New Guy

[Martyd]

Greetings. First post, but I've been gathering info here. Great help.
I hope to start looking at a 5 this spring. I had a Plymouth Caravan in the 80's and really liked it. When I went looking at vans years after, they had grown ("Grand"), and I think the quality suffered. Also price was an issue. So here I am in my mid 60's, retired, and hoping to hit the road a little. The 5 may fill the bill. Just my wife and I with most of our trips around New England. My van was a 4 and it was plenty of engine for us. The new 5 will have to be an automatic for the co-driver. Probably a Sport model. My first question is, what is the auto/manual transmission and is it at all useable for anything?
I may have more questions later, but if there's anything I should watch out for, please post. Thanks.

 

[DKaz]

The Automatic transmission is your typical run of the mill torque convertor based automatic transmission with a optional sport mode that you can get to either by shifting the knob right or left of Drive and pulling to gear up and pushing to gear down manually without the use of a clutch. It doesn't feel as good as a real manual transmission but if you have to be stuck with an automatic transmission because of your significant other, it'll be your next best thing.

 

[ms6acton]

welcome aboard!!

 

[KBrian]

Seems like you cannot get an automatic trans these days without the manualmatic shift feature included. This is killing availability of a clutch pedal for those of us who like to involve our feet in the shifting process.

Used to be you could get a stick in just about any car, but these days some manufactuers do not even offer a choice. Damn!

 

[x10dude]

Seems like you cannot get an automatic trans these days without the manualmatic shift feature included. This is killing availability of a clutch pedal for those of us who like to involve our feet in the shifting process.

Used to be you could get a stick in just about any car, but these days some manufactuers do not even offer a choice. Damn!

I talked to a friend who works at a car company (not a dealer but the actual company) about the demise of Stick shift. Simply put, it's not really the manufacturer's fault. If people would buy them, they'd certainly sell them.

Bottom line is that most consumers don't want stick shift anymore. They are really relegated to the models that tend to draw alot of sports car enthusiasts.

 

[KBrian]

Lazy bastards

 

[1WICKED6]

(drive2)You know whats funny about the whole stick shift thing....people think its so hard to drive stick that they scare themselves. Everyone I know that has only ever driven automatic and actually tried driving stick has fallen in love with it. And actually end up buying a stick shift later on. There is nothing like being in control of what gear you are in and feeling connected.(drive2)

 

[x10dude]

(drive2)You know whats funny about the whole stick shift thing....people think its so hard to drive stick that they scare themselves. Everyone I know that has only ever driven automatic and actually tried driving stick has fallen in love with it. And actually end up buying a stick shift later on. There is nothing like being in control of what gear you are in and feeling connected.(drive2)

I am the opposite. I grew up on stick shift. My first two cars were stick shift. It was second nature to me.

I moved out to LA and began to hate it. Now I drive automatics. In inclement weather, stick is great. In traffic, not so much

 

[ljmattox]

I had this same lament with our CX-7. It had a 6sp AT, but to me always felt .5 seconds away from good response (and yes, I had the TSBs done) although it would get with it once the turbo was lit. Turbo 4, 240+ hp, it would've likely rocked with a 5- or 6-speed manual.

Not available here...at all. And of course, for it's intended CUV market against Honda CRVs, Toyo Rav4s, Chevy Equinox-es, and a few cross-shopped others, most prefer A/T anyhow and adding a MT wouldn't conquer sales against them.

So with our 5's...yeah, remarkable that they offer MT at all IMO. Glad they do, though!

 

[DKaz]

The CX-7 uses the same 2.3T from the MS3/6? If so, it could've easily gotten an MT no? What a shame.

Back on topic, MartyD, welcome! We will do all we can to steer you towards the little big 5.

 

[ljmattox]

Mostly the same...tuned a bit differently so down 20-25hp from the Mazdaspeed applications if memory serves.

But oh yeah...easy to offer with a manual, they do / did in other markets.

Like here, in Deutschland...

http://www.mazda.de/showroom/cx-7/specs/

Sigh.

 

[DKaz]

I met two German girls at a hostel in interior BC and they said I was only the second person they met in months who drove stick... everyone in Germany drives stick, only people who have some sort of disability that prevents them from operating a manual (those who require hand controls) or the insanely rich drive automatic. In Vietnam, I did not ride a single automatic car or taxi, they were all manual, although I did see a few automatics.

 

[Martyd]

The Automatic transmission is your typical run of the mill torque convertor based automatic transmission with a optional sport mode that you can get to either by shifting the knob right or left of Drive and pulling to gear up and pushing to gear down manually without the use of a clutch. It doesn't feel as good as a real manual transmission but if you have to be stuck with an automatic transmission because of your significant other, it'll be your next best thing.

I gather there are 2010 Mazda 5's with a straight AT. If there is a choice when I get to the dealer stage do you think it's worth going for the AT / manual? Are there situations where this feature is handy? I don't know if there is a price difference but we'll see. Thanks for the comments. I would love to join all you manual folks, but such is life. At my age it's not too big of a deal, but I do miss my 1967 Pontiac Le Mans V8 stick.

 

[DKaz]

The AT comes with the manual "Sport Mode", which is standard on the Touring and Grand Touring models and optional on the Sport model so you don't have to worry about a thing. Just because the manual mode is there doesn't mean you need to use it, it's a regular automatic transmission. If you want to have fun once in awhile and change your own gears with a clutchless gearshift, the option is there. Either way, you'll enjoy your 5!

 

[KBrian]

Martyd, if you buy your 5 with an automatic, it comes in only one flavour-auto/manual. This auto includes a gate on the shifter that allows up/downshifts with the shifter. I do not think that the gears can be held at redline without automatically shifting up, nor can you shift down if the revs are too high (yes/no?). Otherwise, as DKaz states, the trans operates just as an automatic should-put her in drive and go.

 

[x10dude]

The AT comes with the manual "Sport Mode", which is standard on the Touring and Grand Touring models and optional on the Sport model so you don't have to worry about a thing. Just because the manual mode is there doesn't mean you need to use it, it's a regular automatic transmission. If you want to have fun once in awhile and change your own gears with a clutchless gearshift, the option is there. Either way, you'll enjoy your 5!

I tried the manual mode a few times and it actually does work. It's not as much control as a regular stick but it is enough in case you need it, esp in weather.

 

[Snagjim]

Martyd, if you buy your 5 with an automatic, it comes in only one flavour-auto/manual. This auto includes a gate on the shifter that allows up/downshifts with the shifter. I do not think that the gears can be held at redline without automatically shifting up, nor can you shift down if the revs are too high (yes/no?). Otherwise, as DKaz states, the trans operates just as an automatic should-put her in drive and go.

I bought an '07 5spd MT new, have driven it for 3 yrs, and just took possession of an '08 M5 with the 5 spd AT, manumatic as described. (Don't harrass me for this: my wonderful spouse has valiantly tried to get her licence learning on the MT, and it's just not working. We want to be a 1 car family, so only 1 option.) I test drove a new AT before shopping the used market, and was pleasantly surprised. Compared to some rentals I've had with manumatics (Cadillac CTS!!!), this one is pretty decent. The lag is not too bad, and it seems it WILL hold a gear at redline (not that I really want to test that too much). In manual mode it will also drop from 5th to 3rd if I nail the throttle, and will downshift to 1st at a stop if I forget. It's only been 3 days and I find I'm happily clicking the lever left to take a couple fast sweepers, then clicking back to Drive for the traffic ahead.

No, I'll never be quite as happy not having the challenge of the perfect heel-toe downshift. But life is full of compromises.

Now what I REALLY love about the '08 is the Bluetooth...

 

[skyhawk]

I saw this in youtube done in other cars.
Maybe its psychological..

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- turn the key on without starting the car.
- step on the gas pedal to the floor for 5 seconds..
- turn off the key.
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result: seems to have an effect on the 'lag'. sort of reinitializes
the response..

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some also tried grounding the throttle body.
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