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Vans & Minivans Mazda Mazda5 Mazda5 Changes You'd Like To See
118 messages, Last post on Sep 02, 2009 at 4:56 PM
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Replying to: nissmazlover (Aug 07, 2007 9:50 am) |
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Replying to: maltb (Jul 12, 2007 10:32 am) I tried steering after turning the engine off/on at speed. It is marginal for steering straight, I wouldn't want to make any turns that way. At the slow speed, the assist turns back on without warning, even when turning, which can be surprising. At least professional drivers on a closed courses tell me so. In my previous post I mentioned purchasing the car because it had manual steering, I meant to say manual transmission. I like the extra efficiency/control it provides (~28MPG).
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Replying to: oxolotol (Aug 24, 2007 9:35 am) Well, I'm not sure what mechanical drag you are referring to in the hydraulic system but it's not because the assist is just shut off electrically. The reason the car is hard to turn is because of the steering rack gear ratio. If you put the rack from your 79 RX-7 on the Mazda5, the steering force needed would be much too hard for the weight of the Mazda5 front end. So your 20:1 ratio would likely go up to 24:1. The Mazda5 is 16.2:1 and is 2.9 turns lock to lock. Using 24:1, you are now at 4.3 turns lock to lock. Try selling that to a customer. I think the only real solution here would be a variable control drive by wire system with no mechanical linkage. I think we'll see that on the Mazda5 in about 15 years. 
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Replying to: maltb (Aug 24, 2007 10:49 am) Of course the drive by wire has possiblity but you would still lose "road feel" and exchange for the "video game" feel, which was the source of my original complaint. But if the control algorothm was tuned enough some good effects are possible. I know on my RX 7, the steering ratio increased as the wheels deflected. So driving straight and fast was smooth, but turning to park was fast. That car was a beauty to drive, but I could never get more that 22mpg out of it. Probably correct about customers, without power assist it's either too hard to park or takes too many turns (depending on the ratio selected), I just wanted to remove the dead feel of the steering and removing excess weight/complexity. |
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Nobody wants more power? I am holding off on buying one of these for 3 years, now. I need a little bit more power. All the concerns I had in 2006 and 2007 were resolved in 2009. Just not enough power for me. And it doesn't need to be a rubber burning machine. Just to feel safe merging lanes, or get out of a tight spot. I'm thinking the new 4 cyl Mazda6 engine with 170Hp will probably do it. However, I am not holding my breath, since in its current incarnation, with the top 2.3L engine, reporters say, the chasis barely keeps up under hard acceleration. So I guess, unless the frame is re-engineered (and price increased), I'll have no luck. |
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Replying to: vicenac (Mar 03, 2009 1:52 pm) At any rate more power always = to happy faces. |
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Replying to: vicenac (Mar 03, 2009 1:52 pm) - I just rented a 2009 mazda6 with the 2.5L, nice not a big power difference IMO, the Mazda5 is very well geared to keep up with its weight vs. power (at least the 5MT) Chassis issues under hard acceleration? I own 2 and never hear of that before (I don't use them for autocross or similar though  ) 3 years holding off to buy one? Wow, I admire your patience nonetheless 
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Mar 03, 2009 6:09 pm) Third row winter climate control needs improvement -- I have a 2009 with factory windows. Third row warm-up times are non-trivial, on cold mornings. Once the sun comes up, and the car is warm to the back, heat is needed in the front, and the cold air fan (w/o compressor engaged) is needed in the back. The squeaks and creaks, and the 50 mph vibrations need to be fixed.
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Replying to: 5_more (Mar 03, 2009 6:42 pm) |
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But... 60 horses are a lot to ask for... maybe it can be turbocharged. I'd like 20. I am only looking at safety, not head snapping... and all that, people like to exaggerate with. I test drove a 5 with me, my wife and the sales guy. Accelerating to freeway speed seemed to happen in slow motion. It took the entire ramp, floored to match the traffic speed. If the freeway would have moved any faster, I would have had a hard time merging. At 65Mph, playing with the acceleration pedal up and down all the way to the floor did not make the car feel like it. 10 seconds for 0-60 is nothing to write home about. and that's with the car with a skinny driver. Load it and that time goes out the window, and THAT"S the problem. I answered a Mazda survey online about improvements to some future vehicle. One of the questions was, if would be willing to pay 400 more for more power and 400 more for more torque. I answered yes to both and I'm hoping they were talking about the 5. |
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