Fit and finish on new cx-5
- Thread starter Drm31078
- Start date
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- Mazdaspeed6
I tend to subscribe to this logic, especially when comparing to automotive production from years past.
Modern production doesn't tax resources in the same way it did 50 years ago. Now, there's regulatory oversight which requires legions more engineers and R&D, continously attempting to improve stringent safety and emissions requirements, while also attempting to balance driving experience, market relevance and customer satisfaction.
Auto manufacturers may have been able to afford allocating many more resources to QC, ensuring their autos are better put together in years past. Modern times seems to require those resources be diverted elsewhere.
Mazda offers the most comprehensive, affordable automobile on the planet, which is an incredible feat, considering their limited resources as a niche automaker.
No, I would not accept a brand new car with a ding, scratches or fit and finish issues I could not live with and that's why I would take my time to inspect the car inside and out before signing the dotted line. If I detected blemishes that needed to be fixed, I would have the dealer fill out a "WE OWE" paper showing all the required repairs. With blemishes likely too big of a problem to be fixed properly by the dealer, I would not sign the dotted line for that particular car and look at a substitute. Driving off without a "WE OWE" in your hand sets you up for trouble and that's not just the case with Mazda but any other brand - I know because I had that situation with a Mercedes with a small scratch which the sales person later "forgot" that he agreed that they will fix it.
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- CX-5
When we bought the CX-5 there was a civil engineer, chemical engineer, accountant, forester, teacher, botanist looking over the rig. We found a surface scrap on the front bumper. That's it. If there was a indented metal ding we would've not bought the car. If there was a scuff on the leather we would've paid than man and drove off.
My car had a small scratch on the top of the airbag cover on the steering wheel and slight crease in the leather of the passenger side rear backrest. I didn't think twice of buying it. Life is too short. Assuming it's not a horrible scratch or a dent I wouldn't hesitate to buy a car with a couple small blemishes. You're talking about a vehicle produced in Japan, shipped across an ocean, and then across the country to get to me on the east coast. If that's the extend of what happened to it during shipment then color me impressed. You can't expect Rolls Royce levels of fit and finish in a car that starts in the low $20k range.
I just saw a brand new Honda HR-V at a local dealer and I noticed the rear bumper was missing a faster to hold it on. I'd rather deal with a spot on my seat and know my car was out together correctly than wondering what else the guys at the factor forgot to screw together.
I just saw a brand new Honda HR-V at a local dealer and I noticed the rear bumper was missing a faster to hold it on. I'd rather deal with a spot on my seat and know my car was out together correctly than wondering what else the guys at the factor forgot to screw together.
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Your car does not have a door ding.
...no but it might after sitting in the Service Center vehicle lot before and after repairs.
That would be a serious and unacceptable defect for virtually anyone. I'm betting they will fix that without question.
Another defect I noticed. The steering wheel is starting to crack. The leather creases in the photo below are normal. However in the middle lower part of the photo you can see a whiter line. This is actually a crack in the leather. I would not expect this after owning the car for 3 weeks. 
So after 3 weeks of owning this car I have noted the following
1) seat glue on leather passenger seat
2) hard object under rear passenger seat
3) bubble in dash board
4) crack in leather of steering wheel
5) leaking sunroof
6) scratches on bumper
But you guys are going to tell me this is normal for a brand new car and I am too picky?! Give me a break.
So after 3 weeks of owning this car I have noted the following
1) seat glue on leather passenger seat
2) hard object under rear passenger seat
3) bubble in dash board
4) crack in leather of steering wheel
5) leaking sunroof
6) scratches on bumper
But you guys are going to tell me this is normal for a brand new car and I am too picky?! Give me a break.
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- Miata and CX-5
The leaking sunroof is the only issue I would complain about and expect Mazda to fix free of charge.
Points 1)-4) and 6) are visible defects which means that you could have rejected the car before signing on the dotted line. Point 5): That's what the warranty is for - any decent dealer will give you a loaner for the time to fix it since the leak is on an essentially brand new car.
From the dealer on sunroof....
"If the water you are seeing along the back seal of the sunroof is a drip along most of the seal and is not saturating the headliner, then do not worry as it is normal. If the headliner is getting wet, or water is coming inside the vehicle, this is not normal (as long as the roof is completely closed of course)"
This doesn't sound right.
"If the water you are seeing along the back seal of the sunroof is a drip along most of the seal and is not saturating the headliner, then do not worry as it is normal. If the headliner is getting wet, or water is coming inside the vehicle, this is not normal (as long as the roof is completely closed of course)"
This doesn't sound right.
That sounds right to me, as long as water is not getting inside the cabin and making the headliner wet, it's working as it should.
I guess I don't see what the issue is.
I would need to analyze that in more detail. Do you have a digital microscope? My Olympus TG-3 has a microscope mode that would be very handy with this particular defect.
But from what I've seen so far I think you're good to go.