Speed?

[Unobtanium]

You really have no clue:

There are tons of roads like this in Washington State. You should really get out and about more.

The fasted published measured speed of any stock USA CX-5 I've seen is 123 mph with the 2013 2.0L. 2.5L models are now governed to a lower speed.

But you would have to be on crack to care whether it's 115 or 123!

I doubt your CX-5 will hit 120mph on ANY road. I guess I didn't make it clear. You have the AWD version, and that's parasitic loss, and if 123 was for a 2WD version, then no, I'm not seeing 120 from AWD, as inefficient as Mazda's AWD is.

 

[Unobtanium]

The brakes on my car work fine and I am actually kind of amazed that it doesn't nose down that much. Even if it did, that's not a problem. Suspension compression doesn't make the brakes stop working. I had it up to 100 once just to see what it felt like. No problems. Didn't take much of a squeeze on the brake to drop it back down to 75. Seems to me the opposite is true. This chassis could handle more power easily. On the other hand, if I wanted to cruise at 100+ speeds all day, I could get something with a bit lower center of mass. Or just jump on my FJR.

120 is pretty different from 100. Especially in the braking department. A LOT more heat-soak up there past triple digits, especially on rotors and pads not meant for that.

Suspension compression certainly isn't good for any kind of avoidance maneuver (why are you braking hard, anyway....?)

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

I doubt your CX-5 will hit 120mph on ANY road. I guess I didn't make it clear. You have the AWD version, and that's parasitic loss, and if 123 was for a 2WD version, then no, I'm not seeing 120 from AWD, as inefficient as Mazda's AWD is.

I got mine up to 125

 

[Unobtanium]

I got mine up to 125

Yours is a stock 2.0 FWD?
Also, was that laser, or speedometer?

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Yours is a stock 2.0 FWD?
Also, was that laser, or speedometer?

gps/speedo hell no I got rid of the 2.p0op a while ago. I have a 15' 2.5, with 20" wheels and I was able to max out the cruise control (technically 124). The problem is depending on what the knock sensor is showing (load) once you hit 110, you get a 4000 rpm "limit", but it is NOT a speed cut off; you can still accelerate to whatever 4k in 4th gear will give you. You can partially defeat this by using cruise control, which will give it a little over 5000 rpm. The day I was able to get to 125 I did not get limited at 4k when I hit 110 and I was able to accelerate past at over 5k rpm and then I turned on the cruise control to see what I could get. The cc stopped at 124. But I mean you can go on youtube and find cx-5's stock busting that published speed limit

 

[Unobtanium]

gps/speedo hell no I got rid of the 2.p0op a while ago. I have a 15' 2.5, with 20" wheels and I was able to max out the cruise control (technically 124). The problem is depending on what the knock sensor is showing (load) once you hit 110, you get a 4000 rpm "limit", but it is NOT a speed cut off; you can still accelerate to whatever 4k in 4th gear will give you. You can partially defeat this by using cruise control, which will give it a little over 5000 rpm. The day I was able to get to 125 I did not get limited at 4k when I hit 110 and I was able to accelerate past at over 5k rpm and then I turned on the cruise control to see what I could get. The cc stopped at 124. But I mean you can go on youtube and find cx-5's stock busting that published speed limit

I was referencing Mike and his Jeep-crushing Off-roading dominant, Rock-crawling, snow-plow speed demon of a 2.0.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Ah ok. Actually I wanted to see his wheels but it didn't look like he had them on in the video..

 

[MikeM.]

I doubt your CX-5 will hit 120mph on ANY road. I guess I didn't make it clear. You have the AWD version, and that's parasitic loss, and if 123 was for a 2WD version, then no, I'm not seeing 120 from AWD, as inefficient as Mazda's AWD is.

First of all, we were not discussing MY CX-5. We were discussing the 2.0L engine CX-5. And nowhere did AWD even enter into it.

Sometimes I think you just like to argue to hear yourself babble.

 

[rwortman]

120 is pretty different from 100. Especially in the braking department. A LOT more heat-soak up there past triple digits, especially on rotors and pads not meant for that.

Suspension compression certainly isn't good for any kind of avoidance maneuver (why are you braking hard, anyway....?)

Good grief. If we were talking about stopping from high speed over and over on a track I might be wanting beefier brakes. For the occasional foray into triple digit speeds, I am quite sure this car has enough brakes. All vehicles transfer weight to front under braking. It's to be expected that the nose will dive unless you have very weird suspension geometry or some sort of active suspension. This is also no big deal. If you haven't got experience in hard braking, please go get some before someone or something pulls out in front of you. If you want to drive like a blue haired grandma in your car, that's fine. If you think your Mazda is a POS and unsafe to drive fast, get rid of it before you hurt yourself. At least you live far enough away that you aren't going to hurt me.

 

[Unobtanium]

Good grief. If we were talking about stopping from high speed over and over on a track I might be wanting beefier brakes. For the occasional foray into triple digit speeds, I am quite sure this car has enough brakes. All vehicles transfer weight to front under braking. It's to be expected that the nose will dive unless you have very weird suspension geometry or some sort of active suspension. This is also no big deal. If you haven't got experience in hard braking, please go get some before someone or something pulls out in front of you. If you want to drive like a blue haired grandma in your car, that's fine. If you think your Mazda is a POS and unsafe to drive fast, get rid of it before you hurt yourself. At least you live far enough away that you aren't going to hurt me.

No, just used to actual performance cars, and the CX-5 doesn't inspire confidence at triple digit speeds based on how it performs at lower speeds. Very few vehicles that I have had, did. The scariest was probably my 1995 Trans Am. Oddly, my 1988 GT with drum brakes stopped better from 100+. Once. The Trans Am actually got bad brake fade on the first 100+mph stop. My 370Z had decent brakes, and my Z06 was much better and never had a hint of fade. The CX-5, well, I have not played with it much above 100mph because it takes so damn long to get there I feel really self-conscious about it. The point being, little single or dual piston brakes with tiny swept areas suck at stopping 3500+ pound vehicles from 110-120+ mph. I'll pass. If you want to drive 100+mph, buy a car meant for it. Period. So if someone pulling out in front of your CX-5 at 100mph is an actual concern for you, darn right I'm glad I don't live where you do. Go buy a sports car if you want to drive it like a sports car. Simple 'nuff. Oh, and get some track time. Better yet, why don't you do ALL of that on the track, yeah?

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Sorry but I grew up in Germany and many cars you would lump into your above description can and do go over 100 mph or close to it on the regular. My dad had a Nissan Altima US spec (2003? first or second year of that major redesign, actually my mom and dad both had one at the same time eventually) went 140 easy never felt unstable. My cx-5 does not feel unstable. But I also traded out the unnecessary (for me, and probably many others) jeep ground clearance for a sport sedan height. If you really feel the car is unstable at higher speeds (and want to do something about it), then at the least, get rid of those pizza cutter wheels (or better tires). Otherwise, for ~$300 you can get H&R lowering springs which will improve handling a lot while still sitting higher than a sedan.

 

[piotrek91]

for ~$300 you can get H&R lowering springs which will improve handling a lot while still sitting higher than a sedan.

lowering springs sure helped this forester XT's handling
The crash is 100% the fault of the driver, but the low and stiff suspension certainly didn't do him any favors. All it took was a little too much speed and a little bump at the exit of the tunnel. A stock suspension set up would have probably soaked up that bump without upsetting the car in that manner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5NWcdq4Wf4&t=48

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

lowering springs sure helped this forester XT's handling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5NWcdq4Wf4&t=48

That guy obviously didn't know the limit of his vehicle, probably was unfamiliar with the road, and possibly had a poor suspension set up. I heard him downshit once, then, upshift at least twice in that tunnel (3-4)? He clearly over steered into the curve while going downhill, in a higher gear too with the CG shifting forwards; it's no wonder he spun. I wouldn't be surprised if he hit the brake right before the spin. I've only been in a spin ever twice: Once when a dumbass too old to drive woman PIT me, trying to drive fast in the rain after playing egotistic lane games, and when I accidentally spun a C-172 while practicing commercial maneuvers (which literally right before the spin I announced to the instructor I might be creating a spin situation (how's that for spin awareness FAA )). Actually I've been in a situation just like that Subaru was, curve wise. Instead of a cliff though, it was a wall. Familiar with the road, came up to the curve wot at about 70, accelerating. Well I glanced to my right to make sure the car I was passing wasn't doing something sketchy (i.e randomly coming into my lane) and no one was coming out of this obscure driveway and right when I looked up I was past the point I should have started my turn. Well I quickly turned and recovered just fine, in the lines, and yes it definitely felt the yank. And it was an "oh s***". I like my suspension set up not only for when I want to corner hard, but also when I need to dodge obstacles; like s*** on the highway falling off a Mexican junk truck (just calling it how it is), car accident debris, drivers cutting 4 lanes to reach poorly designed left exits (quite a few here), people about to sideswipe you because they don't actually look before the lane change, etc. It's fun, but also practical af.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Like this here, there are a couple more turns like it up north. People literally slow to like 55mph and can barely keep their car in their lane around this curve. I can enter it at like 65 or 70 wot and come out at 80 no problem (no wallowing etc)

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

Oh.. got to 2:05.. smart car fail

 

[piotrek91]

I've seen that "smart" car video before.
according to this site, the lady was listed in stable condition.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=056_1437664842
Gotta be careful out there!

 

[rwortman]

Go buy a sports car if you want to drive it like a sports car. Simple 'nuff. Oh, and get some track time. Better yet, why don't you do ALL of that on the track, yeah?

Well, I don't have the budget for a fleet of cars. I own a home and have several motorcycles. One is Italian and one is an antique. I need to have something that can carry more than a lunchbox and tow a light trailer. It's a nice bonus when it is also fun to drive. The automotive press is pretty much unanimous in their praise of the CX-5's handling. You seem to disagree. We could be all wrong or maybe it's just your personal preference. None of the many reviews I've read complained about braking performance. I am pretty sure this car can stop from 100 if needed without much drama. That said, I have found the fun to drive sweet spot to be 50 to 80.

 

[Chris_Top_Her]

If anyone has any questions about mods effects and installation post it in the performance thread in my sig

 

[MikeM.]

Oh.. got to 2:05.. smart car fail

Holy Jesus! Some serious idiocy there! Thank-you for making me realize I am nit-picking when I think the drivers/riders around here are bad! So wrong on so many levels! I don't know how you can pick one out of so much fail. No doubt she was going too fast for her driver skill/awareness levels. What did her in finally was a huge oil spill.

More shocking was the poor rider skills of the motorcyclists. I've encountered a number of motorcyclists who believe the front brake is evil but the rear brake is your friend and that video shows just how wrong-headed that belief is.

 

[russiankid]

If I remember correctly top speed is either 120 or 125. I know I have touched 120mph in my AWD (in Mexico of course), it doesn't take THAT long to get there or a down hill draft. As for stability, I didn't feel unsafe doing this until an F250 6.0 blew by me...(boom06)