[maddy42]

Thanks Amit! That's helpful. Found a lot of contacts today, hopefully something will be figured out soon!

PS: already met a chap with anGolf GT today and saw a chap with a Nissan GT-R 😬

Maddy

[navtiwari]

I picked up a used 2016 Mazda CX5(Touring) three weeks back as I wanted to upgrade to something bigger and better from my 2013 Hyundai Elantra.

Initial ownership experience:
--Brilliant handling on the curves and solid composure during sudden lane changes. The suspension is tuned for agility and the steering is precise with good feedback.This is a big change from Elantra that I was driving
--Good gas mileage for a car of this size, getting 25mpg in city and 28mpg on freeway, Mazda skyactiv technology working here I believe
--Cargo space is more than enough for my needs. It can take a stroller, one full size bag, one mid size bag and few small items without issue. More space can be generated by folding the rear seats
--I like the Blind spot monitoring system, it also gives a cross traffic alert on camera display with beep if there is a moving vehicle in the field when reversing
--AWD system: It has not kicked in yet and might not see action before Nov/Dec when snow starts but some online reviews suggest it is at par with Subaru Forrester AWD system which is considered best in this category
--Rear visiblity is poor due to thick C pillar and small rear glass window which makes blind spot monitoring system a neccesity
--I hate the outer silver ring on AC vents, it produces a reflection on side view mirrors in direct sulight. Any remedy for this?
--I get a light humming/buzzing sound from tires on freeway speeds. Initially I thought it is due to new tires installed by the dealer and will go away after a couple of hundred miles but it is still there after 2500 miles. I also noted that it comes only in the speed range of 54- 62mph. Any ideas what might be causing it? I will anyways take it to the service center in a few days for a oil change and will ask them to take a look at it

That is all for now. cheers.

Naveen

[VPSuchin]

Originally Posted by navtiwari

I picked up a used 2016 Mazda CX5(Touring) three weeks back as I wanted to upgrade to something bigger and better from my 2013 Hyundai Elantra.

Always good to learn owner's experiences with a vehicle that the press has been praising about a lot. This and the Forester are consistently ranked among the top small SUVs.


Did you consider the Forester as well? Any other competitors?

How is the power? does 155HP seem adequate for highway passing and accelerating on ramps?

[navtiwari]

Originally Posted by VPSuchin

Did you consider the Forester as well? Any other competitors?

How is the power? does 155HP seem adequate for highway passing and accelerating on ramps?

I initially set out to buy Ford Edge SEL with ecoboost engine but low mileage copies were hard to find and whatever was available was out of my budget. I did consider Jeep Cherookee and Subaru Forrester but Jeep was too crude and I did not like the exterior styling of Subaru.

2.0L and 155bhp comes with base model only. This is Touring model with 2.5L engine and 185 bhp which is quick enough on ramps and freeway passing.
I flip to sports mode when the ramp is short or if I need to zip through the traffic. In sports mode it shifts gears at about 4k rpm, holds the gears longer and increases the sensitivity of the accelerator pedal for aggressive throttle control. Although it drops the mileage by few miles per gallon but it is fun

[navin_bhp]

Originally Posted by navtiwari

--I get a light humming/buzzing sound from tires on freeway speeds. Initially I thought it is due to new tires installed by the dealer and will go away after a couple of hundred miles but it is still there after 2500 miles. I also noted that it comes only in the speed range of 54- 62mph. Any ideas what might be causing it? I will anyways take it to the service center in a few days for a oil change and will ask them to take a look at it

That is all for now. cheers.

Naveen

Congrats on the new car!. Since you are in Milwaukee I'm interested to know what tires come with the car. Would you mind asking how much you paid for the car?

[amitoj]

Congrats on the new-to-you car!
Used Subarus command a premium here in New England region. Did you feel the same in Milwaukee as well?
Volvos used to be the cars that people bought and never sold, until they became too expensive to buy. All the Volvo crowd has now moved to Subaru.

[navtiwari]

Originally Posted by navin_bhp

Congrats on the new car!. Since you are in Milwaukee I'm interested to know what tires come with the car. Would you mind asking how much you paid for the car?

Thanks navin_bhp. It has Yokohama Avid Ascend installed by the dealer and there were other CX5's in dealer inventory with same tires. I think these and Toyo are OEM for Mazda.
I paid $22,400 + Taxes. This was listed price and the dealer was not ready to negotiate on it as I was neither trading nor financing but I had him add the CPO 12month/12000 mile bumper to bumper warranty to the remaining factory warranty at no cost to me. Also got 3 free oil changes and unlimited free carwash.

Originally Posted by amitoj

Congrats on the new-to-you car!
Used Subarus command a premium here in New England region. Did you feel the same in Milwaukee as well?
Volvos used to be the cars that people bought and never sold, until they became too expensive to buy. All the Volvo crowd has now moved to Subaru.

Thanks amitoj.
I do feel Subarus have excellent resale value in midwest as I did not find many used Subarus online during my search.
There are about 10-12 dealers in the 5miles radius of my house with huge inventories and I don't remember seeing too many of them.

[ToroRosso]

Originally Posted by dr.abhijeet

I daily drive it although.

Originally Posted by gatham.psb

If a daily driver and doing only highway miles, the new wrx is a better bet

Guys - Quick one. How is the STi for daily drive? I will not be tracking the car and this will be the primary car for the family. My work commute will be around Pleasanton - CA.

I am debating between WRX Limited vs STi.

[amitoj]

Originally Posted by ToroRosso

I am debating between WRX Limited vs STi.

Can never NOT recommend an STI. But can't go wrong with WRX either! But if you can go for an STI, why settle for a WRX?

[gatham.psb]

Originally Posted by ToroRosso

Guys - Quick one. How is the STi for daily drive? I will not be tracking the car and this will be the primary car for the family. My work commute will be around Pleasanton - CA.

I am debating between WRX Limited vs STi.

I daily drive my STi. If you are looking for ride comfort, i would say WRX. If you are ok with all the noise and harshness, then STi is better any day.

Unless you are canyon carving everyday, the differential settings and drive modes have not much use on the street in town.

Bay area dealers don't give good deals unless you haggle a lot. The 2017 models are slowly hitting the lot, so you can get some good deals if you play it right.

[ToroRosso]

Originally Posted by gatham.psb

I daily drive my STi. If you are looking for ride comfort, i would say WRX. If you are ok with all the noise and harshness, then STi is better any day.
.

That is my problem, I dont have a reference on the noise levels between WRX and STi

I plan to order the car from Heuberger Coloardo and have it shipped to CA.

This is going to be the only car for the family, is that harshness that bad or is it livable on a daily basis with.

[gatham.psb]

Originally Posted by ToroRosso

That is my problem, I dont have a reference on the noise levels between WRX and STi

I plan to order the car from Heuberger Coloardo and have it shipped to CA.

This is going to be the only car for the family, is that harshness that bad or is it livable on a daily basis with.

I think its livable and the rumble of the unequal length headers is worth it. Its not quiet like the BMW or even lexus types. Tyre noise is a bit more which can be easily remedied. Between the two, I would always suggest the STi. If you don't like it later, you can trade in and not lose much at all.

STi suspension is a bit stiff(some find it jarring), so there is definitely a difference in the ride quality. What you lose in comfort compared to WRX, you will gain in handling. WRX is a lot frugal on the gas too.

The rear spoiler is standard on the STi base, so if you dont like it, you need to get a limited or exchange your trunk with other WRX owners. The stock sound quality is not so great, so I would suggest an upgrade. Don't take the upgraded SPT exhaust as there is a significant drone.

[ToroRosso]

Originally Posted by gatham.psb

I think its livable and the rumble of the unequal length headers is worth it.

The rear spoiler is standard on the STi base,.

Thanks bunch Gautham That helped massively.. I love the Spoiler ,

[VPSuchin]

Originally Posted by ToroRosso

That is my problem, I dont have a reference on the noise levels between WRX and STi

I plan to order the car from Heuberger Coloardo and have it shipped to CA.

This is going to be the only car for the family, is that harshness that bad or is it livable on a daily basis with.

--If you are not very particular about a WRX (And Subaru's AWD) and want more luxury, reduced NVH, would you consider a Volkswagen GTi? Many reviews prefer the GTi for day to day driving and consider it to be a higher quality car. For example Car and Driver posted this comparison which I found to be interesting.

--The Ford Focus ST could be another option.

--Here's another out of the way option: If ride quality, NVH and interiors are very important to you- This might seem a little far fetched but on paper at least a used 2012+ BMW 328i XDrive is a similar basic formula. 5 seater sedan, Turbocharged 240 hp and 255 lb-ft of torque, Good rear-biased AWD system, available Manual transmission. It is softer than a WRX and wont handle as well unless maybe you get the sport package.

I have seen some people compare this to the WRX on some forums. If you buy a 2 year old CPO car you can get a total of 6 years 100K warranty and the remaining of 4 year free maintenance. Just an idea I wanted to share.

In the end you can never go wrong with a WRX/STi though, the Pros far outweigh the cons; And if you do get the WRX/STi, please provide us with a detailed review

[dr.abhijeet]

Originally Posted by ToroRosso

Thanks bunch Gautham That helped massively.. I love the Spoiler ,

I daily drive my Sti. I have a car seat in my Sti and in-spite of other cars in the garage, if I am going somewhere with wife and kid, I take the Sti. My Kid loves the Sti. It lovely as a daily driver. I dont think you should think about WRX. I test drove both and I know ThE EJ is old, the car will rattle, People in PT cruisers will want to race you,but it so worth it. I test drove STi, Chevy SS, barely used M3 from carmax and WRX and for the price, the base STi was a winner by a wide margin. I did not take anythink except short throw shifter and and home link as added options. Just to help you decide and because gatham does not post as many pics of his WRB STi here you ago: