Recent content by Kaian

I'm seeing more too, but since I have tinted windows mine always looks different (and better) to me. And when I look inside parked 5s, I can always tell they are automatics, which makes my manual feel even more special. :)

This is how I feel. Vastly increase the MPG and make as low a footprint as possible on the environment, and not worry as much about the exact technology it takes.

You're going to have to go to your dealership and get an answer from them, as this seems like an exceptional situation that nom one else here has seen. Let us know what they say; I'm curious what they will tell you.

As a Californian, can someone explain the difference to me between a recall and a "special service program"?

Actually, I have the two older boys in the third row, both in booster seats, and my baby daughter is in a car seat behind the driver's seat. The other second two seat is left empty for the occasional extra passenger. I was able to find a stroller that folds up and fits in the trunk even with...

I'm not sure why you think the 6 wagon would be the better choice. I guess I don't have a sufficient appreciation for the 6 at all. I love my Mazda 5 and it works great with my three kids (ages 6, 5, and 11 months), but if I only had two kids then the Mazda 3 hatchback would be much higher on...

Wow. I got mine last August, and I'm at around 3700. :) (Of course, I had it at the dealers for a few weeks for the recall, but still....)

Congratulations! I hope Matthew likes his new brother?

You misspelled "wagon". :) To answer the original question, I'm a thirty-something father of two boys and a new baby girl. If I didn't have kids I'd be in a Mazda MX-5 (or maybe the RX-8, that was nice too), or Mini Cooper or something else along those line. But with the kids I had to get...

Um, it is a car, a wagon to be exact. We just went through this in the Owner's Quiz thread. :) (thumb)

MAV is Mazda's neologism for the Mazda 5, and stands for "Multi Activity Vehicle". Probably sounds a bit silly, but at one time I wondered "what the hell's a SUV?" when I first heard that term, and of course that's a common term now. "Space Wagon" is a European term for this type of vehicle, if...

If you're considering the manual, then that's what you'll need to get. The automatic ain't bad, but don't settle for that because the manual is really that much better.

Heh, thanks. Actually, we got our copy in last night. Overall, I think CR did a decent job reporting on the Mazda5. I'm glad they paid attention to the fact that it is classified a wagon and grouped it with other "tall wagons" rather than put it in a minivan review (and then bash it for being...

Interesting. We have a subscription to Consumer Reports but don't have that issue yet. I'm looking forward to reading what CR had to say.

That's what I got. I certainly think the base 5spd Touring is a better value than a 5spd Sport with additional packages. The main things I like are the climate control, which is really nice, and the fold out tray for the second row, neither of which you can get as an option on the Sport models.