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Vans & Minivans Mazda Mazda5 Mazda 5 vs Kia Rondo
806 messages, Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 2:38 PM
You are in the Mazda Mazda5 Forum. Your Host is Karens
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Mar 12, 2009 11:19 am) Also, you're right-I do enjoy "zippy" vehicles. In addition to the Mazda 3 I also own a '99 BMW 323ic convertible and a Honda ST1100 motorcycle. However, I rarely push my 4-wheeled vehicles hard these days and tend to sow my sporting oats when riding my ST through the twisties along the Blue Ridge Mountains when the urge strikes. Unfortunately, with 5 vehicles currently licensed and insured for just two drivers I'm gonna have to make some hard decisions soon. That my wife's '98 Toyota Sienna is going is almost a given, although I've considered hanging on to it for use a my daughter's first vehicle in a few years since the Sienna has a proven safety record in vehicle crash testing. On the other hand, deciding between getting rid of my BMW or Mazda3 is going to be a tough call. The Mazda is six years newer, has ~27k fewer miles, less expensive to insure and maintain and averages about 9 mpg better than the BMW which at ~28-31 mpg is hardly a gas hog when driven conservatively. However the BMW truly is a lot of fun to drive - especially with the top down on a warm, sunny day with that oh-so-smooth inline-6 making such sweet sounds. My Mazda 3 is a lot of fun to drive to and has one of the best manual shifters I've had the pleasure of using. But of course it's no convertible and mine example lacks a sunroof. Decisions, decisions... : 
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Replying to: smoothsailin (Mar 13, 2009 5:16 am) 2008 Kia Rondo 2005 MZ3 1999 BMW 323ic 1998 Sienna XXXX Honda ST1100 My suggestion is to dish the Sienna and insure the BMW as an occasional (leisure) vehicle with the minimum amount of miles per year (I believe its 1000 miles) This way, you get rid of the least paltable vehicle and you save money. I don't know how old your daughter is but when she becomes of age to drive, I can certainly assure you she will definately not want to drive the Sienna. I take it your wife drives the Rondo and you switch off between the MZ3, BMW, and ST100. When your daughter starts driving you may be forced to give her your MZ3 and then run really fast to your nearest Mazda dealer and get yourself an awesome little wagon called the MAZDA5. LOL!
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Replying to: vg33e power (Mar 13, 2009 7:00 am) The Sienna has been our family (and the wife's primary) vehicle for nearly 5 years and I bought the Rondo with the intention of replacing it. Except for some broken (plastic) body hardware issues, with almost 160k miles on the odometer it's served us very well. Also since I scored it at a bargain price (for $6k with 96k miles...and it's a loaded XLE model) we've gotten our money's worth from it i.m.o.. It's just at the point where I either need to spend money to fix it up (tired shocks & strut cartridges, power steering is leaking, engine and automatic transmission still seem solid but have not been rebuilt, engine timing belt is about due for replacement, original radiator & a/c, etc.) or just get rid of it. Since most of the car's components are original there's certainly the possibility something major could fail (say the automatic transmission?) at any time. It also has one of those Toyota engines which have developed a reputation for having oil sludge issues. Our Sienna's V-6 has never given me any problems (only had the starter rebuilt last summer), but I've always used synthetic motor oil and premium oil filters while we've owned it. Your probably right that my daughter might not want to get the Sienna when she gets her license. (Note: she's only 12 1/2 so this milestone is still several years in the future). However I'll be more interested in her safety than in her vehiclular preferences. I wasn't particularly "excited" about my first car either (1964 Oldsmobile Dynamic 88...what a tank!). But it was big enough to provide superior protection (at least for the standards of the time) and the big 392 cubic inch V-8 was thirsty enough to keep my teenage male hormones in check long enough to allow me a chance to gain some driving experience. The Olds was replaced with a '66 VW bug right before I started college and the bug was a total opposite (ie almost no power along with very little protection). But it was light, quick steering, and had a manual which helped make it reasonably fun to drive despite the lack of power (50 hp). The thrumming flat four in the rear did provide some character too. Best of all I could fill the 10 gallon tank for $5! Although I really do like my Mazda3, I probably won't choose to pass it on to either of my kids when they receive their licenses, for as previously noted my 3 lacks many of the standard safety equipment that comes standard on most late model vehicles being sold today. All my 3 has are the dual front air bags...and from what I've read when lacking side and side curtain airbags Mazda3 models have not scored well in side impact tests. The jury is still out on whether I'll choose to sell my Mazda3 or the BMW. My 323ic is equipped with the (optional) SAB package along with dual front airbags, ABS and ESC. However, being a convertible all bets would be off if one of us should be unlucky enough to flip it some day. Another drawback to the BMW is that premium gas is recommended. I filled up last night and it cost $10 more to fill the BMW's 16.8 gal tank than it did to fill the Rondo's 15.8 gal tank the day before...even though BMW's tank only swallowed about a gallon more than the Rondo's. Why premium gas is selling  $.45-$.55+ more than regular these days is beyond me. All I know is the premium paid for "premium" can be painful on the wallet even though all gas prices are of course far less than a year ago. Since I have a 55-mile (round-trip) commute between home and work, fuel economy and gas prices are somewhat important to me. Still, fact is my BMW holds a "grin factor" advantage over my Mazda3. Smoother and sweeter-sounding I-6 engine, more power (175 hp vs 148 hp) and more grip (BMW has meatier 225/45 Continentals) And of course it IS a BMW convertible and definitely turns more heads than my also sharp-looking Mazda3. Like I said, it's not gonna be an easy decision. And yeah-I realize that a Mazda5 probably will turn more heads than a Rondo would. Of course, the Rondo will primarily be my wife's car!  |
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Replying to: vg33e power (Mar 12, 2009 7:28 am) My mother-in-law bought one of those Excels when they first came out, what a load of crap, but then again Toyota and Honda went through the same thing before. KIA has only been in Canada 10 years and in the US since 1994. |
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Replying to: conwelpic (Mar 14, 2009 2:23 pm) From Consumer Reports I see Mazda in 4th place, behind Honda, Subaru and Toyota With an overall score of 78 out of 100 points, Honda was followed closely by Subaru (75), and Toyota (74) in the overall score. Subaru is also the only automaker with 100% of its tested vehicles Recommended, although it has a relatively small model lineup. Mazda (73), came in 4th, followed by Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Volkswagen, and BMW, all tied at 72. Of the Asian automakers, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda, and Hyundai improved their overall scores. Nissan and Hyundai also improved their reliability rating. Of the four, Hyundai showed the most improvement, increasing its overall score from 66 to 70. The Hyundai Genesis also topped Consumer Reports’ upscale-sedan ratings, contributing to the automakers continued progress. Source Consumer Reports: Release Date: Feb 26, 2009 Consumer Reports’ Automaker Report Cards: Honda Leads Again, Mercedes-Benz Improves, Chrysler Lags http://pressroom.consumerreports.org/pressroom/2009/02/consumer-reports-automake- - r-report-cards-honda-leads-again-mercedes-benz-improves-chrysler-lags.html
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (Mar 14, 2009 5:10 pm) You are correct too, as there is two different reports, the one you refer to is on page 15 and the one I'm referring to is on page 17. Hyundai and KIA are grouped as one on your list. The list I'm referring to takes the reliability section of your list and breaks that down - "Reliability by brand".
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Replying to: conwelpic (Mar 15, 2009 2:48 pm) The only other thing I said was that Kia, like Toyota cars are rather bland, boring, or simply ugly in their design, unfortunately Honda is following too with their rather ugly new Accord. My Mazda5 still wins in looks and spotiness against the above mentioned, and it is in par with reliabilty with the likes of the fav 3 import brands (Toyota, Honda, Nissan). |
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Rondo - 533 (767 in '08) Mazda 5 - 384 (1,028 in '08) |
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Replying to: conwelpic (Mar 15, 2009 2:48 pm) . Those magazines, telling ya 
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Think Rondo is no longer the stylish name it was? Does Magentis remind you of those magnetised bedsheets your granny always raves about? Apparently Kia shares your concerns, and is investigating how best to revamp its model naming system to appeal to a wider (ie: under 40 year-old) audience. The new Soul and Forte (aka Cerato) are rumoured to be safe, as both nameplates are fresh enough and hip enough to strike a chord with younger car buyers. However, the rest of the range will likely see a good number of badges being thrown into the bin. “We want to leave the old baggage behind,” Kia’s Michael Sprague said in an interview with Automotive News. “A lot of people don’t know who we are anyway. So why not come out with new and more attractive names like Forte and Soul?” An alpha-numeric naming convention isn’t expected to be on the cards, but we do expect to see some funkier names popping up in Kia’s stable in the near future. All we ask is that they make more sense than Ssangyong’s. Source: http://www.themotorreport.com.au/24602/kia-to-re-jig-model-nomenclature/ |
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