2010 Mazda5 and Tall People
- Thread starter littlemisszoom
- Start date
I'm 6'2", and I fit fine (my wife is 5'5"). The only thing I found is that with my leg length, my right knee is very tight to the ignition key. I keep the key for my 5 separate (no other keys on the ring), which I find helps. At some point I want to pick up a key for it without a remote, and put it on a quick release for longer trips, or when I go sailing. I was really hoping to see the 2012 Mazda pare down the shifter surround. I think it is bulkier than it needs to be. If they slimmed it down a bit, my knee could go a bit more to the right, and the key would not be an issue.
The sunroof is definitely not an issue on the 5 for headroom for me. Not that I would, but there is even abundant room for my helmet if I took it on the track!
The sunroof is definitely not an issue on the 5 for headroom for me. Not that I would, but there is even abundant room for my helmet if I took it on the track!
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Quick link for the key if you dont have it: http://www.dealextreme.com/p/mazda-m3-m6-4d-transponder-smart-key-16640
I keep my key separate always, the extra weight of more keys helps accelerate wear on the ignition switch. I cant say I ever noticed an issue with knee clearance though, I tend to rest on the center console and never noticed any interference problems.
Have you considered taking out the spring from the key and letting it fold down? I think you would get a little more clearance but it might be a little annoying to open it manually.
Not a huge issue by any means - more of an observation. I've had it for over 2 years and 40000km, and still not ordered a key yet. With the manual transmission you are moving your feet more, and it is more of a brush on the knee than a hard contact. Thanks for posting the link for those that need it, and for when I finally get around to ordering one.
I love the shifter location in the 5, and my knee also rests on the console. The models from Europe show the navi control to the left of the shift lever, which explains the width of it. I would really prefer it to be something closer in size to the British built 2002-2005 Civic Si Hatchback (or SiR here in Canada). Not something I plan to rip my dash apart over, just something I think they could have done better for taller drivers.
I love the shifter location in the 5, and my knee also rests on the console. The models from Europe show the navi control to the left of the shift lever, which explains the width of it. I would really prefer it to be something closer in size to the British built 2002-2005 Civic Si Hatchback (or SiR here in Canada). Not something I plan to rip my dash apart over, just something I think they could have done better for taller drivers.
(hand)
I can't say "don't buy a Mazda5", but I can say "wait to buy a Mazda5". Wait until you are no longer upside down on the Versa, you'll have much better loan opportunities open up at that point.
The Versa may not be the greatest car but to trade it in while upside down will only compound the issue.
That being said, I read an interesting stat this morning:
Rockin03mp5
Member
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- '13 Mazda3 / '13 Edge / Your Mom
this is pretty much spot on.
the cx7 is small. both the wife (5'5'') and i (6'0'') hit our head when getting in the drivers seat, and found headroom lacking compaired to our 5.
my 2 complaints with the 5... the drivers seat needs to move back a little farther... and the pedals in the automatic are too close. i get caught on the brake pedal all the time.
otherwise, the 5 is the way to go. the 2.3 is pretty zoomy, and the car is quite nimble for its (relative) size.
You must have some really long legs then! I wear a 32" inseam and my knee is nowhere near the key, even with my bottom cushion tilted up past stock. I do have my seat all the way back, I assume you do too.
They could have done much better for taller drivers, BUT..... remember we are way past the 75th percentile for height. In the home market of Japan, we are 8"-9" taller than average. The 5 simply was not designed with us in mind. As Rockin pointed out, if you have big feet you get hung on the brake pedal all the time. I modified the trim piece next to the accelerator so it would be better but its still an issue. In dress shoes its actually dangerous! When the weather clears up a bit I'm going to buy another pedal assembly to modify and have the pedal put about 1/2"-3/4" to the left.
That is true about the market it was designed for. I have a 34" inseam, but by no means a giant. 
Unless there is an adult in the seat behind me, yes, the seat is all the way back. I have a friend who was involved in a head-on collision 20 years ago in his Dodge Colt. His knee went into the dash, and it took many surgeries (+ lots of titanium) to get his left knee back together. Since then, I have always favoured cars with LOTS of room between my knees and the dash. The 5 is just adequate in that regard.
I must say, that even with winter boots (US11), I have not had the problem with the pedals on our 5MT.
Unless there is an adult in the seat behind me, yes, the seat is all the way back. I have a friend who was involved in a head-on collision 20 years ago in his Dodge Colt. His knee went into the dash, and it took many surgeries (+ lots of titanium) to get his left knee back together. Since then, I have always favoured cars with LOTS of room between my knees and the dash. The 5 is just adequate in that regard.I must say, that even with winter boots (US11), I have not had the problem with the pedals on our 5MT.
Rockin03mp5
Member
- :
- '13 Mazda3 / '13 Edge / Your Mom
the brake pedal in the manual trans is much smaller. the automatic brake pedal is huge and too close to the gas pedal.
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- 2008 Mazda5 Touring
I agree. We have an auto, and my size 12 don't have much wiggle room, so I can only imagine some of you larger footed fellas.
If I pump the seat almost all the way down, I find that I am back far enough to be comfortable. This vehicle is definitely not for larger families IMHO.
If I pump the seat almost all the way down, I find that I am back far enough to be comfortable. This vehicle is definitely not for larger families IMHO.
I find only certain shoes have issues with clearance. I guess its just their design. Maybe I just need to get a pedal set from a 5MT model. I dont need the brake to be that large anyway. Truthfully, I never really understood why they were bigger for an automatic. Every single auto car I've ever seen has the right side worn and the left side as if it were never touched.
In emergency braking situations, automatic drivers don't have the option of pressing a clutch pedal in to decouple the engine and stop faster. The idea is instead, you put both feet on the brake pedals to stop faster that way. I've done it accidentally a handful of times when I borrow/rent an automatic vehicle, forget I'm driving an automatic, and try to push the clutch in when I'm just trying to slow down say for an upcoming red light. Unnerving really.
Could you tell me more/link me to this? My husband is 6'3" with bad knees and would like another inch of legroom, so anything that helps. I drive the car 95% of the time so it wasn't a dealbreaker for us.
OP - this car is a dream for car seats. My kids (2.5 & 8 months) are also ridiculously tall and we do extended rearfacing (at least until age 3 or as long as possible) so I've heavily researched carseats and there pretty much isn't a seat out there that doesn't install in the second row in less than 5 minutes, and I can get one of the biggest seats on the market rearfacing behind the passenger (sunshine kids radian). I'm 5'7" and it's tight in front of it but doable, pretty much any other seat has tons of room.
You mean this thread? http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showthread.php?123771131-Seat-bottom-adjustment!&highlight=
It does not add legroom though. It just tilts up the front of the seat to give the thighs more support. Until the 5 I only drove sports cars and the lack of adjustability on the seat bottom led me to modify the seat. I am still looking out for a suitable power seat swap if anyone cares
It does not add legroom though. It just tilts up the front of the seat to give the thighs more support. Until the 5 I only drove sports cars and the lack of adjustability on the seat bottom led me to modify the seat. I am still looking out for a suitable power seat swap if anyone cares
Thanks for the explanation! I'll send this to him and see what he thinks.
Has anyone ever considered/researched actually moving the entire seat assembly back an inch or two? We have a 2009 GT if that matters. He has it all the way back and pumped down (and would like 1-2" more than that), I have it all the way back but about 1/2 pumped up.
Has anyone ever considered/researched actually moving the entire seat assembly back an inch or two? We have a 2009 GT if that matters. He has it all the way back and pumped down (and would like 1-2" more than that), I have it all the way back but about 1/2 pumped up.
