Tuesday March, 27,2007. It is time once again to go hunting for Diamonds in the Rough. On this beautiful day in the tri-state New York area thoughts turn to the Summer and the beach. So what better time to introduce you to a vehicle that could take all your gear to the beach, while not draining your pockets of gas money. So what is this neo-modern woody wagon?, the Mazda5. The Mazda5 is the love child of a Miata and a MPV. Now other companies have had offspring from similar trysts, does anyone remember the Mitsubishi Expo, or the '80's Dodge Vista. I bet not one hand went up on those. These love children usually end up orphaned by the very companies that gave them life, {maybe Angelina Joelle could help}. The Miata and the MPV must have been deeply in love to throw such caution to the wind and give life to a vehicle that has failed each time. Mazda5 comes from such a good gene pool ,however, that little 5 my actually make it in this cold world. The 5 combines truly agile handling ,aided by sticky( mental note: snow tires will be a must) low profile tires, with an interior that utilises room better than the Space Shuttle. Amazingly even the seats lift up to expose under seat cubbies big enough to keep prying eyes off your gear while the car is parked. The sliding door that has seemingly become anathema in the auto industry becomes a life safer when parked in cramped quarters. The new for '07 Grand Tourer offers an handsome brown leather interior befitting of a much more expensive vehicle. The Mazda "zoom-zoom" genes continue under the hood.The engine, a spunky four with 157hp, delivers more than adequate acceleration, although the turbo from the CX-7 would be a blast! The design is as unconventional as the rest of the package yet never delves into nerdiness. The 5 has not caught on in the US yet, and probably never will, which is a shame because it answers a question no one asked with a vehicle that demands an answer to it... Why spend more on a big SUV when the 5 answers all your space needs with money left over to start a college fund for your children or pay off college loans of your own?.... come on what's taking you so long the 5 is waiting for your answer. {Based on the Mazda website a fully "zooted" out 5 would sell for $394 a month(6% interest rate) for 72 months with zero down. The lease would only save you only about $50 a month so the buy is better. A base 5 would sell for $302 a month and lease for $274 a month. Personally the $3 a day difference it seems make the Grand Tourer the better value.}