Excust my manners.. I think introduction is long over due

[dieseldriver]

Hi Mazda247 Community:

My name is Pete and I recently became a Mazda fanatic. I was always fond of the 90's RX7, Protege, and Miata but in the last decade, have not been interested in the Mazda brand simply because I wasn't a huge fan of Ford not to mention the partnership. In the last 10 years or so, therefore, have mainly stayed with German brands such as VW and BMW.

Fast forward to today. I was driving around in a 2006 VW Beetle TDI 5 Speed in the last 5 years or so and starting beginning of the year, have ran into some trouble with the car. Mainly started with getting rear ended then the brake hose failure going down a hill, and host of other electrical problems. Then I remembered the ride one of my coworker gave me - a 2010 Mazda 5. I said wow, this is perfect for our family of 5 (Mazda5 / FamilyOf5) I said.

We had a 2007 Honda Odyssey Touring with Navigation and DVD entertainment and of course, the New Beetle. Well, one night, I went for a test drive of the Mazda5, it was the Touring model. But I was blown away with the ride and handling. I had to pinch myself because I thought I was dreaming that it was a BMW 3 Series sedan.

Long story short, I put a down payment on the 2012 Mazda5 Grand Touring in Clear Water Blue Mica. Drove it home a few days later and been happy ever since. Then, to make a long story short, went to test drive the 2011 CX-9 GT and traded in the Odyssey the next day.

So in about 2 1/2 short week, we became not one, but two new Mazda vehicle owner!

 

[Richard_rsp]

Awesome!

My wife and I traded our 2010 VW Jetta Sportswagen TDI last January in for 2 Mazdas... a 2011 Mazda2 and a 2010 CX-7. As you have probably seen, we have since traded the CX-7 for a Mazda5! No kids, but still an awesome vehicle...

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your Mazdas! They are great cars that are really focused on driving - In the quest for being biggest, super technologically advanced, and most horsepower, I believe driving dynamics are something a lot of other manufacturers have forgotten about.

 

[dieseldriver]

Thanks Richard. Wow, so I am not the only one doing this. I thought I blew one of my gasket and some of my coworkers thought went cookoo. Well, I'm willing to bet some of my neighbors probably thought I had won the lottery LOL.

Even though I like the CX-9 which is driven primarily by my wife, I look forward to driving the Mazda5. Looking forward to getting me some winter tires in a few months and this is the alloys I have picked out from TireRack, let it snow let it snow let it snow...

 

[Nurburgringer]

Thanks Richard. Wow, so I am not the only one doing this. I thought I blew one of my gasket and some of my coworkers thought went cookoo. Well, I'm willing to bet some of my neighbors probably thought I had won the lottery LOL.

Even though I like the CX-9 which is driven primarily by my wife, I look forward to driving the Mazda5. Looking forward to getting me some winter tires in a few months and this is the alloys I have picked out from TireRack, let it snow let it snow let it snow...

Those wheels look good - I haven't decided yet whether to go with new wheels from TR or a used set of 17" from a 6 or 3. Offset is just about the same and obviously the bolt circle works.
BTW - how did you get a picture of the 5 with the wheels off tirerack? I know how to view the different wheels on the car, just haven't found a way to download the pic (probably right there in front of my face....)
congrats again on the new ride! I love ours more each time I drive it.

 

[vinisterz]

looks like we all came from a VW car

I had a 2000 VW gti tornado red that I loved but she like going to my mechanic more than driving with me . Switched to a 2003 honda accord coupe, then had a family addition that won't fit in the coupe and here I am with a mazda5

 

[dieseldriver]

I just did a [CNTRL]+[Print Scrn] then cropped it using PainShip Pro 4.2 (free download).

For the winter setup, I am mostly concerned with ease of cleaning. Plus the TireRack alloys on the picture are $100 each. So that's not too bad. But the winter tires I will most likely be getting are the Michelin Alpins or Bridgestone Blizzak.

I haven't decided on which one however, probably Michelins though.

BTW - how did you get a picture of the 5 with the wheels off tirerack? I know how to view the different wheels on the car, just haven't found a way to download the pic (probably right there in front of my face....)
congrats again on the new ride! I love ours more each time I drive it.

 

[dieseldriver]

Hmm, almost like deja vu!

I've been buying VW's for over a decade, and was a big fan of A3 chassis models like the Jetta, which I had two, GLX's. But then I've realized, VW's will always have the same electrical problems. Like the window regulator issue, that's been that way since the 90's!

I can't believe VW never fixed that issue. Then a bunch of emission related problems - including poor quality and prematurely failing MAF sensors. I don't think I will ever go back to VW's now. I've also had a near life and death situation with the Beetle where the front LEFT brake hose failed going down hill.

looks like we all came from a VW car

I had a 2000 VW gti tornado red that I loved but she like going to my mechanic more than driving with me . Switched to a 2003 honda accord coupe, then had a family addition that won't fit in the coupe and here I am with a mazda5

 

[dieseldriver]

I used to overlook and brush off the flaws with VW's mainly because I was really into the European rides in the 90's and 2000's. However, like everything, priority in life changes and with the family first, I am no longer able to find the time and desire to continue fixing VW's that constantly needs attention. I was really really surprised how far Mazda has come to make you feel like you're actually driving the German rival.

Not all is good with Mazda however. I was interested in the Speed3 Grand Touring but I was surprised to find that the model does not come with sunroof with the excuse that it compromises structural integrity. Also, the shifter and and clutch just didn't feel right coming from the Beetle's buttery smooth manual.

looks like we all came from a VW car

I had a 2000 VW gti tornado red that I loved but she like going to my mechanic more than driving with me . Switched to a 2003 honda accord coupe, then had a family addition that won't fit in the coupe and here I am with a mazda5

 

[manualist]

I've been buying VW's for over a decade, and was a big fan of A3 chassis models

I had a 2006 A3 with 6 speed stick I liked that car a lot, but didn't get to keep it long, due to the second kid. VW cars look great, have good engines, and yup the shifter is very smooth.

 

[dieseldriver]

Yeah, I meant the chassis code, A3. Golf, Jetta, and Beetle on A3 platform. Right now, the latest chassis code is A5. Anyway, when I went to the dealer to trade in the Honda Odyssey, I test drove the 2012 Speed3 in red. But it just wasn't the same as far as shifting went. First off, I'm not a big fan of close ratio shifting. With the car with so much torque, the clutch just didn't seem to feel right. Then the salesman told me that because of chassis integrity, Mazda has decided not to put sunroof on the car.. I said that's weird. That was the first time I've heard that as all my cars previously had sunroof, performance or not. And then there was the built in GPS that looked as if Mazda just stuck a Garmin on the dashboard and it was so far away, and it was hard to see. Finally, the interior wasn't as nice as the Mazda5 I don't think. I actually started missing my 5's interior. Couple of last items. First off, this looked cool first, the flashing LED lighting on the stereo headend as you turn the knob to either side. But then I got to thinking, what the heck?? Then finally, a sporty car with no coolant temp gauge??

 

[Nurburgringer]

I thought that's what I tried, but the resulting file showed the OEM wheels... will give it another try.

By the way, what are you doing for TPMS on your winter rims?

I just did a [CNTRL]+[Print Scrn] then cropped it using PainShip Pro 4.2 (free download).

For the winter setup, I am mostly concerned with ease of cleaning. Plus the TireRack alloys on the picture are $100 each. So that's not too bad. But the winter tires I will most likely be getting are the Michelin Alpins or Bridgestone Blizzak.

I haven't decided on which one however, probably Michelins though.

 

[dieseldriver]

I am just going to have TireRack add the OEM sensors in while balancing them. It's about the same price as if I were to buy them from Med Center and then have them mount it, but I rather just have TireRack do everything. I've grown to trust TireRack over the years, never had problems with them.

I thought that's what I tried, but the resulting file showed the OEM wheels... will give it another try.

By the way, what are you doing for TPMS on your winter rims?