Questions after test driving 2017 CX-5 and CRV

Also, just to clarify, Niether brand, Subaru or Honda has a button for AWD.

Plus does Subaru even make non-AWD? I though all their cars come AWD standard? There's performance expectations from their system as a result. Someone made a good point on "negotiating" the elements of the road. It appears Mazda's rear wheels engage as a result of sensors as to allow the driver to focus more on driving than compensating for factors.
 
Plus does Subaru even make non-AWD? I though all their cars come AWD standard? There's performance expectations from their system as a result. Someone made a good point on "negotiating" the elements of the road. It appears Mazda's rear wheels engage as a result of sensors as to allow the driver to focus more on driving than compensating for factors.

Not to be a nitpicky arse, but yes, one Subaru is RWD only, the BRZ.
 
Living in Colorado, I have a special hate for Subaru drivers over most if not all others. (lol2)

While CR-V was a good joke, out here it's a Subaru Outback in the left lane going 10 under the speed limit ;)
 
Not to be a nitpicky arse, but yes, one Subaru is RWD only, the BRZ.

Speaking of the FRZ/BRZ, I heard that Toyota wants to tap into that skyactiv weight approach ala Miata...for their future FRZ models. Not sure if true. Then again the new Miata holds it own against the FRZ/BRZ twins on the track despite being down 50hp or so.
 
Speaking of the FRZ/BRZ, I heard that Toyota wants to tap into that skyactiv weight approach ala Miata...for their future FRZ models. Not sure if true. Then again the new Miata holds it own against the FRZ/BRZ twins on the track despite being down 50hp or so.

I wanted to call BS on you, but researched it before I shot my keyboard off in ignorance, and wow!

As to FRS/BRZ, man, they have been talking it up forever. Gonna do this. Gonna do an STi. Gonna do a TRD Supercharger. Gonna...man, I honestly think the FT86 twins are going to die on the vine. Noone is buying them really, and they are not "halo" cars that either company would ever pump losses into because of their image.
 
I wanted to call BS on you, but researched it before I shot my keyboard off in ignorance, and wow!

As to FRS/BRZ, man, they have been talking it up forever. Gonna do this. Gonna do an STi. Gonna do a TRD Supercharger. Gonna...man, I honestly think the FT86 twins are going to die on the vine. Noone is buying them really, and they are not "halo" cars that either company would ever pump losses into because of their image.

The twins are good with what they have, they're never going to sell in any volume regardless of the 300hp they don't need as they're quite impractical and really only work as a 2nd vehicle for most punters. But to keep things moving forward they could go one of 2 ways as I see it- make them a little bigger thus adding weight and grant them the +50 or whatever hp everyone's been crying about via forced induction (which I believe they are strongly opposed to doing)...or Miatafy ie keep it cheap, pure (no boost), simple and find ways to go lighter. If you've driven a 17 with the revised gearing, brakes and dampers in the perf pkg its pretty clear they're not letting them die on the vine. If you just look at numbers on the spec sheet then these aren't and will never be for you. Don't dis my twins they get no love as it is and its wrong.
 
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I wanted to call BS on you, but researched it before I shot my keyboard off in ignorance, and wow!

As to FRS/BRZ, man, they have been talking it up forever. Gonna do this. Gonna do an STi. Gonna do a TRD Supercharger. Gonna...man, I honestly think the FT86 twins are going to die on the vine. Noone is buying them really, and they are not "halo" cars that either company would ever pump losses into because of their image.

Don't sleep on the new Miata. 0-60 in 5.8 seconds. A figure 8 test matching a 2005-2010 era Ferrari 575 and Lambo Gallardo. All using a 155HP skyactiv engine.

http://www.motortrend.com/cars/mazda/miata/2016/2016-mazda-mx-5-vs-2015-subaru-brz-comparison/
 
^^Not at all> I just can't fit myself or much of anything else into it comfortably but I distinctly remember asking myself how in the world is this car moving like this with just 155hp? And that was in the heavier RF version with a dealer on board! Apart from the Miata riding worse (maybe something wasn't right- tire pressure etc) it also rolls a good deal more so between the two- brz4me- not that you'd go wrong either way both great little sports cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSq5Zb5ZNWY
 
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I assume they all had Blizzaks. . Other AWD systems don't use the rear wheel in this condition because if the ground weren't slippery, the front and rear would be fighting each other, causing a bind up.
Tks - years ago we had an Audi A6 Quattro that was 50-50 awd all the time & watching this video reminded me of how easy the Audi did in all conditions in the snow. I assume the Mazda must be similar, using all the wheels..
 
When I lived in the north-east, I thought the CX-5 AWD system worked well. Miles better than my CR-V, which was terrifying. Nothing beats the old manual Subaru's that ran a simple viscous coupling system that was always 50/50 until you lost traction.
. Our 1999 Audi A-6 Quattro was 50/50 too and never had a problem in the snow. Not sure how they make quattro now, but I've read that it changed..I guess more intuitive rather than 50-50 all the time..
 
The twins are good with what they have, they're never going to sell in any volume regardless of the 300hp they don't need as they're quite impractical and really only work as a 2nd vehicle for most punters. But to keep things moving forward they could go one of 2 ways as I see it- make them a little bigger thus adding weight and grant them the +50 or whatever hp everyone's been crying about via forced induction (which I believe they are strongly opposed to doing)...or Miatafy ie keep it cheap, pure (no boost), simple and find ways to go lighter. If you've driven a 17 with the revised gearing, brakes and dampers in the perf pkg its pretty clear they're not letting them die on the vine. If you just look at numbers on the spec sheet then these aren't and will never be for you. Don't dis my twins they get no love as it is and its wrong.

Eh, I drove one and loved it. Friend owned one, totalled it after 3 years, bought a wrx, and loves it way more.
 
^^Not at all> I just can't fit myself or much of anything else into it comfortably but I distinctly remember asking myself how in the world is this car moving like this with just 155hp? And that was in the heavier RF version with a dealer on board! Apart from the Miata riding worse (maybe something wasn't right- tire pressure etc) it also rolls a good deal more so between the two- brz4me- not that you'd go wrong either way both great little sports cars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSq5Zb5ZNWY

This is why I hate miatas. I cannot stand wallow, and they wallow hard. I know it's all for the better, but like Mazda says....it's about feel, not actual performance, and it doesn't feel good to me.
 
Good for him..way more versatile vehicle for sure...if i was limited to 1 well i still want the damn hatch but it'd likely be that..dry bendy roads hfs its brz by a country mile for this guy..but the cx5 best be ready for primary dd usage!
 
Good for him..way more versatile vehicle for sure...if i was limited to 1 well i still want the damn hatch but it'd likely be that..dry bendy roads hfs its brz by a country mile for this guy..but the cx5 best be ready for primary dd usage!

He prefers the wrx for corners as well. Me personally, I liked the brz. It felt like a pocket version of my c6z
 
Why do automatics such so bad, I wonder :( I wish I could have bought a 2.5 manual cx5 honestly

Why bother buying a grocery getting, soccer mom, cheap appliance in a manual? What's the point? Those are all your words by the way.
 
Why bother buying a grocery getting, soccer mom, cheap appliance in a manual? What's the point? Those are all your words by the way.

I agree with my words still, but from a reliability standpoint, I really regret not being able to get it in manual. I just don't trust automatics. From a FUNCTIONAL standpoint, yeah, manual is crap for this kind of vehicle. Catch me tomorrow and I may be glad I have an auto, poor reliability be damned.
 
. Our 1999 Audi A-6 Quattro was 50/50 too and never had a problem in the snow. Not sure how they make quattro now, but I've read that it changed..I guess more intuitive rather than 50-50 all the time..

Yes, Subaru used to compare their system to Audi and highlight how they were basically the same. The only negative with that system was the fluid would eventually burn out and cause issues, but if you kept on top of it, it was a great system. The thing I remember was that I never noticed the terrain. Not with rain or snow, it always felt similar.
 

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