Got a new 2016 Mazda CX 5 GT with tech last week. Thought I would post my buying experience and initial thoughts here. I had a 2010 Mazda 3 hatch previously. Needed a slightly bigger vehicle with a little more rear room and cargo space for our 10 month old baby. The final choice was between a CRV and CX 5. Because of the great experience I had with 3 and the stellar reviews for CX-5, I decided to go for it. Besides, I just couldn't get over the exterior looks of the Honda CRV.
Had a test drive at the nearest dealer and loved it. But the dealer wouldn't budge on price.
Talked to a few others but was either low balled on my trade in or they didn't have the color of my choice.
Finally settled on dealer 45 min away who offered me a generous trade in number. The only hitch was, the car in question was available at a sister dealership about 30 min away. Was assured that he can get me the car. At this point, I just wanted to get the deal done, so I agreed to do it next day as it was getting pretty late in the day.
The next day, as promised the car was there, bit with a minor hiccup. The SD card for navigation was not present. The salesmen told me as there were people walking away with SD cards during test drives, so the other dealership had stopped keeping it in the car. He assured me that he would pickup it and deliver it personally in a few days. I really didn't want to get home without the sd card so I offered to pick it up from the other dealership. The salesman agreed. But when I got to the other dealership, I was told they had given everything they had to my dealership and it was their responsibility to make good anything that was missing. This really got my goat and I went back to the dealership and gave my salesman as well as his manager a piece of my mind. I was OK with getting the navigation a little later, but was disappointed that they would send me on a wild goose chase after buying a car from them. They apologized and again said some one would deliver the missing sd card personally. At this point I had didn't have much faith in them but I let it go as I could live without navigation for a few days.
Salesman calls next day and says it too far for him to drive, and asks whether he can mail the sd card? I agreed and asked him to send me the tracking #. Was told that they can't mail immediately , but will do so in a couple of days, and will the send the tracking # once they mail it.
It has been six days and I still don't have the sd car. But I am not too hung up on it. Still hopeful I will get it. But if don't, I will contact Mazda corporate and see if they can help. Worst case, I am out of $350-400 to get a new sd card on my own.
On top of it, I get mails from the salesman requesting a perfect 10 for my car buying experience in the survey. I came to know that this is a big deal for the salesman as they stand to gain/lose a few hundred dollars based on the survey results. As long as I have my item before I take the survey, I will give him a perfect 10.
As for the car, here are some observations after the first few days:
Likes :
1) Upgrading from the 3, absolutely love the added interior and cargo space. Lots of room leftover after installing a big car seat.
2) Absolutely amazed by how much tech is stuffed into the car. When I went from a 97 Altima to the Mazda 3, the only new features that stood out were bluetooth and keyless entry. Now I have BSM, Rear traffic alert, SCBS, Led Lights and what feels like a super computer stuffed into the dashboard.
3) Love the rear cross traffic alert. Already got a couple of warnings while backing out.
4) Was concerned about rear window visibility, but I think it is not too bad. May only previous extended experience was with a Nissan Rogue (now Rogue Select) and it is horrendous in this regard. Just need to look into afte market headrests for the back that fold down when not in use. Suggestions welcome in this regard.
5)LED lights are great. Feel they alone are worth the price of upgrading to tech package.
6)Love the dashboard layout. I feel it is very clean looking.
7) After a few tries, the new commander controls become feel very easy to use.
Dislikes :
1) The car felt a little sluggish for me. Maybe it is because I am coming from a 3 and this is how SUV's are supposed to feel. The 3 felt much faster out of the blocks.
2)Wife feels this car through her around a bit more in the back then the 3.
3)Like the 3, you still feel a good bit of road noise and bumps. Drove a friends loaner 2014 Mazda 6 and it was a lot better in this regard.
4)The top anntenna already is a little loose. Will point this out to the dealer when visiting for service.
5)Will have to see how the plastic trim on the around the bottom of the car holds up. The exterior plastic parts in 3 had become discolored.
In summary, I like the car but not completely blown away. Might be because of the bad dealership experience or may be I just miss the 3.
Hopefully, after a while, i will start loving this.
PS: This forum was a big help during my car buying research. It is amazing how passionate you all are about Mazda's. Thank you!
Had a test drive at the nearest dealer and loved it. But the dealer wouldn't budge on price.
Talked to a few others but was either low balled on my trade in or they didn't have the color of my choice.
Finally settled on dealer 45 min away who offered me a generous trade in number. The only hitch was, the car in question was available at a sister dealership about 30 min away. Was assured that he can get me the car. At this point, I just wanted to get the deal done, so I agreed to do it next day as it was getting pretty late in the day.
The next day, as promised the car was there, bit with a minor hiccup. The SD card for navigation was not present. The salesmen told me as there were people walking away with SD cards during test drives, so the other dealership had stopped keeping it in the car. He assured me that he would pickup it and deliver it personally in a few days. I really didn't want to get home without the sd card so I offered to pick it up from the other dealership. The salesman agreed. But when I got to the other dealership, I was told they had given everything they had to my dealership and it was their responsibility to make good anything that was missing. This really got my goat and I went back to the dealership and gave my salesman as well as his manager a piece of my mind. I was OK with getting the navigation a little later, but was disappointed that they would send me on a wild goose chase after buying a car from them. They apologized and again said some one would deliver the missing sd card personally. At this point I had didn't have much faith in them but I let it go as I could live without navigation for a few days.
Salesman calls next day and says it too far for him to drive, and asks whether he can mail the sd card? I agreed and asked him to send me the tracking #. Was told that they can't mail immediately , but will do so in a couple of days, and will the send the tracking # once they mail it.
It has been six days and I still don't have the sd car. But I am not too hung up on it. Still hopeful I will get it. But if don't, I will contact Mazda corporate and see if they can help. Worst case, I am out of $350-400 to get a new sd card on my own.
On top of it, I get mails from the salesman requesting a perfect 10 for my car buying experience in the survey. I came to know that this is a big deal for the salesman as they stand to gain/lose a few hundred dollars based on the survey results. As long as I have my item before I take the survey, I will give him a perfect 10.
As for the car, here are some observations after the first few days:
Likes :
1) Upgrading from the 3, absolutely love the added interior and cargo space. Lots of room leftover after installing a big car seat.
2) Absolutely amazed by how much tech is stuffed into the car. When I went from a 97 Altima to the Mazda 3, the only new features that stood out were bluetooth and keyless entry. Now I have BSM, Rear traffic alert, SCBS, Led Lights and what feels like a super computer stuffed into the dashboard.
3) Love the rear cross traffic alert. Already got a couple of warnings while backing out.
4) Was concerned about rear window visibility, but I think it is not too bad. May only previous extended experience was with a Nissan Rogue (now Rogue Select) and it is horrendous in this regard. Just need to look into afte market headrests for the back that fold down when not in use. Suggestions welcome in this regard.
5)LED lights are great. Feel they alone are worth the price of upgrading to tech package.
6)Love the dashboard layout. I feel it is very clean looking.
7) After a few tries, the new commander controls become feel very easy to use.
Dislikes :
1) The car felt a little sluggish for me. Maybe it is because I am coming from a 3 and this is how SUV's are supposed to feel. The 3 felt much faster out of the blocks.
2)Wife feels this car through her around a bit more in the back then the 3.
3)Like the 3, you still feel a good bit of road noise and bumps. Drove a friends loaner 2014 Mazda 6 and it was a lot better in this regard.
4)The top anntenna already is a little loose. Will point this out to the dealer when visiting for service.
5)Will have to see how the plastic trim on the around the bottom of the car holds up. The exterior plastic parts in 3 had become discolored.
In summary, I like the car but not completely blown away. Might be because of the bad dealership experience or may be I just miss the 3.
Hopefully, after a while, i will start loving this.
PS: This forum was a big help during my car buying research. It is amazing how passionate you all are about Mazda's. Thank you!