Greetings from a Mazda5 n00b!

Evan_in_CA

Member
:
2006 Mazda5 Touring
Hi all, nice little corner of the web you seem to have here. My new (to me) Mazda5 was dropped off at my house today, we had quite the interesting experience yesterday, we went out just to look and so my wife could see if she liked the 5s, but the stars aligned and we ended up with pretty much exactly what we were looking for (once we looked past some ugly mods). We actually waited around the dealership for the people who were trading it in to leave so we could buy it. The car in question is a 2006 Whitewater Pearl Touring model with the Auto trans, 6 disc in-dash changer and auto climate control. I think that's about it for the options on it... I would have prefered a manual, but was not ready to spring for a 2008 and it's going to be my wife's car anyways... So anyways, the car only has 13k on it, it was sold new last summer, all maintenance done at the dealer we got it from, looks brand spankin new other than some really tacky appearance modifications that the PO did to it.

We got a good deal on it for what it is, paid a bit on the high side by the book, but for the condition and the better warranty on the '06 (I have more warranty on this one than if I'd bought new) I think we did well. I looked at a couple of '06s that were ridden hard and put away wet, and most were about the same price or more than this car.

I really just wanted to say "hey" to the gang here since I'll be around a bit as I get to know the new car. I'm a bit of a car guy and research the hell out of everything; I've been wanting one of these for awhile now so I'm somewhat familiar with the Mazda5 already. I don't know what it is about me and niche cars, something seems to draw me to them. My daily driver is a 2003 VW Jetta TDI, another car with a small but loyal following.

The only plans I have in the near future, and I've been doing some searches on this stuff already, is to remove the horrible window tint, change the wheels (trying to find a reasonable deal on factory alloys), add some sort of iPod integration and a Sirius tuner. I already have an appointment to get the tint removed and replaced with regular 20% tomorrow, I can't handle the graphics in the current tint.

Here's a picture of the car as it sits now (please excuse the fuzzy pic, it was dusk out and I didn't want to use the flash), with the uberghey tint and fugly chrome wheels...
 

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Welcome bro.
I always loved the white. I got a black and a red one if you ever want to trade :-)

Ill look past the tint, but if its still on in a month then Ill have to start posting pics of eminem.

Congrats. you will love it, coolest car that can easily carry and protect your family imo. Side air bags even for the "dog row" :-)..err...should I say..dawg row...Joking :-)
 
I'm driving it to work and already have an appointment for the tint guy to come out at noon. I have my paper bag with eyeholes cut out all ready for the drive.
 
Welcome to our little world! Yeah the tit is um... bad, but the wheels aren't the worst I've seen. the Chrome on white has a Dodge vibe to it though. If you don't like them, you might try lurking on some other Mazda forums as the 3, 5 and 6 all have the same bolt pattern. If nothing else, perhaps chrome door handles or something might help offset those wheels.
 
Here in Ohio I got my 2nd 5 used, it was an 06 sport with 23k miles on it. I got it for 12500...but...It was a hertz vehicle, but the rear tires sound like a monster truck (they needed to be rotated regularly but I dont think they ever were).
 
Welcome and post some pics once the transformation is over!

ha

is los banos... a joke... or do you actually live in an are called the bathrooms...

You beat me to it :D. I always laughed about that old name until I found there is a place called Bath in England, and it is named after the fact that the Romans had amazing places to bath in there (yeah, those guys were everywhere)

Question: Do you hail for San Marcos or St. Mark? :D
 
Yes, I actually live in a town called Los Banos (the baths, not the bathrooms, but yeah I know...), a little burg in the middle of nowhere - the armpit of California. An unfortunately named, but nice little city. I am from San Jose, CA though, and actually commute 90 miles each way to Santa Clara every day.

I have my eyes peeled for any factory 17" Mazda wheels, I found some from a 3 yesterday on CL, but no reply from the dude yet. I'll pick some up as soon as I find any flavor that fits, then see if I can pawn these monstrosities off on CL for a few bucks. Is the offset on 3 and 6 wheels the same as on the 5?

Another mod I'm actually going to do is leather. Has anyone here done their own leather installation? I was looking at Katzskin kits. never done upholstery before, but I'm pretty handy around cars so figured maybe I'll take a whack at it.

Thanks for the welcome, everyone, even if a bunch of you only replied to make fun of where I live.:D
 
Yes, I actually live in a town called Los Banos (the baths, not the bathrooms, but yeah I know...), a little burg in the middle of nowhere - the armpit of California. An unfortunately named, but nice little city. I am from San Jose, CA though, and actually commute 90 miles each way to Santa Clara every day.

Thanks for the welcome, everyone, even if a bunch of you only replied to make fun of where I live.:D

If you go, Los Banos is not far from Gilroy - garlic capital of the world. Fun place to go - mmmm garlic :)

However, be careful on Hwy 152 (Pacheco Pass) between Los Banos & Gilroy - pretty dangerous road. I don't envy your commute :(

And, if you're in Bath, England, the baths are very cool. Also check out Bette's tea room. Stonehenge & Salisbury Hill are close too.
 
And, if you're in Bath, England, the baths are very cool. Also check out Bette's tea room. Stonehenge & Salisbury Hill are close too.

"Bloody brilliant mate". Anywhere in England: good tea, terrible food (English breakfast, ewww!) and tons of beer at the pub, starting at lunch (beer)

Every time I hear/read Stonehenge it reminds me of the National's Lampoon European Vacation movie :D, Chevy Chase driving skills are out of this world (damn, off-topic)
 
"Bloody brilliant mate". Anywhere in England: good tea, terrible food (English breakfast, ewww!) and tons of beer at the pub, starting at lunch (beer)

Every time I hear/read Stonehenge it reminds me of the National's Lampoon European Vacation movie :D, Chevy Chase driving skills are out of this world (damn, off-topic)

For me, it's Spinal Tap :)

Cheers!
 
Here in Ohio I got my 2nd 5 used, it was an 06 sport with 23k miles on it. I got it for 12500...

Very nice. I've been checking AutoTrader and there are '07 Sports out there with 25-30K miles for $13-14K. I'd like an '08 but will probably go with an '07 for that kind of savings.
 
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Congratulations on your purchase. I love the white.

Actually, I kind of think the wheels are pretty okay (no I don't want to trade for my stockers) and the tint doesn't look that bad (Well, okay maybe gawdy is a better word).

If it were mine, I would probably redo the tint, but would go aftermarket on the wheels...something a little LESS chrome...

Enjoy the 5!
 
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I'm wondering how easy it is to remove tint and install a new one. Will the tinting shop be able to remove all the sticky stuff out of the old tint making the glass squeaky clean again ready for a new tint??
 
I'm wondering how easy it is to remove tint and install a new one. Will the tinting shop be able to remove all the sticky stuff out of the old tint making the glass squeaky clean again ready for a new tint??

Apparantly so, because it's all gone now and retinted without the goofy graphics.:D It looks about a bazillion times better now.(thumb)
 
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