Family is about to outgrow the Jetta

[CHEMVW]

We have crammed three kids with car seats into the back of the Jetta for almost three years now, but come this summer, we likely will need a place to sit four children. It is so aggravating that the US market has no options for a guy like me on a tight budget. Our top choice right now is a Mazda5. 1. It comes in a manual transmission. 2. It has the highest mpgs in the minivan market (although they are by no means stellar). 3. The price is right. We have looked at nearly all the different cross overs and nothing is ideal. Comments? Thoughts?

Also, anyone out there have an unlimited carfax ability that wants to help me out.

Thanks,
Tim (CHEMVW)

P.S. Not selling my Jetta, will drive it whenever and always if I don't have to take all four kids somewhere.

 

[aja8888]

With 4 kids (and a wife), won't you need a van/SUV with third row seating?

Also, ALL these SUV's experience less than stellar fuel economy. Check real world reporting on Gas Buddy, not EPA or dealer claims.

 

[CHEMVW]

Exactly the case. The Mazda5 has a 2,2,2 seating arrangement with minimal space left over in the back. The smaller crossover vehicles like the Sorento, Santa Fe, Outback, were all possibilities, but the real world mpg numbers we saw on edmunds forums scared us away. I will have to look at Gas Buddy, that is one I hadn't seen before. Thanks.

 

[aja8888]

We just bought a Santa Fe Sport (kids are out the door) and liked the features for the price. Fuelly stats are guys like us that report real time fuel events.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

I know of at least a couple of TDIers who've picked up a Mazda 5 for exactly the reasons you name. The third row isn't very big but is fine for kids, IMO.

 

[Zedbra]

My friend has a Mitsubishi Outlander that seats 7. Fully loaded, 4x4, and it gets 35mpg with snow tires. Great warranty as well.

 

[aja8888]

My friend has a Mitsubishi Outlander that seats 7. Fully loaded, 4x4, and it gets 35mpg with snow tires. Great warranty as well.

He must have one that EPA missed in testing:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Powe...ke=Mitsubishi&model=Outlander 4WD&srchtyp=ymm

 

[CHEMVW]

If I remember the Outlander well, the back seat was super tiny and not at all conducive to carseats.

 

[greengeeker]

One thing to keep in mind when you are considering a 3rd row: will you have carseats or boosters in the 2nd row? This will limit which seat you tumble forward if you have a strapped-in carseat in the 2nd row.

 

[CHEMVW]

Another good point. Thus the Mazda5, while it only seats 6, has the ability to let the kids walk through between the two captains chairs in the second row to access the 3rd row. We did have some difficulty getting the car seats to fit snuggly in the third row, but I think if I was given some time and a tie down strap or two there would be no issues with that. The main thing holding me back is the possibility of something better and more efficient being out there or coming out soon. (Like a Skyactiv engine in the Mazda5)

 

[greengeeker]

Can both 3rd row kids buckle themselves in?

 

[CHEMVW]

For us we have an 8 and 5 year old, so buckling usually isn't a problem. However, we may end up putting the 3 year old in the back on occasion to mix it up, then we gotta reach back there and do the buckling, or make the 8 year old do it.

 

[APT]

The Mazda 5 is very interesting. It does work well for 4 children all in child seats or boosters. The problem is storage with all seats is use. I'm not sure it works for vacations, even taking kids to school with backpacks and projects. And despite offering a manual transmission, it is a bit underpowered when loaded up. Fuel economy isn't that much better than today's minivans with far more powerful V6s. If manual trans is important, then it's the only choice for 3-row vehicles.

I have had a minivan since a week before my oldest was born. They are designed so well for families. 2+2+3+ storage is very valuable.

I like Fuelly for real world fuel economy information. Also, Fueleconomy.gov has some real world feedback too.

 

[scurvy]

Over the summer we traded in the 2000 NB TDI on a Mazda 5. It's fantastic for our needs - better fuel economy than 99% of minivans, still fits in our 2-car garage, 4 sets of ISOFIX anchors in the rear seats, big sliding rear doors, middle-row seats that slide & fold, a completely conventional 4 cylinder engine that's easy to work on and yes, available with a proper six speed gearbox!

This vehicle is clearly a compromise, however - it doesn't have the power or space that a modern bloated minivan has... and that's perfectly fine with us.

If you've got any questions about it, feel free to post them here or PM me.

 

[CHEMVW]

Thanks for your comments everyone, I feel like scurvy and I would have a bunch in common. I want the utility of hauling my family but do not need lots of power or space (99% of the time). We plan to look into a roof top carrier for traveling purposes. I think the Mazda5 will feel huge compared to putting all three of my kids in the back of the Jetta for 3 years. No more trunk space to fill up though.
So here I go, I am about to purchase a 6 speed manual Mazda5 and haven't even been able to test drive anything but an automatic. Hope I'm not disappointed. (Background story is the car is 200+ miles away and I can't find a manual tranny anywhere near me to test drive.)

 

[Jayg]

Thanks for your comments everyone, I feel like scurvy and I would have a bunch in common. I want the utility of hauling my family but do not need lots of power or space (99% of the time). We plan to look into a roof top carrier for traveling purposes. I think the Mazda5 will feel huge compared to putting all three of my kids in the back of the Jetta for 3 years. No more trunk space to fill up though.
So here I go, I am about to purchase a 6 speed manual Mazda5 and haven't even been able to test drive anything but an automatic. Hope I'm not disappointed. (Background story is the car is 200+ miles away and I can't find a manual tranny anywhere near me to test drive.)

Go for it. I almost bought one before my TDI and I have no kids. I just like the size and manual trans. I was going to use it to haul car parts and a drumset on occassion

 

[scurvy]

I realize this isn't mazdas247.com but just FYI here's a list oil filters that fit - fortunately a very common size. All are spin-on filters accessible easily with the car up on ramps... and the same oil filter wrench for my mk4 TDI canister housing also fits these:

purolator (p)(s)10241
fram / stp 3614
motorcraft fl910s
bosch (d)3330
mobil 1 m1-102
k&n hp-1002
ac delco pf53
wix / napa 51348
mann ml1003 (likely a rebranded purolator classic)
driveworks dw-241

I've got a Bosch on it now, but have a couple Motorcraft & Purolator PureONEs lined up.

It takes 0w20, which I've been able to get Mobil 1 on sale for ~$5/quart (even cleaned up a couple stray quarts of M1 SM 0w20 for $4/each). Look around for when AutoZone, ORAP, Pep Girls, or AAP does a "5 quarts and an oil filter" bundle deal then stock up.