feels a lot quicker than my protege-

-there's an orange one driving around columbus that looks a bit lowered, and has a nice set of some kind'a gray rims... it's hot.

put some mazdaspeed stickers on there, no one can argue with mazdaspeed stickers

 

[mazdadude]

Welcome to the forum BunnyS4nd0!

It is the "Swiss Army Knife" of vehicles, and has become the longest ownership period of any Mazda I have owned.

 

[m5pa]

Welcome to the world of 5. Besides the joy of not seeing yourself coming and going, only you know the amount of fun you're having on something with sliding doors! I actually look forward to the day when my lease is up on my Altima and the 5 becomes my daily driver. Ours is an 08 that we bought in 09 as a left-over brand new. It is a GT in Sunlight Silver. Only 30k on the clock.

The 5 is rather snappy off the line and the relative lack of power to everything else isn't as awful as the numbers would suggest. Enjoy your new to you 5.