Realistic seating comfort and DVD ?'s

[danmen00]

I am waffling between the cool sporty 5 or getting the behemoth Entourage or Odessey. I like the feel and PRICE of the 5, even the 2007 Grand Touring with DVD is less than $25k. We plan on using this for my wife (5'3") to drive our two not very tall girls to and from school. Occasionaly we will take a 3rd or 4th back seat playdate home, presumably another school age kid. I am 6'0 and like to sit with the seats all the way back. If I slide my seat back and the 2nd row all the way back, will the kids still complain about being cramped or is there enough room for 2 kids (who will likely not be taller than 5 feet any time in the next 5 years)? What about the occasional rider in the way back, will kids relegated to the rear row be smooshed if adults choose to ride in the middle row? Will the adults in the middle be comforable on a 6 hour ride? What are people's experiences with these issues. I would love to save 8 grand and get the Mazda (plus the obvious huge gas savings) but not if it makes evveryone cramped.
Next question is... does anyone have the factory DVD? If so, is it roof mounted? Does it come with wireless headsets? Does the DVD itself go into the roof mounter screen/player like on the Sienna or do the DVD's go into a dash mounted player? Can parents control the menus from the front seat easily?
Thanks in advance for the answers... any pointers on how to sell my wife on the lack of power sliding doors and liftgate and lack of overall storage (which we really don't need?) - oh yeah, with the back row folded, can 2 kids bikes fit in the back?

 

[ladygrey]

I don't know anything about DVD - our kids just use their own portables (one plugged into the front - one to the back). But - the 2nd row is THE most comfortable back seat I have ever been in - especially if you aren't using the third row. But even with the seat adjusted in a mid range there is plenty of room for everyone. we drove from CO to CA and my 5'1" 10 year old did not complain once about being cramped - and believe me, she is a complainer. The bucket seats are fabulous too - really reduced the amount of sibling bickering. We do two hour drives into the mountains with my parents with the kids in the back and two adults in the middle and even then the only complaint was that there wasn't enough room to take hiking boots off while sitting in the third row.

Oh - yes two kids bikes can fit with the third row down. We've fit four people and three bikes by folding one full side down - though it wasn't the greatest solution - we've gotten a bike rack since then .

 

[jandree22]

I am 6'0 and like to sit with the seats all the way back. If I slide my seat back and the 2nd row all the way back, will the kids still complain about being cramped or is there enough room for 2 kids (who will likely not be taller than 5 feet any time in the next 5 years)? What about the occasional rider in the way back, will kids relegated to the rear row be smooshed if adults choose to ride in the middle row?

The Mazda5 uses space very efficiently. For under 5 footers, I think it'd be hard to be cramped in the 2nd row regardless of the configuration. And the back seat, while yes, is tight, isn't god awful like some make it out to be. Is it best for kids, sure, but it's by no means inhumane to put an adult back there for a little while either.

Will the adults in the middle be comforable on a 6 hour ride?

My only concern would be the lack of arm rests on the doors. It's natural tendancy to lean on the door and look out the window. The Mz5 2nd row has armrests in the middle. Other than this, then yeah, I'd say it'll be comfy.

Next question is... does anyone have the factory DVD? If so, is it roof mounted? Does it come with wireless headsets? Does the DVD itself go into the roof mounter screen/player like on the Sienna or do the DVD's go into a dash mounted player? Can parents control the menus from the front seat easily?

I will have the factory DVD when I take delivery in about 2 weeks. Yes, it is roof mounted. Yes, it does come with 2 wireless headsets and a remote. Not sure where the DVD goes, but I don't think it's in the dash mount CD player. I think it goes in a separate box installed under a seat, but I'm not sure. If I'm correct about the separate box, then it comes down to where it's mounted.

any pointers on how to sell my wife on the lack of power sliding doors and liftgate and lack of overall storage (which we really don't need?)

Yeah, tell her that her lazy arse can slide the door open with her hand! haha, the sliding doors are very light, and so is the hatch. Power windows and locks, okay. But power sliding doors and especially hatch are the quintessential example of how Americans are too lazy for their own good.

oh yeah, with the back row folded, can 2 kids bikes fit in the back?

Yes, I'd say 2 kids bikes or 2 adult bikes with the front wheels removed.

 

[jlk_250]

I can add this much. My seven year old prefers riding all the way in the back. Even with the second row seat slid all the way back she doesn't complain. I sit next to her sometimes and I need to have the second row seat moved forward, and then it's okay but not great. I think you could fit four full sized adults and two kids in the Mz5 and have everyone as comfortable as in any other car. Six adults would fit but everyone would have to compromise a little. Yes, it's a bit on the smallish side for a minivan but you don't have to cart around all that extra bulk and weight for the 99% of the time when you're not hauling six adults.

Jon

 

[Rocket]

Look at the car as a 4 + 2 seater. 4 fit great, 6 in a pinch. Kids will have no problem with the rear seats. I don't know about kid sized bikes, but we get two tricycles in the back no problem with the 3rd row folded down.

Adults have plenty of room in the 2nd row.

DVD? Not sure. I use a small TV with a DVD built in and place it between the 1st and 2nd row.

 

[doctorz]

The front seats, compared to a full-size minivan (isn't that an oxymoron!), has noticeably less room, but it's comfortable. There's really more room in the middle seats than you really need, particularly when the middle seats are slid all the way back. The lack of armrests on the sliding doors are a little annoying, but you'll get used to leaning the other way. It does get tight if you try to fit adults in the middle AND the third row--the only way to get third row legroom is to move the middle seats forward a little. So I wouldn't take adults in the middle and third row for long distances, but short drives are okay.

Now, comparing the 5 to the full-size minivans, you'll notice a difference. The full-size minivans have stretch-out room, which the 5 really doesn't. That's when you ask yourself whether you really need all that room in exchange for a much larger, pricier, and thirstier vehicle.

We went from an MPV down to a 5, and we had all the gizmos on the MPV, including power doors, rear A/C, and the like. We don't miss the MPV at all--in retrospect it was enormous, and it's still smaller than the Odyssey or Entourage. The 5's sliding doors are light enough for our six year old to use--not having power doors also means there's one less thing to break. There's the fuel economy advantage. The most interesting surprise is that I find the 5 easier to drive than the MPV on long trips. The steering doesn't wander, the car tracks true, and the seats are comfortable.

And yes, two kid bikes will fit in the back with the third row folded, no problem.

We don't have the DVD player, so can't comment on that.

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

I am waffling between the cool sporty 5 or getting the behemoth Entourage or Odessey. I like the feel and PRICE of the 5, even the 2007 Grand Touring with DVD is less than $25k. We plan on using this for my wife (5'3") to drive our two not very tall girls to and from school. Occasionaly we will take a 3rd or 4th back seat playdate home, presumably another school age kid. I am 6'0 and like to sit with the seats all the way back. If I slide my seat back and the 2nd row all the way back, will the kids still complain about being cramped or is there enough room for 2 kids (who will likely not be taller than 5 feet any time in the next 5 years)? What about the occasional rider in the way back, will kids relegated to the rear row be smooshed if adults choose to ride in the middle row? Will the adults in the middle be comforable on a 6 hour ride? What are people's experiences with these issues. I would love to save 8 grand and get the Mazda (plus the obvious huge gas savings) but not if it makes evveryone cramped.
Next question is... does anyone have the factory DVD? If so, is it roof mounted? Does it come with wireless headsets? Does the DVD itself go into the roof mounter screen/player like on the Sienna or do the DVD's go into a dash mounted player? Can parents control the menus from the front seat easily?
Thanks in advance for the answers... any pointers on how to sell my wife on the lack of power sliding doors and liftgate and lack of overall storage (which we really don't need?) - oh yeah, with the back row folded, can 2 kids bikes fit in the back?

Ok here comes a spirited reply you wont like so skip now....ok your still there now read this:

Caravan compared to Mazda 5 because of DVD and Under 25 K.....call me in 4 years and tell me who made more trips to the dealer for fixes or repairs not under warrenty and secondly the resale value.....

I am 6ft and have just as big boys so your smaller family discription is no issue with the 5 secondly I haul adult hockey bags full x 2 when we go for hockey on the weekends and have room for extra stuff....

As for the DVD save your money and get removable type as these can be brought with you into a hotel or someones house if you are visiting. You will not get your DVD value back in any vehicle if it is attached to it.

Sorry but I just don't see how an odyseey or other due to price. As for the bikes no problem for kids little bikes... solution is trailer hitch with removable bick rack and you can fit up to 200 lbs of bikes which is like 4 adult bikes.

This is a CAR dont forget on steroids not a VAN...(ughdance)

Hope this helps but really its a no brainer

 

[danmen00]

Thanks

Thanks for all the replies.
A few more follow ups, is the lack of power seats (driver) an issue for ease of switching seat positions? And the next question is for southern climate users only please. (Sorry Canadians and Great Lakes writers!) Is the A/C powerful enought to cool the little ones in the 2nd and 3rd row. During the summer days it is routinely parked in an unshaded parking lot and outside temps are often in the high 90's low 100's. We have a Forester now and it struggles to cool the back in the 20 min drive to and from school. The Forester also lacks dark glass, which I have never gotten around to tinting.

Can anyone say what the 2007 Grand Touring 5 has that the regular touring does not? I know it has the Espresso leather - I saw it at the dealer, but what else does it add? Thanks again for the advice. One last question for heavy A/C users... what kind of real world Auto Trans mileage are you guys getting for mostly stop and go residential driving?

 

[doctorz]

Personally, I find manual seats easier to adjust--it's faster. Power seats are kind of annoying.

The A/C works fine, but when it's super hot out, it needs a little fiddling with to effectively cool down the interior. Namely, open all the windows for the first couple of minutes, turn recirc on, and direct all vents upwards; it also helps to close the side vents to push more air through the center. If you do this, no problem with cooling everyone down, even in the third row. BTW, we see mid 90s regularly in Maryland, but we had the car down in Mississippi over the summer during a time when the temp was hitting 100 every day.

We have the 5-speed, but in suburban driving with A/C on we get about 24-25 mpg. Heavy city driving, more like 22 mpg. We also get 30-32 mpg on the highway with the A/C on at 75 mph. I know the auto is rated 21/26 whereas the 5-speed is 22/27.

 

[irloyal]

We own a Quest and a Mazda 5.

Quest Pro - BIG interior. Will handle 7 adults for a couple of hours with NO comfort issues.
Quest Pro - Will handle HUGE cargo. Decent towing capacity.
Quest Pro - 3.5 Litre V6 ROCKS. People can not believe how quickly this monster of a van accelerates.
Quest Pro - Lots of bells and whistles available. Huge moon roof. DVD players. Satellite Nav and radio. Electric seats, tire pressure sensors, back-up beep-beep.

Quest con - It is a BIG van. Not really nimble, doesn't have a tight turn radius.
Quest Con - Mileage is only around 19 mpg in city when driven conservatively. Good highway mileage though.
Quest Con - Price for a full-tilt boogie band version is around $35K

Mazda5 Pro - Reasonable interior space. 5 adults in reasonable comfort. 4 adults really comfortable.
Mazda5 Pro - Handles most grocery getter and small hauling chores easily even with 4 adults on board.
Mazda5 Pro - Great zoom-zoom (at least with my 5 speed touring), quick and nimble. Lot's of eyebrows raised when people ride in it.
Mazda5 Pro - Great gas millage. 22 - 24 in the city (depending on zoom) plus great highway (30 mpg) mileage.
Mazda5 Pro - Price is really good.

Mazda5 Con - Not a serious contender for hauling more than 4 adults for anything over an hour.
Mazda5 Con - Not able to handle large loads or tow very much.
Mazda 5 Con - Not a lot of bells and whistles, Moon-roof is smallish, no back-up beep-beep. Not able to read tire pressures.
Mazda5 Con - 6 adults are cramped (2 really bad).

Budget - Buy the 5.
Luxury and Room - Skip the Odyssey, Dodge/Chrysler and Sienna, Get a Quest. It looks a little unusual, but it ROCKS!