Wny no 4WD model in the US?

[GWDavis281]

I was surfing the Mazda Japan site and noticed that over there yoiu can get a Mazda5 with 4WD. I wish they'd offer that or an all-wheel drive verion in the US. I'd be all over that.

Glenn |B)

 

[FlipandFunk]

make a slow car even worse? 0-60 in 11secs?

 

[Black_Protege_5]

Well they have the P5 in AWD and turbo in Japan too but that didn't come here.

 

[Kooldino]

Well they have the P5 in AWD and turbo in Japan too but that didn't come here.

THey had AWD in japan, yeah...but I'm 98% sure that the US got the only boosted 3rd gen gasoline proteges...

 

[Black_Protege_5]

No I saw on their catalog that it was turbo awd. I could be wrong but thats what I saw.

 

[dommo_g]

make a slow car even worse? 0-60 in 11secs?

No s***. It wouldn't be bad if they mad a 5 with 2.3 turbo and AWD like the MS6 or MS3, but then you're up to 25, 27 grand or more, and who wants to pay that for a Mazda5? What they need to do is make a Mazdaspeed5, with the same power/drivetrain/suspension/brake upgrades that are on the 3. I'd hit it.

 

[rodslinger]

No s***. It wouldn't be bad if they mad a 5 with 2.3 turbo and AWD like the MS6 or MS3, but then you're up to 25, 27 grand or more, and who wants to pay that for a Mazda5?

I'd drop 25k without blinking an eye for a turbo AWD version of the 5 in a grand touring setup with leather, HID, etc...

 

[paging_drburgos]

What they need to do is make a Mazdaspeed5, with the same power/drivetrain/suspension/brake upgrades that are on the 3. I'd hit it.

AMEN!

 

[jandree22]

AWD is just for people that aren't good enough to use a FWD in the snow

ha, jk... seriously though i was considering a Impreza 2.5i Wagon, heavily for the AWD, until I realized that for the maybe 5/365 snow days we get here in PA a year, it wasn't necessary for me. It's a nice-to-have but not a need-to-have unless you're in heavy snow country, IMO. But I agree, not worth the power loss you'd experience in the 5. Add both the AWD and turbo to the 5 and you've just moved it out of the price point the target audience is willing/able to pay. JMO.

 

[Ninty1GTiVR6]

AWD is just for people that aren't good enough to use a FWD in the snow

ha, jk... seriously though i was considering a Impreza 2.5i Wagon, heavily for the AWD, until I realized that for the maybe 5/365 snow days we get here in PA a year, it wasn't necessary for me. It's a nice-to-have but not a need-to-have unless you're in heavy snow country, IMO. But I agree, not worth the power loss you'd experience in the 5. Add both the AWD and turbo to the 5 and you've just moved it out of the price point the target audience is willing/able to pay. JMO.

drive up 2 hrs north to the Poconos in the winter and you wouldn't say that though. PennDot at its best there, no plows until accidents happen or the ambulance need to get through.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

AWD isn't everything.

drive up 2 hrs north to the Poconos in the winter and you wouldn't say that though. PennDot at its best there, no plows until accidents happen or the ambulance need to get through.

I used to think AWD was a necessity, but I've found that good snow tires and a well designed car with good weight distribution can be just as good in the snow. Our Honda Pilot (which we traded for the 5) was horrible in the snow (with the standard tires), while every Protege I've owned was excellent with the right tires.

I often think that technology like AWD does more to create BAD drivers than SAFE drivers. More often than not the idiots driving SUVs and Subarus are the ones who end up off the road during a snow storm.

My 3 and 5 were pretty good in the snow last year. A 5 speed stick also helps.

Americans are some of the worse drvers in the world. What we need are stricter driving exams, similar to what you would learn at a Skip Barber's Driving school, that teach people how to drive, rather than how to do a 3-point turn, and legislation that punishes bad drivers. I go crazy when a cop pulls over a person who going fast but is attentive to road conditions rather than a slow driver whose reading the paper, shaving, talking on their cell, doing their nails etc.(shocked)

 

[jandree22]

I often think that technology like AWD does more to create BAD drivers than SAFE drivers. More often than not the idiots driving SUVs and Subarus are the ones who end up off the road during a snow storm.

Exactly. People think by pushing that 4HI button that all their snow problems will melt away.

And yeah, I'm aware that S Central PA usually doesn't get hit hard with snow, but when I used to visit my wife out a Pitt I never had a problem in their winter snow with a FWD. Am I saying AWD is worthless, of course not, it DOES make a huge difference, but all I'm saying is there's few circumstances where it's absolutely necessary.

And I used to work for PennDOT, so proceed cautiously

 

[dommo_g]

I thought Subaru wagons were only sold to hippies, liberals or lesbians. Or hippie-liberal lesbians.

 

[jandree22]

I thought Subaru wagons were only sold to hippies, liberals or lesbians. Or hippie-liberal lesbians.

Most Subies are wagons... I thought Neons were only sold to those who didn't know any better, jk

 

[Lazy Glen]

I used to think AWD was a necessity, but I've found that good snow tires and a well designed car with good weight distribution can be just as good in the snow. Our Honda Pilot (which we traded for the 5) was horrible in the snow (with the standard tires), while every Protege I've owned was excellent with the right tires.

I often think that technology like AWD does more to create BAD drivers than SAFE drivers. More often than not the idiots driving SUVs and Subarus are the ones who end up off the road during a snow storm.

We moved to RTP NC from Central and Western NY, with plenty of snow driving experience. In one of the few snowstorms that we have had here, I left plenty of time to go to work, put my shovel in the 95 Protege (with standard all seasons on it), and left for work with double the transit time needed.

Got almost to work and saw a Range Rover stuck in the middle of an intersection, causing all kinds of trouble. Drove past, found a good place to park, got the shovel, dug the 6 inches of slush out from the wheels while the driver nattered away on her cell phone. Knocked on the window and told her to "try it now". She drove away, I got back in the Protege and went on to work.

I agree, skill and intelligence are much more important than AWD, but if you put skill, intelligence and AWD together, there aint nowhere you can't go.

Lazy Glen

 

[jandree22]

Western NY is one place I think AWD would be a smart choice. Funny story... The fact that it was a Range makes it all the sweeter. Yuppy lady with no clue how to use the awesome tool her checkbook got her, sad, but an all too common situation I suppose.

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

We moved to RTP NC from Central and Western NY, with plenty of snow driving experience. In one of the few snowstorms that we have had here, I left plenty of time to go to work, put my shovel in the 95 Protege (with standard all seasons on it), and left for work with double the transit time needed.

Got almost to work and saw a Range Rover stuck in the middle of an intersection, causing all kinds of trouble. Drove past, found a good place to park, got the shovel, dug the 6 inches of slush out from the wheels while the driver nattered away on her cell phone. Knocked on the window and told her to "try it now". She drove away, I got back in the Protege and went on to work.

I agree, skill and intelligence are much more important than AWD, but if you put skill, intelligence and AWD together, there aint nowhere you can't go.

Lazy Glen

Yeah the key is the "Skill and intelligent" part. And at least in MA I've found that those two traits are sadly missing from the majority of people who drive SUVs and AWD-equipped cars- like the lady with Landrover. That's where more stringent driving tests come into play and would hopefully weed out the bad drivers.

 

[GWDavis281]

Antonio, I agree with you 100% about the tougher driving test!! My stepfather is almost totally blind, too stubborn to get glasses, his eye doctor writes him a note and he doesn't need to take the eye test. The RMV gave him license!!!! I told my mom I didn't want her riding with him, she drives for the most part, though he still insists on driving every now and then.

My first new car was 1983 Honda Accord and that thing was a standard and it would go thru the snow like nothing, the standard really helped. I don't own a Mazda5, yet, but once one of our 2 Jeeps dies I have a pretty good feeling that there will be a Mazda5 in my driveway.

Yah the majority of drivers in Mass are pinhead when the snow falls. Do you have snows on your Mazda5? See my wife can't drive a standard and I drove the automatic version and felt that it didn't have enough go for me from a stop.

The reason I asked about the 4WD version is that it's already available in Japan, it might be nice to have this option in the US. I live in the 495 belt and we seem to get whacked the worst by most winter storms.

Glenn |B)

 

[Antonio DiMarco]

Antonio, I agree with you 100% about the tougher driving test!! My stepfather is almost totally blind, too stubborn to get glasses, his eye doctor writes him a note and he doesn't need to take the eye test. The RMV gave him license!!!! I told my mom I didn't want her riding with him, she drives for the most part, though he still insists on driving every now and then.

My first new car was 1983 Honda Accord and that thing was a standard and it would go thru the snow like nothing, the standard really helped. I don't own a Mazda5, yet, but once one of our 2 Jeeps dies I have a pretty good feeling that there will be a Mazda5 in my driveway.

Yah the majority of drivers in Mass are pinhead when the snow falls. Do you have snows on your Mazda5? See my wife can't drive a standard and I drove the automatic version and felt that it didn't have enough go for me from a stop.

The reason I asked about the 4WD version is that it's already available in Japan, it might be nice to have this option in the US. I live in the 495 belt and we seem to get whacked the worst by most winter storms.

Glenn |B)

I actually don't run snows right now. I used to before I was married but now I run Ultra performance all-seasons. It's a compromise, but I figure the hihgways are usually well-plowed, so there are very few situations where I need the extra traction. Tire technology is getting better as well. Multi-compound tires are getting more common. I use Micheline Pilot A/S's (on my 3S and my wife's 5 sport) which are pretty good in the snow (and fantastic in every other road condition). The key is to take your time and use your head. I'd also go with a 5 speed over the auto. The 5 speeds in my 5 and my 3 are really easy to operate.

I live right off of 495 in Hudson MA.

 

[GWDavis281]

Dude, cool I'm in Marlborough just off of Route 20.

Glenn |B)