Clunker

[DGF]

I just bought a Mazda5 Touring, two weeks ago. I traded in a well used 1993 Ford conversion van. (Transmission about to go out) under the clunker program. They gave me $4500 for it. I am very happy with the Mazda. It is just the right size for my wife and me. Still getting used to it.

My daughter bought a Mazda 13 years ago and still has it. It has 180K miles on it and to date she has only put tires and brakes on it and it still runs great. She uses it for visiting freinds and relatives so they can have a vehicle while they visit.

So, hello to all you Mazda people glad to be in the club.

 

[SGT_OKINAWA]

HELLO and welcome to the Mazda family, Five things to do right off:

Post some pictures of your new ride.
Tell us more about the WHY you chose the 5
What are your plans to modify / dress up / etc.
What will you be using the 5 for, work, play, daily driver, etc.
What questions do you have in relation to your 'getting used to it'

Welcome and enjoy your stay!

Peace!(rei)

 

[DGF]

Reply

Thank you for your kind reply Sgt. My wife and I have a long history of driving vans starting with a new 1973 VW bus which we drove to Mazatlan Mexico from Chicago on our honeymoon. I loved the VW and honestly if they still offered them I would have bought one. We then bought a new Dodge full sized van to which I made some conversions and we drove and camped our way from Chicago to San Diego and back it had the 318 V8 and was an excellent vehicle. I have worked for companies that always provided me with a company car so my van experience was for a long time put on hold. Then I went to work for a company that allowed me to pick my own "company car" and I chose a Dodge Grand caravan. It was a disappointing experience, although I liked the Dodge, two transmissions and a blown engine later I dumped it. I drove a Nissan LX for a few years and a Jeep Cherokee later. I retired a few years ago and the company gave me the Ford Conversion van to keep. There seemed to be always something to fix, my company put two transmissions in it, and the tranny was going again when I clunkered it.

I had done some research on mini vans on line and liked the Mazda 5. It seemed to have all the accessories we were looking for, six disk cd changer, fold down seats, moon roof, sliding doors, sporty looks, ect and Mazda's reputation for maintenance free reliability. I mentioned my daughters 13 year old Mazda sedan, that was one selling point for me.

Now that we are retired we would like to do some touring, so far the Mazda looks ideal for the two of us, and our little Boston Terrier Ruby. I said I was getting used to driving the new car, and by that I mean it is so much peppier than the old Ford I fear for my drivers license. I bought a Garmin 765T GPS so on our trips the wife and I will no longer bicker over directions or find ourselves lost on the back roads on which we prefer to travel if possible. Generally speaking it is the journey not the destination that is important.

I will attempt to post some pictures when I learn how to do that. At this point I cannot think of anything I want to add to the car, it seems fine just the way it is. Perhaps a roof rack at some point.

Again, hello to all you 5 lovers from an old man and his wife.

 

[DGF]

First trip

We drove from here in N.Va to about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh for the wedding of a cousins daughter, a trip of about 260 miles one way. I was amazed at how comfortable a trip it was. The 5 tracked like it was on rails. It had plenty of power for merging back onto the highway from our frequent rest stops. I truly do love this car. We arrived at the Motel, Marriott, not at all tired from the 4.5 hour trip.

We are now planning a trip down the full length of Skyline drive National Park in the Blue Ridge mountains. A wonderful trip and I heartily recommend it to any of you that haven't had the pleasure of seeing how beautiful the state of Virginia is. Fall is an excellent time to make the drive. Much wildlife to be seen and the overlooks are breathtaking. There are accommodations to be had along the way from rough cabins to bed and breakfasts. We are looking forward to cranking up the stereo, opening the moon roof and just cruising.

 

[SGT_OKINAWA]

Thank you for your kind reply Sgt.

Youre welcome DGF AKA: old man and his wife

new 1973 VW bus

Oh, yes, I bet you wish you still had that huh?
Got any old pictures of that you can scan and post?

318 V8 and was an excellent vehicle.

My Step Father had one of those wed go to Nebraska Cornhusker games all over the Great Plains, those things were built like a tank, huh?

Dodge Grand caravan. It was a disappointing experience, two transmissions and a blown engine later I dumped it.

I hear your pain, but wow, how many miles on it when you got rid of it? We went through 1 transmission, and TWO A/C compressors.

I ((Cringe)) owned a Pontiac Fiero WORSE CAR IVE EVER HAD, Gurrrrr, and we went through 1 transmission and one A/C unit.

I drove a Nissan LX for a few years and a Jeep Cherokee later.

The Nissan was better huh? I had a Nissan Pathfinder with 158,000 miles on it and sold it for $6K ! It was awesome, 4x4 and NEVER GAVE ME ANY PROBLEMS.

I retired a few years ago and the company gave me the Ford Conversion van to keep.

Nice.

There seemed to be always something to fix, my company put two transmissions in it, and the tranny was going again when I clunkered it.

Oh not nice, I can see why they GAVE IT to you, more like get rid of it and not have to buy you a gold watch gift for your retirement. LOL! Just kidding.

I had done some research on mini vans on line and liked the Mazda 5. It seemed to have all the accessories we were looking for, six disk cd changer, fold down seats, moon roof, sliding doors, sporty looks, ect and Mazda's reputation for maintenance free reliability. I mentioned my daughters 13 year old Mazda sedan, that was one selling point for me.

Ive said it before and Ill say it again, the U.S. Auto makers need to learn, GIVE THE CUSTOMER WHAT THEY WANT!

I will attempt to post some pictures when I learn how to do that. At this point I cannot think of anything I want to add to the car, it seems fine just the way it is. Perhaps a roof rack at some point.

Again, hello to all you 5 lovers from an old man and his wife.

Please post some pictures and keep us posted on your modifications

the pleasure of seeing how beautiful the state of Virginia is. Fall is an excellent time to make the drive. We are looking forward to cranking up the stereo, opening the moon roof and just cruising.

We just moved from Virginia to Okinawa in DEC last year, yes Virginia has some great scenery, that plan sounds like a good one! Enjoy!

Peace!(rei)

 

[Robotazky]

Welcome!