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Mazda 5 vs Kia Rondo

801 messages,  Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 8:34 PM

You are in the Mazda Mazda5 Forum. Your Host is Karens

What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA5, Kia Rondo, Car Comparisons, Car Buying, Wagon


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#190 of 801
Re: Rondo - One month later [renu_p] by vegasrondo
Aug 16, 2007 (7:54 pm)
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 16, 2007 6:17 pm)

If the dealer you bought the Rondo from is the only game in town, then you pay whatever they can get from you. It sounds like the dealer was trying to recoup the rebate as well as add to their profit margin. I find that in Las Vegas dealers that sell multi lines of cars (like Mazda, GMC, Mitsubishi, Kia - which my dealer carries) try to do this a lot less than just a Kia dealer would. A solo make dealer has to try and make as much money as possible on each sale. If you don't buy the car you came in for, they don't have another brand to guide you to.
 
Since you bought the car, and seem to really like it, that's all that matters in the long run. It will still depreciate at the same rate, and it will still cost the same to insure and operate. Enjoy the Rondo. The moral to the story is, the real price of a car is whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
#191 of 801
Re: Rondo - One month later [renu_p] by csandste
Aug 16, 2007 (8:03 pm)
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 16, 2007 6:17 pm)

I've never heard of any Kia dealer adding two grand. That's obnoxious behavior. For the record, I bought an Optima rather than a Sonata because the local Hyundai dealer insisted on adding on to the sticker-- although they're fishing for suckers and I could have easily negotiated it down it is a terrible turn off.
#192 of 801
Re: Rondo - One month later [renu_p] by kivo
Aug 17, 2007 (7:10 am)
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 16, 2007 6:17 pm)

I've tried to explain this before - you shouldn't care about the sticker price at all. Find out the dealer cost (invest $12 from CR and get all the info you need) and negotiate UP from the dealer cost. If the dealer wanted to tack on money to the sticker price, walk out. Sticker price is of no concern to you. Hope you do well with your negotiating. Good Luck!!
#193 of 801
Re: Rondo - One month later [renu_p] by coolmazda5
Aug 17, 2007 (6:49 pm)
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 16, 2007 6:17 pm)

Just find another close dealer in any car web site. If you live in NJ you may not need to drive long from the original one, I'm sure. Regardless of the type of car (except a collector's edition like a Lamborghini Diablo) you can find a good deal, especially if you are looking for a 2007 model in the middle of August. Now, if it is a 2008 model, dealers may be more stiff to negotiate a discount, but that's pretty much it, there should not be imaginary market value "charges".
#194 of 801
Re: Rondo - One month later [coolmazda5] by renu_p
Aug 18, 2007 (12:54 pm)
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Aug 17, 2007 6:49 pm)

thanks vegasrondo , csandste , kivo , coolmazda5. i have not bought the vehicle yet. still deciding where rondo/mazda5. i found that they are the only vehicles with third row and good price or ok mpg. in rondo whether v4 or v6 is also a question. i am leaning toward v4 to avoid the extra cost and for better mileage. i have seen too much variation on rondo mpg and do not know if it is the v6. i do not know if the particular car one gets matters. i heard that with v4 if i have 5 passengers or more load then it would have to work extra hard and could consume more gas then a v6 with same load. is this true?
yes, i think better to put in $12 for consumer reports. there was also one other site which had car review at $1 per car and a minimum of $5. thanks
#195 of 801
Re: Rondo - One month later [renu_p] by zklopman
Aug 18, 2007 (3:34 pm)
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 16, 2007 6:17 pm)

I just bought from a local dealer here in MA for $1300 UNDER sticker price - and that was for a Rondo with a 3rd row, premium package and V6. Add to that the incentives ($1000 rebate, 2.9%/60 months financing, extra $400 grads) and it came out very reasonable.
If you are interested in a 5 seater, then they will even lower the price more (but then again, there are many other options). Use the net to find other dealers within your state (and perhaps out of your state) - for 2K$ you can take a nice vacation driving to pick one up... (isn't this line better suited for the dealer experience forum?)
 
P.S.
 
I picked the Rondo over the Mazda because: (i) more space for the kids (ii) more space for the driver (iii) 5 speed transmission (V6 only). The fact that it was somewhat cheaper was nice, but did not matter. Having the 7th seat is nice, but of limited use, as only a skinny 8-12 years old could fit there...
#196 of 801
Re: Rondo - One month later [renu_p] by coolmazda5
Aug 18, 2007 (4:58 pm)
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 18, 2007 12:54 pm)

I'm assuming that your mind is set to an auto transmission car, correct? If you are interested in fuel economy and your preference is auto, I would say that a 4cyl is better (of course if you are not carrying 5 adults 95% of the time).
 
I have carried 5 adults, a baby on a car seat and a large stroller in the back of the 3rd row and have not felt a lack of power (I have a manual transmission however). I have done this only once in 2 years. Now, other Auto Tranny Mazda5 owners have said that the engine is not power out of this world but sufficient, even fully loaded (peppy enough as long as you are not intending to race it of course )
 
To me any V6 seems very economical when driving on pure highway, but the Rondo's V6 city MPG seems very low for the type of car. I read once (link below) that it was only around 15MPG? On my 2 years as a Mazda5 owner, we have gone from 22MPG (bad, hot day w/ full A/C city driving) to almost 34MPG (highway). Our avg is around 24-25MPG, 3 passengers.
 
Now, as per choice, although it is just a family ride and both cars have very similar versatility, I prefer the Mazda5 as I love the Zoom-Zoom spice and the appealing look added to it.
 
Some MPG stuff and reviews I found for both:
 
http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2007/04/suburban_dad_20_1.html
 
KarenS, "Mazda5 Owners MPG-Real World Numbers" #, 22 Jul 2005 8:51 am
 
Good luck!
#197 of 801
Re: Rondo - One month later [renu_p] by medicineman
Aug 18, 2007 (9:46 pm)
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Replying to: renu_p (Aug 18, 2007 12:54 pm)

renu_p, you might be interested in reading why I ultimately chose the Rondo in my post at Kia Forums. I required seven seats so the choice was clear, but it actually wasn't that easy of a decision because I was (and still am) quite fond of the Mazda5.
 
If you're looking at these kind of vehicles, you're obviously concerned primarily about functionality. IMHO, the Rondo is more versatile when it comes to functionality and configurability compared to the Mazda5. The obvious reason for this is that the Rondo is capable of seating one more person than the Mazda5. Its 2-3-2 seating configuration gives you a few more options than the Mazda5's 2-2-2 configuration.
 
For instance, if on average you will be carrying at most 5 people in your vehicle, the fifth person has to sit in the third row in the Mazda5. In the Rondo, the fifth person can choose his poison --be stuck in the middle of the second row or be stuck in one of the third-row seats. If you need additional cargo space, the fifth person can sit in the second row allowing the third-row seats to be stored away for more space. In the Mazda5, you would be able to store only one of the third-row seats for additional space.
 
If, in your mind, the versatility is pretty much equal between the Rondo and Mazda5, then other considerations come into play. IMHO, the Rondo comes out ahead when considering the warranty (the 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty is a killer) and safety (electronic stability control and traction control system are standard, which are not available for the Mazda5). The Mazda5, again IMHO, comes out ahead when considering resale value and performance/handling (available with a manual tranny, which is not available for the Rondo).
 
If looks and image matter, the Mazda5 gets the nod over the Rondo, although that's not saying very much. There's no disguising the fact that these vehicles are what they are--utilitarian people movers.
 
The Mazda5 also has sliding doors, which I consider a plus (and it should be considered a plus, because I'll say it again, these vehicles are primarily about functionality). Some people, however, seem to hate sliding doors due to its "soccer mom" look. If the Rondo does have an advantage over the Mazda5 in the looks department, I suppose this would be it.
 
As for MPG, you should check out (if you haven't already) some of the real-world drivers' experiences with the Rondo at these threads:
Kia Rondo, Real World MPG
So what kind of mileage are people getting? (Kia Forums)
Rondo fuel economy compared to goverment ratings (Kia Forums)
 
BTW, coolmazda5 seemed to have found one of the few mostly negative reviews of the Rondo (i.e., his link to the KickingTires blog at Cars.com). For a comprehensive list of Rondo reviews, see here.
#198 of 801
Re: Rondo - One month later [medicineman] by coolmazda5
Aug 19, 2007 (3:30 am)
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Replying to: medicineman (Aug 18, 2007 9:46 pm)

Good details medicineman as usual, thanks. By the way, I thought my posted links were fair (good and bad) on both sides, not negative. I still believe that the V6 engine economy is misleading, but that is pretty much it .
 
BTW, I won't post other non-Edmunds forums I frequently visit, as it is generally a Forums member's rule (do not promote external forums in your post)...
 
renu_p, you seem to have a lot of info now, so happy shopping around!
#199 of 801
Re: Rondo - One month later [coolmazda5] by toronado455
Aug 19, 2007 (1:07 pm)
Reply

Replying to: coolmazda5 (Aug 19, 2007 3:30 am)

I don't go so much by EPA estimates. I look more at vehicle curb weight for a better idea of how much fuel will be used.
 
I can't comment specifically on the Rondo, but in general, when a particular vehicle is offered with a choice of either 4 cyl or V6 engines, because the weight is basically the same either way, you can get about the same gas mileage out of the V6 as long as you drive with a light foot.
 
In other words, drive with a heavy foot in the V6 version, and you'll use more gas, simply because the V6 is CAPABLE of using more gas when pushed. But you'll also have the added benefit of better acceleration when needed and more pulling power when needed for larger loads because of the increased torque.
 
Personally, I'd rather have the V6 because I'd like the larger reserve of power available, and the smoother, quieter running characteristics of V6 engines.
 
I think in most driving you'll get the same gas mileage as the 4 cyl. You just have to train yourself not to take full advantage of the V6 power reserve unless you really need it.

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