Just not feelin' the 2014 CX-5

[thegrapeguy]

I started out on this quest a month ago to get a new CX-5. My 2013 CX-5's got 31k miles, the warranty will be up in a couple months, the tires are gettin close, brakes, a few small dings... So I worked with 2 dealers going through the painstaking process of filling out forms, crunching numbers and arrived at some potential deals. I actually got kind of excited - the new soul red color, the bigger engine... And I managed with some equity and a lower interest to get a considerable lower payment.

I don't want to make this a "Should I wait for the 2015 to come out" thread but after reading very carefully the number of folks pissed off at their TomTom issues, USB issues, etc. I started to lose my excitement.

I too have had problems with my Tom Tom. It does the job but it is buggy and cheap feeling. I haven't really used the USB /Music yet but was planning to...

I guess I feel that for taking the depreciation hit, going in hock again that I should have a together Nav/Tech package.

I don't really factor in the hood/mirror vibration thing since I have not experienced that on my 2013. Nor do I think that anything will change in that department with the 2015.

I have read that it's likely the 2015 will have another Nav company. And that the Tech center will be greatly improved.

So I'm wondering if there's any perspective on this I'm missing. Like maybe the 2015 will cost more... Changes will come about gradually and I could have the same issues with the 2015...

 

[sweet]

I've had a '13 GT and loved it. I have a '14 GT and love it even more.....But if I were you, at this point, I'd wait for the '15.....The only difference between the '13 and '14 is the POWER and city brakes (power alone was worth it to me). If my wife didn't "crunch" the '13, I'd still have it.....Hopefully, she keeps this one, in one piece, at least until the '15 comes out!

 

[TreyP]

I have the hood and mirror shakes, but neither one bothers me more than a 1/10. I don't have the Tom Tom, so can't speak to that. The stereo issues are beyond frustrating, so I put in a new unit, but it would have been better if the factory unit worked as it should have, especially with it being touted as a high end Bose upgrade.

If I was currently in the market, and knew what I know today about the '14 issues, I would definitely wait a few more months for the '15. Maybe it will have the same issues, but worst case scenario you still have a car that is one year newer.

 

[V8toilet]

There are some pretty good deals on some aftermarket double din radios with navigation right now that are most likely going to be even better than what the 2015 will have given the history of OEM units for all makes. You could sell the factory unit and recoup up to 50% of the expense and check off the thing that you hate the most, which I think is the factory radio unit.

 

[V8toilet]

Also don't forget the factory speakers suck (guaranteed to be the same on 2015) and so it might be worth paying less for the 2014 and investing in the parts you want via the aftermarket. I would also consider the 6 or even the new 3 where you could get a higher model with more options for the same or less $$$$. The new 6 is quieter than the CX5 and I bet the new 3 is too. They have less road and wind noise and get better gas mileage too. They also handle better and are faster with the 2.5. As good as the CX5 is its still an SUV with a high center of gravity, is heavy, is noisy, is less efficient, and cost more than the 6 and 3.

 

[V8toilet]

I just realized I mentioned how noisy the CX5 is 4 times in the above post. I guess I have an issue with that! Still love everything else about it though.

 

[TreyP]

Also don't forget the factory speakers suck

I actually have no problem with the speakers. Now that I put in a Kenwood they sound great.

 

[Bladecutter]

I started out on this quest a month ago to get a new CX-5. My 2013 CX-5's got 31k miles, the warranty will be up in a couple months,

Actually, your powertrain warranty expires at the 5 year/60k mile mark, whichever comes first, so you still have quite a bit of warranty left.

the tires are gettin close, brakes, a few small dings... So I worked with 2 dealers going through the painstaking process of filling out forms, crunching numbers and arrived at some potential deals. I actually got kind of excited - the new soul red color, the bigger engine... And I managed with some equity and a lower interest to get a considerable lower payment.

Ahh, I see what's really on your mind.
The car isn't new anymore, and you want a new car once again.

If I were in your shoes, what I would do is switch cars for a little while.

Go to the dealer, and pick up a Miata, a 6, or a 3, and then when the "new" CX-5 hits the market, you're ready for it, and will trade in your temporary Mazda to get the new CX-5.
Variety is the spice of life, as the saying goes.

With all the Owner Loyalty bonus' that Mazda has on the Miata currently, that's probably what I would pick up.
But, then again, you live in upstate NY. I'm not sure if that means you live in Westchester, or if you live in Morrisville, so your desire to drive a Miata with snow tires in the middle of winter might be considerably less than mine would be here in Denver.

If you get the 3, then you will be able to find out if the new system is actually any better than the system currently in the CX-5, if that actually is the direction that Mazda goes across their whole lineup in the future.

Or, you could choose the Mazda 6, get a Touring, and have a manual transmission with the 2.5 engine.

Either way, replacing your current CX-5 with another CX-5 right now doesn't really give you anything more than just a newer car, in a nicer red (Which I love on mine, btw), with new tires, and less dings than what you currently have.

Then again, I shouldn't give you any advice on cars to buy.
I'm a serial test driver.
Yesterday my wife and I test drove the Fiat 500L Trekking with a manual transmission, and loved it, and today, we're going to go test drive the new Maserati Ghibli and Porsche Cayman.

BC.

 

[thegrapeguy]

Thanks BC - for the insight. Variety may be the spice of life but my 2 kids, wife and ski gear have to fit into whatever car I get...

 

[Bladecutter]

I'm going to quote myself:

Then again, I shouldn't give you any advice on cars to buy.
I'm a serial test driver.
Yesterday my wife and I test drove the Fiat 500L Trekking with a manual transmission, and loved it, and today, we're going to go test drive the new Maserati Ghibli and Porsche Cayman.

BC.

Don't take my advice, really.
I mean that.

Yesterday, my wife, myself, and my best friend all went to the Maserati dealer and experienced a test drive two versions of the new Maserati Ghibli Q4 sedan, one with the sport suspension package, and one without (this one first), and it was all we could do to get out of the dealer with our wallets intact after several hours of falling in love with the car (sport suspension required, of course). I also test drove the Quattroporte, and that one left me unimpressed, except with the performance of the Ferrari V-8 engine under the hood.

So, don't take my advice on car shopping, but at the same time, don't ever test drive the Maserati Ghibli.

Whatever you do decide to do, make sure you're happy with the deal you agree to, and that the car you choose is the one you want.
Don't compromise. If it means waiting 6 more months to see what the new interior design looks like on the CX-5, then wait for it, if that's the car you truly want to end up with.
The more financial transactions you do that are short term, the more likely you are to lose equity that you currently have in your current CX-5.

Oh yeah, and don't ever test drive the Maserati Ghibli.

BC.

 

[thegrapeguy]

BC - seriously some great advice! My dream is the Porsche Cayenne loaded! If not that the Lexus RX 450 Hybrid AWD at 57k loaded...

 

[IHeartGroceries]

Redesigned center stack is worth the wait on a 15 model alone.

But, I have to ask, how is it that your brakes are needing service anywhere near 30K miles? My wife is right at 30K, and the brakes have at least 2-3 times that more life left in them.
Tires, yeah - the Yoko Geolanders on my T (17") have a wretched wear rating. Surprised they have made it this far. But, even so, they still have at least 5-8K miles in them. Too bad they're going to be the noisiest sonsabitches ever in that time.

For me, it is difficult to justify the losses associated with jumping up a m/y or two on the same model car, without a significant redesign or upgrade.

 

[CX-SV]

thegrapeguy - IMHO, no way you can justify the cost of trading a '13 GT to '14 GT.

IHeartGroceries - Interesting report on Yoko Geolanders, no wonder many owners here are complaining about noise and so-so tread life.

 

[erhayes]

So you are expecting 35 to 38,000 from the Geolanders which is not bad for OEM orig. The noise is another issue for sure.

 

[erhayes]

So you are expecting 35 to 38,000 from the Geolanders which is not bad for OEM orig. The noise is another issue for sure. Trading a 2013 to a 2014 is akin to tossing money in the toilet in my opinion. Just not enough difference to justify to cost. Ed

 

[ALafya]

no wonder many owners here are complaining about noise and so-so tread life.

I am not as active in this forum, but my impression is that only few people complained about tire noise. For me, wind noise is more pronounced than road noise and even that is not at a level I'd complain about.
I do intend to get different tires, but not because of road noise.

 

[CX-SV]

I am not as active in this forum, but my impression is that only few people complained about tire noise. For me, wind noise is more pronounced than road noise and even that is not at a level I'd complain about.
I do intend to get different tires, but not because of road noise.

Good point of making the distinction between road noise (versus tire noise) which can have multiple causes including tires.

My observation here on mazdas247 (CX-5 section of course) is that we have significantly more complaints around road noise versus complaints about wind noise. Several Sport/Touring owners have stated road noise was the most pronounced noise they observed at speed.

 

[thegrapeguy]

Ok so I bugged out of the deal to get a 2014 CX-5. I actually had the papers signed and the deposit down. My sales guy was cool about it. The reason it was relatively easy to get out was that the car hadn't arrived in the time expected and was slightly delayed at port. Without a definite arrival I just backed out. My reasoning was based on the advice given in this thread. Not enough changes in the 2014 to warrant a buy. I cleaned and washed my car and felt good about it again. Can't stand TomTom though. I think it's terrible. But the mileage I'm getting with the smaller engine is impressive.

At 21k miles I heard a loud scraping sound coming from the back brakes. The dealer said I needed new back rotors and pads. I thought that was crazy and the service manager let me talk to the mechanic. It was explained to me that one of the back brakes had seized due to corrosion from the harsh winter (salt). He said that the CX-5 comes from the factory without the brakes being packed in grease. This would protect against corrosion in harsh climates. When he redid the back pads and rotors he packed them in grease and said I should never have that problem again. At first the service manager said it would be like $450 for the repair but then I pressed for a warranty repair sighting the fact that one back brake was totally fine and that the mechanic told me that it wouldn't have happened if the back brakes were packed in grease. A call placed to the district manager allowed it to process through warranty.

 

[CX-SV]

^ Well done on persisting on getting warranty coverage, outcome as expected.

Thanks for follow up report.

 

[tibimakai]

I have measured with my phone the noise in the cabin of my Touring and my wife's 09' Honda CRV. On concrete freeway, driving at 75 MPH, my car was showing 72-73 db and my wife's CRV was showing 76-77 db.