Just saying Hi... and wishing to gather some feedback on the 5

[zoomzoomfan]

Hi guys.  I've been snooping around on bcm3 for a while.  I'm a YVR-based Mazda6 owner myself.  Always been a fan of the 3... and now I'm starting to get excited over the 5 as well.  I'm kinda eyeing it for my mom.

First of all, about me: I'm a Mazda-fan through and through. Very familiar with the product. I'm on my 5th Mazda at the moment, the 6. Before this I had a 2003 MPV that I bought new but sold after only one year of ownership.

As I started saying, the looks of the 5 have me mesmerized... but still, being familiar with Mazda, I know that things aren't always as good as they seem on the surface.  So, its turning out to be a very tough decision to go with the 5, or choose something else.  Problem is, the 5's such a unique vehicle... not only in looks, but no other manufacturer makes anything even close.

Anyway, I have some concerns that's holding me back from buying one, that I'm hoping 5-owners on this forum can help me resolve:

First of all, brand new platform... everything tells me to hold off till the platform is a bit older. Would like to hear from current 5 owners about this. What sort of issues have cropped up over the past year of ownership. Any regrets? How's the build quality?

Secondly, I'm still having nightmares from my MPV ownership. I sold it because it suffered from a bad case of shift-shock. 1-2 shift was so violent that it seemed like something was going to eventually break. But, the real reason for selling it was that Mazda was of no help. I had a case logged with Mazda Canada about the issue, however they weren't able to offer any help other than say "change the dealer you deal with". Dealers were all unable to help to my satisfaction. Most of them prescribed a TCM flash... "that oughta fix it right up". However, the shift shock issue remained despite the software updates. TCM flashing only took the edge of the shock but didn't get rid of it... and also altered other aspects of the tranny's shifting behaviour, resulting in shifting behaviour that I didn't like. Overall, the car was worse to drive after the TCM updates, albeit with a lesser degree of shift shock.  Long story short, I felt that the car wasn't worth keeping around, so I got rid of it before the mileage got too high.

Anyway, I'm hesitant in buying the ATX version of the 5... but I have no choice since my mom doesn't drive MTX.

My last concern is power. The 2.3 liter engine is the same engine that's in my current car, the 6 (HP and torque numbers are slightly lower, however, on the 5). However, in the 6 the engine is juuuust about adequate. To get real performance from it, forget ATX. Its gotta be MTX.

In the 5, I wonder how well ATX fares... the 5 is heavier than the 6 by about 155 lbs, which isn't a lot, but since its being marketed as a minivan and people-mover, the tendency to fill up a 5 with lots of people and luggage is higher than in a 6... that coupled with the lower hp and torque numbers makes me wonder whether the engine struggles to pull weight, or whether it takes everything in stride. 

Anyways... would love to hear from 5 owners on this board.

Thanks in advance.

[Raheel]

My biggest gripe about Mazda5 is that as well... that is, it's perhaps a bit underpowered. 

But you gotta ask yourself: How often will you be hauling lots of stuff, or carrying a full-load of passengers?  If it's once a month, then the power (or lack thereof) might not be an issue.

On the other hand, if you're carrying lots of stuff once or twice a week, then it might be a problem.

Other thing you need to ask yourself is whether you love to have tons of power or not.  Given that your Mazda6 "just" has enough power, it might be a cause of concern.

Good luck!

[zoomzoomfan]

Well... I drive a 6, which means I'm a bit of a power-addict.  Okok, I'm kidding.  

Power-wise, I know what this engine is capable of.  Airbox mod should make a bit of a difference or even a CAI.  But, the person who's going to be driving it isn't really going to care.

What I'm really concerned about is the tranny... since I'll be buying ATX my primary concern is shift-shock, which is an issue that seems to plague a lot of Mazda ATXs.  Wondering how many here have experienced that?

Also, how close would you say the 5 is to the 3s mechanically?  Pecentage-wise how much do these two platforms have in common would you say?  Specifically, does anyone know if the trannies (ATX) are the same?

[Heavenclosed]

Check the Difference in Gas Mileage.? That helped me make up my mind on a 3 instead of a 5.

The 3 and 5 share platforms, same engine 2.3L,

[melonvitara]

the 3 AT has shift shock but only in the morning when the car is cold
other times np with it
but it can be fixed by the TCM flash

[Heavenclosed]

but it can be fixed by the TCM flash

Yeah, I got flashed last week, no probs since, My car has felt so much better since!

[sanmaz3_84]

wow didnt know that the 5 was the same power as the 3  it should haul more power considering that its a van! 

[zoomzoomfan]

but it can be fixed by the TCM flash

Yeah, I got flashed last week, no probs since, My car has felt so much better since!

So, Heavenclosed, you were experiencing shift-shock in your 3?  May I ask what year your 3 is, and whether the tranny was the newer Aisin tranny, or the older Jatco?

EDIT:  nevermind, I see you drive an '06.  That should have the newer Aisin tranny... or am I wrong?  Anyone?

[melonvitara]

the shift shock happens to all the 3 starting from the 04 ones (i have 05 and happens to mine)
dono about the Aisin or the Jatco tranny though

[melonvitara]

but the 06 and onward has 5AT (if u get GT, 4AT for GS or lower)

[tonyzoomzoom]

I have an 05 with a 4speed AT.  Shift shock, for me, happened when the weather was cold and the car was cold.  The reflash fixed the problem for me.

[melonvitara]

I have an 05 with a 4speed AT.  Shift shock, for me, happened when the weather was cold and the car was cold.  The reflash fixed the problem for me.

same here

[sanmaz3_84]

I have an 05 with a 4speed AT. Shift shock, for me, happened when the weather was cold and the car was cold. The reflash fixed the problem for me.

same here

Tony, Thomas, was this reflash a part that u guys bought! and what does it do to help the engine!? Was there a group buy on this back in the day!?!?!?

thanks

[tonyzoomzoom]

RJ.  The reflash was a reprogramming of the ECU done at the Langley Wolfe.  I believe the shift shock experienced by some of us was a software issue, so they just updated the software.

It's covered under warranty.

[melonvitara]

i did mine @ Morrey Hasting

[gemino]

I have an 05 with a 4speed AT. Shift shock, for me, happened when the weather was cold and the car was cold. The reflash fixed the problem for me.

Dammit, my Mz5 has the same problem. If I didn't warm up the car during the morning. After first intersection I feel like the clutch slipped or whatsover, from changing 1st gear to 2nd.

[gemino]

For the Mz5 power, I feel it's ok for that size of "car", of cause I don't mind they put that 2.3 turbo there, but the price will be huge difference. I drove MVP and most gens of Oddie, plus other small compact size Japanese market only mini-mini-mini-vans before. Mz5 has the best cornering amount them, the ride quality is totally different than those "so-called-people-mover", most of them feel like driving a truck or a boat. So you decide, you want better ride quality or the horse power? For myself it's ok when I'm using it for work, honestly it's kinda lack of power when I'm loaded with my wife, and kid.... but when you have those people with ya, you don't want to drive that aggressive anyway

[zoomzoomfan]

I hear ya on the power.  Turbo would be nice... hehe. 

Handling, since its a Mazda, is going to be great... we all know that .  However, since its a Mazda, the only thing that worries me at the moment is the ATX shift-shock issues.  I wish buying MTX was an option, but sadly it isn't.

I guess I'll wait and see how this ATX issue pans out.  Maybe buy in 6 months time or so.

So, everyone's sure that the 5 uses an Aisin tranny, or is it still the Jatco in there?