Buying Advice - Used 2016 CX-5 GT

[Dr. Awkward]

If I lived in Austin, TX I would want FWD

Agree 100% on that. Save the $$.
People like unobtanium, who whine that you NEED AWD don't make much sense.
We get some serious snow here sometimes but just not enough to justify spending the extra $ for AWD and the lower MPG that comes with it.

Also, pretty much understood that a FWD with proper tires is fine in snow country.
I worked for Snowshoe Ski resort in WVA (annual snowfall avg. 180") and can attest to that.

 

[red soul]

Agree 100% on that. Save the $$.
People like unobtanium, who whine that you NEED AWD don't make much sense.
We get some serious snow here sometimes but just not enough to justify spending the extra $ for AWD and the lower MPG that comes with it.

Also, pretty much understood that a FWD with proper tires is fine in snow country.
I worked for Snowshoe Ski resort in WVA (annual snowfall avg. 180") and can attest to that.

Thanks Doc, I appreciate the input. I agree, FWD should be more than sufficient since we don't get any snow here. We're still leaning towards the used one rather than new. Even if they won't lower the price much, I still think it's a decently good deal for a practically new car. My wife really likes the backup sensors (not camera, sensors) that came as an option on this used one we're looking at. Living in an urban city like this, it's really handy because parking spaces and stuff are really tight around town, not to mention all the other idiots you have to watch out for.

One more thing I learned - the New CX-5 AWD that they priced for me at $32,000 isn't actually "new" - it has 200 miles on it, and was used as a display at our local music festival, South by Southwest, back in March. They said it was used as just a static display model, but I know they also used CX-5's to shuttle people to and from their "mazda" stage which was several blocks away. That means that they probably used this car as a shuttle, and it's likely that this car has many beer farts in the back seat already, and isn't really "new" at all. The dealership actually has 2 identical CX-5's configured this way and are marked as the same price, so I'm guessing that's the case. Of course the dealer wouldn't admit that if it were true.

 

[frenchbiker]

My 2016 CX-5 AWD GT with Tech had 3 miles on the odometer when I bought it. It was in the showroom. Nobody ever drove it but me. If you're willing to pay extra for a new car, request a new car and refuse a demo or shuttle car.
Last, I paid 9.7% off MSRP for mine, which I think was a good deal, not great but good. Also, I was offered an extremely fair number for my trade-in, which sealed the deal.

Good luck.

 

[red soul]

My 2016 CX-5 AWD GT with Tech had 3 miles on the odometer when I bought it. It was in the showroom. Nobody ever drove it but me. If you're willing to pay extra for a new car, request a new car and refuse a demo or shuttle car.
Last, I paid 9.7% off MSRP for mine, which I think was a good deal, not great but good. Also, I was offered an extremely fair number for my trade-in, which sealed the deal.

Good luck.

Thanks, I would gladly take 9.7% off msrp! The list (of the new one) is 34,225, so that would put it right at 31 grand. That would probably be fair in my book. Only problem is getting these stupid salesman to budge. They know that they can sell these cars, so they aren't negotiating much. Just wish it was the end of the month so it would be easier, but we need a car real soon.

Unfortunately we don't have a trade. My wife's car was totaled a few weeks ago and we got a check from the insurance that we are using as a down payment.

 

[frenchbiker]

OK, let's be completely clear here, I got 9.7% off MSRP including 2 x $500 incentives from Mazda Corp. The first because we already own a Mazda (Loyalty rebate) the second because Mazda/Chase offered a $500 rebate if we financed the car so we did finance the car and paid off the loan when we received the 1st statement 30 days later. Like I said previously, it cost us $20 in interest for 1 month so we actually saved $480.

Check the current incentives from Mazda Corp, you might qualify for extra discounts. As for when to buy, it could be to your advantage to wait for the end of the month, especially Memorial Day weekend, but it looks like you can't wait.

The nice thing about a trade, at least here, is that we pay sales tax on the price of the new car minus the trade value. This reduced my investment by $600. In your case, you don't have a trade but you got a check from the insurance which I hope was higher than what the dealer would have given you for the car if it was not totaled.

Good luck!

 

[inlinev]

OK, let's be completely clear here, I got 9.7% off MSRP including 2 x $500 incentives from Mazda Corp. The first because we already own a Mazda (Loyalty rebate) the second because Mazda/Chase offered a $500 rebate if we financed the car so we did finance the car and paid off the loan when we received the 1st statement 30 days later. Like I said previously, it cost us $20 in interest for 1 month so we actually saved $480.

Check the current incentives from Mazda Corp, you might qualify for extra discounts. As for when to buy, it could be to your advantage to wait for the end of the month, especially Memorial Day weekend, but it looks like you can't wait.

The nice thing about a trade, at least here, is that we pay sales tax on the price of the new car minus the trade value. This reduced my investment by $600. In your case, you don't have a trade but you got a check from the insurance which I hope was higher than what the dealer would have given you for the car if it was not totaled.

Good luck!

Thanks for clarifying your incentives. People claiming getting 10% off MSRP on a Mazda are very likely doing it with incentives. Which has nothing to do with negotiating.

 

[red soul]

OK, let's be completely clear here, I got 9.7% off MSRP including 2 x $500 incentives from Mazda Corp. The first because we already own a Mazda (Loyalty rebate) the second because Mazda/Chase offered a $500 rebate if we financed the car so we did finance the car and paid off the loan when we received the 1st statement 30 days later. Like I said previously, it cost us $20 in interest for 1 month so we actually saved $480.

Check the current incentives from Mazda Corp, you might qualify for extra discounts. As for when to buy, it could be to your advantage to wait for the end of the month, especially Memorial Day weekend, but it looks like you can't wait.

The nice thing about a trade, at least here, is that we pay sales tax on the price of the new car minus the trade value. This reduced my investment by $600. In your case, you don't have a trade but you got a check from the insurance which I hope was higher than what the dealer would have given you for the car if it was not totaled.

Good luck!

That's still a very good deal even with incentives. We don't have a mazda, unfortunately, so we don't get the loyalty bonus. He did mention that perhaps I can get $500 off (a new car) for the Memorial Day sale, though. And I'm not aware of the Mazda/Chase offer, but I'll definitely ask about it. I'm sure we can get a good APR because we have excellent credit, so that helps.

Yes I believe that we did get a fair deal on our totaled car from their insurance. We got about 2k above the KBB value of the car, so I'm pleased with that. Insurance factors in tax and fees and everything when giving you a price for your totaled car, so at least I'm not losing the tax on that.

 

[NelsonLewis]

Thanks for clarifying your incentives. People claiming getting 10% off MSRP on a Mazda are very likely doing it with incentives. Which has nothing to do with negotiating.

Try again.

 

[Unobtanium]

Agree 100% on that. Save the $$.
People like unobtanium, who whine that you NEED AWD don't make much sense.
We get some serious snow here sometimes but just not enough to justify spending the extra $ for AWD and the lower MPG that comes with it.

Also, pretty much understood that a FWD with proper tires is fine in snow country.
I worked for Snowshoe Ski resort in WVA (annual snowfall avg. 180") and can attest to that.

You don't NEED it. It's just really nice to have it, and offers utility that the FWD doesn't, at a few mpg cost. I view it like the 2.5L option.

 

[Dr. Awkward]

A FWD in this type of vehicle just sounds terrible to me.

This sure sounds like you think AWD is the always the best way to go.
It would sound more sensible if you added "in my opinion" instead of trying to make others feel inferior because they opted for FWD.
Guess your lack of skill in the snow/ice makes AWD a must for you even in the flatlands.

In my long career with Snowshoe, which by the way is an "upside down" ski resort with most of the lodging on top of 4848' Cheat Mt., you climb higher than all the peaks of Vermont's ski areas to start the day. 80% of the trails are above 4000'.
You start up top and ski to the bottom of our lift system.
There is no "base" area; you either drive up top or take a bus. There are service roads to the bottom of the lifts but GP can't access them.
Sometimes AWD is very helpful . . . in some of the parking lots, LOL!

Dozens of the local, year-round people who are patrollers, lifties, food and beverage folk, housekeeping, etc. I've gotten to know over the years drive FWD and it is rare that they can't get to work.
Of course more do have 4WD or AWD since there are now many fairly inexpensive AWD options.
Subarus have always been one of the best selling brands in mountainous WV.

IMO, the advice to go with AWD when you almost never will drive in snow is bad advice.
You can try to spin that all you want and it will still be bad advice.
And will traction control, rationalizing that AWD is more secure in rain is a fool's errand.

 

[frenchbiker]

That's still a very good deal even with incentives. We don't have a mazda, unfortunately, so we don't get the loyalty bonus. He did mention that perhaps I can get $500 off (a new car) for the Memorial Day sale, though. And I'm not aware of the Mazda/Chase offer, but I'll definitely ask about it. I'm sure we can get a good APR because we have excellent credit, so that helps.

Mazda currently offers 0% interest on the CX-5. When we bought ours, in July 2015, there was no 0% offer but a $500 rebate from Mazda/Chase, when financing at 2.x% APR, if I remember correctly, so we took it, knowing that we would pay off the loan asap.

 

[yrwei52]

Question Buying Advice - Used 2016 CX-5 GT

A FWD in this type of vehicle just sounds terrible to me.

I feel the same that an SUV/CUV/Jeep should be an AWD "IMHO" that's why we special ordered ours as there were none available. Honestly Unobtanium did say "sounds terrible to me" and it seems clear enough expressing his own opinion.

 

[inlinev]

I feel the same that an SUV/CUV/Jeep should be an AWD "IMHO" that's why we special ordered ours as there were none available. Honestly Unobtanium did say "sounds terrible to me" and it seems clear enough expressing his own opinion.

I agree about the AWD setup. If my wife didn't drive 70 miles/day I would have gone with it. We are already feeling cramped in the cx5 with a newborn so I'm closely following the cx9. If we make that jump I'll likely eat the poor AWD mileage for the sheer fact that consumers in NW PA generally buy AWD. We had to wait to get a FWD up here. The cx5 is really a tall riding car so I didn't care. With larger SUVs it becomes an expectation

 

[nismospec]

Newbie here, but i'm watching the thread to keep posted on updates.
I'm in nearly the same situation, looking for a 2016 GT. I'm down in SA and have been on the hunt, but a used 2016 GT is hard to come by.
I too don't like the idea of depreciation, so it keeps me from buying brand new.
I saw this influx of corporate cars from the pacific auction come into the market all over autotrader and carfax, so i'm watching to see where they net out at.

The prices in Austin are better than SA. A similar corporate car with more miles is for sale here in SA for $29,999.

 

[red soul]

Newbie here, but i'm watching the thread to keep posted on updates.
I'm in nearly the same situation, looking for a 2016 GT. I'm down in SA and have been on the hunt, but a used 2016 GT is hard to come by.
I too don't like the idea of depreciation, so it keeps me from buying brand new.
I saw this influx of corporate cars from the pacific auction come into the market all over autotrader and carfax, so i'm watching to see where they net out at.

The prices in Austin are better than SA. A similar corporate car with more miles is for sale here in SA for $29,999.

There's one in SA that looks like a good one that's dirt cheap. Red GT with Tech package. I haven't looked at it in person because we are only looking for a black interior, but maybe you might be interested in this one. The price certainly is excellent, although I'm not sure why they can't move this one - it's been on the lot for a while now. Carfax looks clean though - local car and only 6k miles.

http://www.mccombssuperiorhyundai.c...zda+CX-5-a880d53e0a0e0ae76ec9eb338cccb00f.htm

Let me know what you think if you go look at it - I'm curious why they can't seem to sell it. (It's not at a Mazda dealer, so it's not CPO obviously)

 

[nismospec]

They fail to mention the massive hail damage that the car has.
They had this one originally listed at $27,990. Here in SA we've had 4 hail storms within 1 1/2 months. The first one was one of the worst the city has seen in a long time.

The hood was beat to crap, dents on the roof, side mirrors, broken windshield, and even the pillars running next to the windshield.
That's the other reason i'm not looking in SA much. Sooooo many cars have hail damage, and i'm nervous about a dealer "patching" a hail damage job and making it look like a deal.

 

[red soul]

They fail to mention the massive hail damage that the car has.
They had this one originally listed at $27,990. Here in SA we've had 4 hail storms within 1 1/2 months. The first one was one of the worst the city has seen in a long time.

The hood was beat to crap, dents on the roof, side mirrors, broken windshield, and even the pillars running next to the windshield.
That's the other reason i'm not looking in SA much. Sooooo many cars have hail damage, and i'm nervous about a dealer "patching" a hail damage job and making it look like a deal.

Damn, that's too bad. I didn't realize it had hail damage, since it's not mentioned anywhere. You would think they would mention that in the ad! Stupid dealers.

 

[kingchris]

Thanks for clarifying your incentives. People claiming getting 10% off MSRP on a Mazda are very likely doing it with incentives. Which has nothing to do with negotiating.

Everybody has his own line of thinking. For me, I don't care what they call it (discount, etc), at the end of the day, what hits my pocket is what I care about. You can negotiate it down to 12% discount but the dealer can also hit you back with $500 BS fees which negate the savings anyway.

In my case, I have White GT Tech AWD. MSRP was $32,215. I wanted it OTD for $32k. That's the amount I aimed for. After I recalculated it, I believe I got 8.8% off MSRP which is still good.

MSRP 32215
Discount -2820 -8.8%
Subtotal 29395
Tax (7%) 2057.65
Fees 1300
Subtotal 32752.65
Conquest Rebate -750
OTD 32002.65

However for the OP, if I could get a brand new car for a few hundred more, I would not go with a used car. Especially considering mine is AWD but without iSense package.
I was offered the same thing (fully loaded AWD in white as well), with 8k on odometer, for $30k OTD. I paid $2k extra, took the 60-mo 0.9% financing.
Good luck.

 

[red soul]

Everybody has his own line of thinking. For me, I don't care what they call it (discount, etc), at the end of the day, what hits my pocket is what I care about. You can negotiate it down to 12% discount but the dealer can also hit you back with $500 BS fees which negate the savings anyway.

In my case, I have White GT Tech AWD. MSRP was $32,215. I wanted it OTD for $32k. That's the amount I aimed for. After I recalculated it, I believe I got 8.8% off MSRP which is still good.

MSRP 32215
Discount -2820 -8.8%
Subtotal 29395
Tax (7%) 2057.65
Fees 1300
Subtotal 32752.65
Conquest Rebate -750
OTD 32002.65

However for the OP, if I could get a brand new car for a few hundred more, I would not go with a used car. Especially considering mine is AWD but without iSense package.
I was offered the same thing (fully loaded AWD in white as well), with 8k on odometer, for $30k OTD. I paid $2k extra, took the 60-mo 0.9% financing.
Good luck.

I very very seriously doubt that I can get a comparable new one for only a "few hundred" more. Maybe a few thousand more....

Well tomorrow morning is when we are going to go in and try to make a deal. I may try to negotiate again on the new one first, just to see what kind of deal they will make me. Then I'll see if I can get them to budge any more on the price of the used one. It will be a stressful, but hopefully good day. I really appreciate everyone's help!

 

[Unobtanium]

I agree about the AWD setup. If my wife didn't drive 70 miles/day I would have gone with it. We are already feeling cramped in the cx5 with a newborn so I'm closely following the cx9. If we make that jump I'll likely eat the poor AWD mileage for the sheer fact that consumers in NW PA generally buy AWD. We had to wait to get a FWD up here. The cx5 is really a tall riding car so I didn't care. With larger SUVs it becomes an expectation

This is kindof my point about the CX-5 being more like a car. If a baby makes you feel cramped in it...

Anyway, I like the AWD for rain and sand on the roads a LOT. It makes pulling out of a drive-way or off of a side-street much more of an "expected experience" than a "OH CRAP! IM NOT MOVING!!!" type situation. very important during rush hour.