I'm looking used btw, not really in a rush. Anyone having any leads feel free to PM or post! If I don't find one I like I'll probably go 3 row SUV..

 

We ended up buying a 2010 because it was tough to find a good used manual transmission Mazda5 in our area. If you are definitely buying used, you might end up with a different car - it all depends upon what is available in your area (obviously).

I prefer the manual transmission over the auto, but I can see where others might have a different opinion. We rented an automatic Mazda5 for a week-long road trip before we bought our current car, so we had the opportunity to get acquainted with both flavors. I like the shifter's relatively short throws. The clutch is a bit light for my taste, but that's just a personal preference.

Since we have only had the car for a month or so, I can't speak to the clutch's longevity.

Best of luck.