What do I do with my Mazda5?

[danix]

I have one of the first 2006 Mazda5s (a Touring, with manual transmission).
High points:

• it's the only vehicle that seats 6 and comes with a stick
• handles great (or did)
• sliding doors are super convenient and save on dings
• generally very reliable
• fun to drive
• versatile - put all the seats down and haul stuff

Low points:

• super thirsty. around town average is 22mpg. Better on pure highway. That's V6 thirst my friends.
• Suspension made of tin cans. Shake, rattle, roll
• Body integrity (door locks, sliding doors, hatch struts)
• Mazda dealer sservice somehow manages to be worse than VW dealers
• interior is not holding up that well
• missing safety items like ESP, convenience items like bluetooth

As you can tell, I really like our Mazda5. If there were a 2013 available with a turbodiesel, or even a Skyactiv, with a stick, I'd snap it up.
But I don't think the 5 will get the Skyactiv in 2013, and there's no chance of ever seeing a diesel here.

So my options are:
a) Spend some money and upgrade the suspension, find and fix all the knocks and squeaks in the chassis. Figure $1000 here. Maybe add bluetooth, better radio. The interior is still getting ratty though, and I'm worried this is good money chasing bad. The MPG sucks but we've only put 45k on the car in 6 years so I can live with that (and yes, I had the dealer check it several times).
b) Sell it and get a 2012 or 2013. You can still get a stick but only in the base model. My wife might consent to an automatic, but if I'm going that route, there are other 6 and 7 passenger vehicles to consider.
c) Get a different vehicle. Sure, we could fit a family of 5 in a midsize sedan, wagon or SUV [I've got 3 kids (12, 10 and 6, the latter in a booster)] but I love the flexibility of the 5. When my mom or mother in law visit, it's easy to find an extra seat and only take one car. I'm not sure what else compares though - things like the X5 or Mercedes GL are a lot more money and not as practical. The Touareg and other SUVs only seat 5. I think there's a 3 row Santa Fe but would I really drive a Hyundai?

Curious if anyone else has moved on from a Mazda5 and has any feedback. Thanks!

 

[Davicho]

Invest in fixing or upgrading your Mazda5. I went from a Mazda5 to selling it and picking up a CX9 and then to selling the wife's Escape to pick up my current Mazda5. Now we have a CX9 and a Mazda5 and we are 100% happy and satisfied. The CX9 sees less duty but it's nice on very long trips with luggage and the occasional 7 passenger duty. My wife also uses the CX9 to commute to work but she only commutes 15 miles one way every other week. My Mazda5 is our busy bee most of the time and we absolutely love it even with its handful of flaws. Moral of the story: once you've owned a Mazda5 it's difficult to find something that compares to it (at least right now, the Kia Rondo came very close but was very ugly IMO).

 

[Silentnoise713]

I believe all Mazda will get the Sky-G engines as the base. The old MZR's need to retire as it is not completive at all. Sky-D is a crap shoot. This is all assuming Mazda continues making the Mz5 for the US market as it seems everyone is hoping on the CX5 train! If the Mz5 survives, here is my 'speculation'. CX5 gets the diesel (torque for pulling and goes with the image of a UV), Mz3 gets the turbo (small, low CG, meant to be sporty), and the Mz5 stays with regular gas engine (not enough demand for this car for them to offer additional content, assuming it survives).

Not sure if they still offer it but I really liked the Rav4 with the rear 50/50 3rd row seat option (7 seats but no cargo). If size (parking) is not an issue, you can also consider the V70, especially the V70R (too bad they are so freaking long). But the manual + sliding doors combo is simply impossible to find anywhere else. The Mz5 is an ok car and really the epitome of compromises. It does a little bit of everything but really does not stand out at anything. Yes it is cheap but that is its achille’s heel. If my kids were older, I'd trade up for a nice sedan but everyone has different priorities.

If you want to save money and need the space, fix and keep the Mz5. Not that we are bias since you are asking in a Mz5 forum

 

[skyhawk]

We too have the mazda5 2006. And there is not a day that I can recall that we did not
use the mazda5. It has not failed us, as far as its main duty is concerned -- taking us from
point A to point B.

It has no problem 'going with the flow' in the highways.

The only problem I have is that I'm stuck with this car. I like the newer ones but
even if I have the money to buy them, I will have to keep this 2006 MAZDA5 for
the memories. .

Here's one of the drive-along videos of our mazda5. As you can see it is
a stable platform for a camera.

==

 

[phunky.buddha]

A) Swapping out my suspension for the BC coilovers made a HUGE difference. There are other great alternatives out there for the same amount of money- but every time I get into the 5, it's a bunch of fun to whip around.

B) Don't really care for the styling on the new 5- plus it's another car payment. I find it hard to believe that a 45k car is too ragged out to live in. We're at 70k on ours and I plan to keep it well past 100k. Maybe give it a really deep cleaning? Get Katzkin seat covers and Weathertech Digital Fit mats?

C) Stick was really important to me, that's why I picked the 5. I don't see anything else on the market that would satisfy me (my S2000 is stick, the Nissan Frontier CC is stick) in a family hauler type vehicle. The same probably applies to you. Older BMWs and Audi wagons would work, but they're stepping backwards in age and then you add some of the weird quirks of German engineering. The older 5 series wagons DO look pretty damn sweet though.

D) Grab a good piggyback like the AEM FIC and lean the hell out of your partial throttle fuel map. Run premium fuel and watch your MPG numbers rise. Shove a medium/large sized turbo on there that runs right at 0-1 psi at cruise speeds to boost your engine efficiency.

 

[was98strat]

45k is nothing, I'm at 189,000km and just spent a bunch of money doing suspension work. your 5 is barely even broken in yet! I'd just drive the hell out of it. at your mileage, you could probably get 5 more years out of it if the rust doesnt get it first!

 

[DKaz]

$300 on new shocks is better than spending $20,000 on a new car.

We have a trio of small MPVs in Canada, the Mazda 5, Kia Rondo, and Chevrolet Orlando, and all three use roughly the same amount of gas.

 

[thaxman]

Not sure how you are equating 22 mpg city to V6 territory - esp in 2006.
This can be backed up @ fueleconomy.gov, but city mpgs tend to be 9-16 for V8s, depending on vehicle size/weight, 15-19 for V6s and 18-30 for 4 bangers, entirely depending on engine size and vehicle weight. A midsize 4-cyl sedan designed in the early 2000s will get no better than 26 mpg city (that's if the manufacturer "builds to the test" meaning that their mpg-star drivetrain/trim is mapped and geared specifically to do well in the EPA's testing parameters...cough, cough, Toyota..ahem) and usually will be more like 20 mpg in normal daily driving conditions. The Accord I had was stickered at 23 mpg city with the 2.2L VTEC - Honda's best - and was reduced to 21 when the EPA did recalcs last decade, but I struggled to get above 19 most tanks - 18 flat w/AC on in the summer. Obviously, mpg is better with the MT than AT, esp city, because the AT really doesn't have a chance for the torque converter to lock up, so its constantly slipping to some degree, but the Honda's 4AT besting 20 mpg city vs. the Mz5's 5MT doing 4 mpg better for vehicles of relatively the same weight with the same displacement seems to show that one can't expect 22 mpg city from a V6 designed more than 6 years ago.

 

[thaxman]

If OP is really disappointed with 22 mpg city, may I suggest looking for one of the alternative bigger vehicles mentioned and do a long-term rental of one. The monthly rental rate in off-season is usually not too much more than a monthly payment and insurance coverage for the same vehicle, so taking it for 28 days is a good test drive where you can verify my 18 mpg city V6 predictions.

 

[thaxman]

Guess I'm feeling opinionated today, so please nobody take my ranting personally.
With 53K on an '06, I also am a bit perpelxed about the deteriorating interior. So far, we got the door lock accuators replaced under the 3/36 warranty, have had kids break off 2 seat belt retainer clips (the 1st one came broken along w/the actuators when we bought it), both sun visor retainer clips have broken and I accidentally stepped on the seat release/backrest adjustor on the right center seat, and now it sits low, not level, but still is fully functional (for now) My kids tend to not pick at/figit with stuff and maybe that's the difference, but build quality has been fine - at least w/i expectations, IMO, except those really crappy visor catches. But the Subie's visors actually BROKE OFF, so compared to that, having 1975-style free-moving visors is a treat.

 

[Silentnoise713]

If you (OP) are really concern with gas consumption and can control your driving habits (want to do something about it), go buy a Scangauge or equivalent device, NOW! Will pay for itself in no time, unless you are already a hyper miler, then this is useless. I like the LOAD and Gallon per Hour readings. Show how feathering your pedal is not always the best way to make the car/engine efficient.

 

[danix]

If OP is really disappointed with 22 mpg city, may I suggest looking for one of the alternative bigger vehicles mentioned and do a long-term rental of one. The monthly rental rate in off-season is usually not too much more than a monthly payment and insurance coverage for the same vehicle, so taking it for 28 days is a good test drive where you can verify my 18 mpg city V6 predictions.

About 3 weeks ago we rented a 2012 Town and Country, loaded it up with 5 adults, 2 kids, and suitcases, and drove it to Palm Springs. Trip average was 21mpg, or roughly what I get in my unloaded Mazda5. The engine in the 2006 is extremely thirsty, too thirsty for a car of this size and weight. I live with it, but it should be better.

 

[danix]

Guess I'm feeling opinionated today, so please nobody take my ranting personally.
With 53K on an '06, I also am a bit perpelxed about the deteriorating interior. So far, we got the door lock accuators replaced under the 3/36 warranty, have had kids break off 2 seat belt retainer clips (the 1st one came broken along w/the actuators when we bought it), both sun visor retainer clips have broken and I accidentally stepped on the seat release/backrest adjustor on the right center seat, and now it sits low, not level, but still is fully functional (for now) My kids tend to not pick at/figit with stuff and maybe that's the difference, but build quality has been fine - at least w/i expectations, IMO, except those really crappy visor catches. But the Subie's visors actually BROKE OFF, so compared to that, having 1975-style free-moving visors is a treat.

Our seats are OK, but we're already on our second set of floormats, they just seem to fall apart. Sliding door actuators are a common problem.
It's not that stuff is completely falling apart, but it's just built cheap, feels cheap, and won't last. I'm starting to hear weird rattling noises from the blower motor now.

 

[flcruising]

Was that a highway trip? How many miles?

I don't recall the interior of '06-'07 when we were shopping for ours, but 2 years and 25k miles and I can't think of a single cheap thing that I've noticed. Quirks yes, but not inferior materials.

 

[thaxman]

About 3 weeks ago we rented a 2012 Town and Country, loaded it up with 5 adults, 2 kids, and suitcases, and drove it to Palm Springs. Trip average was 21mpg, or roughly what I get in my unloaded Mazda5. The engine in the 2006 is extremely thirsty, too thirsty for a car of this size and weight. I live with it, but it should be better.

This has nothing to do w/the engine, entirely w/gearing. I won't road trip w/our Mz5 unless its rural 2-lane roads where I won't be exceeding 65 mph. The 5MT is geared extremely short, which makes city driving an absolute blast, but pushes up the rpms when the speed increases. At 85 mph, the 5MT is turning the engine over 4000 rpms.

We took it on a short 150 mi round trip Sunday: 60 mi @ 75 mph freeway, 70 mi @ 70 mph freeway 20 mi btw 45 & 60 mph highway & some in-town driving & I think we returned over 26 mpg (25+ mpg overall incl 104 mi all city which usually is btw 23-24 mpg)

Normally we get 21mpg over 500 mi to Yuma because its IMPOSSIBLE to drive I-8 below 80 mph. So we take the V70 instead now, which is more than happy to cruise those speeds all day and still get 25-26 mpg. For reference, the V70 is same weight, also a 2.3L (turbocharged, 247hp, 250 tq) and is geared appropriately to take advantage of the torque (5MT). and I get 2-4 mpg less city mpgs.
Now back to the Mz5 vs. T&C V6 comparo. Back when I had the Accord EX (2.2L VTEC 4AT & my B-I-L had a 99 Accord V6 (3.0L 4AT) we made the trip back from Yuma together. We got the same hwy mpg (26 mpg) but the 2.2 was turning about 3500 rpms and his V6 was cruising much lower - like less than 3000 - because the V6 was geared to take advantage of the torque a V6 produces. Now, guaranteed that his V6 got at least 3 mpg less city that my 2.2, but on the highway, they are similar in fuel consumption because even though the V6 has nearly 30% more displacement, so it would be ingesting 30% more fuel each full Atkinson cycle, it was moving slower, so it was ingesting the same amount of fuel overall. I expect the same happens with the T&C. Its big V6 would be cruising at a much lower engine speed for the same highway vehicle speed because the engine is using its torque to power itself along, while the Mz5 uses its hp at those same high speeds, since like most 4-bangers, it really lacks torque. That's why I really wish they put the CX-7 2.3 turbo engine in the Mz5. Its also how big V8s like the Corvette can get 25 mpg highway, even though they will be getting 14 mpg city.

 

[thaxman]

c) Get a different vehicle. Sure, we could fit a family of 5 in a midsize sedan, wagon or SUV [I've got 3 kids (12, 10 and 6, the latter in a booster)] but I love the flexibility of the 5. When my mom or mother in law visit, it's easy to find an extra seat and only take one car. I'm not sure what else compares though - things like the X5 or Mercedes GL are a lot more money and not as practical. The Touareg and other SUVs only seat 5. I think there's a 3 row Santa Fe but would I really drive a Hyundai?

Curious if anyone else has moved on from a Mazda5 and has any feedback. Thanks!

Truthfully, it sounds like the root of the problem is that you are in SoCal, & the stigma of driving an "economy" car is too great. Get a Volvo M-B, BMW or Lexus SUV & call it a day.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

my old 93 lumina with the 3.1L v6 would get 31 mpg on the highway. my 5 has achieved that a couple times (all highway road trips, just like the lumina would get), but i average 24mpg with it. now, i never kept track of mpg in the lumina (gas was way expensive at $1.42 a gallon then... i mean that was just too much), but i did get only 12-14mpg in the city with that car. granted, i was living in duluth, mn at the time, and the hills really killed gas mileage.

i am dissapointed with the gas mileage too though. it should get better, and hopefully will when they finally decide to put a skyactive engine in there. now, if they could just make it look nice like the 08-10 years.

even though it doesnt do well with gas, it is still the perfect vehicle for us. it fits in the garage without being too big, and has a nice turning radius. it isnt too tall,for putting the kids in, but isnt too low that you cannot see well in traffic.

 

[Davicho]

The 3.0L DOHC that was once in the MPV would be a nice and welcomed addition as well.

 

[danix]

Truthfully, it sounds like the root of the problem is that you are in SoCal, & the stigma of driving an "economy" car is too great. Get a Volvo M-B, BMW or Lexus SUV & call it a day.

Thanks for playing, but I'm in NorCal. My other car is a BMW and if I could afford it, an X5 35d would just the ticket. Doesn't come with a stick though.

 

[jason10phan]

I fender rolled my fender, and put my 225/35/19 back on. 38 offset and it stick out a little and lowered 1.25 and around