Just put a deposit down on a Touring...HELP! Questions about AWD!

[cybercruiser]

The cheapest storage rental I can find in my area is 5'X5', for $26/month, so, $312 a year to store my off season wheel/tires.

 

[vroom]

Here the tire market is big enough that the big tire retailers will store your off season wheels for about 8$/month. I store mine in the garage.

 

[halfast3]

Thanks for the replies all. I understand snow tires will help with traction a lot. I am going off of driving up to the mountains in my friends Forester with standard tires on snow/ice covered roads and encountering no skidding etc.

I am thinking of snow tires, but here's my problem with that: I'm commuting more than 300 miles per a week right now. Colorado is mostly sunny and dry in the winter time, with intermittent snow on the Front range, where I live. So I could buy snow tires, but I would be concerned about wearing them out rather quickly. I also go up to 80 or even 90 on the highways, not sure if snow tires can handle that. Anyone have thoughts about this?

I also moved here from Oregon, where I may move back to again soon. While they get tons of snow on Mount Hood in the winter, most years they get none in Portland. So once I move back to Oregon, would it be worth it have snow tires for the 10-20 days I spend skiing? AWD and standard tires seems like it could be a good option to do both...

I live in Oregon and travel across the Cascade mountains multiple times a month. We run studless winter tires on both vehicles once the forecast highs drop out of the 50s (~7degC), usually from November through April. In addition to taming snowy roads, the traction improvement on bare wet pavement is dramatic.

In addition to the links posted above by deepfriedsushi, his should help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elP_34ltdWI

 

[Dr_Watson]

Forget snow tires, you end up thinking if there is no snow, what's the point. They are cold weather tires, as mentioned above, they perform much better in dry and wet conditions from about 7 deg C and lower, when it snows, they help a lot. So get them depending on the temperature, not the likely hood of driving on snow. It's your call if you think they will wear out too fast to be affordable, but one accident avoided is probably 10x cheaper than changing tires earlier than your wallet wants to.

 

[freelyfallin]

Thanks, all. I'll definitely get snow tires.

So I'll pick up my CX-5 this week. I have a few questions for you all:
1) The price the dealer quoted me at for a 2015 Touring Soul Red CX-5 with the Bose/moonroof package was $26736, almost two grand lower than the MSRP ($28475). They are going to give me $4,000 off for my 2005 Mazda 3 Hatchback with 122k miles on it, and some damage to the front bumper. Does all this seem right to you all?
2) I understand that 2015 CX-5's made in the latter half of this year come with turning signals in the side mirrors--is that correct? I have the the vehicle VIN, any way to figure out when the car was manufactured based on the VIN?
3) I'm thinking of getting the clear bra paint protection. Any opinions on that?

Thanks,
Matt

I live in Oregon and travel across the Cascade mountains multiple times a month. We run studless winter tires on both vehicles once the forecast highs drop out of the 50s (~7degC), usually from November through April. In addition to taming snowy roads, the traction improvement on bare wet pavement is dramatic.

In addition to the links posted above by deepfriedsushi, his should help:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elP_34ltdWI

Forget snow tires, you end up thinking if there is no snow, what's the point. They are cold weather tires, as mentioned above, they perform much better in dry and wet conditions from about 7 deg C and lower, when it snows, they help a lot. So get them depending on the temperature, not the likely hood of driving on snow. It's your call if you think they will wear out too fast to be affordable, but one accident avoided is probably 10x cheaper than changing tires earlier than your wallet wants to.

 

[vroom]

I can't comment on the price, since I live in Canada and I don't have sufficient reference...

2) Only the shape of the turn signal has changed. All CX-5 have blinkers on the mirror.
3) I didn't get one, but I regret it a bit. The paint on the CX-5 chips easily.

 

[freelyfallin]

I'd get it. Years ago I didn't on a Maxima I used to have and front became all pitted. I learned my lesson and had one put on my G35X. The front looks like brand new. I got one on the CX-5. Dealership warranties it for life. I know they won't replace any damaged areas but if any areas start to lift they will.

In addition to the front there is coverage on the top part of grill, headlights, front of mirrors, door edges and inside the door handle area

Thanks! Is the warranty on the clear bra through any Mazda dealer, or through the specific dealer? I ask because I'll be moving a lot, and I would hope I'd be able to get service on the clear bra at whatever Mazda dealer I wanted.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

Thanks! Is the warranty on the clear bra through any Mazda dealer, or through the specific dealer? I ask because I'll be moving a lot, and I would hope I'd be able to get service on the clear bra at whatever Mazda dealer I wanted.

Mine was through my Mazda dealer. If it is something like 3M you will at least get a 3 year warranty on that that could be used at another shop IIRC.


You might find some info here.

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...Aftermarket/Our-Brands/Scotchgard-Pro-Series/

 

[xtrailman]

I have summer tyres fitted to my UK AWD.
I also tow and was surprised that the CX-5 lacked traction towing off a wet grass level field.

What I did notice was the front wheels initially spun, something my xtrail would never do.
Apparently the Mazda system isn't as sensitive as the Nissan one, with the Nissan system fitted to my last car a 2009 model year, the 4wd would engage in LESS THAN ONE REVOLUTION of the front wheels slipping.

While the Mazda system rotates the front wheels a few revolutions before torque is distributed to the rears.

As yet I've not driven the Mazda in snow, and to be honest I won't unless I can't avoid it because the tyres are unsuitable, the UK Xtrail had all seasons which were fine in all UK weather conditions.

So sorry to disappoint owners but there are better AWD systems out there Nissan being one, which also has the option of "lock"

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I have summer tyres fitted to my UK AWD.
I also tow and was surprised that the CX-5 lacked traction towing off a wet grass level field.

What I did notice was the front wheels initially spun, something my xtrail would never do.
Apparently the Mazda system isn't as sensitive as the Nissan one, with the Nissan system fitted to my last car a 2009 model year, the 4wd would engage in LESS THAN ONE REVOLUTION of the front wheels slipping.

While the Mazda system rotates the front wheels a few revolutions before torque is distributed to the rears.

As yet I've not driven the Mazda in snow, and to be honest I won't unless I can't avoid it because the tyres are unsuitable, the UK Xtrail had all seasons which were fine in all UK weather conditions.

So sorry to disappoint owners but there are better AWD systems out there Nissan being one, which also has the option of "lock"

Do you see the same behavior with TCS off? To obtain the best initial traction in slippery situations with my AWD '07 Infiniti G35x (AKA Nissan Skyline V36 sedan) I have to turn off the TCS. That being said I do feel the ATTESA E-TS system in that car is probably more advanced than the Mazda system.

 

[xtrailman]

I hadn't thought of that, mainly because my Xtrail didn't have TC, and solo I haven't had the TC light on but once.

I was told my 2004 Xtrail 4wd system was based on the skyline, but no mention of that with the T31 2009 car which was more advanced, details were in the brochure.

The Mazda does have a lot more torque than the Xtrail so wheel spin on a FWD car would be expected but not on a modern 4wd car?