Bachelorette’s Paint the Town in Pine Arizona
2009 Mazda 5 Grand Touring Edition leads the way
By: Melanie Droz
“I’ll bring the mini-minivan,” I told the girls when we met to chat about the logistics of our friend Jacque’s bachelorette weekend in Pine, AZ. Their only response was, “Okay, who else can drive?”
Despite their initial reaction, when I pulled up Friday afternoon in the 2009 Mazda 5 Grand Touring, 7 out of 10 girls came running to jump in. It may have been the Stormy Blue exterior that drew them in or the sleek, nicely designed style; however, I think the appeal of this Sport Activity Vehicle (SAV) lies in the comfort and reliability. They were all eager to start the weekend off feeling safe and relaxed.
Thus, we packed all we could, which is plenty when you are traveling with girls, in the 6-passenger sedan-van and headed off to Pine. The Mazda 5 handled the hills and turns exceptionally well as we drove higher in elevation. It definitely lived up to the “Zoom-Zoom” motto of Mazda, because we made it there in just over an hour.
We also saved time given that I never had to stop for gas. With 21 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, we barely made a dent in the tank. Unlike the dent we made in our purses over the course of the weekend. We probably spent more in two days than a person would spend on gas in one year for the Mazda 5, which is an estimated $1,827.
When we arrived in Pine, those of us in the front were glad to have heated leather seats in the 2009 Mazda 5 Grand Touring. The ladies in the back were also happy to have rear climate control so as to turn up the heat. We even experienced a little rain, so it was useful that the Mazda 5 came with rain sensing wipers and a rear wiper. The amenities of a mini-minivan are nothing to laugh about.
It felt great to wake up in the cabin Saturday morning, roll out on the deck, and take a nice, deep breath of fresh air. We decided to start the day off with a short hike and session of Pilates on the deck. We couldn’t help but notice the contemporary advanced design of the Mazda 5 in the driveway while we tried to imitate its sharp, clear angles in our Pilates movements. We really couldn’t make ourselves look as peaceful as the Mazda considering the late night around the fireplace that we just had.
However, Saturday night was intended for the bona fide bachelorette celebration. I offered to be the designated driver for the evening, so we put up the third row of seats, opened the dual-sliding doors, and piled as many as we could in the 2009 Mazda 5 Grand Touring. Good thing we were all in jeans and softball shirts that read, “Jax’ Woody Weekend,” because it does require a bit of contortionism to get in and out of the Mazda 5 third row. Skirts and dresses would not have been a good idea.
It was only a little embarrassing pulling up to the Mexican Cantina for karaoke night in the mini-minivan, but when we walked in all dressed the same with one girl in a cowgirl hat attached to a veil, I realized the Mazda 5 was not our problem. Plus, there were only six other people in the place, and four of them worked there.
After a long night of singing, eating, and drinking, I made two trips to get all the girls back to the cabin safely. I could see how paying $23,395 for the 2009 Mazda 5 Grand Touring would be worth it; you will always be the one nominated to drive. Our ride back to Phoenix was a little rough for some, but using the cruise control made it as smooth as possible. I also had access to the music on the steering wheel, so when one girl complained about the volume giving her a headache, it was easy to turn it down without taking my hands off the wheel.
Overall, the 2009 Mazda 5 Grand Touring was a blast to drive. It handles like a smaller sports sedan even though it is considered a mini-minivan. The Mazda 5 is definitely more than just a minivan. Despite the primary reaction it may get from some, it is a minivan that you can live with, without the minivan stigma. Instead of being the “Super Soccer Mom,” I drove the 2009 Mazda 5 Grand Touring as the “Woody Weekend Guide.”
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