Mazda5 or Ford S-Max

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Wed 26 May 2010 20:26
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - Reverand

Hi All

Our family is expanding and we are looking for a larger car. I've always had a penchant for Japanese cars,especially Mazda and am considering the 5. I also like the look of the S-Max. We don't need 7 seats on a day to day basis, but the extra space would be very useful on the reasonably frequent trips with extended family and friends.

Has anyone got any thoughts on these models? I think we'd prefer to stick to petrol models (too many issues with DPFs on both of these) in either the sport/furano or titanium spec.

Are there any alternatives to these (7 seats but not full size mpvs) I'd also prefer steer clear of the french offerings.

Budget is up to 10k

Thanks

Rev

Edited by Reverand on 26/05/2010 at 20:28

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Thu 27 May 2010 21:00
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - Avant

The 5 is a cheaper (and smaller) car than the S-Max, so you'd get a newer one for your £10k. If you don't need the extra space (and you say you don't want a full-size MPV) the 5 could be right. The Toyota Verso is another possiblity, but the petrol engines are only 1.8s as against the choice of 1.8 or 2.0 in the Mazda.

There are some horror stories of Mazda diesels failing in a big way just when the warranty runs out, so you're right to stick to petrol.

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Thu 27 May 2010 21:46
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - Reverand

Thanks.

I've had mazdas, so know they are generally reliable. I'm also aware of the tyre issue with the petrol 5's but can live with that, by choosing decent tyres and getting the tracking/alignment done.

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Sat 29 May 2010 09:41
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - cheddar

Both the 5 and S-Max are better to drive than the Verso, I would err towards a 2.0 diesel S-Max.

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Mon 31 May 2010 07:53
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - kooti

I agree with you.

(Edit: website deleted. Sorry, we can't allow a website name that could look like advertising.)

Edited by Avant on 31/05/2010 at 11:44

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Sat 29 May 2010 11:34
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - dervdave

Our family is expanding and we are looking for a larger car. I've always had a penchant for Japanese cars, We don't need 7 seats on a day to day basis, but the extra space would be very useful on the reasonably frequent trips with extended family and friends.Are there any alternatives to these (7 seats but not full size mpvs) I'd also prefer steer clear of the french offerings.Budget is up to 10k

A Toyota Verso fits the bill

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Sun 30 May 2010 20:15
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - Reverand

Thanks

Unfortunately the Verso isn't quite under the 10k budget, Maybe prices will fall towards Christmas,which is when we are going to change.

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Sun 30 May 2010 21:59
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - davmal

Had a Mazda 5, and had mixed feelings about it. Sliding doors were great, ride was awful, thought it was about as stylish as could be for this class of car, diesel fuel consumption was good, maintenance costs (outside of servicing) steep, interior was a bit tacky and flimsy. Car spent so much time at the dealership that I thought my wife was having an affair with the Maintenance Manager {:( On the upside we got to try a lot of other models as courtesy cars.

It's not really a seven seater, the "seventh seat" is small and can't have a child seat fitted, and if you do use it for seven it gets pretty cramped. The two rearmost seats are unusual in their build, having a short back with long extending headrest. I've heard that the petrol is not very economical in the real world (away from the promises in the brochure). Shocks seem to be a weak point too, numerous stories of rears failing, fine under warranty but I bet they aren't cheap afterwards.

Some strange noises from the suspension, going over speed cushions and power steering when going lock to lock (turns passers-by heads).

If you have any problems with Dealers (In the N Midlands I had one very good, and one very bad) then dealing with Mazda UK is at best frustrating, at worst downright infuriating.

Kept it for two years, wish I'd kept the Hyundai it replaced and wasn't at all emotional seeing it go.

Try googling "my mazda 5 is a lemon" and have a look at a few of the hits.

Maybe I just had a Friday car (and as Friday comes around every week, assuming a 5 day week, that means that one fifth are Friday cars) "Bon Chance"

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Mon 31 May 2010 00:14
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - Avant

Interesting, Davmal, in that in your case, unlike other recent Mazda horror stories, it wasn't the diesel engine that was the problem. It might be useful to the OP to know what you replaced the Mazda with - and whether it's been an improvement.

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Mon 31 May 2010 12:34
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - davmal

Our Mazda was the troublesome 2.0D Sport. Some of the problems with excessive tyre wear were confined to the cars with 17" wheels, petrol and diesel. Had issues with the oil level, again a diesel specific issue, but nothing catastrophic. Interestingly, it was a superb tow car.

It was replaced with a Passat estate, the lowly 1.9 SE no DPF(the chicks fledged and flew the nest leaving just one, so no need for a minibus anymore) , a much more civilised ride and even better on fuel. Not as big as I would have liked, but the others on the shortlist had even more drawbacks. The car is very common though, be that good or bad.

After two years the Mazda trade in value was shocking even though it was in showroom condition. Bit the bullet and got rid.

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Mon 31 May 2010 22:41
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - awbp

We've just been through the same buying decision, and in the end chose an S-Max. The Mazda5 looked and drove well (in 2 litre petrol form at least), and as a former MX-5 owner we'd previously been happy with the dealer, but the middle seat in the second row of the Mazda5 put us off. There are really only two individual seats, with an occasional child seat which flips out from the seat base of one of the other seats when required. For us this meant we'd need to use the third row much more often, which in turn would mean no boot space. In my mind the S-Max just feels much more car like to drive as well.

I think however you will get a much newer Mazda5 for £10k. The cheapest S-Max we saw at the Ford dealer was £11k for a four year old LX, and similar age Titaniums are at least £1500 more.

Happy hunting!

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Sun 6 Jun 2010 17:51
Mazda5 or Ford S-Max - a900ss

I know that I'm coming to this discussion late but the S-Max is a MUCH bigger car than either the 5 or Verso.

I loved my S-Max and wouldn;t hesitate to recommend it but it will eat front tyres. 12k is the norm for fronts, I managed 15k as I was a heavy motorway user at the time.

Good Luck

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