- :
- 2014 QX70 AWD
New civic ads on TV tout the new sport mode feature. Dumb lemmings then rejoice.
Sad.
Sad.
I took the second [extended] test drive today and tested all the various ways of shifting. I also played with the electronics a little more.
There were none of the issues I noticed on my first test drive. I did find out that the Automated Speed Limiter is not an option in the states. There was no such setting on the CX-5 I drove (it was a fully loaded Grand Touring) and the sales guy did an internet search and said that all the ASL examples and instructions were in KM, not MPH. That explains how I was able to find two English language CX-5 manuals on the Mazda website yet only one of them included ASL references.
I did not notice any delays or performance issues when using the Manual Mode that some of the "professional" online reviewers alluded to. I was surprised at how long it stayed in gear in the Sports Mode...it really wound out more than I was expecting. (That's not a judgement, just an observation). Acceleration at highway speeds was fine. Any reservations I had are gone.
After we were through with the drive and the subsequent conversations, on my way to my car I walked around the parking lot looking at the different colors and potential chipping. I saw a little minor chipping (maybe a few flecks) on some of the Soul Reds (mostly on the doors) and not much on any of the other colors...but I did not have access to odometer readings to see which had even been driven. I'm still capitulating over paint color. *sigh* But the silver (which folks say is the most durable color) is nicer looking than I thought, so it's back on my list.
I then went to a paint film/ceramic coating guy and we talked for nearly 2 hours. He charges $1,700 to wrap the entire hood, the bumper, the front fenders, the A pillars and the leading edge of the roof (I forgot to ask about mirrors). That price includes film on the headlights. Everything but the pillars and the leading edge of the roof is seamless...it's fully wrapped around the edges. 10 year guarantee.
Professional glass coating is a whole other issue (eek2), and would have no real effect on protecting against chips.
I told the film guy I would send him pics of some of the Soul Red chipping folks here and on other forums have posted. He Googled it while we were talking and was curious to learn more. He'll be a good sounding board for making my color selection.
I'm getting closer...
Nice follow up post. [emoji106] Glass coating sounds expensive?!?
Glad your driving reservations have been resolved
Colour - you know my position (wink)
As for the coating etc, that is up to you. All I got done on mine was tinted windows.
You have good taste in colour.
The Mazda silver is bee-you-tu-full.
All kidding aside, I liked it. It has a deeper, more metallic hue to it than most silvers you see on the road.
But this daggone Soul Red Crystal Metallic. It's like a girl with a bad reputation, and I know what she's gonna do to me, but there's just something about her....
It still does absolutely nothing for added power or acceleration.
I took the second [extended] test drive today and tested all the various ways of shifting. I also played with the electronics a little more.
There were none of the issues I noticed on my first test drive. I did find out that the Automated Speed Limiter is not an option in the states. There was no such setting on the CX-5 I drove (it was a fully loaded Grand Touring) and the sales guy did an internet search and said that all the ASL examples and instructions were in KM, not MPH. That explains how I was able to find two English language CX-5 manuals on the Mazda website yet only one of them included ASL references.
I did not notice any delays or performance issues when using the Manual Mode that some of the "professional" online reviewers alluded to. I was surprised at how long it stayed in gear in the Sports Mode...it really wound out more than I was expecting. (That's not a judgement, just an observation). Acceleration at highway speeds was fine. Any reservations I had are gone.
After we were through with the drive and the subsequent conversations, on my way to my car I walked around the parking lot looking at the different colors and potential chipping. I saw a little minor chipping (maybe a few flecks) on some of the Soul Reds (mostly on the doors) and not much on any of the other colors...but I did not have access to odometer readings to see which had even been driven. I'm still capitulating over paint color. *sigh* But the silver (which folks say is the most durable color) is nicer looking than I thought, so it's back on my list.
I then went to a paint film/ceramic coating guy and we talked for nearly 2 hours. He charges $1,700 to wrap the entire hood, the bumper, the front fenders, the A pillars and the leading edge of the roof (I forgot to ask about mirrors). That price includes film on the headlights. Everything but the pillars and the leading edge of the roof is seamless...it's fully wrapped around the edges. 10 year guarantee.
Professional glass coating is a whole other issue (eek2), and would have no real effect on protecting against chips.
I told the film guy I would send him pics of some of the Soul Red chipping folks here and on other forums have posted. He Googled it while we were talking and was curious to learn more. He'll be a good sounding board for making my color selection.
I'm getting closer...
I never use the manual mode. I tried it once but it's just a novelty since the car shifts for you at a certain point.
I never use the manual mode. I tried it once but it's just a novelty since the car shifts for you at a certain point.
SoulRed is hands down the most attractive color to me. My wife and I were tired of black and shades of gray/silver, which we found so unremarkable.
You may have said before, but how's that paint holding up?
I*ll use a better example, my previous M4 was a totally different vehicle in sport+ mode.
On the flip side, eco mode is what I used in inclement weather, especially light snow.
You really have a problem with *sport mode* don*t you?
The Mazda 6 speed auto does a pretty good job by itself!
Agreed, however manual mode still comes in handy for the following:
- Driving down a mountain and maintaining a gear instead of riding brakes.
- Fun factor, it's a little more engaging to drive, kinda like being halfway between an auto and a manual.
- Some situations do actually confuse the auto in what gear it should be in, manual mode quickly takes care of that.
The majority of drivers, a big majority I would guess, have no clue about riding a gear down an incline.
Agreed, however manual mode still comes in handy for the following:
- Driving down a mountain and maintaining a gear instead of riding brakes.
- Fun factor, it's a little more engaging to drive, kinda like being halfway between an auto and a manual.
- Some situations do actually confuse the auto in what gear it should be in, manual mode quickly takes care of that.