From the Sith (VW) to the Jedi (Mazda). Insights Welcome

[Golf Wang]

Hi Mazdas247 team,

I am a Philly-based, lifelong VW enthusiast (32 y/o, 8 VWs owned). There is no longer a VW I would buy. And my mom got a CX-30 Carbon that I am enamored with. I want a Mazda.

Currently have 3 possibilities in mind:

1. Keep my Alltrack, pickup my first 2nd-car. Miata. 6MT. Soul Red or Zircon Sand. Hardtop. Club. The emotional decision. Would take to the Pocono Raceway on weekends, AutoX in Philly etc. Would also be my work commuter, and a helluva car for dates as a freshly single 30-something who hasn’t been on the market since he graduated college.

2. Trade the Alltrack in, get a CX-50 Carbon Turbo. Considering my mom’s CX-30 Carbon Turbo is what is driving my desire to defect to Mazda, this feels like the natural conclusion. However it’s also an answer to a question I’m not really asking. My Alltrack is perfectly sufficient for my needs. I don’t need anything bigger. I’m single and my primary occupant of my car is my dog. The CX-50 is also more money.

3. Trade the Alltrack in, get a CX-50 Hybrid (least likely. But I haven't driven one yet to compare to the Turbo). Hybrid because plug-in, reduced gas expense, financially sensible. But I’m doing this out of emotion, so fiscal responsibility has essentially nothing to do with my decision making process. And the simple knowledge it’s a RAV4 powertrain makes me significantly less interested. BUT - I’ll test drive one to compare to the Turbo.

Being new to the Mazda world, looking for some insight on things like where the highest-volume Mazda dealers are who would be able to come down the most meaningfully on price. I am always willing to fly 2 hours and drive home 10-15 for the right price on the right car.

For example, the highest-volume VW dealers in America are in the DC area. There are like 10 dealers in a 100 square mile area. They compete on volume. I have gotten 2 VWs there. I got a 36.5K MSRP Alltrack in 2020 for $28K with 0% for 6 years and 6-months no payments. Insanity.

I recognize no deals like that exist in 2025, or more accurately March-April 2026 when I plan on buying. But if y’all know the hotspot, or THE dealer to go to for a good deal, I’m pretty much willing to go anywhere as far as Colorado and make a weekend out of the drive home. Great way to break a new car in.

Any insight anyone has for a newbie Mazda enthusiast looking to switchover from the Sith (VW) to the Jedi (Mazda), I'm here for it.

Thanks in advance! Can’t wait to join the Mazda gang. I really feel like Mazda is slated between VW and Audi. Audi-like quality and engineering, without the bouginess or price tag, and VW-like pricing without the cost cutting and unreliability.

 

[Golf Wang]

Quite the community we have here, i see!

 

[Point37]

I just picked up a '25 cx-5 last year...i was also looking at the cx-50...i really wanted a wagon so i was leaning towards the cx-50...once i checked them both out and sat in them i changed my mind...cx-50 was claustrophobic vertically inside and i'm just shy of 6' tall...cargo room was pretty similar between both models...cx-5 is still made in japan...i could get a drivers memory seat in a lower trim in the cx-5...my choice changed to the cx-5.

I need reliability and when i started looking i really wanted an acura tsx sportwagon but they are all long in the tooth now...my next choice was an old style toyota venza but they get bad gas mileage whether 4cyl or 6cyl...next up was buick tourx but i didn't trust it to get to 200k+ miles.

There are not many manufacturers making wagons in the US that i consider reliable car manufacturers so i pretty much wrote off wagons (was still a little interested in the toyota crown signia but didn't want a hybrid)...at that point i was between toyota, honda, mazda and subaru...and coming from subaru dealing with oil consumption i didn't want to go back that way (was getting 600 mi/qt oil)...also wanted to move away from a cvt...whittled it down to rav4, crv and cx-5...cx-5 was the most reasonable to get the features i wanted, it's been around for a while so they have the design dialed in, aftermarket parts are easy to find and i had previously owned a '05 mazda 6 which i drove over 200k miles so i figured why not..?

Have you checked out/driven cx-50 yet?...you may not like it...as far as your 3 choices go...personally i'm not one to own multiple cars cause i don't want to maintain/pay for more than one (with motorcycles yes but not cars) so i would go with option 2 or 3...probably 2 cause i'm not ready to go hybrid...any photos of that alltrack?...good luck with your choice!

 

[Mazdiod2]

Some people don't like the CX-50 as much as the CX-5 because of the body style, I guess.

I would go with Miata and keep the alltrack.

 

[sm1ke]

Quite the community we have here, i see!

We have a great community here, but you're asking for some very specific feedback that really, only users from your surrounding locale would be able to provide, with regard to which dealer to visit for the best deals around Philadelphia. I would ask that you exercise a bit more patience as more members view your thread - it's only been a couple of days.

Secondly, as you said, choosing your next vehicle is very much a personal decision. If you get the Miata, you get the embodiment of Mazda. It's pure, reliable fun in a great looking car. But it also adds insurance costs, and takes up space in the garage/driveway. If that's ok, then I would absolutely go for the Miata and keep the Allroad. Personally, if I were in your shoes, with nothing restricting you to get something more "sensible", I'd make the emotional decision and jump at the chance to own a Miata.

Of course, before you do anything, test drive a Miata and a CX-50 turbo. The CX-50 turbo might be enough to scratch the Mazda itch.

 

[Golf Wang]

At no point did I say i was asking for somethign around Philadelphia. I am willing to fly 2-3 hours and drive 10-15 hours back for the right deal on the right car.

And I get i was being impatient. I am coming from VWVortex, which is the biggest VW forum in the world and gets tons of engagement on pretty much all posts.

 

[Golf Wang]

Some people don't like the CX-50 as much as the CX-5 because of the body style, I guess.

I would go with Miata and keep the alltrack.

I like the CX-50 more than the CX-5 because of the body style. Different strokes

 

[CTt3P5]

Welcome to 247!

My suggestion is option one. And this is not biased based on me owning three Miatas in the last 10 years. You do have to factor in the ownership costs of two cars but if manageable it gives you the best of both worlds. The Alltrack for when you need the extra size/room and the Miata for everything you mentioned. In addition, I think you'll find yourself grabbing the keys for the Miata to just go out and drive some of the backroads around the area. Should you buy the Miata, check out the PACE Miata Club. They are based in Lancaster but do runs near the Lansdale, Pottstown, etc. areas. Since you mentioned Pocono Raceway, check out LVMOC for runs in the Lehigh Valley, Pocono areas and we've been know to wander into NJ. I've been a member of LVMOC since I bought my first Miata, a 2003, back in 2015.

You can't go wrong with option two either. My wife had a 2023 CX-50 Preferred Plus and we both loved the styling over her former 2016.5 and 2020 CX-5s. This might sound crazy but we also liked the way it drove over the CX-5s. She recently turned it back in for a 2025 CX-30 Premium Turbo and while she likes the CX-30, she does have regrets that we didn't buy the lease out or lease another CX-50 (I was pushing her for the Hybrid as she works in town with a ~10 mile round trip commute). But that may no longer be on the table because after her first commute to work, she told me that she liked the turbo and would want it for her next CX-50 (did I mention regrets?). You give reasons for not getting a CX-50 as the Alltrack is sufficient but the CX-50 does release you from the dark side.

Option three will come down to the test drive for you. Does the Hybrid scratch that itch or do you want that snail power. One thing to note, the CX-50 Hybrid is not a plug-in. Currently Mazda offers no EV here in the US but does offer the the CX-70/90 in a PHEV platform. Our daughter has a CX-70 PHEV Premium and loves it. She was dead set against Mazda and wanted a Grand Cherokee to replace her Compass. She test drove the CX-70 and forgot all about the Jeep and hasn't looked back. Why less interested due to the RAV4 powertrain? For me (and I'm sure others) it is a plus as it is a known quantity and not a first year Mazda powertrain that they are still working out the kinks on.

In the Lehigh Valley/Pocono area there is Koch Mazda (FKA Young) in Easton, Scott Mazda in Allentown and Ray Price Mazda in Stroudsburg. We have bought multiple Mazda's at Koch and one at Ray Price. Sales experience at both has been good but not near highest volume. I did a fly and buy for my 2008 Miata from Superior Mazda in Bentonville, AR and had my 2016 Miata transported from McClarty Mazda in North Little Rock, AR. Empire Mazda in Green Brook NJ may be an option and would negate the need to fly and I believe they do a high volume. I'm not aware of a list of high volume dealers but maybe someone else does know or can provide more info. Check the DC area as you've had some success with VW in the past. In a Google search the one dealer that popped up by name was Jeff Haas in Houston, TX. That drive home would most certainly be a great way to break the Miata, er, your new Mazda in.

I wish you luck in your search and hope to see you start a new thread showing off your new Mazda, whatever model it may be!