My wife loves minivans. I have been a minivan hater for a long time based on experience with Chrysler and Ford products. I just couldn't get over a ginormous vehicle that got the same gas mileage as my Jeep. As a kid our neighbors owned a Mazda dealership and had a 4x4 MPV that I thought was cool though.
My family has owned several Mazdas with the most recent being an '04 Mazda3 that I sold to my sister in law because she loved it. Since the 3 we've had several vehicles, none of which would have worked for our new arrival. We have a baby boy due in two months and didn't want to struggle with kid loading since our child will be pretty big (I'm pretty tall).
Despite my dislike for minivans I have always liked the 5 because it looked sporty and is rated for better gas mileage than our 3 (our 3 had the 4 speed auto vs. the 5 speed auto in the 5). We drove a 5, I really liked the way it drove and the basic design so we ended up buying a used '08 from a friend's Mazda dealership. So far we've put about 200 miles on it, I've always been into modifiying vehicles so I've come up with some plans for the future but nothing too crazy.
Our 5 is an '08 Sport Silver AT on black cloth. It has tinted windows all around, rear spoiler, and side skirts.
My plan is to
A) install black leather interior, I was a spiller as a kid and cloth interior is just not going to hold up. (I've done this on several cars with great success, the leather is better quality than factory).
B) Install a leather steering wheel and shifter knob (I think the Mazda3 wheel bolts on but a Mazda6 wheel is a different spline count right?)
C) Modify the front seats to go back another 2" (like I said I'm pretty tall and my knee is right up next to the key in the ignition)
D) HIDs (Our 3 had factory HIDs and I really miss the extra lighting)
E) Install some MB Quart 6.5" separates in the front doors (I've had them in the box from a previous build)
F) Maybe a MS3 rear sway bar but I have to remember I have another car for the twisties
G) Possibly install tail lights from a Touring
H) Do something about the interior lighting. I had an Audi with footwell lighting and it really made it nice for finding dropped stuff.
Pics to come once I can get my wife to stop driving it for a second!
I do all my own maintenance.
When do you guys get the transmission fluid changed?
How many miles do you get to the tank?
My family has owned several Mazdas with the most recent being an '04 Mazda3 that I sold to my sister in law because she loved it. Since the 3 we've had several vehicles, none of which would have worked for our new arrival. We have a baby boy due in two months and didn't want to struggle with kid loading since our child will be pretty big (I'm pretty tall).
Despite my dislike for minivans I have always liked the 5 because it looked sporty and is rated for better gas mileage than our 3 (our 3 had the 4 speed auto vs. the 5 speed auto in the 5). We drove a 5, I really liked the way it drove and the basic design so we ended up buying a used '08 from a friend's Mazda dealership. So far we've put about 200 miles on it, I've always been into modifiying vehicles so I've come up with some plans for the future but nothing too crazy.
Our 5 is an '08 Sport Silver AT on black cloth. It has tinted windows all around, rear spoiler, and side skirts.
My plan is to
A) install black leather interior, I was a spiller as a kid and cloth interior is just not going to hold up. (I've done this on several cars with great success, the leather is better quality than factory).
B) Install a leather steering wheel and shifter knob (I think the Mazda3 wheel bolts on but a Mazda6 wheel is a different spline count right?)
C) Modify the front seats to go back another 2" (like I said I'm pretty tall and my knee is right up next to the key in the ignition)
D) HIDs (Our 3 had factory HIDs and I really miss the extra lighting)
E) Install some MB Quart 6.5" separates in the front doors (I've had them in the box from a previous build)
F) Maybe a MS3 rear sway bar but I have to remember I have another car for the twisties
G) Possibly install tail lights from a Touring
H) Do something about the interior lighting. I had an Audi with footwell lighting and it really made it nice for finding dropped stuff.
Pics to come once I can get my wife to stop driving it for a second!
I do all my own maintenance.
When do you guys get the transmission fluid changed?
How many miles do you get to the tank?
But all that is available in 5 speed MT or AT. 
