I had to chuckle when I first saw the ad for the Mazda5. It was 2006 and I was a committed station wagon guy - a Teutonic Diesel with a steady rattle from under the bonnet.
No minivans for me, especially some pint-sized version of a people hauler that promised to capture the vitality of a young couple who found themselves lumbered with offspring and in dire need of larger ride - so the TV spot went.
It's eight years later now, my station wagon is long gone and I'm on my second Mazda5.
Seems the only one chuckling now are the folks at Mazda who have had me as a committed owner, because although my kids have now approached the latter stages of elementary schooling, the "5" continues to meet our needs, budget and lifestyle.
We still don't need a full size minivan and don't particularly want to be saddled with the ownership costs of one. And we still have a need for occasionally seating six on short trips thanks to the third row of nifty, fold up seats.
That's why when we had to bid adieu to our 2007 model this spring we decided to simply hit the "repeat" button and enjoy an updated version and purchased a 2014 Mazda5.
So far, it's been a great decision since the newer model comes with a nice list of technological extras our previous 5 did not possess.
Most prominent of all is the nicely re-designed cabin that makes the minivan even more car-like than ever with a well arranged, flowing dashboard punctuated by soft amber lighting - a nice departure from the green we had before.
While the climate control dials remain pretty much in the same location as previous, the upper portion where the entertainment system resides is more contemporary and finished in high quality black plastic, a welcome change from the scratch-prone dash of our 2007.
The tach and speedometer are now housed in a pair of covered pods that have more Porsche Design than Mazda to them - at least if you squint your eyes really tight and think of the early production Boxster.
But the item I enjoy the most is the Bluetooth system that not only allows hands-free calls from my cellphone, but can tap into my iPhone's music catalogue and provide me with - much to my childrens' chagrin - a host of 80s tunes.
Perhaps that's how Mazda is now marketing this vehicle as a way of revitalizing a middle aged couple?
By the way, my daughter quickly realized the system can accommodate up to five Bluetooth enabled devices, so now she can assault my ears with her music.
On the outside rests my sole quibble with the new 5. The swoopy, scalloped styling on the sliding passenger doors is a bit of a turn off - they are neither functional nor aesthetically pleasing.
Steering feel is now a tad heavier given the old hydraulic system has made way for an electric motor. But that also dropped the van's weight ever so slightly.
Under the hood, the 5 has a beefed up power plant which has increased displacement in the four-cylinder engine from 2.3 litres to 2.5.
That's a welcome boost given the number of trips we make along the demanding Coquihalla Highway to the sunshine of my in-laws' Okanagan retreat.
Fuel consumption, as a result, increases slightly. But it's a relatively small cost to be burdened with when the overall driving experience - hills are now conquered with more ease - in our new 5 is more than pleasing.
Simply put, this new ride is better than our old ride. And given that positive nature of our previous relationship, there's more than likely many more happy motoring miles ahead.
