[Mifunego]

Hi all,

I've been on board here for a while with my other cars, but there has been a recent "shake up" in the stable, so to speak. Until quite recently, our garage was populated with a 2006 VW Jetta 2.0T, and a 2008 Mazdaspeed 3. Both turbo, both fun to drive, both not quite fitting our needs. We have two kids and will be hosting a few overseas visitors this year, including an exchange student, and three across the back, with a couple child seats, doesn't quite cut it. We need something that can fit more. However, we are subject to the constraints of tight city parking, and a mom who is less-than-comfortable maneuvering big SUVs or "full-size" minivans :irony:. Hence the Mazda 5. It parks like a compact, fits 6 passengers when necessary, and only comes equipped with a 2.5L I4. I, on the other hand, have been rehabbing a city two-flat, and a turbo pocket rocket like the 'speed3 was not exactly optimum for that. I tried pulling a trailer for runs to the lumberyard, and the car had plenty of torque for it, but it just got to be a pain the rear to fumble around with the hook ups every time I needed to pick up a sheet of drywall. Thus, the Toyota Tacoma. It's not really the best mileage, but it was quite inexpensive, so while I'm spending a bit more at the pump, I didn't have to pay that much to start out, and I can still haul lots of construction debris and materials. And I'll be honest: I like driving a truck.

I've got high hopes for the 5. I've read some good reviews, and it seems that conservative drivers are getting close to 30 on the highway with no mods; not bad for a 3500 lb 6 passenger vehicle. Mom is already easy on the gas pedal, so I'll start with pumping up the tires and see where our first couple tanks get us.