Mazda minivans?

[ganchan]

I was browsing through some used minivans for sale (still too early for me to buy, probably, but what the heck), and I saw some smaller minivans that I hadn't considered previously, namely the Mazda MVP and Mazda5. what's the consensus on these vehicles as "sleeper vans?" The Mazda5 is so small that it barely resembles a van -- what are its cargo area dimensions?

 

[SoulRaven]

I think the key thing here is deciphering your needs correctly. Too many people seem to think they only need their van to be a sleeper. I'm not really convinced this is true a lot of times, and they find they want more but then don't have the room for it.

My humble personal opinion is that if your going to be living in your van, you should make sure you have all of the provisions for actually living in your van.

That being said, if you have about 30" x 78" you have enough room too make a bed, and almost everything has that much room if you get creative enough.

 

[ganchan]

All righty then...anyone with opinions on Mazda as an automaker in general, or on these models in particular?

 

[highdesertranger]

well if you want an opinion, I have never been fond of mazdas. if I were to get an Asian vehicle it would be a Toyota, I wouldn't even look at the others. now this is only my opinion and I am sure others have their own. highdesertranger

 

[Almost There]

All righty then...anyone with opinions on Mazda as an automaker in general, or on these models in particular?

I wasn't familiar with the Mazda minivan so I googled it - turns out that it's about the smallest minivan on the market and depending on the year (they changed things up frequently), it can be a gutless wonder on the highway.

From what I can see, none has seats that stow and go so you'd have to remove seats to get enough flat room for sleeping.

I took my Montana minivan which issubstantially larger than the Mazda, to Florida for 3 weeks last winter thinking I'd be living OUT of it (as opposed to living IN it). I planned on camping with my hammock for sleeping quarters and only using the van for transportation and food storage. The weather turned rather nasty on me and I spent days sitting in my lawn chair inside the van and sleeping on the air bed I always keep in there for emergencies. To put it bluntly, it was very cramped and everything had to be moved around to allow for each different activity. It was so bad that I didn't even contemplate going south this winter for a break from our northern weather. I'm 5' tall and could barely sit on a low slung chair inside the Montana, the Mazda has even less headroom.

If you already owned it, you might of had to find a way to make it work but since you're in the looking stage, I'd put the smallest of the minivans on the 'not unless I have no choice' list.

Buy as much vehicle as you can afford to buy, in the end you'll be happy you did. No matter how minimalistic one intends to be, there is a certain minimum of stuff that one needs to live day after day.

 

[Rugster]

We had a Mazda MPV and it was a lot of fun to drive, good power, good MPG, comfortable. It is a small van but there should be room to sleep and build some storage, depending on what you want to do. Pay attention to the plastics on the engine.

 

[LeeRevell]

I had the second generation Mazda pickup truck, and generally liked it as a daily driver. The CabPlus gave me more room than a standard cab, power was sufficient for the task - 2L four-popper. Weak points were the radiator - replaced it when it failed - and the clutch. Loved the five speed manual tranny. But it sat low - eventually replaced it with a 4X4 Dodge Ramcharger when we had some severe flooding, and I wanted better off-road capability.
I like the looks of the earlier MPV, and the frame-based rear wheel drive. Later they "SoccerMommed" it......

Have camped in my current Dodge Grand Caravan - 8 foot cargo area with stowable seats really makes a difference, but I would not want to live in it. But then I am a Big Guy. Anything smaller, faggitabouttit!
I do not consider the Mazda 5 to be a true minivan at all. A stationwagon, maybe.

 

[Milk Hauler]

A lot of Mazda cars, trucks, and vans were rebadged Ford products.

The only used American cars I would spend my hard earned money on are full sized vans. The Chevy Express and Ford E250 are tanks. HD Ranger is right. Toyota and Honda are the only "near" bullet proof mini vans worth buying.

 

[ganchan]

A lot of Mazda cars, trucks, and vans were rebadged Ford products.

The only used American cars I would spend my hard earned money on are full sized vans. The Chevy Express and Ford E250 are tanks. HD Ranger is right. Toyota and Honda are the only "near" bullet proof mini vans worth buying.

This is an interesting puzzle that I'm still chewing on. On the one hand, if I buy a cargo van I can get "more" vehicle for my money in terms in cargo space, power, towing capability, configurability, and possibly long-term reliability. On the other hand, if I go with a minivan I can get "more" vehicle for my money in terms of age, accumulated miles, range of available choices, MPG, and (maybe?) cost per repair....

 

[masterplumber]

Most of my experience with Mazdas were older ones, but were all good. I called my '80 Mazda pickup my "Mazdaratie". Friends had an MPV that they loved. In the old days many Fords were rebadged Mazdas, like the Courier.

 

[idn88]

Mazda has been around a very long time, and up until recently Ford owned a lot of Mazda and they shared platforms on a number of vehicles, I think the escape being one of the more successful. Ford however has recently sold off much of their interest. They over the years have toyed with alternate power plants, like the rotary engines in the RX sports cars.

I don't think there is anything wrong with a Mazda, however being more of a niche player they will have fewer options available for aftermarket or used parts, and people that know how to service them properly.

 

[myke]

I checked one out at the dealership yesterday. Stowed all the seats away to get an idea of space. It was an interesting vehicle, but fairly basic and uninspiring.

Also checked out the cx-5, but all the seats down and I could actually lie down in the back; from the outside it doesn't look like you'd be able to... I was surprised that I could... I'd go for that over the minivan...

 

[platinum]

They are environmentally friendly vehicles, around here ( north east and eastern Canada ) they quickly reach the highly biodegradable status...

Fuel consumption should get better year after years as they get lighter and lighter...

If you are outside of the rust belt it should not affect you as much, but round here it is a serious problem and Mazdas of recent years are ranked among the worst for early corrosion.