When is a Minivan no longer a Minivan?

[rodslinger]

You know it's no it's no longer a minivan when it is anything other than a Mazda5.

Jesz, look at the size of that thing. It's every bit as big as my dad's mid 80's full size chevy van or bigger. It's effing huge. I bet it drives like a Carnival Cruise ship.

 

[phunky.buddha]

Yeah... but just look at what qualifies as a full size van now. Way bigger than the 80s.

 

[torquelover]

I looked at a new Honda Odyssey EX-L yesterday. We had an '05 before, the new one is a lot wider. Sooo much more room than the MZ5. Wife wants a new Suburban/Yukon XL, but the price/mpg is horrendous. I think the Odyssey is a good compromise.

I would consider the MZ5 a wagon with a raised roof and sliding doors, mini-minivan, or microvan. My parents had a Dodge Colt Vista way back in the day, the MZ5 is similar:

I am interested in seeing just how big the new Ford Transit will be:

 

[rodslinger]

I am interested in seeing just how big the new Ford Transit will be:

I was able to check them out at SEMA in person. Overall they appear to be a little wider and quite a bit taller. The short wheelbase model is shorter than the 5 but only has two row seating. The long wheelbase model appears to be a LOT longer than the 5. It has the third row and a good amount of room left behind it. Legroom in the 3rd row looked pretty decent also.

 

[Orangutan]

The Transit Connect will also be a good bit more money than the 5 is.

 

[oldpunk78]

I think the 5 is actually about 2 inches longer than the original Plymouth Voyager.

Yeah... but just look at what qualifies as a full size van now. Way bigger than the 80s.

 

[hchia29]

Yeah I went to the local Ford Dealer to find the price on the Transit connect. I was told it be about 25-31k depending on the model. Thats when I turn around and brought the Mazda 5 instead

 

[torquelover]

Yes, it's hard to keep the LWB Transit under $30k.

 

[microvan]

I would consider the MZ5 a wagon with a raised roof and sliding doors, mini-minivan, or microvan. My parents had a Dodge Colt Vista way back in the day, the MZ5 is similar:

My 'rents had the 4WD version of this. Not a bad little truck in the winter, but my teenaged legs didn't much appreciate the third row. I'd say it was about as cramped in the third row as the 5, but it had a bench seat in the middle for 3 passengers.

 

[Bodgerx]

I can't believe you chaps seriously contemplate what is basically a dressed up commercial vehicle as a serious alternative to the 5.

The Transit van here in the UK has been a commercial vehicle for over 40 years, and despite a few attempts to flog it as a consumer product (like this one above) in terms of driver appeal and refinement it will really lag behind something like a Mazda 5 or a Ford S Max.

 

[rodslinger]

I've been to the UK many times (will be again in three weeks) and can say that the new Transit Connect we are getting isn't the same as what you referred to. That's a full size and it is still WAY better than the full size vans we get here. The new Transit Connect is entirely new and designed to fit both markets. Commercial and personal. Nothing like the existing Transit Connect which is still just a commercial van with a second seat slapped in it.

 

[TonyC]

I can't believe you chaps seriously contemplate what is basically a dressed up commercial vehicle as a serious alternative to the 5.

I fiddled around in a fully loaded (nav, BT, leather) Ford Transit "Titanium" http://www.ford.com/trucks/transitconnect/trim/wagonlimited/ before I bought the mz5, and I have to admit, if I had 1 extra kid (and I won't), or if my wife was 6'/250 lbs, I'd be in that shiat in a jiffy. It's way cheaper than the Sienna/Odyssey, and has more room/utility. Plus that dinky turbo 4 is great on gas mileage.

 

[MarkVII88]

Lets be clear here. The Transit Connect is the smaller of the 2 Ford commercial vans. Transit Connect is available with either the 2.5L 4cyl or the 1.6L Ecoboost from the Ford Fusion with 6-speed auto. The wagon models of the Transit Connect will seat only 5 and MSRP for this starts at $24,525.

http://www.ford.com/trucks/transitconnect/models/

The Transit is a full-size van, a replacement for the E-series vans, which has been successful in Europe for decades. The Transit will not be available in the US until summer 2014 as a 2015 model. The base model wagon version comes standard with 8-person seating (10 is available). Power comes from 3.7L V6, 3.5L Ecoboost V6, or 3.2L 5cyl turbo-diesel each with 6-speed auto. Expect prices to start at about $28,000 for base model van with wagon version starting at between $30,000 and $32,000.

http://www.ford.com/commercial-trucks/transit/

I've been to the UK many times (will be again in three weeks) and can say that the new Transit Connect we are getting isn't the same as what you referred to. That's a full size and it is still WAY better than the full size vans we get here. The new Transit Connect is entirely new and designed to fit both markets. Commercial and personal. Nothing like the existing Transit Connect which is still just a commercial van with a second seat slapped in it.

 

[torquelover]

Lets be clear here. The Transit Connect is the smaller of the 2 Ford commercial vans. Transit Connect is available with either the 2.5L 4cyl or the 1.6L Ecoboost from the Ford Fusion with 6-speed auto. The wagon models of the Transit Connect will seat only 5 and MSRP for this starts at $24,525.

http://www.ford.com/trucks/transitconnect/models/

For even more clarity:

Transit Connect is available in 7 passenger config if you look at Ford passenger vehicles, and not Ford Trucks as seen here:

http://www.ford.com/crossovers/transitconnectwagon/

What is interesting is you can get it with a rear hatch or rear double doors. I just built one with the following options to suit my needs:
XL Wagon (7 passenger)
Privacy glass
Power heated mirrors
Towing package
Electric rear defroster
Electric windshield defroster
Mid vehicle overhead storage
Cruise
All weather mats
Rearview camera
Bi-directional remote start.
This comes out to $28,671. A whole lot more equipment than the MZ5, and also more equipment than a base Odyssey LX costing about $4k more. Looking back it might be better to start with an XLT which opens up the option of the 1.6 Ecoboost but the website is being wonky now.

 

[Silentnoise713]

http://www.cars.com/go/crp/buyingGu...fullVansafe&subject=stories&referer=&year=New

...full-size vans and minivans are very different in terms of their construction and characteristics. All the vans addressed in the minivan safety story are unibody (or car-based) vehicles with front- or all-wheel drive. Used overwhelmingly as commercial vehicles, full-size vans are body-on-frame (truck-based) with rear- or all-wheel drive, similar to the early SUVs. ...

IMO, the Mz5 is a small minivan and the Quest is a large minivan. I think the "mini" prefix is a misnomer as it is meant to differentiate it from "full" size vans, which the large full size vans (approaching bus status) are still good bit bigger then a large minivan.

I can't believe you chaps seriously contemplate what is basically a dressed up commercial vehicle as a serious alternative to the 5.

The Transit van here in the UK has been a commercial vehicle for over 40 years, and despite a few attempts to flog it as a consumer product (like this one above) in terms of driver appeal and refinement it will really lag behind something like a Mazda 5 or a Ford S Max.

I agree 100%. I saw a LWB model in our local auto show with stickers, lowered + lip, brightly colored (design element looked good), big rims, and all. No matter how they try to dress it up, all I see is a commercial vehicle. On the plus side, I finally found an awesome iPad mount thanks to the demo car

 

[torquelover]

Yes, I haven't seen one in person, but the "bread van" boxy shape does scream commercial van to me, like you're driving an airport shuttle microbus. I am a function over form kinda guy so it doesn't bother me too much. The Nissan vans do irk me a lot though, the Quest somewhat, the NV200 a lot. The proportions, especially the wheel/tire size to body ratio, just seems so strange.

Next time I have my F250 Diesel 4x4 in the garage next to the MZ5 I need to get a pic and post it. Talk about size differences, makes the MZ5 look like a 1st GEN Civic hatch.

 

[TonyC]

On the plus side, I finally found an awesome iPad mount thanks to the demo car

share please?

 

[Silentnoise713]

share please?

Be warmed, it is not cheap ($90). I have not bought it yet b/c it cost a small fortune but it is a QUAILTY build. I am looking for a mount that allows you to position an iPad between the headrests.
http://www.thejoyfactory.com/product/MMA107


I’ve come across some others but IMO the Joy is better in all aspects -except cost. Updated below. Sorry for the off-topic OP.
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/show...-relevant-for-Mz5-owner&p=6270719#post6270719

 

[phunky.buddha]

Minivan no longer a minivan:

http://www.dragzine.com/news/racing-junk-find-chopped-top-dodge-caravan/