mazda5 can it be autocross

[yamaha731]

Me and the wife are looking at a mazda5 it's like a mini mini van would we be alowed to autocross it?

[Native]

I'm thinking you might have a bit of a less-than-ideal center of gravity there. It's a sporty minivan, but... I'll vote no, but maybe a few others will chime in and either agree or out-vote me...

[Loren]

I think I'd vote "maybe". It's a Mazda, not a Ford or Chrysler. Mazda makes some pretty good handling vehicles, even their little minivans.

In fact, unless anyone has any strong objections, I'd say "yes" on a trial basis. It's a pretty car-like minivan. Unless it's scary to watch, I think we can probably allow it. I'd say "yes, but only on the factory-supplied tires" for now. If it's scary, we don't want to see it with grippy tires. I suspect it will probably handle better than some of the larger cars we get out there.

Read:
http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... 369/page1/

Discuss?

[yamaha731]

I think were gonna pick it up I will take it on some twisty roads and so how handles worst case scenario she will drive the mustang witch is a scary thought

[Jamie]

I'd have to see it do a run or two. Minivans are different than SUVs...better sprung and damped (no pretensions of off-roading), and even with the tall greenhouse, the CG tends to be lower. GRM took an Odyssey out on course against an XKE and a Porsche 356 several years back, and it handled pretty well. (If the transmission lag wasn't so severe, I'd have been temped to bring our Ody out when we still had it -- that V6 had some pick up!)

[Charles]

I'd lean toward saying it's probably fine, those are built very "car like".

Besides, it's a Mazda, aside from the CX* SUV's you can probably autoX everything they sell.

[garage west]

I'd lean toward saying it's probably fine, those are built very "car like".

Besides, it's a Mazda, aside from the CX* SUV's you can probably autoX everything they sell.

I think the 5 is built on the same platform as the Mazda3.

[Native]

I can handle being outvoted.

[Jeremy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU4paH8qcQ8" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[yamaha731]

I must really be getting old because not only do I now own a mini van but I like driving it

[Loren]

All minivans are not created equal. But, even the large and floaty ones are pretty ridiculously fast compared to their meager beginnings.