2005 Mazda 5 TS 2 1.8 from UK and Ireland
Summary:
GREAT family car, pity about its suspension woes
Faults:
It has been totally blighted by SUSPENSION faults. It has been backwards and forwards, to my local dealer, whom are... you could pull your hair-out. Stressful really does not cut it. I have spent hours sat in their pretty dreary waiting room, with an equally horrible coffee machine.
It HAS recently repaired "FINALLY" (July 2008), this was only after losing my cool, and taking the challenge up with the dealership manager.
But then, they had been trying to repair it since NOVEMBER (that's 2007!)
But when you do lose your faith in something, you do also lose trust in a product, I do see it costing me BIG MONEY When the warranty does run out!!! unfortunately.
General Comments:
Now on a lighter note it really is a FAB car, I cannot REALLY say a bad word against it, maybe just a few criticisms.
I love the way it steers and handles, it and sticks to the road, but yet very light to steer, and with feed back. You do forget your driving a people carrier.
Totally love the sliding doors, WHAT a great idea to put them on a compact carrier, But why NOT have them all POWERED as standard - my children 9 yrs and 6 yrs can easily work them. But with no safety feature? - if fingers do get in the way, it is a little worrying.
The interior is also very clever, I can only surmise it was designed by PARENTS with children, the seats move effortlessly, the 6+7 seats fold with... well almost magically. But with those two rear most seats in place, either one of them or both simultaneously, it is REALLY REALLY tight with a buggy in there.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 2nd August, 2008
18th Dec 2012, 11:39
Thank you for this review and follow up, although I am truly sorry to hear of your suffering. Your review was the last of many I read, here and on other sites. Despite the 5's many qualities, it apparently has some insurmountable (for me) weaknesses. I have decided to learn from your experience and not purchase one.
24th Nov 2013, 22:17
I suspect this vehicle had a rear suspension component (the shock absorbers) design fault.
The shock absorbers help reduce the rebound of the car, and soften the passage over street bumps.
Either the shock absorbers on this car were too weak for the car's rear weight, or - and this is hard, if not impossible to correct - there was a manufacturing design fault in the geometry of the suspension, leading to premature and repetitive wear of the rear shock absorbers.
If there was a manufacturing fault, there is no remedy. The rear shock absorbers will keep wearing out at regular intervals, at the expense of the owner.
I am not aware in which year Mazda fixed this manufacturing issue.
28th Dec 2009, 14:11
Hello, I posted the original review. We said GOODBYE to the Mazda on - 12/12/09. I will definitely NOT miss it.
The endless suspension faults...... the creaks - the groans - the rattling - and THEN the absolute rubbish dealers, and of course NOT forgetting the front tyre wear. To add insult to injury the back suspension (fixed twice before) WAS YET again was making a racket... I had just had it - enough was enough!!
The thought of having to go back YET AGAIN to that flaming garage to sit for two hours for them TO REPAIR THE THING......... having sat some 2-3hrs - they then appear with car keys in hand about - swiftly followed by WE HAVE ORDERED THE WRONG PARTS...... I won't swear.
We traded the Mazda against a very very nice Toyota Previa, it did take some finding but we love it, WHAT a brilliant car.
Regards.