Bye-Bye 06, Welcome Big-Momma :-(

[sgt_skidmark]

I was pro-odyssey for as long as I can remember. Owned an S2000 with zero issues and family was Honda centric. When ready to pull the trigger, it was just too expensive. So sought after that there was very little give in the pricing, both new and more so with the used models. Finally came around to the 5. 90% of the time it is run with 3rd row down. Only when grandparents are in town (3 times a year) are the seats up like this Christmas. And with the 87 octane pushing 3.60 in the city (Chicago) it seems like a better deal every day.
Still love the honda van, just not willing to pay for it.

 

[coolmazda5]

I have problem with the door handles. It appears it can pinch a finger.. too near the edge. Car color makes it look like the back of the old GMC Van. That had doors that swings open from the middle.

Door handles are no problem. As per the color, I learned that to own an Odyssey where I live the best choice is the one that 95% of the other Honda Odyssey owners DO NOT have. Grocery store, school, Home Depot, you can see at least 2-3 silvers and 4 grays next to each other (2005-2011) or in the same row at least . I hope that our color choice does not become ubiquitous. Oh, and yes, I do remember those GMC vans, scary (boom06)

^^^ kidding? heck no. I drive my girlfriend nuts with my lusting over Siennas and Odysseys. Seriously. I have wanted a full size mini-van (oxy moron if there ever was one) for like 15 years.

Well, I can tell you that for the gear you carry in your Mazda5 is plain awesome, but when not carrying much and driving just for city trips it is a gas hog (VCM is just for the highway, honest)

Owned an S2000 with zero issues

S2000s are hot. One of my coworkers owned an AP1 (2001?). It had the guts and features that many current "sports" cars want, including the awesome 2.0L NA engine, push-start button, 6MT and very high RPM red line.

90% of the time it is run with 3rd row down. Only when grandparents are in town (3 times a year) are the seats up like this Christmas.

Awww, those good times ... LOL

 

[thaxman]

## NOT ## looking forward to trading in 23 mpg city for 16 mpg!!


Highway hits 28mpg, pure city I've hit 18MPG lately, LOL

My Accord VTEC 2.2 was only good for 20 mpg winter/18 summer city use only, so I can't picture ANY V6 driven in my setting to do as well, hence the drop in 2 mpg estimate. In the summer, its the A/C of course, which disproportionately robs power of the smaller engines more, so we get better mpgs in the winter, even thoug the winter gas is E10. But when 35-40% of your driving is acceleration, there is no way you can get good mpgs. My Volvo has an instantaneous mpg readout, and while cruising in 5th @ 40 yields 40+ mpg, accelerating GENTLY will yield 8-9 mpg (fun, boosted acceleration...4mpg.) Hence the 20 I average now.

 

[coolmazda5]

My Accord VTEC 2.2 was only good for 20 mpg winter/18 summer city use only, so I can't picture ANY V6 driven in my setting to do as well,

This 3.5L VTEC engine has Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), so it helps pushing up a bit the final average at cruise speed, but yes, only under very specific conditions. In my case VCM engages mostly when going downhill . My only relief is that it seems to be getting a little bit better highway mileage than the Mazda5 under similar conditions

 

[DKaz]

When you're going downhill with the transmission in gear and don't have your foot on the gas, fuel is not injected into the engine anyway, it's all gravity.

 

[sgt_skidmark]

S2000s are hot. One of my coworkers owned an AP1 (2001?). It had the guts and features that many current "sports" cars want, including the awesome 2.0L NA engine, push-start button, 6MT and very high RPM red line

We traded the s2000 in for the 2010 5. Had it for a good 7 years so not missing it too much.

 

[coolmazda5]

We traded the s2000 in for the 2010 5

Apart from the space and the auto tranny, did you notice any other difference?....

 

[coolmazda5]

3 car seats. Mazda5 vs Big Momma

Put the 3 car seats in the Mazda5, 3rd row is very tight for Britax Marathons. Here is a comparison, the Odyssey's 2nd row gets a big plus in that regards...

 

[sgt_skidmark]

Apart from the space and the auto tranny, did you notice any other difference?....

At the stop lights I don't feel so hip anymore.

 

[thaxman]

Put the 3 car seats in the Mazda5, 3rd row is very tight for Britax Marathons. Here is a comparison, the Odyssey's 2nd row gets a big plus in that regards...

Bummer on the whole "maturing" thing. Better start following your 401k) daily, downing Metamucil and upping your life insurance coverage.. :'(

 

[coolmazda5]

Don't play with my feelings

So I'm browsing through an Odyssey forum for some tips and this is the marketing I get, come on, stop playing with my feelings!