Its Really Not A Van

[Benfolio]

My wife and I had the discussion last night. Is it a van? A truck? A car? I think we decided "car".

We traded in a '05 CR-V for the 5 and MAN what a difference. The wife liked sitting up high in the Honda, and the AWD, but it had a horrible choppy ride, noisy tires, etc. And the sliding doors are sooooo much nicer, especially when you have kids in car seats and you're squeezed into a parking spot at WalMart. It'd be nice if Mazda offered the 5 with AWD, and a left side armrest for the front passenger, but for all the pros I'll take just those two cons.

 

[MD5]

I'll have to see what disc I put them on, but I took some pics of the 5 next to my wife's Excursion.

Now THAT'S a difference!

I could almost pull the 5 into the back of the Excurision!


Matt

 

[iam1ru12]

......We traded in a '05 CR-V for the 5 and MAN what a difference. The wife liked sitting up high in the Honda, and the AWD, but it had a horrible choppy ride, noisy tires, etc. ......

I recently replaced the stock Bridgestone Duellers on my CR-V with Yokoham Avid TRS...WOW what a difference. The road noise is all but gone. The ride is quite nice now, better than any other SUV in it's price range. I'm keeping the CR-V and my wife gets the 5.

....the sliding doors are sooooo much nicer, especially when you have kids in car seats and you're squeezed into a parking spot at WalMart. It'd be nice if Mazda offered the 5 with AWD, and a left side armrest for the front passenger, but for all the pros I'll take just those two cons....

The sliding doors are the big seller for us. That plus the size; as big as the CR-V with seating for 6 but not as big as an Odyssey or Sienna.

-Mike

 

[sugarqublex]

Here's my husband's Mazda5 next to my Protoge5. It's the almost the same size in length..but a little taller!

 

[jandree22]

Your P5 wheels are mindblowingly sweet! I'd love to see what they'd look like on the Mazda5... haha

 

[iam1ru12]

Good News...Bad News.....

Good news, we're having a 3rd child!!!!! Bad news....the 2007 Mazda5 we were holding out for will not be big enough as our Family car. We'll be shopping for a used Ody by year's end.

I was very much looking forward to a Mazda5, however I'm thankful we did not purchase the 2006 we drove. Think trying to pack for a family of 5 in the 5 would have been very tough.

Who knows maybe when the CR-V dies I'll buy a Mazda5 for myself....however given the condition of my CR-V, it's might be another 110k miles before it even comes close.

 

[jandree22]

Congratulations! That's great news. Good luck for the next 9 months (esp to your wife!).

It's a good thing you found out now. You're probably doing the right thing as far as the Odyssey. The 5 will be a starter family car for us, then if we have 3-4 kids as planned, it'll be more of a 'commuting' family car and we'll step up to a Odyssey or Sienna for longer hauls.

Once again, congrats and good luck with everything!

 

[sugarqublex]

Your P5 wheels are mindblowingly sweet! I'd love to see what they'd look like on the Mazda5... haha

Thanks! My husband wants to put rims on it in the future. We have an exhaust but we haven't gotten installed either.

 

[nate0123]

When my hubby and I bought the Mazda5, our sales rep said it wasn't a "van," it's a "multi-activity vehicle."(and if it was a van, wouldn't it replace the MPV?)

if the Mazda3 sedan were a sedan, wouldn't it replace the Mazda6? (hand)

 

[jlk_250]

if the Mazda3 sedan were a sedan, wouldn't it replace the Mazda6? (hand)

Even more importantly, I think the Mazda5 -is- going to replace the MPV in the USA for 2007. Yet it's not a van? I think Mazda is trying a different tack rather than competing directly with the Odyssey, Sienna, etc.

Jon

 

[jandree22]

Even more importantly, I think the Mazda5 -is- going to replace the MPV in the USA for 2007. Yet it's not a van? I think Mazda is trying a different tack rather than competing directly with the Odyssey, Sienna, etc.

Well, depends how you look on it. On one side of the coin you could say it's replacing the MPV because in this country the MPV's going bye bye. However on the tails side of that same coin, you could see that the MPV is continuing to be sold in many other countries around the world, therefore Mazda isn't 'replacing' the MPV model with the 5. After all, the 5 has been sold as the Premacy worldwide for years. But you're right, Mazda's smart for dropping out of the MPV/Odyssey/Sienna competition.

Mazda does technically classify it as a "Mid-Size Wagon" in their specs, but despite the overall size and the actual EPA classification, to the normal Joe Shmoe everything else about it is minivan IMO. It's got a continuous slope to the hood/windshield, 3 rows of seats, and of course, sliding doors. People just need to stop tripping over their own ego and not worry so much about what people will think of them driving a mini-minivan.

After all, the fact that you drive a minivan is solid proof that you got laid somewhere along the line (naughty)

 

[iam1ru12]

......People just need to stop tripping over their own ego and not worry so much about what people will think of them driving a mini-minivan........QUOTE]

It's hard to believe there are people out there that are shallow enough to feel they cannot drive a certain type car because of their ego, but you are quite right. Who really cares what other people think? The reality is someone may pass a glancing judgement at you based on your vehicle however most folks are so self-absorbed that after that brief moment they go back to thinking of themselves (or talking on their cell phone). Sad but true.

-Mike

 

[opus]

Any time the mini-mini-van question comes up, all my wife does is point to the 5spd transmission and says "Have you ever seen one of those in a minivan?" The discussion usually ends right there. It is not a question of ego or self image, it is not wanting to appear to be another left lane hogging, cell phone talking, completely self absorbed mini van pilot.

 

[Sveivo]

My car is a wagon.

 

[jandree22]

Any time the mini-mini-van question comes up, all my wife does is point to the 5spd transmission and says "Have you ever seen one of those in a minivan?" The discussion usually ends right there.

You know, the Dodge Caravan was once available with a manual tranny

Sorry, lol... I'll shut up and go sit in the corner now

 

[brightwhite]

As did the MPV back in the day.

Having driven a 5 while recenly car shopping, I have to say, it drives more like a van than a car.

 

[Rotary_Powered]

*cough* drop the MS3 engine in *cough* It's a micro van...I think... But it's built on the 3 platform...hmm...

I think this is just like asking is the Mazda 3 5 door a wagon? and not a hatch?

 

[winty87]

yes it is

 

[perfecto]

It's a big hatch. My insurance papers say it's a wagon, so that's what it is..

 

[Rac3rX]

They sell a completly new Focus in Europ, BUT keep the same garbage here.

Also in other parts of the country they sell cars with different modle names (even Manufatuer names, Acura, Honda [yes thhey are the same company, but it ilustrates my point]) Also Look at the Ford Tierra RS (Not sure of the name) but its a Protege with slightly differnt body work, and different headlights.

Then look at the original VW Beetle, that thing was produced untill just a few years back, even after it had been COMPLETLY replaced over here with a Completly new Edition.

Honestly The Mazda 5 is a Minivan, one coud go so far as to call it a "microvan" but its a van none the less.

Here is the Deciding factors That make it a Van, 3 rows of seats, sliding doors, and the overall shape.

What makes it a Minivan, Well First off a Van is built on a Truck frame, and a Minivan is Built on a Car frame & is usually smaller.

Name me another "Wagon", with 3 rows of seats & sliding doors & is also in the shape of a "Van" only Smaller. Smaller Van, hence "Minivan".

Things get labled different in different states, countries, ect, that doesnt change what it is by accepted definition, I dont see ANYBODY but Mazda5 owners calling it a "Wagon" with of course the acceptions that prove the rule.