Looking at an 07 Mazda5 GS- -Canada-

[99CivicSiR]

Just found this site and am starting to read up on the Mazda5's as we are thinking of selling our 03 CRV for one. We have two small children ( 3yr old and an 18 month old) so we want extra seating but don't want a bigger SUV(for gas mileage) or a typical Dodge-ish type mini-van.

There is currently one at our local Mazda dealer , an 07 Mazda5 GS, auto/air/etc., 31,000 kms, and all the little things i would want to put on a vehicle (bug deflector, vent visors, tint, trailer hitch.)

I want to be prepared for when we go to look/drive it. I know to check the tires for wear on the rears from what i've read so far, but is there any other mechanical/electrical things to ask/check out/be weary of?

They have it listed for $15,995, and it's been there for a few months but i think a salesman is using it presonally from time to time because it is not always on the lot when i go by in the evenings.

What would a fair price be to barter them down to as it's been there for a few months, and the new ones will be out in a few months time?

Thanks for the help and i'm going to be surfing this site more .

 

[wmzda5]

$15,995 is expensive considering its an 07 GS, i'm assuming you're in Canada right? Sometime I see MZ5 selling as low as 12-13K CAD in Brampton. Look around in autotrader you might find a better deal. I know my dealer offered to give me 11K on my car to trade for a 2010 GT

 

[Tsuru]

I think $16K is a bit much as well. Keep in mind that pretty much everything on your list of extras can easily be done DIY (well maybe not the tint) and don't cost that much.
For reference I purchased my '06 GS w/ Auto AC almost a year ago. It had 30K on the dial and I paid just under $15K for it.
As far as things to look for, tire wear you've already covered. I'd also check all four shocks since they tend to go prematurely. If it's relevant to your area, I'd also make sure it has a block heater.

 

[99CivicSiR]

Yeah, i was thinking that was a bit much, so like i said, i was hoping to beat them down on the price as they have had it for a while.

Here is the rig:
http://www.targetmazda.ca/en/usedcars/listing/details.spy?id=3132851

 

[KBrian]

Most dealers have at least 40% markup in the price, so likely the car stands them 10-11K. Start low and move up in 100 dollar increments. Check comparable prices online. The best (IMO) Canadian online cars for sale site is driving.ca because the search engine includes regional catagories.

Our 07 GT 5speed (no leather/6 disc/nav) with 18000km cost us 16700 in 2009. GS models are 2k less.

 

[99CivicSiR]

Most dealers have at least 40% markup in the price, so likely the car stands them 10-11K. Start low and move up in 100 dollar increments. Check comparable prices online. The best (IMO) Canadian online cars for sale site is driving.ca because the search engine includes regional catagories.

Our 07 GT 5speed (no leather/6 disc/nav) with 18000km cost us 16700 in 2009. GS models are 2k less.

I just tried that driving.ca site but nothing comes up when i search Nova Scotia, or within 500 km of postal code B0K.

 

[DKaz]

I paid $15,5 for an 07 GT last April (talked down from $15,995, but I also got them to pay $1,500 higher for my trade in value for my Corolla), granted with 71,000km (now at 113,000km), it's up to you to decide if it's too much, but there is room for a lot of negotiating.

 

[KBrian]

I just tried that driving.ca site but nothing comes up when i search Nova Scotia, or within 500 km of postal code B0K.

Sorry. I just did a general search, 10000+ listings for BC and only 123 for N.S. I guess the site is not well used in the Maritimes.

Craig's List?

 

[Heat]

I've seen too many issues with the '06 / '07 Mazda5's to recommend them to anybody. Hang on to your '03 CRV for a while longer, making "car payments" to yourself then buy a new Mazda5. Or wait and see how the Ford C-Max looks once it hits the North American market (fall of '11 as a '12 model).

Put it this way - I have a '99 Honda Accord and personally know two people with '06 Mazd5s. Those Mazda5's have had a ton of issues where my Accord is still going strong with no problems. The issues include excessive brake wear, rear tire wear, and some knocking in the engine which is probably the motor mount. I recommend avoiding '06 / '07 Mazda5s.

 

[99CivicSiR]

Well, we went to our local dealer today and ended up testing a 2010 Mazda5 ( base model with air and auto)so we could get an idea if it was right for us or not.

I was very impressed, it was everything and more than i expected. We had it on the highway and some twisty back country style roads. I was surprised with the acceleration and how it keeps pulling...i had it up to 160 km/hr (no cars around on a divided highway...never drive this fast anyways) and it was still gaining. Then we hit the back roads and i couldn't believe how well it handled and felt very comfortable and predictable . My wife was pleasantly surprised with it overall as well. When I first started telling her and showing her the features weeks ago, she was just 50/50 on if she liked it or not, but after today she is totally sold on getting one.

The salesman told of a bad accident in our province a few months ago,one that i had heard about on the news, a taxi pulled a u-turn in the median of a divided highway and got t-boned at 100-120 km/hr because he wasn't looking. It turns out it was a local guy from my area who hit the taxi, was driving a Mazda5 and walked away with no injuries at all. She was very impressed with the safety features on it.

Another interesting fact we found out, was that it was rated #1 in customer service satisfaction in our region, Atlantic Canada, out of 15 dealers. It was rated #2 in customer service satisfation in all of Canada.

Now we just have to figure out what to do with our CRV, whether to sell private, or use it at the dealer as a trade-in, or find one of the local small used car dealers to buy it from *us* for a reasonable price..but really from our Mazda dealer so we save the tax on the new vehicle.

 

[99CivicSiR]

Well it's getting closer and closer to biting the bullet and getting something new. After doing some research we found some dealers to stay away from and some that are reputable, so that helps us out a little bit more when the time comes.

We haven't been back to barter or see what they would do for lowering prices, or throwing in additional goodies.

Would it to ridiculous to try to get a 2010 GT auto for the price of a 2010 GS auto/air model?

 

[nate0123]

Definitely try to get the best deal you can get.

 

[KBrian]

check the "prices paid" thread for info on canadian gt purchases