Since the Mazda 3 and the Mazda 5 share the same platform I guess this is the place to talk about it right?

Any opinions thus far?

The closest thing to a sporty ride, good looks, cargo room, and decent economy last year was the Protege5, so I bought one.... Got a hell of a deal too!

Mazda replaced it with the 3 five door, which I don't particularly care for the looks of it, not to mention the cheap, dark, rubbery looking interior bored me to death ....

Now they come out with the Mazda 5..... Call me crazy, but I dig wagons and minivans... The problem with minivans is that they are not very sporty, and you can never get them with a manual tranny....

Then BOOM, or should I say ZOOM......... I see the Mazda 5 mini-minivan which looks cool, an interior similar to my P5, and I can get with a 5 speed!!!!!

I'm sold, but I don't ever want to get rid of my P5..... Guess I'll just have to pay off the P5, buy a Mazda 5 for a daily driver, and throw a WOMP in the ol P5!!

What a bummer eh??

 

crazy ^

 

I moved this to "general automotive".

I love the Mazda5 and I'm very excited about it. The problem lies in it's slightly underpowered 2.3L engine lugging around more weight. Don't expect 3S speeds or time out of it even with 5spd.

I'm personally holding out for the 2 if it comes stateside. If it doesn't then I'll probably buy the 5 as a beater.

 

...sat in one of those (Mazda2) in Nagoya, just two days ago. I think it is a replacement for the Demio. Both awesome cars. Both curiously equipped with automatics most often over here in the Land of the Rising Sun. Who woulda thunk?!

I also saw the Mazda5 in Detroit at the auto show this year. Kind of an ultra mini minivan. Probably a lot more fun to drive than that may sound...

 

they are both nice

 

What's a Mazda 5? You mean the Mazda 3 sport?

 

Mazda5 is the new Mazda Mini-van to replace the MPV. This new 5 is based on the 3's chasis and drivetrain but a little larger. Think of it as a cross between a sports car and a mini-van, without all the power.

 

Mazda 5...I'll have to research...with a baby on the way I really want to get something safer/more comfortable/roomier and safer than our Mercury Tracer (Wifey is not being very enthusiastic about learning to drive manual either)

Anyways, I was wondering if I should start a new thread to get peoples opinions here...even if they might be biased...but this seems like a good place.
Feel free to give your opinion. Maybe help me develop an iron-clad argument to persuade my wife

I'll add the 5 to the list.

I personally want an MP5. A nice used example could be very affordable, above average safety, and I have faith/experience with some of its qualities.

The Mazda 3 five door is new, affordable, and sometimes you can get good enough intrest rates and incentives to make a new car a good deal compared to used. It takes some getting used to visually, and the cargo room seems miniscule for the price/class really, but can get the new 2.3L and gets the Consumer Reports (CR) recommended check (as did the MP5). Crash test results actually seem to be lower than the MP5's, at least for the driver.

I was initially excited about the 6 when it came out. I've heard and read its still got some new model reliablity issues. Very good saftey ratings. I think I'd rather have the Mazda 2.3L, it should have enough power... Get into a new 5-door or wagon and we start talking mo' money.

I'm also partial to the Ford Focus. Also handles well (which is part of safety) and has good safety comparable to the 3. CR recently started recommending it because reliability improved. Can choose from sedan, 5-door or wagon and Ford can have some tempting incentives on new cars.

Mitsubishi Galant. Larger sedan, gets as high of saftey ratings as any cars available (better than some German brands). Mitsubishi has a 10yr/100K mile warranty and dealer incentives can bring a new V6 ES down to about $14K. Problems are: no "hot-hatch" handling, nor smoothest engine, maybe not the most reliable, looks like some kind of art-deco lego car/soap bar. (I've heard of the Ralliart edition, but might be out of our price range at this time)

 

I see... thanks!

 

Actually, the Mazda5 is in addition to the MPV. It's a much smaller vehicle, in between a Mazda3 hatch and the MPV.