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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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Rondo 1,538. Diff from Apr 08: -40.4% Mazda5 1,758. Diff from Apr 08: -12.6% Sources: http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/- 05-01-2009/0005017640&EDATE= http://sev.prnewswire.com/auto/20090501/LA0952601052009-1.html |
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Replying to: haviland (May 01, 2009 8:57 am) Ha ha. Ha ha. The things I've done with my 5. The car loves to corner and I've tamed three of the local mountain roads so far. It's no Porsche for sure but it's still fun to drive, the 5-speed manual transmission is just absolutely made for this car, and sure the suspension is not as comfy as a Kia Rondo or Toyota Corolla's but then again the first thing I did with my Corolla was put stiff as heck springs on them to improve handling. The Mazda 5 is not as stiff yet still has great handling. Sorry if you don't enjoy driving anymore, the Rondo is a great car but don't claim that people don't buy the 5 for the zoom-zoom, if the 5 drove like any other minivan I would never have considered it in the first place! But alas it has a soul of a sports car and I love it!
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Replying to: dona83 (May 04, 2009 9:44 am) What he said x2. It is very clear why you drive the Rondo. You prefer comfort, functionality and bland looks. We Mazda5 owners prefer sporty handling, funtionality and sporty looks. "Nobody buys the 5 for zoom zoom" HA HA HA HA! |
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Replying to: dona83 (May 04, 2009 9:44 am) And in my comment, I love my 5 speed manual Mazda 5 but nothing against the 5 speed auto Mazda 5s out there, we're still Zoom-Zooming! |
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Replying to: haviland (May 01, 2009 8:57 am) I would have never considered the 5 if it weren't for its good and sporty looks, sporty intentions and driving demeaner and youthfulness, in addition to its practicality. I feel my 5's steering feel is perfect. It handles like a dream - a sporty one at that - AND it fits my family's needs perfectly (married father with two 9 year old boys). We all couldn't be happier with our car and it's sportiness and looks. So, yes, it's "zoom zoom" was/is a DEFINITE factor (my wife hates minivans, but she loves the 5, and very much disliked the Rondo because of its "uncool minivan-ness"). I'm really glad you're happy with your choice to drive the Rondo. More power to you!  But, honestly, all this talk about the Rondo's "comfortable ride" has perplexed me. I, extensivlely, drove a 2007 Rondo for over a week and didn't find the ride to be superior to the 5's in the least. No offense, as we all are able to express our opinions in this forum, but I found the Rondo's ride to be very cheap feeling and misleading. At first, the ride seemed to be comfortable until you come in contact with bumps, potholes, speed bumps or dips in the road. Then, all that supposed "comfort" went flying out the window as the suspension felt harsh and cheap, and let all the unfiltered vibrations into the cabin - especially with a full load of passengers who all complained that their butts, literally, hurt after a long trip because of the harsh ride (characteristics my 5 does not exhibit at all). Mazda 5's ride may seem firmer at first, but you soon find it's, in actuality, more cosetting than the Rondo's - PLUS, it delivers better handling. Side note - I also noticed a slight but noticeable difference in ride quality between my 2006 5 and my 2008 - 08 rides better and feels more refined. Another side note: To the person who alluded to the fact that a 60 year old should drive/consider a Rondo. No fair! Let's not generalize with the mature folks that way. My mom's 60 years old and still very much enjoys driving and appreciates my 5's "zoom zoom". 
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When I first owned my Mazda 5 I was given the opportunity to test drive a Rondo for a number of months - free. Not the greatest styling but a much more robust and drivable vehicle than the Mazda. My family hated the Mazda. When it wen,t I got a Kia. I am much happier than I was with the 5. Mine was definitely a lemon. I would never indulge myself with a Mazda again. Sorry the Mazda 5 just has no guts and it is not utilitarian enough to be really used as a van. It has not found a niche yet and before it does I imagine it will go out of production. You can read about mine and my experience with Mazda Credit Corporation, http://vaselinerequired.blogspot.com/
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Replying to: nissmazlover (May 05, 2009 12:24 pm) |
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Replying to: davidfehr (May 05, 2009 9:20 pm) As for me, I have had two 5's, and with the exception of the suspension crunching I experienced in sub-freezing weather in my first 5, they have both been blissfully trouble-free and reliable. As for not being able to use the M5 as a van, um...it's kinda not designed to be used as an outright van. If someone does want van utility they'd be much better served with a regular-sized minivan such as a Caravan, Quest or Odyssey, not the 5 or a Rondo. However, as far as carrying the ocassional large loads, I have yet to encounter a problem with my 5. It can handle all four of us, plus A LOT of stuff - a lot more than any conventional family sedan could - with the utmost ease. And I think that is the point of the 5 - more utility than a regular family sedan, but less so than a huge "mini" van. My family and friends have all been amazed at the capacity the 5 has and we often find ourselves saying: "Never underestimate Max!" (That's the pet-name my kids gave our 5 since we all love it and it's ironic how such a small mini-minivan can do so much!) Hope your Rondo brings you years of enjoyment! |
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Replying to: haviland (May 01, 2009 8:57 am) Whereas you found the Kia's seats to be more comfortable, I find it to be the exact opposite for me. The Rondo's seats made my sciatica ridden back hurt after long trips. At first, they seemed cushy, but boy did that change after a little while! In the 5, though, I can sit happily all day in all four captain chairs, not just the front seats! As far as the stereo system goes, I actually thought the Rondo did deliver great sound, too - on par with my 5 since I think it has a great sounding system, too. Difference being that when I rented the Rondo, it didn't have an aux port, wheres my 5 did/does. (Don't know if Rondos come with AUX ports now, though.) |
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I feel exactly the same about the seats in the 5, I can sit in them for hours. My 2008 Corolla had nice seats too as long as I didn't sit in them for over an hour, otherwise my legs and lower back would start acting up. The 5's seats feel a bit flimsy and it's not the most cushioned but boy do they do the job! Sorry about the 60 year old comment, I just threw an arbitrary number out there! I just can't fathom the day where I would no longer enjoy driving in Zoom-Zoom fashion.
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