From his Real Wheels Discussion on Jan 25th:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/01/18/DI2008011802070.html
Driver's Seat, Md.: Hi -- love your columns, and I read your minivan review with great interest. We're in need of a new car but don't need to herd huge numbers, so we're looking at the Mazda5 (now dubbed a "microvan"). Item of concern: lack of government crash tests, reflecting either poor sales or no complaints about its safety. Otherwise, it seems like a pretty good vehicle. Your thoughts, or should we be looking for something else?
Warren Brown: Look at something else for reasons that have nothing to do with intrinsic vehicle quality or safety.
The trouble with the Mazda5, despite Mazda's marketing boasts to the contrary, is that the Mazda5 lacks that inherent thing that makes a Mazda a Mazda. It somehow came off the computer assisted design screen and out of the factory into the market without a single ounce of Zoom-Zoom. In short, it's boring, uninteresting, woefully uninspired--which means, I suppose, that Mazda will not use these quotes in an advertisement.
But, perhaps, the company will use these:
Buy the Mazda CX7. It's small enough to suit your psyche and big enough to suit your needs. It's excellently styled, has ample utility, and it's fun to drive. But most of all, it has Zoom-Zoom and lots of it.
Caveat: The CX7 drives and feels like a sports car. Drivers love it. But some soft-bottomed passengers don't.
I disagree with his assessment and thought he didn't answer the question. Your thoughts/comments?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/01/18/DI2008011802070.html
Driver's Seat, Md.: Hi -- love your columns, and I read your minivan review with great interest. We're in need of a new car but don't need to herd huge numbers, so we're looking at the Mazda5 (now dubbed a "microvan"). Item of concern: lack of government crash tests, reflecting either poor sales or no complaints about its safety. Otherwise, it seems like a pretty good vehicle. Your thoughts, or should we be looking for something else?
Warren Brown: Look at something else for reasons that have nothing to do with intrinsic vehicle quality or safety.
The trouble with the Mazda5, despite Mazda's marketing boasts to the contrary, is that the Mazda5 lacks that inherent thing that makes a Mazda a Mazda. It somehow came off the computer assisted design screen and out of the factory into the market without a single ounce of Zoom-Zoom. In short, it's boring, uninteresting, woefully uninspired--which means, I suppose, that Mazda will not use these quotes in an advertisement.
But, perhaps, the company will use these:
Buy the Mazda CX7. It's small enough to suit your psyche and big enough to suit your needs. It's excellently styled, has ample utility, and it's fun to drive. But most of all, it has Zoom-Zoom and lots of it.
Caveat: The CX7 drives and feels like a sports car. Drivers love it. But some soft-bottomed passengers don't.
I disagree with his assessment and thought he didn't answer the question. Your thoughts/comments?