new member - Mazda5 owner
 

Hey all...

I'm Joel, got a 2007 Mazda5 Touring - 5MT. I've been over at GasSavers.org for a little bit, but recently saw the sig for this site somewhere and liked it better so I'm using Ecomodder's sig now :o Figured it'd only be right to hang around here too, why the heck not?

Anyhow, enough rambling. My goal isn't to get ridiculous numbers, but consistent 30MPG would be a nice goal at least in the winter, maybe 34-35 consistent in the summer. Being a 2007, I don't want to go tweaking it all up mechanically so although I've got my tires at 40psi, I'm definately more into mastering driving techniques and dicipline. I'm 24 so my biggest competitor is my young guy ego when people tailgate and cut me off, but I'm making progress with that :p

Hopefully I can learn some stuff here and eventually contribute some stuff back too! K, here are a few pics. Thanks for looking.

If you're unfamiliar with it, some pics make you think it's just a regular old minivan, but as shown here it's no larger than a Chevy Equinox. It's largely mechanically based on the Mazda3. (Please ignore the neighbors ugly shutters!)
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...5/5Equinox.jpg

Decent aerodynamics out of the box. Drag co-efficient is 0.29.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...5/Mz5Wax10.jpg

If the 5MT wasn't available, probably wouldn't have considered it... got lucky there. As you can see it's a 6-seater, bought it as a family hauler.
http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i1...5/Mz5Wax16.jpg

Welcome!
I really like the design and the way it looks, but is it spacey enough for 6 adults?

I know what you mean about the whole young guy ego, try 17 years old. :p

Welcome to the site Joel

You may have seen my review of the 5 over there :o

It was great: 4-adults, full compliment of luggage, and near-30 mpg.

Welcome to EM -- enjoy the site...

...and best FE to ya :thumbup:

RH77

I'm 16 :p But I've always been really calm and patient, so driving fast isn't really me. calm and patient don't usually equal fast and reckless.

Nice ride. Haven't seen a stick minivan in who knows when.

And welcome!

Welcome to the community!

Yes and no. Yes it'll fit 6 adults, but the 2 in the 3rd row will get a little cramped after a half hour probably... the leg room is a bit skimpy. And with the 3rd row up, there's pathetic cargo space. But I usually drive around with the 3rd row folded down flat and then I got 44ft3 back there. So the best way to put it, is good versatility. Either 6 peeps in a pinch, or 4 and a ton of cargo. There are a lot of family situations where the 5 won't work, but there are a select few situations where it's perfect. And I couldn't finish the mini-review without noting the sliding doors... they may not be the sexiest feature, but sure are a godsend for loading the little guy in his rear facing seat :thumbup:

Thanks for the welcome guys :)

Yep, pretty sweet deal. If nothing else it's great for minimizing drivetrain loss and keeping RPM's under 2k when accelerating. However, it's geared pretty short for "performance"... it is a Mazda after all, so they gotta keep up their Zoom-Zoom image I guess, lol. @ 65MPH I'm floating around 3k RPM, not terrible, but not great either. But can *safely* keep it around 50-55 on most highways around here though so not a huge deal.

Hi Joel, I just bought a 09 Mazda 5 (5 AT with manual shift). We have a Hyundai Entourage (14 mpg in town, 21 on the Highway) and I drive my 19 month old twins like a granddad. We decided to get a more efficient car to suppliment the van and this one fit the bill. I picked it up last saturday so I don't have an milage numbers yet. How are you doing on milage on yours?

Milage numbers
 

24.5 mpg 100% city driving, very pleased.

Welcome, sliding doors are great when you're in a cramped parking space too

Doesn't look like he's posted since last year ('08), but he's still updating his fuel log:

http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/graph218.gif

Not quite up to his goal of 34 or 35 mpg in summer driving...

But his last entry suggests he's got a ScanGauge (first calibration was last fill up), so if that's the case, I bet things are about to get better.

PS - welcome to the forum josm100.

Mazda 5
 

Good numbers, consistently 3-4mpg better than what I'm getting with a 5 speed auto but mine are 100% city and it only has 6900 on the clock. What ratio are you for hw/city and havce you seen improv with increased miles? I notice today that my wife really guns the hell out of it....can't say a word though, you know how it is.