1st long trip in our 5.

[vw mofo]

Figured I'd go ahead and post up my reaction to my first long trip in the 5. Trip length was 8.5 hours 1 way from Dayton, OH to Scranton, PA.

Comfort - 8.5 out of 10: Biggest 2 gripes is that there is not enough cushioning on the arm rest, and my knee hits the "speaker pod" on the door when I set the cruise control and pull my feet away from the pedals. If that speaker wasn't there or was a bit lower leaving some "knee" room, it would have been perfect. Seating position is good and the seats are as comfortable if not more comfortable than our caravan was.

Convienience - 9 out of 10: Access to the middle row of seats from the front seat is tricky and there's no good place to put a cooler thats easy to get to. Those who used to have a full size minivan will know what I'm talking about here. Cargo hauling configurations were stellar for what we took with us. Could use a power outlet on the center console for the middle row seats to power up portable electronics.

Ecomony and Power 10: I was nervous that this car woul have trouble with the hills in PA like our Caravan had when the cruise was set, but it did not. No problem WHAT so ever. Plenty of passing oomph with the 5 speed and we averaged 32MPG for the entire trip. (1 tank @ 29mpg, 1 @ 34MPG, and 1 an 33MPG). Coming from a Dodge Caravan that was lucky to get 27MPG on a good day, I am more than pleased with this.

That all said. If you have a dog and intend to take him/her along, plan on visiting a DIY carwash when you get to your destination to hit up a vacuum cleaner. GOOD GOD the interior fabrics and plastics in the car collect dog hair! lol

Overall, I have to say that this car is hands down the absolute BEST bet on the market for a small family on a budget.

 

[zoomzoomV]

awesome. when we have long trips, its my wife who always complains about not having a armrest on her side.

 

[AIMWO4]

How fast...?

(strike) Any average speeds associated with your ratings?

Ecomony and Power 10: I was nervous that this car woul have trouble with the hills in PA like our Caravan had when the cruise was set, but it did not. No problem WHAT so ever. Plenty of passing oomph with the 5 speed and we averaged 32MPG for the entire trip. (1 tank @ 29mpg, 1 @ 34MPG, and 1 an 33MPG). Coming from a Dodge Caravan that was lucky to get 27MPG on a good day, I am more than pleased with this.

 

[vw mofo]

I had the cruise set at 73-74MPH which was just shy of 3500RPM IIRC.

 

[JimboNC]

If you travel with a dog and it sheds like it's trying to be hairless, cover the seats with an inexpensive fleece throw, they cost $4.95 to $10.95 in most stores. Washable and soft so the dog gets a good grip standing on it.

I have a small dog, sheds badly, and use a biege throw which goes with the trim in my car(2001 Proteg). Also, I use three firm bed pillows standing on end on he floor side-by-side (back seat) as cushions (airbags) for her if I have to stop suddenly. Animals not buckled down can be thrown forward against the front seats or all the way into the front cockpit. Remember, you are buckled in and the MZ5 is going 45mph (or faster) and stops quickly, but your dog is still going 45mph when the MZ5 stops.

 

[armando5]

I just finished San Francisco to Las Vegas and back with my wife and our 2 kids. I was getting 25 to 28 mpg but averaging more like 80mph.

My wife is complaining about the seats and the AC wasn't up to desert standards. anyone else think so?

The DVD is a godsend and with a 5speed the van goes pretty well I think-- certainly better than my mom's '95 Windstar.

 

[mountjonas]

we drive from los angeles to san diego just about every weekend and it's a pretty comfortable cruiser. i also wish it had better armrests, as well as arm rests on the rest of the bucket seats. other than that, it's awesome.

 

[coolmazda5]

awesome. when we have long trips, its my wife who always complains about not having a armrest on her side.

. I just heard the same comment after a trip this week. However the comment was rapidly offset at the time of a diaper change on an I-95 rest area. Just opened the sliding door, took some stuff off the seat and performed the duty in few minutes. No hunching, with adequate height and space. Telling ya!

 

[07MZ5SA]

My wife is complaining about the seats and the AC wasn't up to desert standards. anyone else think so?

You are correct about MZ5's A/C.

For comparison:

Euro-spec MZ5
(kW {kcal/h}) 3.960 {3,406}
(m3/h) 450
Blower motor (W) 256

2001 Toyota Highlander
5600W or 4816Kcal/h
540 m3/h
blower 260W

 

[coolmazda5]

Well, I'm back

Thanks VW Mofo, very good summary. I have also completed a relative long trip few days back and the MZ5 did a very good job (my earlier reply in this thread makes the case), but...

My wife is complaining about the seats and the AC wasn't up to desert standards. anyone else think so?

Yes, I agree, never really noted it before, but during the trip, while driving back, it was pretty hot for Northeast US standards so we had to ride with the A/C (it is the Sport trim style one) in "Max" speed at all times (I do believe is #4 in the knob) and even sometimes with "Recirc" mode to keep the car cool. For my other car I usually do that only when it has been parked for a while or when traffic is heavy, but at highway speed is not necessary.

The DVD is a godsend and with a 5speed the van goes pretty well I think-- certainly better than my mom's '95 Windstar.

Now, if your Avatar (profile) is reflecting what you are driving (Porsche 911 and Lotus Elise), then you can call the MZ5 a van, I don't have anything to make an argument on... He He He! (wrc)

 

[armando5]

Well, I'm back

Thanks VW Mofo, very good summary. I have also completed a relative long trip few days back and the MZ5 did a very good job (my earlier reply in this thread makes the case), but...



Yes, I agree, never really noted it before, but during the trip, while driving back, it was pretty hot for Northeast US standards so we had to ride with the A/C (it is the Sport trim style one) in "Max" speed at all times (I do believe is #4 in the knob) and even sometimes with "Recirc" mode to keep the car cool. For my other car I usually do that only when it has been parked for a while or when traffic is heavy, but at highway speed is not necessary.



Now, if your Avatar (profile) is reflecting what you are driving (Porsche 911 and Lotus Elise), then you can call the MZ5 a van, I don't have anything to make an argument on... He He He! (wrc)

I do call it the "sportscar of minivans". Come to think of it Get Shorty was the first movie I saw with my wife-- it's come full circle.

 

[epharmacist]

Lotus/Porsche

Yes, I noticed that, too. Man, my 1984 Porsche 944 was sold when my wife got pregnant and I made her sell her BMW to get the Mazda5.

Besides, where do you park 3 cars in SF. I know I wouldn't park a Lotus or a Porsche on the street.

 

[armando5]

Lotus/Porsche

Yes, I noticed that, too. Man, my 1984 Porsche 944 was sold when my wife got pregnant and I made her sell her BMW to get the Mazda5.

Besides, where do you park 3 cars in SF. I know I wouldn't park a Lotus or a Porsche on the street.

It's even worse than that, we still haven't sold the old car (an Audi A4) so there are 4 cars. Luckily our driveway is wide enough for a second small car, so Porsche (missing engine/tranny) gets garage, the 5 and Lotus get the driveway and the A4 gets the street.

 

[flomobile]

I don't find it as comfortable as I'd thought I would on long trips. There are several things that really cause problems:

1. I feel like the footrest cramps my left foot... there's no way I can stretch my left leg out without pushing in the clutch, and there's not enough space to slide my fut between the clutch and brake pedal. I have size 12 shoes, so the small foot area is a little tight.

2. The center armrest sucks. Once I have the seat reclined far enough for me, the armrest is at a definite upward slope, and there's no way to lower it. That said, it's the same as my Element's, but the Element is far roomier, so I don't need to recline as far. Why they put the little flip-down nub instead of a taller console with a padded armrest on top of the storage lid boggles me.

3. The steering becomes too stiff at higher speeds. It seems like all the assistance is gone at 70 mph, and there ratio is too quick to allow that comfortable one-handed steering on a straight, boring highway. The tightness that makes it more fun on the twisties makes it less enjoyable when taking a family road trip. Even worse, some bastard as Mazda put a spoke at my preffered 6'o clock position on the steering wheel!

But alas, otherwise it's great... And, when only one reputable manufacturer builds something in the genre you seek, you take the bad with the good.