Standard Radio OK?
- Thread starter erhayes
- Start date
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- 2023 CX-5 Premium; 2018 Mazda 3 GT hatch
You're going to get lots of divergent opinions on this one Ed, but judging from your picture and description of your "audio sensibilities", I'd say the standard radio will be fine for you. I'm 65 and also don't get all worked up over how much bass I can get out of a stereo and this one works just fine for me. BTW, nice to see you finally stepping up to the plate and not lurking behind that "old" CX-7!
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The "old CX7" is a great vehicle at 67,000 miles. Only one problem at ~ 1,000 miles that the dealer took care of. I've averages 19 to 21 MPG local driving and depending on how much the AC is on. The turbo is used only for merging or having some fun occasionally and that I will miss if I get a 2014 CX5. However, my concerns are with the possible problems with the AC compre3ssor locking up some night and standing by the road or the turbo blowing smoke or the VVT taking a big dump is prompting my interest in the 5. Another real possibility is the Tuson which appears to be a very nice vehicle although can't match the handeling of the 5. I don't get too excited about one car getting 3 or 4 MPG over another because, one unschedualledd vehicle problem not covered by waraanty will wipe-out a lot of gasoline costs.
I'm completely satisfied with the speakers in my 2014 Touring. As others have said, there is almost too much bass.
This satisfaction was a nice surprise: When you have the option of the Bose system, it suggests you will miss something. While I don't doubt the Bose is better, I don't miss it and that's nice.
BigPainRing
Member
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- Mazda CX5 Sport 2014
I thought the standard radio was pretty good until I installed a Pioneer AVH5500, Focal Access speakers and sound deadener throughout the car. Now the sound system is incredible plus handsfree bluetooth with our i-phones, GPS and Pandora! I like the Focal speakers so much I am going to install them in my Altima.
That way of looking at a 3-4 mpg difference sounds logical at first glance but it doesn't hold up to any kind of scrutiny.
The main problem is it assumes that the higher mpg vehicle is more likely to have more service costs after the warranty expires than the lower mpg vehicle. If you opt for the lower mpg option and it is the one with additional repair costs then you are hit with the double whammy (extra repair costs and higher fuel bills for the life of the vehicle).
The second problem is that a 4 mpg difference is not insignificant in real world costs. You kept your CX-7 for 67,000 miles. If one car returns real world fuel economy of 22 mpg while the other returns 26 mpg, the lower mpg option will burn exactly 469 more gallons of gasoline over 67,000 miles of ownership. Even at only $3.50/gallon that amounts to direct extra cost of $1642.00 over 67,000 miles. But if gas goes up to only $4.50 gallon the extra cost rises to well over $2,000.00 (individuals have no control over the future price of gasoline and it could easily go higher than $4.50 gallon). The higher fuel prices go, the bigger the difference in fuel costs (and the more it will hurt). Perhaps just as depressing, the higher fuel prices go, the bigger the difference in resale prices between the low mpg car and the high mpg car. Less efficient cars take much bigger hits in terms of resale value than more efficient cars as fuel prices rise.
I recommend avoiding the use of "lazy logic" in order to minimize the true costs of a 3-4 mpg difference in real world fuel economy. In my experience more efficient vehicles are no more likely to have higher repair bills than less efficient vehicles. Furthermore, the insurance premiums are often lower, furthering the difference in real world ownership costs.
Did you lose the steering wheel controls?
I think my factory radio is crap and the speakers are even worse. I added tweeters to the front and changed the rear speakers for something better and now it's tolerable. The bass is too boomy and the radio reception isn't very good. According to another member here who changed all of his speakers with Polks the boomy mid bass is more the radio than the speakers. I have a sport trim with the cheapest radio.
BigPainRing
Member
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- Mazda CX5 Sport 2014
No. There are some steering wheel controls adapter modules for aftermarket head units to be compatible with most car's steering wheel controls. Installed one of these and my somewhat limited steering wheel controls work fine with the Pioneer head unit.
