Mazda Ice Academy: Trial By Ice And Snow CX-5, CX-3 And MX-5

[jhu8]

I dunno how it works, but it handled the corner on-throttle better than FWD or RWD would have, and I could "feel" the system doing "something", as nebulous as that sounds.

Mustangs have had traction issues for a while. I hope 2015's changes fixed that. I really like the new mustangs, but GM is destroying them with the ATS based Camaro so badly it isn't even funny. The mustang guys will have to go back to racing the imports again like they had to do in the late 90's/early 2000's, or get forced induction, again, a'la LS1 era.

Yeah as much as it irks me how much the Camaro destroys the new mustang(yikes, did I just say that). But I'll give credit where it's due. Ford has some serious work to do but I have no doubt they can do it. Probably spent too much time on the new styling, and not enough on the whole package. The new Camaro while updated styling, it's not that much different. Bring over some enhancements from the gt350/gt350r and it will compete for sure. I just hope they do it. Nothing beats that mustang sound though.

 

[jhu8]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUXCKaR9ZUo

Another great video demonstrating the CX5s AWD. Check in at 5:15 for the uphill test. All three cars running same tires. The CX5 did much better than the Subaru Forester. In fact, the CX5 looked like it didn't even slip.

 

[MikeM.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUXCKaR9ZUo

Another great video demonstrating the CX5s AWD. Check in at 5:15 for the uphill test. All three cars running same tires. The CX5 did much better than the Subaru Forester. In fact, the CX5 looked like it didn't even slip.

For a few years, I, for one, have been saying this is the best snow/ice car I've ever driven and it's nice to see our many varied and trusted auto guys coming to similar conclusions that many of us already knew.

That said, I think Mazda NA really blew it by not having a wet ice course to showcase the systems delicate and precise control when dealing with truly treacherous roads because this is where I've found the CX-5 to really set itself apart. Cold, dry packed powder with winter tires offers HUGE amounts of traction and, while this kind of testing is valuable, any vehicle will perform adequately (albeit with varying degrees of performance). Wet ice would showcase the CX-5's natural sure-footedness when traction is truly scarce. With all vehicles equipped with the same rubber, a wet ice test would truly separate the champs from the posers in a manner not possible with a simple packed powder demonstration.

 

[Unobtanium]

Yeah as much as it irks me how much the Camaro destroys the new mustang(yikes, did I just say that). But I'll give credit where it's due. Ford has some serious work to do but I have no doubt they can do it. Probably spent too much time on the new styling, and not enough on the whole package. The new Camaro while updated styling, it's not that much different. Bring over some enhancements from the gt350/gt350r and it will compete for sure. I just hope they do it. Nothing beats that mustang sound though.

The Ford V8's have always sounded better than the GM V8's, and always sucked when it came time to actually race, lol At least, since I was born.

That said, the new Camaro absolutely annihilates the new mustang GT in EVERY way you can measure performance, by a very meaningful margin, turning very similar numbers, if not better, than the last iteration of the GT500 Cobra, even in SS trim. That's a kick in the nuts. But its always been like that with Ford. Their Cobra has been competition for the Z28/SS/Trans AM, and sometimes it's a hair faster (2003/2004), sometimes a hair slower (1993-2001).

Really though, I like the Mustang GT's styling enough to buy one instead of the Camaro. Why? because I've owned fast. It's fun. But I didn't use it that much, really. I can live with slow and sexy a'la mustang GT. However, I am fast becoming an AWD ***** and am looking at the WRX/STi development for 2-4 years from now. I just have trouble wanting to get into a RWD car again, after seeing how amazing AWD is in the rain, on cold pavement, etc.

 

[Unobtanium]

For a few years, I, for one, have been saying this is the best snow/ice car I've ever driven and it's nice to see our many varied and trusted auto guys coming to similar conclusions that many of us already knew.

That said, I think Mazda NA really blew it by not having a wet ice course to showcase the systems delicate and precise control when dealing with truly treacherous roads because this is where I've found the CX-5 to really set itself apart. Cold, dry packed powder with winter tires offers HUGE amounts of traction and, while this kind of testing is valuable, any vehicle will perform adequately (albeit with varying degrees of performance). Wet ice would showcase the CX-5's natural sure-footedness when traction is truly scarce. With all vehicles equipped with the same rubber, a wet ice test would truly separate the champs from the posers in a manner not possible with a simple packed powder demonstration.

It's too much to hope for the RX9 being AWD. But one can fantasize. Mazda seems to have been upping their AWD game the last few years.

 

[jhu8]

For a few years, I, for one, have been saying this is the best snow/ice car I've ever driven and it's nice to see our many varied and trusted auto guys coming to similar conclusions that many of us already knew.

That said, I think Mazda NA really blew it by not having a wet ice course to showcase the systems delicate and precise control when dealing with truly treacherous roads because this is where I've found the CX-5 to really set itself apart. Cold, dry packed powder with winter tires offers HUGE amounts of traction and, while this kind of testing is valuable, any vehicle will perform adequately (albeit with varying degrees of performance). Wet ice would showcase the CX-5's natural sure-footedness when traction is truly scarce. With all vehicles equipped with the same rubber, a wet ice test would truly separate the champs from the posers in a manner not possible with a simple packed powder demonstration.

Yeah I would love to see that. I think the world is slowly learning as well how advance the CX-5 is, and I'm glad there are videos being made to demonstrate the capability of the CX5.

The Ford V8's have always sounded better than the GM V8's, and always sucked when it came time to actually race, lol At least, since I was born.

That said, the new Camaro absolutely annihilates the new mustang GT in EVERY way you can measure performance, by a very meaningful margin, turning very similar numbers, if not better, than the last iteration of the GT500 Cobra, even in SS trim. That's a kick in the nuts. But its always been like that with Ford. Their Cobra has been competition for the Z28/SS/Trans AM, and sometimes it's a hair faster (2003/2004), sometimes a hair slower (1993-2001).

Really though, I like the Mustang GT's styling enough to buy one instead of the Camaro. Why? because I've owned fast. It's fun. But I didn't use it that much, really. I can live with slow and sexy a'la mustang GT. However, I am fast becoming an AWD ***** and am looking at the WRX/STi development for 2-4 years from now. I just have trouble wanting to get into a RWD car again, after seeing how amazing AWD is in the rain, on cold pavement, etc.

Not to derail this thread too much but on the note of AWD, what do you think about the the Focus RS coming out? I was soo tempted to wait for that, but that thing starts at like $37k. Looks like it's gonna be a real strong performer with awesome AWD. A nice package for a Ford guy. But I also feel like if I'm spending close to 40K, I am at fully loaded mustang gt territory, approaching gt350 territory.

 

[Unobtanium]

Yeah I would love to see that. I think the world is slowly learning as well how advance the CX-5 is, and I'm glad there are videos being made to demonstrate the capability of the CX5.



Not to derail this thread too much but on the note of AWD, what do you think about the the Focus RS coming out? I was soo tempted to wait for that, but that thing starts at like $37k. Looks like it's gonna be a real strong performer with awesome AWD. A nice package for a Ford guy. But I also feel like if I'm spending close to 40K, I am at fully loaded mustang gt territory, approaching gt350 territory.

The performance is totally there, but...I just can't make my funthing a focus. I just cant.

 

[banjos-n-beer]

Focus RS looks like a teenager boy racer car. If one doesn't mind that I'm sure the performance will be satisfying.

 

[jhu8]

Focus RS looks like a teenager boy racer car. If one doesn't mind that I'm sure the performance will be satisfying.

I think the same thing about any VW hatchback, as well as any wrx/sti. I always look inside and 9/10 times it's some young kid. But at the price of the focus rs, no teenager will be able to afford one.

 

[banjos-n-beer]

Sti is almost 40k new. Same ballpark as the RS. Ford just looks tackier, as usual.

 

[jhu8]

Sti is almost 40k new. Same ballpark as the RS. Ford just looks tackier, as usual.

All those ricer cars are tacky IMO. That dumbass woosh sound when they shift. So cheesy. Give me a v8 all day every day. Even if it's not as fast in every situation.

 

[MikeM.]

Mazda Ice Academy. Testing AWD systems head to head with identical tires. Great idea! Interesting videos, good articles by some leading automotive journalists of the era, informative thread so far (with a few exceptions).

 

[ALafya]

Ice-Academy event starting to pay off:

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/5-surprising-off-roaders/#slide-3868370