- #688 of 801
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Re: Seats [dona83]
by tourist1292
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May 21, 2009 (10:04 am)
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Replying to: dona83 (May 06, 2009 1:14 pm)
I have test driven a 09 Rondo LX 4-cyl, 09 Mazda5 GT, and a 08 Rondo EX V6. The engine noise of the first 2 were about the same while the EX V6 is significantly less noisy up to 75mph. We got a quote for a 09 Mazda5 Touring at around the same price of a loaded 08 EX V6. The main reason we choose the Rondo EX is actually for the seats. The Mazda5 has 4" less overall leg room than Rondo. My teenager daughter can barely fit in the 3rd row of Mazda5 when there is an average person sitting in the 2nd row. That means the 3rd row will become useless for me very soon. Besides the extra seat in Rondo, the kids are feeling much more comfortable sitting in the back row which would make a long trip more enjoyable for the parents..
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- #689 of 801
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Re: Seats [tourist1292]
by coolmazda5
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May 22, 2009 (5:06 am)
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Replying to: tourist1292 (May 21, 2009 10:04 am)
Hmmm, let's clarify those 4" (4.1" to be precise) of overall extra legroom:
1st, 2nd and 3rd legroom dimensions:
Rondo: 41.3+38.2+31.3=110.8"
Mazda5: 40.7+35.2+30.8=106.7"
I would appreciate the 3" 2nd row difference (which is of no use for me as I have 2 rear facing car seats and the individual captain chairs' back seat reclining is more critical to me, but 0.4" extra in the 3rd row can really make a difference? 
http://autos.yahoo.com/2009_mazda_mazda5_sport-specs/
http://autos.yahoo.com/kia_rondo_ex-specs/
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- #690 of 801
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Re: Seats [coolmazda5]
by tourist1292
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May 22, 2009 (6:50 am)
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (May 22, 2009 5:06 am)
Don't forget that you can slide the 2nd row seat forward to make room for the 3rd row. So you can transfer part of that 3" extra leg room to the 3rd row and that makes a big difference in the usefulness of the 3rd row.
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- #691 of 801
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Re: Seats [tourist1292]
by coolmazda5
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May 22, 2009 (10:22 am)
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Replying to: tourist1292 (May 22, 2009 6:50 am)
And you can do exactly the same with the Mazda5, plus you have the extra space in between the 2nd row seats to stretch a leg or so when needed, like my dad just did today during a trip to the museum as he had surgery recently (6 passengers, 2 car seats in the 2nd row). Again, I'm not sure I follow the logic with 1/2in extra here and 1/2in extra there (you may also be a not very tall driver, so that might help too), but hey, if that works for your family, that is a good thing, that is what matters 
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- #692 of 801
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Re: Seats [coolmazda5]
by tourist1292
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May 22, 2009 (11:04 am)
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (May 22, 2009 10:22 am)
I think you've missed the point. Yes, you can slide the seat in Mazda5, but there is still 4" less in total leg room. Tested with my family that my teenage daughter can barely fit in the 3rd row when my wife sit in the second row with the seat already adjusted in Mazda5. In Rondo, both my wife and my daughter got almost 2" more space. Of course, that may not be a problem at all for other family, but there is definitely a 4" difference in leg room between the 2 cars and that 4" EXTRA room can be distributed among the 3 rows in Rondo.
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- #693 of 801
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Hm
by dona83
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May 22, 2009 (3:08 pm)
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That's it, I'm getting snipped after our 2nd kid.
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- #694 of 801
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Re: Hm [dona83]
by kasikin
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May 22, 2009 (8:13 pm)
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Replying to: dona83 (May 22, 2009 3:08 pm)
Yeah that third kid - (we nikcnamed ours one too many) really makes things difficult! You need a vehicle that seats 7 if you want to take each kid and a friend somewhere. Gotta get a suite when the family goes on vacation, as most normal rooms have max occupancy of 4.......
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- #695 of 801
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Re: Hm [kasikin]
by coolmazda5
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May 23, 2009 (3:05 am)
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Replying to: kasikin (May 22, 2009 8:13 pm)
Wait a minute, the latest posts have made me slow thinking, or is a long weekend (in the US) 
3 kids + 2 parents + a friend = 7 passenger car needed?
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- #696 of 801
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Re: Hm [coolmazda5]
by kasikin
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May 23, 2009 (3:30 am)
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Replying to: coolmazda5 (May 23, 2009 3:05 am)
I'm thinking coolmazda5 that you are not a mom. Mom duty = 1 parent, 3 kids, 3 friends (a friend for each kid) = 7 passenger car needed. Dad wants nothing to do with that crowd, so an eigth seat is not needed.
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- #697 of 801
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Re: Hm [kasikin]
by coolmazda5
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May 23, 2009 (4:27 am)
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Replying to: kasikin (May 23, 2009 3:30 am)
No, but I own one and my wife owns one, so I would say that I qualify as a Mazda5 owner and daily driver, so no sexist thing here (these cars are not just for moms like in the 70's and 80's, times change you know?)
Dad-less, just mom, 3 children plus a friend each trip? 
It is just funny that the Rondo owners just want to justify the extra 7th seat "as really a plus" with any type of weird passenger combo (what about the cat?), when it is not really the case in these type of cars to be honest, just get a minivan.
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