'Fun to Drive'..

[skyhawk]

Hi, New here.

I'm just wondering what does it mean when you say 'Fun to Drive'.
or 'zoom zoom' experience.

my only other car is an old buick 86 skyhawk.
prior to that I've had mazda 323 for 11 years..
I'm just a regular driver, home to work, to school, etc..
so I guess I don't feel the difference amongst the vehicles.

How can I experience this 'fun to drive' or zoom-zoom experience?
Should I race? turn corners really fast? ..

Is an Odyssey, or grand caravan, or other full minivans
'Not Fun to drive'??

 

[AIMWO4]

I don't have any fun driving a Town & Country. Too much roll, and not much feedback from the road. Great for comfortably cruising along.

"Fun to drive" usually means you can feel the road; get responsive feedback to your input through steering; and, if you have a manual transmission (or AUTO w/ paddles), a bit of control over the gears.

The Mazda5 is built more like a sports car (Mazda3), than a mini-van.

(enguard)

 

[starlightmica]

I'm a full time van driver, swapping between the Mazda5 and an 04 Toyota Sienna. The latter is the opposite of fun, with uncommunicative steering, low adhesion limits, big time body lean into curves, but a nice plush ride for the family. Rental Grand Caravans have better steering feel but wimpy and noisy engines. I haven't driven an Odyssey with its independent rear suspension, perhaps someone else can comment?

The 5 has good steering feel and response despite its electrical power assist. The stock tires do well in warm weather high-speed turns, makes merging onto the highway via a high-speed S turn a good exercise every AM on the way into work. Cold weather stock tire performance is wanting.

Race? with 154hp and 3333lbs, don't expect too much.

 

[Foolish]

Not to point out the obvious, but it simply means it's fun to drive it!

Examples:
A U-Haul truck, loaded with stuff and towing a car behind it, is no fun to drive.
A sports car is fun to drive.
Typical mini-vans are more fun to drive than the U-haul, less than the sportscar.
The Mazda 5 is more fun to drive than a minivan, but less than a sports car.

It's a continuum, from least to most enjoyable. It ranges from something like that U-Haul experience, which is simply miserable, to cars like you've owned, which do the job but require very little thought and inspire even less emotion, to walking out into your garage and seeing your new Ferrari, or Lotus, and thinking SWEET, I get to drive THAT today!! WOOOHOOOO!! That's how I felt about driving my Miata on warm, sunny days. That was the quintesstial fun car.

Does that give you an idea, or am I missing the point of the question?

 

[P_bouchr]

Examples:
A U-Haul truck, loaded with stuff and towing a car behind it, is no fun to drive.
A sports car is fun to drive.
Typical mini-vans are more fun to drive than the U-haul, less than the sportscar.
The Mazda 5 is more fun to drive than a minivan, but less than a sports car.

Well put !

 

[misbehave]

You will feel the difference if you drive a Mazda.
Even just a ride to work will be enough for you to enjoy the driving experience.
I always find excuse to drive ever since I got mine.

 

[HotRodSaint]

If you have to ask, then you'd probably be happy with a '73 Caprice.

 

[opus]

The experience is just more engaging then a typical "appliance vehicle" ie; camry, accord, civic, buick, etc..... You feel the road, you feel like the vehicle is more responsive to your inputs, everything is a little tighter and more in tune with what you want it to do.

 

[jandree22]

Think "Go-Kart". No the 5 isn't nearly the go-kart feel as a MX-5 Miata for sure, but the same kind of deal. The steering is very responsive and tight... pretty much aim the steering wheel where you want to go, add some throttle, and you're a happier person because of it.

A Dodge Caravan, for example, is A-B transportation that is a chore to drive than anything. The 5 seems to beg to be driven hard... then it asks for "more please!" That's how all current Mazdas are, minus the Tribute(Ford Escape) or B-Series(Ford Ranger). Furthermore, in addition to AIMWO4's point, mechanically speaking the Mazda5 more or less IS a Mazda3... just wrapped in a different package.

All that being said, if that doesn't heighten your interest, then don't bother with a Mazda... not because they're not good cars, but simply because any other car will probably fit your needs the same.

 

[zoomzoom mazda5]

I enjoy my zoomzoom everyday! Hey jandree22 how is your little boy doing? by the picture looks like play time or maybe a little zoomzoom too.

 

[jandree22]

I enjoy my zoomzoom everyday! Hey jandree22 how is your little boy doing? by the picture looks like play time or maybe a little zoomzoom too.

That pic was taken about 45 min after we got home from a drive through the twisties. Took another half hour or so for him to finally come out of his euphoric trance.

Seriously, the little guy is doing great! No complaints, and this whole "Dad" thing is actually pretty cool

 

[jlk_250]

Fun to drive? A few months ago we went on a family vacation and planned to rent a Dodge Magnum. They were out of them so we got a Caravan at the same rate. We should have asked for something different. Talk about -not- fun to drive! Low power, tons of body roll, and I think someone who gets seasick easily would have to bring Dramamine for a long trip! The interior was also falling apart. The worst part was filling the gas tank. It got only 19.5 mpg. Compared to a Caravan the Mazda5 is a go-kart in the handling department and is fun to drive even if you're not speeding.

Jon

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

Hi, New here.

I'm just wondering what does it mean when you say 'Fun to Drive'.
or 'zoom zoom' experience.

my only other car is an old buick 86 skyhawk.
prior to that I've had mazda 323 for 11 years..
I'm just a regular driver, home to work, to school, etc..
so I guess I don't feel the difference amongst the vehicles.

How can I experience this 'fun to drive' or zoom-zoom experience?
Should I race? turn corners really fast? ..

Is an Odyssey, or grand caravan, or other full minivans
'Not Fun to drive'??

Value is the highest point on this next car purchase and the 5 is all that. As for ZoomZoom.... it holds your body and will not let you down when you need to get out a of a tight spot.

Fun to drive is hard to acheive in any car, wagon or minivan and I will atest that mazda has done a bang up job with the 5.

Reliability like your 323 DNA is still in the new 5 and damn you will be happy.

Hope this helps

PS where are you from?

 

[flomobile]

It all depends on what you consider fun to drive. If I were to show you three cars, and ask which looks like the most fun, which would it be:\

A: Porsche 911.
B: VW Microbus
C: Jeep Wrangler
D: 1953 Caddilac El Dorado Convertable.

The typical editor or reviewer of an automag, you would answer #1. However, everyone is different. Take a 6'6 guy who loves to cruise the open road on long trips, and ask which he prefers. He probably won't want the Porsche 911, which would be fun for a few miles, until he'd been going for an hour down the freeway, and couldn't feel his knees any more. Hit a few expansion joints, and he'd hate it.

He might like the VW Microbus, would probably hate the Jeep, but would adore the smooth, stylish cruising in the Caddy.

When they speak of the Mazda5 being "fun to drive," they mean that it's closer to the Porsche in suspension and steering characteristics than the most other minivans.

Does that help?

 

[jandree22]

(iagree) Great post, flomobile

 

[skyhawk]

thanks. I got the idea now.