Mazda5 Touring: don't take it off-pavement!

[1987cp]

I learned recently that driving a Mazda5 on cross-grooved dirt trails (affectionately called "roads" in some parts of my area) will turn you into this:

(gah)

Better still, your friends in the '99 Chevy Suburban will think you're weird for looking like that. Go figure.

 

[ZoomZoom604Van]

Where's the pic?

 

[torquelover]

Where's the pic?

x2

 

[1987cp]

Sorry, I was too (gah) to think to take pics!

In related news, one family who'd expressed interest in my Five recently bought a Pontiac TranSport, and another family who were curious about the Five just bought a Dodge Durango (!). Both families seem to enjoy driving on dirt paths, so I'm guessing offroadibility were factors in their decisions.
(lol2)

 

[eyeballs]

All-terrain isn't really mazda's forte. Too bad subaru doesn't have a 3rd row option on the forester.

 

[1987cp]

Absolutely. I was rather taken with torquelover's late Impreza when I drove it, so Subaru was one brand I was keen to consider when I wanted something newer and smaller, but seating for at least six was a key criterion this time around, and IIRC that plus small and affordable narrowed the field to the Five, the Rav4, and something from Mitsubishi (and they have no dealers here). I noticed in a parking lot recently that the Forester is almost exactly the same size as the Five, too ... go figure.

 

[torquelover]

Sorry to say the new Impreza is not the same animal as my old one. Softer ride, smaller motor, less power, taller gearing, less sound deadening, etc. Oh, and the shifter is now cable actuated as opposed to rod. The fuel economy is supposed to be better. The back seat is bigger. I discovered used low-mile '08-'09s are going for what I paid for my '08 new. I will still check out a base model with manual trans in the spring anyway as the price is right. Subaru makes a family hauler, the Tribeca, but it is pricey.

Yes the MZ5 is not suited for off-pavement at all. Matter of fact, ours cannot get out of our paved driveway onto the paved road without scraping if I am in it. Wonder how a raised MZ5 would look with larger, more aggressive RWL all-terrain tires and different wheels?

That Trans Sport, is it an AWD? If it is, and it's a 3.4 liter, there are a lot of things to warn your friends about in relation to reliability and servicing. Lemme know.

 

[eyeballs]

Even with the race susp on my wrx, it felt much better off-road then my current mazdas. I did have to take it pretty slow on the rutted sections though, and I did have a skidplate on it just in case.

I actually considered the new impreza wagon over my 2, until I started reading in the forums how many people were dissapointed with the mpg's. But since 99.5% of my driving is on-road, I didn't see a reason to get something more catered to off-road.

So far I have no regrets, and am loving the 2 and 5. Just have to take it slow and steady on the forest service roads.

I do plan on increasing the overall diameter of the wheels/tires when the stock tires wear out on the 5. That should certainly help, just getting an extra half-inch or so of ground clearance.

 

[1987cp]

That Trans Sport, is it an AWD? If it is, and it's a 3.4 liter, there are a lot of things to warn your friends about in relation to reliability and servicing. Lemme know.

Yes, I've had excellent luck in the past with non-car-enthusiasts paying keen attention when I start a technical conversation about automobiles. :ROFL:

 

[torquelover]

3.4 head/intake gaskets fail and rocker studs like to back out. The rear drive unit needs to be flushed out frequently with GM Versatrak fluid. Takes 5-8 jugs, about $30 a jug. Rear knuckle bushings and wheel bearings go faster than the tires will. Rear springs prone to failure too.

 

[ukulele]

Yeah, I wouldn't be comfortable taking my 5 into where my uncle lives, he lives in NE Pennsylvania, mostly game lands around him, even in his development they don't pave the roads, it's all gravel roads. I would've recommended a RAV4 with the V6/4x4 drive train and the third row in the back.

On a side note, when I had my 2008 Toyota Yaris Sedan (White) I had hooked it up with a class II tow hitch, and all the appropriate wiring (etrailer.com). I then went out and bought a brand new Aluma trailer with tailgate and side slats, it was about 5x8 if I remember correctly cost me around $1,400 (aluminum is expensive). Weighed only about 150 lbs. LoL I then built plywood side walls, about 4 feet high or so, and kept them in place with rubber bungees attached to the side slats via holes I had drilled out. Bottom line: That 1.5L 1NZ-FE pulled 800 lbs with no problem, and the looks I got when I hauled stuff around town and on the highway from the Dodge Ram folks was worth recording. (cabpatch)