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Stick Shift Minivan! Race To the Bottom Patreon Cut
🕑 Added 2025-12-21 18:23:46 +0000 UTCThey really don’t make cars like the 2012 Mazda5 Sport anymore, and that’s sad. On this episode of Race to the Bottom, I get to end 2025 by driving one of the most surprising cars I’ve featured this year: a minivan with a manual transmission! Mazda and Ford really cooked with this, because it’s not just a minivan with a 6-speed manual transmission, but it rides on a compact car platform rather than a dedicated van platform! Known as the Mazda Premacy in Japan, the Mazda5 had the potential to completely change the family car landscape in the United States. So why did it ultimately fail to find an audience? And why don’t automakers build cars like this anymore? Is there even a market for something this delightfully weird anymore? Come along with me for a test drive, a critique, and an in-depth history of the 2012 Mazda5 Sport.
Comments
aDuckedUpGoose
Romulus, I hope you never find the worst car in the world. I love your contributions to RCR so much!
Reyas Wilfred
Arguably that's the ID. Buzz, but that's being discontinued and was also priced hilariously.
Robert Kirchner
I would love if someone would sell an EV in this form factor.
Will nolastname
not offering 2-3-2 configuration probably prevented some sales, same as Prius V+ 7seater in other markets. We can used some more 6+ seater options that aren't 4000 lbs SUV's
G Audet
I know someone who turned theirs into a mini camper that fit a twin size mattress. He drove it to 190,000 miles and sold it simply because he wanted to try something new. It was still getting 35mpg and it had under gone some very tough miles. It could go peg leg burn outs. I was always a little jealous
Mason
As the owner of a Mazda2 & Mazda3 of the same vintage... I love this era of Mazda. If Mazda would bring this car back with the current mazda3s 2.5L or 2.5T I'd be all over it as a family car over the crossover miasma.
Reyas Wilfred
As the owner of this car, this video coming out of the day I'm personally celebrating Christmas is a very nice gift. Thanks, guys!
