Power Sliding Doors for Mazda 5?

Didn't make the list of features for 2008. Given lousy sales and the price sensitive NA market, I wouldn't count on it anytime soon. A Grand Touring with everything available on the Premacy would probably be too expensive:

- those full-length roof rails everyone complains about not having
- power sliders
- power hatch
- DOT compliant Karakuri 7th seat
- DSC
- paddle shifters for the 5AT
- pushbutton start (I think)
- ultrasonic parking sensors
- backup camera
- AWD
- diesel/6MT

We can dream, can't we?
 
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My $0.02 in red

- those full-length roof rails everyone complains about not having (don't need them and it looks better without them)
- power sliders (maybe worth it here on the wet coast)
- power hatch (don't need it)
- DOT compliant Karakuri 7th seat (don't need it)
- DSC (don't need it)
- paddle shifters for the 5AT (would be funky)
- pushbutton start (I think) (F1-tastic (yupnope). I prefer the old 'key' method)
- ultrasonic parking sensors (no need. It's only 3" longer than my Volvo!)
- backup camera (don't need it)
- AWD (I'd take that. Handy for heading to Whistler in the winter)
- diesel/6MT (no need)
 
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I would have purchased DSC, available everywhere else but NA. The rest I don't particularly care about.

Yeah, I'm dreaming. When, Mazda?
 
It takes courage and assertiveness to remind friends to 'Please close the sliding door ever so gently.. 'just pull the handle to the other end and the door will pull and lock itself in'..

If a motorized sliding door has a purpose... it will be to prevent the door from being 'slammed shut real hard' by people who does not yet know the M5 sliding door.
 
If a motorized sliding door has a purpose... it will be to prevent the door from being 'slammed shut real hard' by people who does not yet know the M5 sliding door.

.....or to open the car doors when approaching the car, with kids in car seats, in the pouring rain.
 
I definitely would want to get diesel engine for torque and power sliding door for hands free. Maybe I can order the euro parts for powered sliding door.
 
Power sliding doors have been offered in the JDM since introduction of the M5 and are offered in Asian and now (per the Balogna Auto Show) in Europe as well. The JDM delivers 70% of Mazda 5's with power doors but Mazda North America adamantly refuses to make them available here based on an arbitrary marketing decision. Perhaps that will change if they get desparate for sales.

As far as power door conversion, although Mazda North American has muzzled everybody who has had contact with me, I've learned that the door motors would fit the NA version but the wiring would be difficult without a wiring diagram and installation instructions translated into English. If the central control module is involved, forget it.

Although some see power doors as an unnecessary and expensive luxury, it's a necessity for a wheelchair user who can't reach rearward from the front seat far enough to grasp the rear slider. I've exhausted every avenue with MNA and will wait until the marketing boys relent or until another automaker comes up with a similar model with power doors.
 
I thought the workshop manual has the instructions for the power door, but I'm at work and don't have access to it here.
 
I thought the workshop manual has the instructions for the power door, but I'm at work and don't have access to it here.

The door closing system that pulls it shut the last few inches is only part of the complete sytem which has an electric motor to power the door from full open to full close.
 
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