http://www.petersblog.org/ Nodes containing the tag cars http://www.petersblog.org/node/view/1256 <p> Change of topic just to break things up a bit. My car is having a new fuel heater fitted and I have a Mazda 5 on loan. I contemplated buying a Mazda 5 before I bought my car as I was after a big family car. Mazda 5 is a seven seater MPV/Estate kind of thing. Here is a bullet list review bearing in mind that my car is a 90bhp diesel Ford Galaxy seven seater MPV: </p> <ul><li> nice looking </li> <li> interior space ok but very car like, not MPV like. </li> <li> bit plasticky. Not citroen plasticky though. </li> <li> big door mirrors, reversing easy. </li> <li> seems very fast but everything does after a 90bhp MPV. </li> <li> handles very crisply, fast round roundabouts with no roll. </li> <li> I do like the idea of sliding back doors. Galaxy has huge doors and are awkward to open in tight spaces. </li> <li> Boot space is ok with rear seats folded down. I've taken the back row chairs out of the Galaxy (they don't fold down and they weigh a ton) which gives a LOT of space. </li> <li> Cool 'flick knife' key fob. </li></ul> <p> On the whole I prefer my Galaxy: it has a nicer big car feel to the suspension and a lot more space. I don't mind it being slower as fast cars are frustratingly wasted driving around this town. An adult and two babies in safety seats fit comfortably in the middle row which doesn't look the case in the Mazda. The elevated height of the Galaxy makes dealing with babies more convenient as you don't have to bend down. </p> <p> One final thing about the Galaxy: the day I bought it, last July, the A/C blew up, now the fuel heater pours out smoke on frosty mornings and they tell me another part of the A/C needs replacing (Evaporator?) for £400 plus labour. I like the car but not in lemon flavour. </p> <p> And on that bombshell, Jeremy Clarkson watch out. </p> <p> UPDATE: garage ordered wrong type of fuel heater, one with an extra wire or something, so have Mazda for another day. It does feel like a fast car with good handling. </p> <p> UPDATE 2: back in the Galaxy and it does feel a bit like an old van after the Mazda. Smoke still belching out of it this morning. I was getting accustomed to the Mazda, was driving faster and getting more irate when people weren't going fast enough. On the whole, a big slow car is better for stress management. </p><p>Related Posts: <a href="/tag/cars">cars</a></p> http://www.petersblog.org/node/view/1256 cars