Buyers Remorse

jtl

Member
:
CX-5 GT w/Tech
Well not really, since I don't have the car yet. I purchased the Touring with no extras, and at the time I considered the GT but didn't think the extras were worth the money. I never use the moon roof in my Passat and the leather seats imo were just so so. I do like the dual zone heating, but what I really would like is the HID's and the advanced keyless entry. If I were to pick and chose the things I like I would need to step up to the GT and add the Tech package for about another $4300. I can easily make a change since I don't have possession.

So my question is how did you decide what model and trim you wanted and are you happy with the decision (be honest)? There is no way I wanted a MT at my age so the Sport was not a consideration. I have owned several new cars over the years and I have always thought about would I have done it this way if I had known what I know post purchase.
 
Go GT.

The cost difference can be negligible if you negotiate well, assuming you are buying new. I recently bought the 2012 5GT and price was sport MSRP. Dealer tried to push me toward the T. I am happy I stood firm. Love the heated seats and the HID lights. I later added window tint and Thule rack. Good luck.
 
I haven't made my mind up as yet, but am too leaning toward a Touring with no options. I don't feel the extras are worth the cost. I have looked at them and placed a monetary value on each, as I feel it is worth to me. I came up with a number of about half what they are asking for them. That's how I make my decision.

For example, the Tech package. There are things in that package upon which I place some value. I like the headlights, the nav system has some value. I can turn on my own wipers and flip my own mirror at night. Those are just silly gadgets to me. Something that may break later. So, to me, the value of the package is about half what they are asking.

The biggest gripe I have about going with the Grand Touring are the 19" wheels. I feel that they make the ride worse. Handling might be a smidgen better. Replacement tires cost more. I would be more tempted to purchase the GT if I could get some credit for swapping them back for 17" wheels. And even though I live in Wisconsin, I don't like heated seats and hate paying for them.

So this is the process I use. I look at each option and think about what it is worth to me. If it is close, then I think it is nice to go with the Mazda factory options. Heavy Duty floormats are $100 from Mazda, I can get really thick heavy duty all weather rubber mats (set of 4) for $25 from Sears.
 
I actually wanted the Touring model with sunroof and bose but there were only 2 in the color I wanted within 150 miles (and I don't like dealer trading).
The one that was close had the side rails on it and I didn't need/want those.
The one that was a couple hours away I couldn't get the salesman to give me any sort of price by email. He just wanted to play games from the start.
So we took the GT at the nearest dealer for a test drive and I got a bit spoiled by the extras and when I emailed them the next day they replied right away with what I thought was a very fair price so I ended up with a lot more extras than I had planned on.

Looking back I'm so happy the one salesman wasn't helpful because for the slight bit extra i paid for the GT over the Touring with moonroof and bose was well worth it in my opinion.
-Mostly because on 2 separate occasions I would have hit someone if the BSM hadn't screamed at me.
-That and the dual zone climate control is nice because I like it a noticeable amount cooler than my wife does when in the car. When I'm the only one in the car I think I'd prefer just the basic controls for heat, fan speed and vent selection though.
-I'm pretty happy with the leather as it seems to be wearing well at nearly 20,000 miles.
-The heated seats are kinda nice and my wife really likes them so they ended up being a plus.
-The 19" wheels were a downside for me but I haven't minded them. I would trade them for a small bit more smoothness on the worn out freeways around here but the tires that come on them are good. And they do handle quite well and show very little wear at 20,000 miles. At the time I thought about seeing if they'd give me some money off if we switched them out with the ones on a Touring model, since they'd get to add them to the sticker on it.
I can't remember what else the GT came with that the Touring didn't but it worked out for me.

The Technology package is a real good deal and it would be nice if mine had had that on it but at the time it would have probably pushed the price up more than I wanted (since I started out figuring on the Touring model) and there wasn't one with it in the color and other setup that I wanted.
Back in May there were a lot fewer of them on dealers lots and so I jumped on this one and haven't regretted it; even though I did ruffle some feathers by not buying it from the dealer group I work for.

As long as I block out the thought of how much it is depreciating with me putting over 25,000 miles a year on it I'm fine. The more expensive the car the more it depreciates, my super cheap Toyota Tacoma probably depreciated in 200,000 miles what this will do in 50,000 just because it cost less than half as much new.
 
Last edited:
The cost difference can be negligible if you negotiate well, assuming you are buying new. I recently bought the 2012 5GT and price was sport MSRP. Dealer tried to push me toward the T. I am happy I stood firm. Love the heated seats and the HID lights. I later added window tint and Thule rack. Good luck.
So what do you figure you could have gotten a Sport GT 5 for? I'm not sure you can compare negotiating a price on a CX-5 with a 5. The CX-5 is the hottest thing (sales-wise) Mazda dealers have right now while the 5 is due for replacement and sales are pretty weak.
 
I haven't made my mind up as yet, but am too leaning toward a Touring with no options. I don't feel the extras are worth the cost. I have looked at them and placed a monetary value on each, as I feel it is worth to me. I came up with a number of about half what they are asking for them. That's how I make my decision.

For example, the Tech package. There are things in that package upon which I place some value. I like the headlights, the nav system has some value. I can turn on my own wipers and flip my own mirror at night. Those are just silly gadgets to me. Something that may break later. So, to me, the value of the package is about half what they are asking.

The biggest gripe I have about going with the Grand Touring are the 19" wheels. I feel that they make the ride worse. Handling might be a smidgen better. Replacement tires cost more. I would be more tempted to purchase the GT if I could get some credit for swapping them back for 17" wheels. And even though I live in Wisconsin, I don't like heated seats and hate paying for them.

So this is the process I use. I look at each option and think about what it is worth to me. If it is close, then I think it is nice to go with the Mazda factory options. Heavy Duty floormats are $100 from Mazda, I can get really thick heavy duty all weather rubber mats (set of 4) for $25 from Sears.

That is kind of my thought process. Must be a North Central thing (I am originally from Mpls.) The more I think about it I wonder if too many people are not attempting to make a Mazda into a Lexus. The leather in the GT pales in comparison to the aftermarket Katzkin imo, which is $800 diy and not much more installed from what I read. I suppose if HID's are important you can play with the aftermarket as well, albeit at some legal risk. My salesperson who was number 5 in the USA for Mazda last year (that did not come from him) says the basic Touring is all around the best value. He told me this a couple of days ago and I committed to the purchase way before that and I would think he could make a few more $$ if I bumped up.
 
between touring and GT / tech its such a tough call. like you i dont care for sunroof or leather.
Adding HIDs yourself is $50 and as easy as plugging in new bulbs.
Adding GPS is a $400 box you plug in under the dash.
The other stuff isnt really valuable to me personally.

Which leaves heated seats and the smartkey as the big things that I would like out of the GT/ Tech vs Touring.

thats a LOT of $$ for those two options...... but at the same time Id like to drive this car for a long time and I would enjoy both options.

tough decisions......
 
Last edited:
My salesperson who was number 5 in the USA for Mazda last year (that did not come from him) says the basic Touring is all around the best value. He told me this a couple of days ago and I committed to the purchase way before that and I would think he could make a few more $$ if I bumped up.

He probably does so well because he sells people what they want. Too many salespeople try to sell you either what they have on the lot or what they think is the best rather than getting to know you needs and reinforcing that decision.

The more I think about it I wonder if too many people are not attempting to make a Mazda into a Lexus.

Heck, if Lexus had a small CUV that got good mpg I'd have shopped it too :)
 
between touring and GT / tech its such a tough call. like you i dont care for sunroof or leather.
Adding HIDs yourself is $50 and as easy as plugging in new bulbs.
Adding GPS is a $400 box you plug in under the dash.
The other stuff isnt really valuable to me personally.

Which leaves heated seats and the smartkey as the big things that I would like out of the GT/ Tech vs Touring.

thats a LOT of $$ for those two options...... but at the same time Id like to drive this car for a long time and I would enjoy both options.

tough decisions......

I didn't want leather or 19" wheels and not fussed about heated seats,but did want the BOSE sound system and the lights that swivel when to turn the steering wheel. So I was right in between the 2 models so to speak. In the end I went for the SE-L (touring in the USA) as I did not want to pay extra for something I really didn't want.

I like the ride on 17" wheels, I think 18" would have been the sweet spot for comfort vs handling.
 
Well not really, since I don't have the car yet. I purchased the Touring with no extras, and at the time I considered the GT but didn't think the extras were worth the money. I never use the moon roof in my Passat and the leather seats imo were just so so. I do like the dual zone heating, but what I really would like is the HID's and the advanced keyless entry. If I were to pick and chose the things I like I would need to step up to the GT and add the Tech package for about another $4300. I can easily make a change since I don't have possession.

So my question is how did you decide what model and trim you wanted and are you happy with the decision (be honest)? There is no way I wanted a MT at my age so the Sport was not a consideration. I have owned several new cars over the years and I have always thought about would I have done it this way if I had known what I know post purchase.

I like toys and Leather is almost a must for me. When you are dropping $30k on a vehicle, adding a few thousand more to get everything isn't a big deal, unless you are already stretching.
 
Thanks for all of the honest comments. Much of what we do is predicated on availability and of course price. I will probably go with my original decision and complain about not getting some of the things I would have liked later. I have owned my Passat for 11 years and it was all tricked out in the day. Used the moon roof less than a dozen times. Leather is holding up and easy to wipe down but not a big deal. Regardless of the model these are really nice vehicles. Did I mention that I once owned the RX7 the first year it came out? My wife and I also had an MPV many years ago and it was a nice van.
 
He probably does so well because he sells people what they want. Too many salespeople try to sell you either what they have on the lot or what they think is the best rather than getting to know you needs and reinforcing that decision.



Heck, if Lexus had a small CUV that got good mpg I'd have shopped it too :)

Probably at $40,000, but I get your point. I really doubt that any of us will be disappointed in our purchase whether it is a 2.0 or 2.5 or any model or trim.
 
Go GT is my opinion, and 11 months later no regret at all.

In the moderate climate where I live, I use the moonroof frequently, I will not own a sedan or SUV without. I enjoy the leather, Bose, keyless entry, 19 wheels/tire combo, HID lights and notice these features almost daily. I did not want to deal with aftermarket stuff to get this level audio, wheels/tires, lighting, seating surfaces, etc.

I have 2 other premium sedans so I am used to this level of equipment, CX-5 is very close in terms of lux features and refinement, only the much lower horsepower stands out as biggest difference.

btw - I have zero problems 19" wheels/tires (and just like the major auto mags reported) no difference in ride quality has been noticed since I've driven both versions. They are high quality tires, as I have already put 14,500 miles on them with barely noticable wear, good handling, quiet and smooth ride. Sure they cost a bit more to replace, but if they last 60,000 miles (not unrealistic based on my actual miles to date), I don't care, especially given the high level of ride quality and handling. Also the 19's look so much better, and fit the body design as intended.
 
Last edited:
I have 2 other premium sedans so I am used to this level of equipment, CX-5 is very close in terms of lux features and refinement, only the much lower horsepower stands out as biggest difference.

That is the downside, you will get used to the added features. I got away with getting my wife the Touring version of the Mazda3 back before we got the CX5 but I don't know how long that will last as she spends time in the CX5 and gets accustomed to the fancier stuff. She keeps asking questions about the Mazda6 and the Merc CLA in the superbowl commercial seemed to really grab her attention.
 
I was shopping for the Sport model but I got a better deal on the GT so I took it and I am glad I did. The only thing that I regret is not having the Tech package. I really want the advanced keyless entry. It makes much more sense just keeping the keys on your pocket / bag. Defeats the convenience of having a keyless ignition if you need to take it out to open locks.
 
Go GT is my opinion, and 11 months later no regret at all.

In the moderate climate where I live, I use the moonroof frequently, I will not own a sedan or SUV without. I enjoy the leather, Bose, keyless entry, 19 wheels/tire combo, HID lights and notice these features almost daily. I did not want to deal with aftermarket stuff to get this level audio, wheels/tires, lighting, seating surfaces, etc.

I have 2 other premium sedans so I am used to this level of equipment, CX-5 is very close in terms of lux features and refinement, only the much lower horsepower stands out as biggest difference.

btw - I have zero problems 19" wheels/tires (and just like the major auto mags reported) no difference in ride quality has been noticed since I've driven both versions. They are high quality tires, as I have already put 14,500 miles on them with barely noticable wear, good handling, quiet and smooth ride. Sure they cost a bit more to replace, but if they last 60,000 miles (not unrealistic based on my actual miles to date), I don't care, especially given the high level of ride quality and handling. Also the 19's look so much better, and fit the body design as intended.

The only thing I would say is that the Katzkin leather (and you can pick the grade) is better than oem. Sun roof for me is a non event. The HID's would be nice, but I rarely drive at night. I have no comment on the wheels, 14, 15, 16 ,17 18 or 19 as long as they are round. Only kidding.
 
That is kind of my thought process. Must be a North Central thing (I am originally from Mpls.) The more I think about it I wonder if too many people are not attempting to make a Mazda into a Lexus.

You have to take my preferences with a grain of salt, as I am old school. Good cloth > typical leather. 17" wheel > 19" wheel. Cloth seat > heated leather. Windshield wiper - would rather turn on myself. Keys? My favorite is a plain metal key, nothing fancy, easy to make extra copies, no fat fob attached.

I turn my keys, flip my mirror, turn my headlights on and flip the hi/low beam, and twist my wipers. All of this is just part of driving. Paying thousands of dollars to avoid doing these things feels odd to me.
 
Remorse? No. Relief? Yes

I am relieved that I didn't buy the BMW X5, X3, or Audi Q5. I know, I know, they are very different cars that I would be using for the same exact purpose. I Just ordered my GT-Tech tonight over the phone.
 
I'm also going to order GT next month. The only unresolved issue is AWD or FWD.(uhm)
 
IMHO Touring is the way to go. Sport, if you think 2L is sufficient.
If I did not need AWD, I'd get the 3 wagon style instead, for about the same inner space for less at a lighter weight and better fuel economy.
 

New Threads and Articles

Back