Fit and finish on new cx-5

[michaelveloz]

Count me among the picky ones.

I sold my CRV that was less than a year old because it was showing "imperfections" my previous 13 year old CRV had never shown, such as interior squeaks, a seemingly permnanent brake squeal, unusually loud noises when going over some bumps, etc. Disheartened, I decided to look elsewhere, and I ended up with my 2016 cx5. My very first impression was that it was not as refined as the CRV, but I loved the technical abilities of the CX5 and the exterior and so I took the plunge.

Soon enough, the imperfections with the cx5 started to mount as well, including interior squeaks and rattles that still persist, exterior trim pieces that seem barely attached to the car, plastic pieces around the front grill that could very well be thinner than some lawn and leaf bags, and seats that are barely more comfortable to me than airline seats.

To make a long story short, I concluded that they "don't make 'em like they used to". Mazda probably improved MPG by making nearly everything light and flimsy. And as for squeaks and rattles, they seem to be rampant in most newer cars I've been in. I'm guessing the overall trend in the industry might be more toward increased MPG and more "wow factor" and less on engineering. Even recent BMW's seem to be on the decline, detail-wise.

All this is to say: you probably can't find a near-perfect vehicle, and if you do, it ain't gonna stay that way anyway (phsysically impossible for things not to wear out and show signs of aging).

So I try to now focus more on what I like about the car, and not get so bent out of shape over the other stuff.

 

[MikeM.]

To make a long story short, I concluded that they "don't make 'em like they used to". Mazda probably improved MPG by making nearly everything light and flimsy. And as for squeaks and rattles, they seem to be rampant in most newer cars I've been in.

Wow! Cars today are engineered and built to much higher standards, tighter tolerances and out of better materials than ever before. High strength steel where it matters most, paint that doesn't fade and peel off in 10 years, engines that go 100,000 miles with not much more than oil and filters and handling that doesn't scare you at any speed over 80 mph. The chassis' are more rigid, brakes fade less, there's more power and more gears on tap than ever before, you are much less likely to be injured or killed if the car hits a tree a wall or is involved in a head on collision.


It's hard for me to fathom where your perspective that "they don't make 'em like they used to" comes from. Of course that's true but it's a very good thing they don't make 'em like they used to. .

 

[Unobtanium]

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.

It is exactly normal. My Jeep did it all the time. That's why there are drain holes and tubing in the A-pillars (at least that's where they were on the Jeep.)

 

[Unobtanium]

Count me among the picky ones.

I sold my CRV that was less than a year old because it was showing "imperfections" my previous 13 year old CRV had never shown, such as interior squeaks, a seemingly permnanent brake squeal, unusually loud noises when going over some bumps, etc. Disheartened, I decided to look elsewhere, and I ended up with my 2016 cx5. My very first impression was that it was not as refined as the CRV, but I loved the technical abilities of the CX5 and the exterior and so I took the plunge.

Soon enough, the imperfections with the cx5 started to mount as well, including interior squeaks and rattles that still persist, exterior trim pieces that seem barely attached to the car, plastic pieces around the front grill that could very well be thinner than some lawn and leaf bags, and seats that are barely more comfortable to me than airline seats.

To make a long story short, I concluded that they "don't make 'em like they used to". Mazda probably improved MPG by making nearly everything light and flimsy. And as for squeaks and rattles, they seem to be rampant in most newer cars I've been in. I'm guessing the overall trend in the industry might be more toward increased MPG and more "wow factor" and less on engineering. Even recent BMW's seem to be on the decline, detail-wise.

All this is to say: you probably can't find a near-perfect vehicle, and if you do, it ain't gonna stay that way anyway (phsysically impossible for things not to wear out and show signs of aging).

So I try to now focus more on what I like about the car, and not get so bent out of shape over the other stuff.

I agree. They don't make them anywhere near like they used to.

My CX-5 is one of the safest vehicles on the highway. Multiple airbags, crumple zones, high strength steel, etc. I'm pretty likely to survive in-tact all but the most violent or unlucky of accidents.

Also, yeah, V8's used to be THE thing. My Mazda has a puny 4-cylinder. Totally weaksauce. I mean, a '69 Camaro beats this SUV in the 1/4 mile by about half a second! Total dog!

You also have a point about the suspension and brakes. Terrible! It takes 218 feet to stop from 70mph, and it only pulls 0.78g on the skidpad. Wait...sorry, that was a 1983 Lotus Esprit Turbo Roadster. Sorry for the mistake. The CX-5 stops from 70 in 175 feet and pulls over .80 on the skidpad. What horrible handling for an SUV! Such a liability compared to how they used to make exotic roadsters so nimble and all back in the day...

 

[socalcx-5]

has anyone ever owned a car that didn't have squeaks and rattles after the first few months of ownership (if that)? It's a piece of machinery with thousands of moving parts that gets used on a regular basis - of course it's going to have squeaks and rattles. Either learn to live with it or turn up the radio. Life's too short to let it ruin your enjoyment of the vehicle.

 

[Unobtanium]

has anyone ever owned a car that didn't have squeaks and rattles after the first few months of ownership (if that)? It's a piece of machinery with thousands of moving parts that gets used on a regular basis - of course it's going to have squeaks and rattles. Either learn to live with it or turn up the radio. Life's too short to let it ruin your enjoyment of the vehicle.

Honestly, my 370Z didn't, even by 33k miles ownership. The monocoque structure Nissan used in that car was like billet! Super stiff. That said, my brand new C6 Z06, when you angled it up a drive-way, you could actually feel the chassis twist and hear some interior squeaks. It was totally normal, and the cars at Spring Mountain with over 10K TRACK miles on them felt identical.

That said, my CX-5 does not give me the impression of being "flimsy". It is light, yes, but "Flimsy" isn't something I would use to describe it, really. It has very very few squeaks and rattles at 28K miles.

That said, I really think that posters like "michaelveloz" would be better served in the $50-80K SUV market rather than the $25-35K market. Or, as sales-people would put it "Used to people understood that you had to pay for pedantic detail attention. Now they think they should be getting luxury products at econo-sale prices. They just don't make a customer like they used to."

 

[Rarebit]

That said, I really think that [some posters] would be better served in the $50-80K SUV market rather than the $25-35K market. Or, as sales-people would put it "Used to people understood that you had to pay for pedantic detail attention. Now they think they should be getting luxury products at econo-sale prices. They just don't make a customer like they used to."

Really, this is the result of two factors. 1. Econo car producers have achieved amazing sophistication and quality control at very attractive price points. 2. They've copied PART OF the service experience of the luxo segment. Together, these factors have misled some into thinking they're getting a luxomobile at econobox prices. Sorry folks, that's not happening. There's a very limited amount of margin in these vehicles, and certainly not enough for BMW (Bring My Wallet) customer pampering.

However, I have to say that the dealer service I experienced with my 4 previous Mazdas was overall as good as what I got with a Volvo and Audi I owned in the same period. Neither of them would fix minor issues, either. They didn't outright refuse - they just said it "couldn't be done", or returned the vehicle with the minor issues unfixed but with the items checked as complete on the work order.

My Volvo turbo once stopped dead and wouldn't even crank the day after it had been in for routine service. This was in rush hour traffic as I was driving to run a meeting of 20 people flying in for a day long meeting at an airport hotel. I left it in the middle of the street and hailed a taxi. Of course, it got impounded. The next day I went to retrieve it and found that the battery cable clamp had corroded to nothing. (It was covered with a hood, so it wasn't visible.) I checked my twice yearly service records, and found "check battery terminals" ticked off as "complete" on every service for the 4 previous years. Now that's luxury service! ;-)

 

[Drm31078]

Little update...Mazda rep came out and determine the dashboard and glue on seat were manufacturer defects and authorized replacement. In replacing the dash, the service folks scratched the paint on both sides of the door sills along with issues in fit up of the dashboard itself along with the passenger seat not functioning properly.

The dealer replaced my vehicle via trade.

 

[IHeartGroceries]

Better luck this time!

 

[piotrek91]

Little update...Mazda rep came out and determine the dashboard and glue on seat were manufacturer defects and authorized replacement. In replacing the dash, the service folks scratched the paint on both sides of the door sills along with issues in fit up of the dashboard itself along with the passenger seat not functioning properly.

The dealer replaced my vehicle via trade.

Did they replace your CX-5 with a brand new one? If so, I would call that excellent customer service.

 

[Hank3]

Any pics of the damage they inflicted to the former CX-5? Pics of the new one? Any fit and finish issues with it?