2008 Mazda5: SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES!!!!

[coolmazda5]

SPV - Special Purpose Vehicle (as much as one would like the word performance)

The manner in which the seats fold leads me to consider it a station wagon. Think of station wagons of yesteryear or the Volvo V70 (tailgunner style). Only thing that may sway it to the minivan camp are the sliding rear doors.

You just shattered my dream (cryhard). I was already looking-down people driving MazdaSpeed3s, EVOs, STIs and a couple of Vettes when driving my car.

Just kidding of course . I think the term Purpose makes sense, although the whole term SPV acronym still sounds like "what the heck is it, uhhh, make up a name and let's head for lunch, who cares" type thing.

And yes, I also consider it a wagon (especially when you a) have the cargo cover or b) fill-up the tank).

 

[coolmazda5]

Some 06 to 08 differences not showing at first glance

Yeah, I guess we have beaten the 08 major changes to death (deadhorse, but here are some silly ones I've been finding everyday. Some of them seem completely useless I should say, but here we go. Please note I'm comparing 06 to 08 Sports, the bottom of the food chain with regards to trim amenities .

• Engine oil stick location has changed, as well the engine cover/"lid" (see pic). That for sure adds at least 12HP (lol2)
• Front door handles are now chromed (they are alum finish in the 06)
• The gauges lighting dimmer actually beeps when set to the brightest level
• Intermittent wipers have now 5 different intervals. The 06 has only one setting
• Silly, but now the order of the A/C knobs (auto) is swapped compared to earlier or non-rear a/c Mazda5s (i.e. 07, 06 Tourings, Grand Tourings, GTs Canada?). That is actually documented in the manual, funny.

If I find something else, let you know (freak)

 

[Benfolio]

Odd. The fan knob should be closest to the driver.
Always has in any car I've owned, since it gets used the most it should make sense that that knob be closest.
Engine cover looks like the one from the 3. Probably just saving money using the same cover, dipstick tube, dipstick, etc.

 

[Blue Swede]

Odd. The fan knob should be closest to the driver.
Always has in any car I've owned, since it gets used the most it should make sense that that knob be closest.
Engine cover looks like the one from the 3. Probably just saving money using the same cover, dipstick tube, dipstick, etc.

On my car its on the left (closest to the driver) and the heat control is on the right.

 

[BeachBumTom]

Moisture in 2008 Mazda5 Taillights! Bummer.

New to this posting business I just posted this under some other "title". I cut and pasted it here for your info, too.
Today I sent this e-note to Mazda HQ: "I've been anxiously awaiting the 2008 Mazda5. Today I drove to two Orange County CA. Mazda dealerships. I saw 7 Tourings and Grand Tourings ALL with the same problem.......for some reason in the new restyled taillights MOISTURE has condensed or somehow gotten water droplets INSIDE of the lower portion of the taillight!!! At both dealerships, the nice salesmen varified the same finding, water droplets INSIDE of the light itself. At the one dealership all of the wet lights were on the left side only, but at the Huntington Beach dealership their one Touring had it only on the right side. Hm? But every one of the 7 Mazda5's had moisture. Orange County had had 3/4 inch of gentle, gradual rain in 2 days. The salesmen volunteered that it must be a design flaw that would certainly "soon" be corrected. MY QUESTION IS HOW, WHEN, and WHAT SHOULD I DO AS A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER?? Should I buy a car with leaky taillight and get it retrofitted........or wait til Mazda realizes the problem and retrofits ALL cars on all lots. Please, apprise." I sent this note because I really want to know what to do. I love the car but something definitely is leaking and what effect will it have on the lights, the electrical system, the parts setting below the lights, etc. I don't want to start out with a flawed car!?

 

[07MZ5SA]

[*]Engine oil stick location has changed, as well the engine cover/"lid" (see pic). That for sure adds at least 12HP (lol2)

I would rather have dipstick the old way to leave room for intercooler. (wink)

 

[coolmazda5]

On my car its on the left (closest to the driver) and the heat control is on the right.

Weird..., yes the manual has it. It has 2 figures, showing the one like mine and the one like yours, specifying for non rear a/c model" or something like that. There should be a logical reason somewhere (i.e. cables length, more space to fit in the back or something)

(freak)

 

[coolmazda5]

Moisture in 2008 Mazda5 Taillights! Bummer.

New to this posting business I just posted this under some other "title". I cut and pasted it here for your info, too.
Today I sent this e-note to Mazda HQ: "I've been anxiously awaiting the 2008 Mazda5. Today I drove to two Orange County CA. Mazda dealerships. I saw 7 Tourings and Grand Tourings ALL with the same problem.......for some reason in the new restyled taillights MOISTURE has condensed or somehow gotten water droplets INSIDE of the lower portion of the taillight!!! At both dealerships, the nice salesmen varified the same finding, water droplets INSIDE of the light itself. At the one dealership all of the wet lights were on the left side only, but at the Huntington Beach dealership their one Touring had it only on the right side. Hm? But every one of the 7 Mazda5's had moisture. Orange County had had 3/4 inch of gentle, gradual rain in 2 days. The salesmen volunteered that it must be a design flaw that would certainly "soon" be corrected. MY QUESTION IS HOW, WHEN, and WHAT SHOULD I DO AS A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER?? Should I buy a car with leaky taillight and get it retrofitted........or wait til Mazda realizes the problem and retrofits ALL cars on all lots. Please, apprise." I sent this note because I really want to know what to do. I love the car but something definitely is leaking and what effect will it have on the lights, the electrical system, the parts setting below the lights, etc. I don't want to start out with a flawed car!?

I would check the Service Bulletins, I saw something similar when I washed the 06. It went away quickly and is not harmful. Maybe the same thing?

http://www.mazdav.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123666220

 

[Benfolio]

Weird..., yes the manual has it. It has 2 figures, showing the one like mine and the one like yours, specifying for non rear a/c model" or something like that. There should be a logical reason somewhere (i.e. cables length, more space to fit in the back or something)

(freak)

Both 08 Sports we got in have Auto A/C with the rear vents (one's stick too!), and the fan knobs are on the right, farthest from the driver.

I don't like the new fabric texture, or the lack of a lid on the center console. No one needs to see what CDs I have in there (wow). Way to make a car with very little interior stoage even WORSE, Mazda. I liked our little felt lined console lid... lid.

 

[dmesthetic]

I saw 2 on the road and i don t like the rear lights at all. They stand out too much

 

[XterraGuy]

If the 08 has been reclassified, that might explain the one I saw here in Maryland the other day with one of the "M" tags reserved for "multi-purpose" vehicles (SUVs, vans, etc.)
http://mvamaryland.com/VehicleServ/REG/fees.htm

 

[doctorz]

That "M" tag means a lot less than the MVA would have you think. Long story short...our dealer tried to switch our "M" tag from our trade-in MPV to the 5, and our 5 probably would still have the same plate if I didn't notice State Farm classify our 5 as a station wagon. The MVA folks (several) I spoke with said that a memo went around the MVA offices (they even gave me the date!) that specifically said the 5 was a car. They also claimed that (1) our M tag would be rejected, (2) I could get ticketed for having the wrong plate. Neither of which appears to be true; although our 5 has standard passenger plates, I've seen a handful with M tags, just like the handful of Dodge Magnums and Scion xBs with M tags that I've seen. Apparently some dealers think anything that looks like a wagon deserve an M tag (although putting M tags on the Scion xB is a little ridiculous).

 

[qddave]

CD Changer, side sill extensions, and rear spoiler are available as dealer accessories, but if you want the 08 and MT, you're stuck getting a stripper. Mine has no factory options save the 4AT, no biggie.

Toyota is supposed to be bringing over the JDM Mark X Zio to the US in mid-2008. No sliders, no manual transmission, seats 6 in 3 rows, V6 only in North America, AWD available. Sounds like it would cost a few thousand more than a Mz5.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123684094&highlight=zio

Honda's next generation Stream is rumored to be coming over when it gets its makeover in a year or two, but supposedly without the 3rd row. No sliders, either.
http://www.leftlanenews.com/honda-stream.html

Not trying to start anything, but I was just at my dealer today, East Mazda in Grand Rapids, MI and test drove a Galaxy Grey Touring with a 5 speed. I know, I was shocked as well. Its a sweet ride. My wife's should be in next week. I actually told my salesman that he was full of it, in a joking way of course. Very strange.

 

[skyhawk]

The sliders is what makes the MAZDA5. Aside from the zoom-zoom ride of course (and the winter squawks and grunts lol). We rarely use the 3rd row of the MZ5. On a typical day, they are folded down. But the sliders is a convenience that used to be exclusive to minivan owners.

 

[coolmazda5]

The sliders is what makes the MAZDA5

+1, especially in a packed parking lot or a small car garage (it always reminds me of the attached screenshot and that old YouTube commercial)...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1gsSL6o7jU

 

[Sportwagon]

^+2
That's why in Canada the M5 still outsells the 7 seater Rondo .

Love those sliders! Picked up the cargo cover so I can put things in the back away from prying eyes. Still have to take it out if I need those 2 extra seats.

 

[mrbwa1]

The sliders is what makes the MAZDA5.

I would change that a bit to say the Sliders and width (or lack thereof) is what makes the 5. I can squeeze that thing into just about any spot. Now if we could only get the fronts to slide... j/k

 

[coolmazda5]

2008 Mazda5 Sport/Popular Package/AT. Crystal Water Pearl with Tan Interior

Damn, I got coo-coo for not seeing 2008 tan interior pics yet, so here we are, I found some (see thumbnails):

To be fair with the dealer and if you are interested, the original location for these pics is: http://www.autotrader.com/dealer/ddetail.jsp?dealer_id=100004206.

There are many 2008 Mazda5s on inventory for sale now (US), yet I have not seen a Sport MT with the Popular Package. Other interesting thing, it seems that the Popular Package is the one that provides the piano black radio-a/c knobs faceplate. The one with no Popular Package comes with the aluminum finished faceplate (scratch)

 

[jandree22]

Anyone have an idea if the 08 EL Gauges could be purchased and swapped into an 06/07? I'm guessing yeah, but probably several hundred for the cluster... They're the one thing from the 08's that I'm really envious of.

 

[coolmazda5]

2008 Mazda5 Touring (US Market). Manual Transmission

Yes, you read it right. This is a little bit old news but they do exist for the 08 model in the US, contrary to the official specifications. I think somebody posted this earlier, but there are some ads with pics now...

Oh, and in my area, not even manual transmission on 08 Sports, as usual

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...on=&doors=&car_year=2008&max_price=&cardist=0

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...on=&doors=&car_year=2008&max_price=&cardist=0

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.j...on=&doors=&car_year=2008&max_price=&cardist=0

I attached some screenshots, just in case the cars get sold and the pics go away. No copyright infringement, marketing I would say