Question about 2021 CX-5 GT with premium package

[EJS2799]

I still have 4 days to return, however, I got the carfax/service records for the car. Single owner and regular oil change as per the car fax report.

Would appreciate if you could check and let me know if there is any problem/issue you see in here -

Are there any other records/service records I can get ? Please let me know.

https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory/e/Report.cfx?03AY1RU8SVDxaVh5MoeI9qCjOZNOTtQr_tlMZnEu2VE&partner=SHR_3

 

[dunhillmc]

You've purchased a used car with known engine design defects that cause it to consume and/or leak oil. It's given you the warning light that could be a tip off of that problem.

What are the known defects in the 2.5 NA engine that cause it to consume/burn oil?

 

[yrwei52]

I still have 4 days to return, however, I got the carfax/service records for the car. Single owner and regular oil change as per the car fax report.

Would appreciate if you could check and let me know if there is any problem/issue you see in here -

Are there any other records/service records I can get ? Please let me know.

https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory/e/Report.cfx?03AY1RU8SVDxaVh5MoeI9qCjOZNOTtQr_tlMZnEu2VE&partner=SHR_3

Many here have expressed their opinion and almost all of them believe you should give up this particular 2021 CX-5 based on your findings so far. Not sure anyone would say anything more to make you think you should keep the car.

The picture of the dipstick you posted earlier is hard to read on oil level. Assuming the dipstick showed oil level in between Min and Max holes, it means the oil level sensor could be malfunction and triggered Low Oil Level Warning Light. But the oil level sensor won’t fail easily and why the warning light was on is a mystery to me. And your theory of how the warning light was triggered during shipping is flawed as the oil level sensor is working in real time; shipping may have tilted the car but once it’s on the ground it can’t trigger the level sensor unless the oil level is low.

Honestly if you can afford a new 2024 CX-5 Premium Plus for $40K OTD as you mentioned earlier, you should go for it as you can find a 2024 CX-5 without very problematic cylinder deactivation on the 2.5L NA. 2.5L NA with CD has been experiencing many major issues on engine and transmission since 2018 MY due to questionable design and complexity. Although the percentage of having those problems could be very low but those problems once happen they’re costly!

Buy the 2024 CX-5 NA to avoid cylinder head crack issue?

2.5 NA Cracked Cylinder Head with Oil leaking...How common is this?

CEL w/DTC P0524 or P055F - Stuck engine oil solenoid valve / vehicles with CD

CX-5 Chirp Noise from Automatic Transaxle on 3-4 upshift - Bulletin 05-005/23

As on service records from CarFax, they look normal with ~7K oil change interval at a Mazda dealer and a quick oil change place. The factory tires got replaced at 17K miles which is very early and my stock Toyo A23’s lasted 44,032 miles. One thing makes me wonder why this CX-5 operating in Virginia got bought in Montana on 4/1/2024 which is thousands miles away?

 

[EJS2799]

Many here have expressed their opinion and almost all of them believe you should give up this particular 2021 CX-5 based on your findings so far. Not sure anyone would say anything more to make you think you should keep the car.

The picture of the dipstick you posted earlier is hard to read on oil level. Assuming the dipstick showed oil level in between Min and Max holes, it means the oil level sensor could be malfunction and triggered Low Oil Level Warning Light. But the oil level sensor won’t fail easily and why the warning light was on is a mystery to me. And your theory of how the warning light was triggered during shipping is flawed as the oil level sensor is working in real time; shipping may have tilted the car but once it’s on the ground it can’t trigger the level sensor unless the oil level is low.

Honestly if you can afford a new 2024 CX-5 Premium Plus for $40K OTD as you mentioned earlier, you should go for it as you can find a 2024 CX-5 without very problematic cylinder deactivation on the 2.5L NA. 2.5L NA with CD has been experiencing many major issues on engine and transmission since 2018 MY due to questionable design and complexity. Although the percentage of having those problems could be very low but those problems once happen they’re costly!

Buy the 2024 CX-5 NA to avoid cylinder head crack issue?

2.5 NA Cracked Cylinder Head with Oil leaking...How common is this?

CEL w/DTC P0524 or P055F - Stuck engine oil solenoid valve / vehicles with CD

CX-5 Chirp Noise from Automatic Transaxle on 3-4 upshift - Bulletin 05-005/23

As on service records from CarFax, they look normal with ~7K oil change interval at a Mazda dealer and a quick oil change place. The factory tires got replaced at 17K miles which is very early and my stock Toyo A23’s lasted 44,032 miles. One thing makes me wonder why this CX-5 operating in Virginia got bought in Montana on 4/1/2024 which is thousands miles away?

Thank you so much. Super helpful.
I looked up the above links, it appears if the 8th letter in the VIN is 'L' that car is without CD and if 'M' then with CD. I should be looking at the 'L' at the 8th position in the VIN of 2024 CX 5 to make sure that it has NO cylinder deactivation mechanism, correct ?

 

[yrwei52]

Thank you so much. Super helpful.
I looked up the above links, it appears if the 8th letter in the VIN is 'L' that car is without CD and if 'M' then with CD. I should be looking at the 'L' at the 8th position in the VIN of 2024 CX 5 to make sure that it has NO cylinder deactivation mechanism, correct ?

Yes.

 

[dunhillmc]

That's about as good as a Carfax can get. I'd wager that you are right that being angled on the truck led to the low oil light coming on for a few minutes. It's obviously not low at all and it looks like it's very clean oil as well

 

[yrwei52]

⋯ I'd wager that you are right that being angled on the truck led to the low oil light coming on for a few minutes. It's obviously not low at all and it looks like it's very clean oil as well

The oil level sensor is located on the side of oil pan. It’s a real time sensor and activated when the electricity is on and the engine is running. When the engine is running the engine oil in the oil pan gets sucked by the oil pump circulating around the bearings、valve train on top and other things. The crankshaft also splash the oil lubricating pistons and rods and more. The oil level will be lower in the oil pan with engine running than when the engine is stopped. When the car is in tilted position while shipping and oil level can’t be too low to untouch the oil level sensor as the engine is stopped. Even if the oil level is so low untouch the sensor while shipping but the electricity is off the sensor won’t send out any signals and store the DTC if needed.

 

[EJS2799]

Thank you so much for your feedback and insights. I took the decision to return the car to Carvana today. Felt a bit sad when the car was getting loaded on the trailer but I believe I made the right decision as the ‘low oil light’, which came 3 times on different days, was driving me insane. I was just not able to stop thinking about it.

Appreciate all your insights.

Back to the car search again.

 

[ruthrj]

Thank you so much for your feedback and insights. I took the decision to return the car to Carvana today. Felt a bit sad when the car was getting loaded on the trailer but I believe I made the right decision as the ‘low oil light’, which came 3 times on different days, was driving me insane. I was just not able to stop thinking about it.

Appreciate all your insights.

Back to the car search again.

It was the correct move IMO, sorry for the hassle. Low oil light 3 times on different days would be too much for me to gamble on.

When you shop for the new car, try to see if you can get a great deal when haggling. Mazdas in my area don’t seem to be moving off the lot and there could be some savings to be had.

 

[chickdr]

Definitely agree on getting a new one. There are good deals on the CX-5 as it has been around for quite a while in its current form.

 

[EJS2799]

It was the correct move IMO, sorry for the hassle. Low oil light 3 times on different days would be too much for me to gamble on.

When you shop for the new car, try to see if you can get a great deal when haggling. Mazdas in my area don’t seem to be moving off the lot and there could be some savings to be had.

any tips and tricks on how to haggle would be very much appreciated

 

[EJS2799]

Just spoke to my local mazda dealer and the selling price that they gave me for 2024 CX5 premium plus after the dealer discount was - $36,900. The estimate for the tax, title, regiatration and fee is - $3230. So, OTD would be around $40,130.

Is this a fair price ?

 

[hoopics]

Just spoke to my local mazda dealer and the selling price that they gave me for 2024 CX5 premium plus after the dealer discount was - $36,900. The estimate for the tax, title, regiatration and fee is - $3230. So, OTD would be around $40,130.

Is this a fair price ?

It's at least $1000 high depending on your region. Go to Autotempest.com, run a search in your zipcode for the specs you want, and see what pricing it gives you. It'll route you to Truecar. Here it showed me the attached.

I also searched cargurus.com nationwide, and in many parts of the country there are a few Prem Plus listed at a bit under $35k. That says the dealers can sell them at $34k or maybe even a bit under and make a profit. If it were me, I'd pull whatever the lowest listing is you can find on cargurus that you can plausibly go buy from, and get your dealer to match. If I were searching, I wouldn't settle for over $35,000 flat + TTT.

 

[ruthrj]

It's at least $1000 high depending on your region. Go to Autotempest.com, run a search in your zipcode for the specs you want, and see what pricing it gives you. It'll route you to Truecar. Here it showed me the attached.

I also searched cargurus.com nationwide, and in many parts of the country there are a few Prem Plus listed at a bit under $35k. That says the dealers can sell them at $34k or maybe even a bit under and make a profit. If it were me, I'd pull whatever the lowest listing is you can find on cargurus that you can plausibly go buy from, and get your dealer to match. If I were searching, I wouldn't settle for over $35,000 flat + TTT.

+1 on this strategy. I’ve always felt like I got an ok deal if I can get the price of the car alone less than the “true car” value. I don’t sweat tax tag or title as those are non-negotiable. I also don’t want to pay for anything extra either like dealer add ons. I simply want what came on the car from the factory. No extended warranties, no extra BS that the finance guy pushes. It already sounds like you’re on the right track. I’m not worried about the monthly payment, I want the vehicle at X price at Y financing. No crazy dealer fees, no hidden crap. Dead simple.

The only bummer with the timing of my 23 Turbo purchase was APR. 2.9 was the incentive for 60 months (not bad at all), BUT two months after purchase Mazda dropped it to 0% for a while. That would’ve saved me thousands but oh well. I needed a car ASAP after my 13 was totaled.

 

[EJS2799]

It's at least $1000 high depending on your region. Go to Autotempest.com, run a search in your zipcode for the specs you want, and see what pricing it gives you. It'll route you to Truecar. Here it showed me the attached.

I also searched cargurus.com nationwide, and in many parts of the country there are a few Prem Plus listed at a bit under $35k. That says the dealers can sell them at $34k or maybe even a bit under and make a profit. If it were me, I'd pull whatever the lowest listing is you can find on cargurus that you can plausibly go buy from, and get your dealer to match. If I were searching, I wouldn't settle for over $35,000 flat + TTT.

Thank you so much, hoopics and ruthrj. I checked on TrueCar in my zip code and I am getting average price as $37,465, which is more than what dealer is offering me - $36,900. Does it mean the dealer is giving me the best price without any haggling

 

[hoopics]

Thank you so much, hoopics and ruthrj. I checked on TrueCar in my zip code and I am getting average price as $37,465, which is more than what dealer is offering me - $36,900. Does it mean the dealer is giving me the best price without any haggling

Wow, your market is tough. Don't be afraid to bring your dealer comps from 300 or 400 miles away and ask them to match. I live in Virginia and have purchased four different cars out of state because the deals were better elsewhere. Saving $2500 buys you a one way airline ticket, gas home, meals, and leaves you $2000 left over in most places. Don't be afraid to tell your dealer that if you can find a plausible comp in a market you can drive back from in a day.

 

[EJS2799]

Wow, your market is tough. Don't be afraid to bring your dealer comps from 300 or 400 miles away and ask them to match. I live in Virginia and have purchased four different cars out of state because the deals were better elsewhere. Saving $2500 buys you a one way airline ticket, gas home, meals, and leaves you $2000 left over in most places. Don't be afraid to tell your dealer that if you can find a plausible comp in a market you can drive back from in a day.

Great point, thank you !

 

[EJS2799]

Wanted to provide an update on my car search. I could not get a decent deal on a new CX5 premium plus in 50 miles radius. Also, 'autoninja' initially offered a decent deal but could not locate the vehicle and I have not heard anything from them .

Started looking at other options and found a 2021 Subaru Forester Premium (clean car fax, no accident, personal lease vehicle) with 34K miles in a dealer lot, which was 55 miles away from my place. They listed it at $20,490 but after some haggling ( This was my first time dealing with the dealer), I got the price down to $ 19,740 plus the tax, title, registration and dealer fee. OTD price - $22,400. It has only been 2 days and the car is good but it is not CX5 , Good thing is it saved me few thousand dollars.

Did I get a decent deal ?

 

[hoopics]

Wanted to provide an update on my car search. I could not get a decent deal on a new CX5 premium plus in 50 miles radius. Also, 'autoninja' initially offered a decent deal but could not locate the vehicle and I have not heard anything from them .

Started looking at other options and found a 2021 Subaru Forester Premium (clean car fax, no accident, personal lease vehicle) with 34K miles in a dealer lot, which was 55 miles away from my place. They listed it at $20,490 but after some haggling ( This was my first time dealing with the dealer), I got the price down to $ 19,740 plus the tax, title, registration and dealer fee. OTD price - $22,400. It has only been 2 days and the car is good but it is not CX5 , Good thing is it saved me few thousand dollars.

Did I get a decent deal ?

If it's a single owner, accident free, regularly maintained vehicle you sure did. Your OTD price is below the list price on a lot of comparable cars depending on your market. And you've gotten an incredibly sturdy vehicle that'll run forever. No the driving dynamics aren't the same as a CX-5, but I found the Subaru seats more comfortable and the sightlines far better. It feels much more open and bright inside. Well done.

 

[EJS2799]

If it's a single owner, accident free, regularly maintained vehicle you sure did. Your OTD price is below the list price on a lot of comparable cars depending on your market. And you've gotten an incredibly sturdy vehicle that'll run forever. No the driving dynamics aren't the same as a CX-5, but I found the Subaru seats more comfortable and the sightlines far better. It feels much more open and bright inside. Well done.

Yes, it is a single owner, accident free and regularly maintained at Subaru dealership.

@hoopics, Thank you and a BIG thank you for pointing me to the 'True Car' platform. This is where I found this car based on their "Excellent Price" filter. Though I had to drive for an hour and fifteen minutes to the dealer but it was worth it as I saved some good money on it.