Mazda 5? Tell me what you know.

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
01/15/2015 at 23:21 • Filed to: Oppopinions

Now that we've got a little one, my wife is thinking that she'd like something different. Something with more than two doors. I have never really though much about it, but I've heard good things here on Oppo about the Mazda 5. What do you fine folks have to say about it? Is it a decent family hauler?

I'm just doing a quick search for some reasonably priced specimens, and there seems to be quite a few out there. Are there things that a person needs to watch out for?

DISCUSSION (30)

Grindintosecond > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/15/2015 at 23:23

It's built on the Mazda3 platform. It drives very nice. Go drive one if anything just to see what fun it is. I think it can be had in a manual!

TheHondaBro > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/15/2015 at 23:25

It's a Mazda with a 5 after it.

Uuh, it has an engine, uuuh, some seats, a steering wheel, uuh, and the other car stuff I guess.

Nothing > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/15/2015 at 23:26

If you're tall (or even tall-ish) sit in one. I wanted a manual 5 but couldn't get comfortable. Otherwise I would've picked one up

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Grindintosecond
01/15/2015 at 23:26

Most examples I've seen so far have a manual!

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Nothing
01/15/2015 at 23:27

How tall is tall? I'm 5'10". My wife is a bit shorter.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/15/2015 at 23:28

I would be nervous transporting a kid in a Mazda 5 due to the crash test scores. It was the worst performing new car in the IIHS side impact test, and was one of the worst performers in the small overlap test.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
01/15/2015 at 23:35

Hmm. I had no idea.

Patrick George > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/15/2015 at 23:39

We had one as a rental car a few years ago! I loved it. Tons of room for all your stuff, and it's actually kind of fun to drive since it's on the Mazda3 platform. You should buy it.

Frank Grimes > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/15/2015 at 23:40

mini mini van kinda really ugly but practical which looks like it has lots O room.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/15/2015 at 23:42

Maybe you should look at a CX-5, as they scored well.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
01/15/2015 at 23:42

Another one I'd consider is the Chevy Orlando. It seems to hold up quite a bit better.

(I know it's NCAP, not IISH, but still).

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/15/2015 at 23:45

Would you consider a Subie?

BaconSandwich is tasty. > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
01/15/2015 at 23:45

I would, but finding one for the price of a 5 might be hard.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
01/15/2015 at 23:46

Quite a bit pricier, though. Even used ones around here seem to be up there.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/15/2015 at 23:47

Ah, Up in Canada. Sorry to hear about the prices.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/15/2015 at 23:50

This had rust issues around the rear wheel wells up to at least the 2006 model year.

Funktheduck > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/16/2015 at 00:00

I once saw 5 very large people get out of one. It can hold 5 very large people.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
01/16/2015 at 00:03

Doesn't surprise me. Find me a 2002 Protege without rust, and I'll give you a nickle.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Funktheduck
01/16/2015 at 00:04

Ha ha! For some reason I picture that a bit like a clown car.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
01/16/2015 at 00:05

I certainly wouldn't be against importing one, though. I'll be honest - I actually quite like the look of the Crosstrek. I imagine they are still up there in price, though. A Forester wouldn't be bad, though.

I am considering a Chevy Orlando - something they don't seem to sell down there. They're quite cheap up here compared to other minivans. The Mazda 5 is still quite a bit less, as the Orlando hasn't been on the market very long.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/16/2015 at 00:08

They don't sell the Orlando here, but I've managed to see one at my local enterprise car rental all the way down in North Carolina. Importing a Subie sounds like a decent idea, I'd probably recommend a Forester over a Crosstrek, as you get a lot more space for not a lot extra $.

Nothing > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/16/2015 at 00:13

I'd say you're good. I'm 6"4 and head/leg room was quite tight for me.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
01/16/2015 at 00:14

I know it's a pretty general question, but how much are Foresters going for down there?

(Also, I'd totally dig a road trip from North Carolina all the way back up here. I hear the food down that way is pretty awesome.)

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/16/2015 at 00:16

When I was shopping for my Outback, I noticed that most of the dealers sell them for invoice. Here is a link to the dealership where I bought my Outback. You can expect to save at least $2,000 off of the listed MSRP.

http://www.randymarionsubaru.com/new-inventory/…

Also, the food is pretty great. NC makes some good BBQ.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
01/16/2015 at 00:18

I'm afraid most of those are still pretty out of our comfortable price range. We'd be looking for something used.

Someone posted a picture today of some catfish. I've always wanted to try it.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/16/2015 at 00:20

Just out of curiosity, what is the max amount that you are looking to spend? I can keep my eye out down here, and could potentially find you a nice rust free southern car.

Funktheduck > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/16/2015 at 00:30

It was. It went from Stanced mazda 5 to standard mazda 5 once they all got out.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO
01/16/2015 at 00:35

I can get an Orlando for $14k CDN, so something less than that. The Mazda 5s that I were looking at were between $5k and $7k CDN.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > BaconSandwich is tasty.
01/16/2015 at 09:41

If I had a 2002 Protege, I'd rather have a tub of Bondo than a nickle.

:-D

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Patrick George
01/16/2015 at 11:43

Also this: http://www.caranddriver.com/features/retur…