Got a 5!

[Stew]

Got a 2012 5 today. It has the 6spd and I am very happy with the way it drives. I drove a few vehicles this past few days figuring what I would like. 2011 Sonata pretty zippy, but is a sedan with the utility limitations (once helped my mother move and she could get more into her eclipse than I could get into a larger midsize sedan). 2011 Kia Sorento 4cyl was fine around town power wise, but was a little slower on the interstate and the ride was stiff. 2011 Chrysler T&C engine has strong engine and huge space, but handling was unispiring.
I am a single male who had a simple goal. Comfortable, good handling, more space and utility than my 09 Rabbit, decent gas milage and the ability to camp comfortable in the car. The MZ 5 will do everything I just listed and stuff I have yet to imagine or need. It is not the perfect car for everyone. Some folks really will need the space of a full minivan and I will say the interior of the chrysler was beautiful to behold (base touring model). I have been informed that I will not be attracting any young ladies with this car. I disagree and am not sure it would be great to buy a car to impress everybody else and not like it myself.
You guys have helped alot by answering my questions and with the huge quantities of info available on this site. My first 2 mods will be tint and a slim powered sub

Thanks again for the help,

Stew

 

[petitevan]

Congrats and LOL~ i think the car we drive says a lot about who we are. You probably can't get Paris Hilton to go for a ride in your 5, but do you really care? Smart ladies will recognize that you've made a wise decision, and you will get extra points for the manual transmission.

Got a 2012 5 today. It has the 6spd and I am very happy with the way it drives. I drove a few vehicles this past few days figuring what I would like. 2011 Sonata pretty zippy, but is a sedan with the utility limitations (once helped my mother move and she could get more into her eclipse than I could get into a larger midsize sedan). 2011 Kia Sorento 4cyl was fine around town power wise, but was a little slower on the interstate and the ride was stiff. 2011 Chrysler T&C engine has strong engine and huge space, but handling was unispiring.
I am a single male who had a simple goal. Comfortable, good handling, more space and utility than my 09 Rabbit, decent gas milage and the ability to camp comfortable in the car. The MZ 5 will do everything I just listed and stuff I have yet to imagine or need. It is not the perfect car for everyone. Some folks really will need the space of a full minivan and I will say the interior of the chrysler was beautiful to behold (base touring model). I have been informed that I will not be attracting any young ladies with this car. I disagree and am not sure it would be great to buy a car to impress everybody else and not like it myself.
You guys have helped alot by answering my questions and with the huge quantities of info available on this site. My first 2 mods will be tint and a slim powered sub

Thanks again for the help,

Stew

 

[JovaBear]

Congrats! Enjoy your new 5. You will have a great time with it.

 

[DKaz]

Congratulations!

 

[JKoscoe]

Congrats!! My wife loves her 5. I think in the long run you will find the 5 to be a well rounded vehicle.

 

[thaxman]

Got a 2012 5 today. I have been informed that I will not be attracting any young ladies with this car. I disagree and am not sure it would be great to buy a car to impress everybody else and not like it myself.


Stew

BAH!

Put some wheels on it and if so inspired, upgrade the lighting - interior/exterior, maybe some extra LED strips to make a statement - and they will be eating out of your hand when they realize there way more room for adults than in any compact car!

 

[superbike7]

Congrats. Would love to see some pics. Tell me how is the 6speed? We have a 2007 with the 5 speed and would love an extra gear. Also all the chicks at my wifes work think her car is awesome and wish they had one.

 

[flcruising]

Maybe she'll notice that you are a step ahead to becoming a family man - or assume that you already have kids.

 

[coolmazda5]

Pics?

 

[wmzda5]

Welcome and congratulation. It took me 2 yrs to pick my car. Fell in love when it came out the first time. Really did a lot of research, price against all the cars in my optional choice and the 5 wins. It is a great car, I've had it for nearly 4 yrs and I still love it and haven't seen anything better in the market. I still like the 08-09 better than the 2012 but love the 6 speed.

 

[Stew]

Here is a picture of the 5

 

[Stew]

not the front. oops

 

[Stew]

Retrying front pic attachment.

 

[Stew]

I do like the 6 speed. Clutch is kind of like a long travel light switch, but the shifter itself is pretty nice. I do notice a harmonic coming through the gas pedal while accelerating in 4th from 2000 to 2700ish rpm. I am going to have at a dealer for tinting and they are going to check that too.

 

[wmzda5]

What do you mean harmonic? Might be transmission related, check the fluids

 

[coolmazda5]

Cool color, I dig it.

I do like the 6 speed.

Lucky you, I'm trying to find the gear ratios somewhere, but if I remember the 6th gear is effectively an extra one, which should be nice at highway speed

 

[DKaz]

I'm wonder if the 6 speed would bolt up with our 2.3s. I'll be harassing local wreckers on a weekly basis for wrecked manuals '12s+.

 

[johnnieboy]

Lucky you, I'm trying to find the gear ratios somewhere, but if I remember the 6th gear is effectively an extra one, which should be nice at highway speed

Here are the ratios for the 2012 Mazda5:

6-speed manual: (gear/ratio/overall ratio)
Final drive ratio: 4.105
...1st 3.454 14.18
...2nd 1.842 7.56
...3rd 1.233 5.05
...4th .914 3.75
...5th .755 3.10
...6th .680 2.79
5-speed automatic:
Final drive ratio: 3.458
...1st 3.62 12.52
...2nd 1.925 6.66
...3rd 1.285 4.44
...4th .933 3.23
...5th .692 2.39

Note that the six-speed has a shorter final drive top gear ratio than the automatic.

 

[DKaz]

'06 to '10 FDTGR is 3.34. I'd so love to drop these 6 speed transmissions in, even with the 4.39 final gear ratio of the '06 to '10, it would drop the FDTGR to 2.99. RPMs would drop from ~3002 RPM to ~2686 RPM both at 108km/h... the '12 with manual cruises at 2511 RPM @ 108km/h.

 

[coolmazda5]

Here are the ratios for the 2012 Mazda5:

6-speed manual: (gear/ratio/overall ratio)
Final drive ratio: 4.105
...1st 3.454 14.18
...2nd 1.842 7.56
...3rd 1.233 5.05
...4th .914 3.75
...5th .755 3.10
...6th .680 2.79
5-speed automatic:
Final drive ratio: 3.458
...1st 3.62 12.52
...2nd 1.925 6.66
...3rd 1.285 4.44
...4th .933 3.23
...5th .692 2.39

Note that the six-speed has a shorter final drive top gear ratio than the automatic.

I found the 5MT to 6MT comparison, it is an extra gear indeed :

2012 Transmission Gear ratios: 6MT/5AT Sport
1st 3.454 3.620
2nd 1.842 1.925
3rd 1.233 1.285
4th 0.914 0.933
5th 0.755 0.692
6th 0.680 -
Reverse 3.198 3.405
Final drive 4.105 3.458

2010 Transmission Gear ratios: 5MT/5AT Sport
1st 3.307 3.620
2nd 1.842 1.925
3rd 1.310 1.285
4th 0.970 0.933
5th 0.755 0.692
Reverse 3.166 3.405
Final drive 4.388

2010 source: http://www.kieswettermazda.com/New_Vehicles/2010-Mazda5-Specs.php

2012 source: http://www.kieswettermazda.com/New_Vehicles/2012-Mazda5-Specs.php