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- RDX Aspec Adv.
$2000 is a lot of money, but instead of a used 2014, you got a new 2016...priorities. Everyone has theirs.
CX5 vs Forester XT
- Thread starter sbkim
- Start date
$2000 is a lot of money, but instead of a used 2014, you got a new 2016...priorities. Everyone has theirs.
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- RDX Aspec Adv.
Always. You can't take bullets back. They only travel one way down that tube, and they don't pause for "I wish I hadn't"
That said, shot my first deer with my M4'gery this last season, and I'm addicted to it. I got 40# of meat off of her, and I'm still enjoying it. You want to talk about money, that's about $4-800 worth of organic deer meat, by current pricing I can find online (Backstrap is $35/lb at the cheapest I've found). I got it for the $1.50 it took to buy that round, of course, there was about $150 of cost leading up to with with tags, license, wrapping paper, etc.
I love venison but as soon as you start putting a high dollar amount on it (like 35$ a lb.) I lose all interest. At that price, I can buy the best local beef and have money to spare.
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- RDX Aspec Adv.
Exactly. Which is why I go out, shoot, and process my own. I think it came out to $3-4/pound if you put all of my costs into it. This year, I won't have to spend the $60 on the hunter's safety course, so it will average out to $1/lb or so!
(rofl2)
LOL.
OP, I wanna know too.
I wonder since the price is up there, did the OP mention Highlander, or the new pilot?
Ever have elk? Almost like ultra lean beef. We often have so much we some made into pepperonis. It's so lean we often have to add some pork to it.
In NJ - friend hit a deer. It died. I went there. Police said I can take the deer. Nice. Cost: $0. Moral of the story: if you don't want to hunt, hunt for deer hits in highways?
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- 2014 QX70 AWD
Hopefully the bladder isn't/wasn't ruptured...
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- RDX Aspec Adv.
Never elk, but have had moose. It was rediculously lean.
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- RDX Aspec Adv.
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LOL - I am flattered that my simple inquiry led to over 8 pages of posts. It's all good as long as we are doing in good spirit. Obviously, I have a similar post on Subaru site and they aren't as excitable and many seem to acknowledge CX5 as a fine choice. I will wait and see what 2017 changes hold for both and go from there. I personally enjoy driving my VW CC with its decent fuel economy, handling, and decent power and don't see an immediate need to replace at least not until this winter.
They are tad bigger than what I need. I have a small 2 car garage and want to limit it to an SUV no longer than about 183". Thanks!
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- RDX Aspec Adv.
Length isn't everything. Also take girth into account.
SBKIM, I hope I'm not too late to respond to your question regarding the two vehicles.
I own both and the thing is they are a complete different animal, main difference is the engine and power on the XT, in my opinion is the best by a mile.
Let me start by saying that I own a 2015 Subaru Forester XT, my second one. I traded a XT 2014 for a 2016 Mazda CX5. few months later I missed the FXT so much that I went and stole a 2015 XT. Yes I stole it for the price I paid for it ($25,000) brand new. And BTW, I paid $26K for the Mazda CX5.
The wife drives the CX5 and we also use it for long trips. The reason I own those two vehicles is because their safety (Top Safety pick + by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety). Please note that the 2013 CX5 is a safety pick but not the +, meaning it failed to pass the Small Overlap Front.
Both vehicles a very safe.
The CX5 is fun to drive and the interior is nice but I'm not too crazy with the info system radio. Don't get me wrong, the sound is amazing (better than the 2013-2014 models with a Bose system) but the biggest annoyance is that you can't shut the radio off. The radio is always on, you can mute it but can't shut it off. Also, the GPS doesn't have traffic (different issue, different topic) small sunroof. Also, not crazy with the keyless system since we use Viper remote starters and it is a pain to use (car shuts off when you enter the vehicle (different topic).
Just one outlet on the glove compartment and it STAYS ALWAYS ON. I did a mod and added two in the front that shut off when the CX5 is off.
The radio keeps shutting off an random times (stealerships claims there's nothing wrong)
Overall we like it a lot but we'll trade it in a few years.
Now my review with the BEAST, yes the XT it is a BEAST.
Better visibility, I love the view from inside, you can see a lot in comparison to the CX5.
The huge, I mean HUGE sunroof and comparison to the small one on the CX5.
HUGE rear cargo.
Sport suspension (not the same one as the regular Forester) so the handling if much better, even te braking is superior to the one on the CX5.
The power is amazing at any giving time and the best part is that I get the same MPG in the city but in the Hwy I get better mileage on the XT , 29 MPG Vs 27 MPG on the CX5. Only neg is that requires premium gas, no biggie.
As far as someone complaining on the CVT transmission, I'll say this, it is flawless not hiccups.
On the steering wheel the XT comes with a couple of buttons like how to change your driving modes, I=intelligence mode ( that's the one I use 99% of the time) SI=Sport mode and "S# mode". It stands for Sport Sharp (the last one is the one that makes the BEAST).
The best deal is the XT premium not the Touring model. On the Premium you get the leatherette, power seat (driver).
On the Hwy, the XT is flawless, I can merge or pass vehicles with no problems. CX5 has less power.
Overall, I feel safer on the XT because the full time all wheel drive even thought I live in Fl (lots of crazy rain). We moved from Colorado to Florida, I bought the XT in CO and had it shipped to FL.
At the end, when it comes time to do a trade, I will do much better on the Forester XT than the CX5, A FACT!
Sorry for a long comments but those are my views. You can't go wrong with either vehicles, but like I mentioned in the beginning those two vehicles are a total different animal.
The AC on the XT is a little weaker in the Summer and the radio is OK but it sounds decent. And I wish the FXT had the side sensors Blind Spot Detection and a bigger rear camera screen.
I paid bout $26K for the CX5 and $25K for the XT. XT comes with leatherette, huge sunroof and I even got a $500 check from Subaru because I'm a loyal costumer. Yes I love Subaru.
Good luck with the purchase and let us know which vehicle you'll select.
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Actually... it didn't really fail but only got a marginal rating on small overlap on 2013 & 2014 models built before 11/2013.
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/mazda/cx-5-4-door-suv
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/ratings/vehicle/v/subaru/forester-4-door-suv
" Beginning with 2014 models built after October 2013, the front and side airbag programming and the front structure were modified to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes. "
I agree both are safe cars but the Forrester does have a weaker roof strength in a rollover compared to the CX-5. These numbers are on IIHS site.
[Peak Force]
CX-5: 18,209 lbs
Forester: 16,585 lbs
IMO, the significantly better outward visibility of the forester more than makes up for any benefit from a marginally stronger roof.
silvrboy,
You say that:
but you also said that use the CX-5 for long trips, care to explain why?
One of the reasons we use the CX5 for long trips (FL-NY) is because it uses regular gas instead of premium. BUT the main reason is because I don't want to put all those miles in my FXT. We already drove the CX5 from CO to FL and from Fl to NY twice.
We'll be trading the CX5 in the next few years and will keep the FXT a little bit longer.
