Future of the Mazda5

[idmd]

I really like the Mazda5 in theory and it's certainly unique as the only "mini minivan" of its kind in the US. It does currently have some significant limitations (non-Skyactiv + limited storage with all 6 seats up + no Sat-Nav option) but I still really like the car.

Seems every other car on the road in my town is a minivan with Honda and Toyota being the overwhelming majority of cars on the road. I have to believe there's money to be made in this segment especially for those of use who don't want a full-sized Sienna or Odyssey....those are both HUGE and heavy and expensive.

I was looking at Mazda's global lineup and the Mazda8 looks like a really compelling offering (or at least an updated version would be compelling) and it seems to be the answer to most of the Mazda5's short comings. I'm pretty sure had it been offered in the US that would've been the car I purchased. I've read Mazda may not continue the Mazda5 in the US....has anyone read anything about them replacing it with another minivan offering? Possible based on the next Mazda8 platform?

 

[tuanies]

The Mazda 8 is the MPV. They used to offer it but it couldn't compete so it was killed off.

 

[90210]

There is no Mazda5 Future.

It is the land of the CUV, and we are living in it.

My cousin in Tokyo owns the new MPV. If it was offered here (I am on my 9th Mazda), I wouldn't buy it.

I own a Mazda5 cuz its dirt cheap (20K). If i was spending 25K-35K, I would drive a Oddy/Sienna.

Mazda is a great company, but it is 2nd tier Japanese company, with Subaru and Nissan, and isn't a top tier like TOyota/Honda.

Aside from my Rx7 R3 model, I am not paying high dollar for a new Mazda.

Its a company that makes great cheap cars.

Living within an expectation is important. I can't expect Mazda to match the quality and craftsmanship of my Lexus cars. However, it far outweighs the Lotus in my garage.


As long as Mazda keeps making fun cheap cars, it will have a great market in the US. IT can't compete with the Oddy/Sienna and it shouldn't need to.

My .02 Turkish Lira

 

[chandlerGTi]

All of this^

I bought the 5 because it was 17k, could seat 6, has a manual trans and gets better than 25mpg. Nothing else really did all of that. If dodge had something answering those questions I would have cross shopped. I came over from BMW, I've owned four E39 tourings and I would get another tomorrow but the manual ones have pretty well dried up. Cheap, roomy, manual option, decent quality and ok mileage are the 5 selling point.

 

[tuanies]

^- heh my last car was an E39 touring, auto though, but 528i + sport package. I love how they looked with the factor BBS wheels.

 

[sac02]

^ Haha, my last car was an e34 Touring with M60B40 + 6MT swap, among other mods.

Album from when I sold it last year:

http://imgur.com/a/ex82r

OK, back on topic.

I think the 5 survives in the US because it is a niche vehicle, and it is the only vehicle in said niche. I don't need or want a 5000lb boat, er, Sienna. If Mazda were to bring the 8, as mentioned it would be competing against the Sienna/Odyssey, and at a disadvantage in everything except driving dynamics and probably price. (and if it wasn't priced cheaper than Toyota/Honda, they would only sell about 20 units only to the hardest of die-hard Mazda fans)

 

[tuanies]

^- my buddy has an E34 touring with S38 swap, its a beast. Have another one swapping an S52 into his E34 touring as well.

I'm actually trying to convince my wife to trade in her VW cRoutan in for a Ford Transit Connect SWB EcoBoost. It's shorter than the 5 but she only needs to haul the two kids. Sliding doors are just so convenient its hard to go back to normal ones. However, the TC is not a cheap vehicle. I priced one out with everything and its $30k. However, it does have an optional panoramic sunroof, which I really want since we live out in the country and the kids love seeing the stars at night.

 

[sac02]

^ I don't understand the purpose of putting an s52 into an e34 or e39. Even though I see lots of people doing it, I can't figure it out. The s50/52 is expensive for what it is, and it's not particularly powerful either by today's standards, especially in a heavy car like an e39 (don't get me wrong, I have and s50 in my e36 M3 and love it in that application). So why go to the trouble of swapping in an engine that didn't originally come in the car (like the M60 did), isn't any lighter (the M60 is quite light for a V8 of that size), and is less powerful and has significantly less torque (especially helpful for the heavier 5-er)? You can pick up a 300hp M60b40 for peanuts, they are bullet proof, and they drop right in - why not? The only reason the M60 doesn't get more love in th eBMW swap world is that it is large and difficult to squeeze into other vehicles, other than that it's a great engine.

I would totally rock a Transit Connect. If it was cheaper, came with a manual, and was fun-to-drive. So, no - I probably wouldn't rock a Transit Connect. And my wife would divorce me before she drove one, lol.

 

[tuanies]

^ Because its an easy swap from an M50 .

The E34 actually weighs more than the E39 by quite a bit. He bought it with a manual swap already done and iirc his M50 was in need of a rebuild soon. IIRC my E39 touring is around 3800lbs but the E34 was around 4400lbs.

For my wife's car, an auto is a must. We're fans of minivans for the sliding doors. I feel like people that hate on minivans have never experienced how amazingly convenient they are.

 

[sac02]

The E34 actually weighs more than the E39 by quite a bit. ... IIRC my E39 touring is around 3800lbs but the E34 was around 4400lbs.

The e39 is lighter, but not by anywhere near that amount of the weight you mentioned (you're way off on the e34 weight). The e34 and e39 540 are only 20 lbs different, and the e39 M5 was heavier than the e34. See below:

e39
525i 1565(3450) 184hp 18.8 lbs/hp
528i 1585(3495) 193hp 18.1 lbs/hp
530i 1585(3494) 225hp 16.9 lbs/hp
540i 1700(3748) 290hp 12.9 lbs/hp
M5 1825(4024) 394hp 10.2 lbs/hp

e34
525i (couldn't find)189hp
530i 1655(3650) 215hp 17.0 lbs/hp
535i 1619(3570) 208hp 17.2 lbs/hp
540i 1710(3770) 282hp 13.4 lbs/hp
M5 1718(3788) 310hp 12.2 lbs/hp

Citation:

Azvin, (2006, January 16). Curb Weight and hp (e60,e39,e34...). Retrieved from
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-469192.html

... people that hate on minivans have never experienced how amazingly convenient they are.

truth

 

[tuanies]

Hmm, I found weight on the E34 525i automatic touring and its at 3759lbs according to - http://www.automobile-catalog.com/make/bmw/5-series_e34/5-series_e34_touring/1994.html

And 3803lbs on the E39 touring automatic. So it looks like weight stayed roughly the same but the E39 is bigger and stiffer. I guess whatever weight savings they made was used up by the increase in size.

 

[90210]

THe Mazda 5 is so boring, we turned this into a BMW thread

 

[Silentnoise713]

THe Mazda 5 is so boring, we turned this into a BMW thread

You are driving an M5, dontcha know (crazy)

I was shopping for a 2002 or 2006 530I Sport package M/T (or 540 wagon) to be my DD but somehow ended up with the wrong M5…



And I do believe the Mz5 is dead but I hope I am wrong considering this IS Mazda's only people mover option in the US at the moment.

 

[tuanies]

I think we are all car enthusiasts in this subsection, not just Mazda fanboys .

 

[90210]

I still can remember reading C Van Tunes 540i 6 speed, E39 that he drove through europe in Motor Trend back in 97 i think..

Man i am old!

I like my $20K Japanese M5!!

 

[Secondtyme]

I sincerely hope I am wrong but I believe also that the 5 isn't going to survive. It is really a testament to the little vans basic goodness that it has made it this far with very little love from Mazda. The good news is that used values remain fairly low so there should be a decent supply of first gen cars for die hards like me who would prefer to drive nothing else. Back on topic, a local radio station is advertising a "budget" oil change for BMWs which are out of warranty for ONLY $79.99 no thanks

 

[90210]

I sincerely hope I am wrong but I believe also that the 5 isn't going to survive. It is really a testament to the little vans basic goodness that it has made it this far with very little love from Mazda. The good news is that used values remain fairly low so there should be a decent supply of first gen cars for die hards like me who would prefer to drive nothing else. Back on topic, a local radio station is advertising a "budget" oil change for BMWs which are out of warranty for ONLY $79.99 no thanks

My Mazda Dealer charges $69.99 for synthetic oil changes too.

What someone advertises for, isn't always an indication of what the true cost is.

I do all my own oil changes.

My local Lotus dealer quoted me $650 to change my rear brake pads while it was in there for warranty work. I did it myself.

 

[Mopho]

THe Mazda 5 is so boring, we turned this into a BMW thread

I find most modern BMW's pretty boring too (drive)

I do all my own oil changes.

With exception to the Caterham, I gave up on doing my own oil changes, just not worth the time and effort, especially when you factor in having to deal with the waste oil.
Also if you car is still under warranty and you do your own changes you can be denied coverage if something were to happen to the motor.


That said, last year my wife used an oil change service at her companies office park garage for her Mazda 3 and the guy drained the transmission thinking it was the engine sump. He then proceeded to "refill" the engine which of course was still full of oil. Fortunately, she had decided to pick up take out on her way home and didn't get on the freeway as usual, which saved the tranny and engine from complete destruction.


Also, there is no future for the Mazda 5


.

 

[Kojack]

There is no Mazda5 Future.

It is the land of the CUV, and we are living in it.

My cousin in Tokyo owns the new MPV. If it was offered here (I am on my 9th Mazda), I wouldn't buy it.

I own a Mazda5 cuz its dirt cheap (20K). If i was spending 25K-35K, I would drive a Oddy/Sienna.

Mazda is a great company, but it is 2nd tier Japanese company, with Subaru and Nissan, and isn't a top tier like TOyota/Honda.

Aside from my Rx7 R3 model, I am not paying high dollar for a new Mazda.

Its a company that makes great cheap cars.

Living within an expectation is important. I can't expect Mazda to match the quality and craftsmanship of my Lexus cars. However, it far outweighs the Lotus in my garage.


As long as Mazda keeps making fun cheap cars, it will have a great market in the US. IT can't compete with the Oddy/Sienna and it shouldn't need to.

My .02 Turkish Lira

What constitutes "top teir". I hope quality is not one of them, and just sales. I find the quality of mazda way ahead of Toyota and Honda. It used to be the other way around with Honda, but now, toy and Honda build tin cans. Their cars are boring and just are of horrible quality. Hell, here, Toyota is taking back trucks to replace chasis because they rust out so fast. NO QUALITY there.

I have my 07 5, and other than scratches from daily life of others not respecting my stuff, its like its brand new. it has 120k on the clock and Just has a few minor issues that happen to anything, like a light switch having a little gremlin. DEF. NOT RUSTING SO BAD that you can throw it out.

I hope the M5 lives, its the best car we have owned. Sporty to drive, lots of room for all your stuff etc.

And the price is a no brainer.

We traded our Cadillac CTS in on the 5 and the 5 is way ahead of the caddilac in quality of build, fun to drive, space ( would could not even fit the baby seat in the CTS), and gas milage. The only thing the CTS had more of is power, which is to be expected considering it had a 3.6 v6. We have owned vw, audi, caddy, chev, jaguar , Honda, acura and more, and the mazda has been the best most trouble free car we have owned.

We would own a new one but the 07 is just such a good car, we see no need to take on another payment to upgrade. Our 5 is the perfect car for us.

 

[Silentnoise713]

The components (inner parts) of Mazda, when Ford had a major stake in ‘07, are made up of Ford parts due to cost sharing while Mazda provided the engine. The main difference is that the Mazda5 was assembled in Japan (affects the build quality as there is still a human factor) and different paneling. This is the first I’ve seem to claim Mazda’s don’t rust or rust less, esp since you are in the rust belt. My experiences (2 Mazda5, 1 Miata, friend’s cars) and those that I’ve come across say otherwise. How do you think Mazda is able to keep their price down (they save their marketing dollars and pass the saving onto you !)? They have to cut cost somewhere in their supply chain… Post-Ford, Mazda seem to have upped their game in quality. I recall reading their CEO wants to move Mazda’s image away from budget/entry to upper/premeium tier. I translate this as losing some of their grass roots zoom-zoom while adding some cost but the end product will be better overall. Kinda like how Subaru turned vanilla and became a success.

As an enthusiast, I try to be sensible and remember that at the end of the day it is still a piece of machinery, some better than others, with perceived soul/spirit/character. In reality it gets used and abused (if not then you are not enjoying it!) and will eventually be dumped/passed on like an old fling.
http://www.6crew.com/forum/showthread.php?21500-Duratec-MZR-family-history-(GOOD-READ)


Now that I think about it, I’m not so sure I’d be interested in a newer Mazda b/c the N.A. car would likely be made in the new Mexico plant. Nothing against Made in Mehico but I prefer my JDM Mazda 5 and let the early adopters take on the change. Goddammit. Why couldn’t they have made the +’12 a little less ugly… With the whole end of lifecycle looming, new crappy IIHS rating, and suckers falling for _UVs, it is prime to pick up an unwanted Mazda5 in the upcoming/inevitable closeout.