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2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
http://www.tflcar.com/2012/03/video-review-the-2013-mazda-cx-5-skyactiv-gets-mud- dy-makes-good-first-impression.html
Why Mazda, why?!
I have run into this with many cars over the years.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
I want a drivers car that is not a stripper. I would like power seats (more adjustment) and leather.
Something about the Mazdas I really like...the handling and steering. Very nice in the CX-5.
If I didn't live in a congested area (N. Dakota?) I'd pick up the Grand Touring with a stick. Zoom-zoom.
There is no comparison. The stick is faster by a noticeable margin (see consumer reports tests of automatics vs sticks).
The stick offers much better control and is much better in the snow for that reason - it will never shift when you don't want it to - ever.
If you get stuck, you can rock a stick by engaging and disengaging the clutch. Too cumbersome to shift from drive to reverse in an automatic - too much delay.
You can be in the right gear exactly when you want - autosticks always hesitate before shifting.
You can skip gears - autosticks are all sequential.
You can tow it with no problem if it breaks down.
You can push start - see above.
$1,000 cheaper to buy.
Use less gas in real world testing (epa tests favor automatics - check any source that tests real world mpg like CR).
The car is usually 50-70 lbs lighter in the front - handling is therefore better.
Much easier to hypermile if you are so inclined.
Much cheaper to replace a clutch than an automatic transmission.
People won't borrow you car.
To me there is absolutely no reason anybody should even consider an automatic. It does nothing better. Correction - it is easier to text while driving an automatic. :shades:
A few numbers below.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/01/save-gas-and-money-with-a-manual-tran- smission/index.htm
You had me until you said the above. In very congested large cities and if one has to commute long distances in stop and go traffic, the stick can be absolutely tireseome and a pain in the leg if not the [non-permissible content removed]. Believe me, I love a stick but after crawling for hours several times in snowstorms or because of accidents, I swore I would never have a stick again until I no longer had to commute in rush hour.
If you are in gridlock for two hours every day, then you have much bigger problems regardless of transmission. My condolences.
Traffic is a complete annoyance regardless of transmission.
In stop and go, just put it in second gear and you are good from a crawl up to a decent speed - just drive evenly and don't floor it till you are right on the bumper of the guy in front. Not driving evenly is a major contributor to poor traffic anyway. Yes the occasional person may pull in front of you - no big deal.
Anyway - at least VW still offers a fairly complete stick lineup. Mazda and Honda have fallen back, and Toyota is almost out of the game. Just wished Mazda took the zoom zoom motto more to heart.
No, you stated "To me there is absolutely no reason anybody should even consider an automatic." I simply gave a good reason. Might not be right for you but it certainly can be a reason for others. Wow, how condescending you sound to those that have to work for a living in metropolitan areas. Lots of people may not have much of a choice due to profession or family.
And please, forgo the beginners lesson on how to drive a stick in traffic. I've driven stick for 45 years and know how to do it. Again, very condescending. Please don't be a "stick snob". Just accept that there are different strokes for different folks and try not to put anyone down for what transmission they use or where they live.
Mazda advertises its sporting image, so they need to offer the stick in at least the Touring if not the Grand Touring. The people I know who drive sticks and want sticks these days are not the stripper model buyers. The stripper models are for the first car and young types. Most of those buyers have never driven and don't want a manual.
This, I believe is where the car companies, don't understand the manual transmission buyer. On the CX-5 not only is it offered in the Sport only, but you are limited in color choices on the exterior, black interior only, and no bluetooth package. Basically they are saying we don't want to sell any, and then when we eliminate manuals on the CX-5 probably next year, it was because there was no market for manuals not because we marketed the manuals poorly.
I really don't think you have any idea whether anybody has or hasn't driven a stick. And I really don't see too many people that like auto trannies on these forums that try to convince everybody that they are the best thing since sliced bread. It is almost always the other way around.
If I lived in very heavy urban traffic I probably wouldn't buy one either, but in suburban or mixed driving, I like it far better than any auto
That's great. But that doesn't mean everyone that has surburban or mixed driving SHOULD drive a stick. You just like it better and that's fine. Others may like an automatic even in those situations and that's fine too. I would probably have at least one stick in my household but my wife absolutely refuses to learn to drive one and she also refused to have a vehicle in the garage that she can't drive. I know, it sounds terrible but she has other good points.
I agree that nobody should be a stick snob or an auto snob. There are absolutely pros and cons for each but a lot of stick lovers usually don't want to admit thereare any cons to a stick. I never could figure out why they seem to want to cram it down everyone's throat like they are on some kind of mission to change the world.
Now, as to the availability of manual trannies in higher level versions of many cars. I also agree that one should be able to get the vehicle they want with all the bells and whistles. They should at least be available for special order. I know a lot of dealers don't like the loaded sticks because, in the past, they have sat and sat and they usually had to take a beating on them. Therefore the didn't order them and the manufactures stopped making them. So there is a reason for not stocking them but NOT a reason IMO to not have them available for spec order.
everyone that has surburban or mixed driving SHOULD drive a stick.
In recent years, I do see a number of posters say now the automatics get better gas mileage and the auto is really smooth so there are no reasons to buy manuals. I haven't seen anyone post in this group to eliminate the autos in the CX-5.
I have never said you must drive only a manual and you have to like it.
Then again, for those who buy something like a Miata with an auto, I truly just don't understand since fun sporty driving is the whole point of a Miata.
Yeah, any real sports car lends itself to be the most fun and interactive with a stick. However, there are those that would even get an auto in those and then you have the bashers that like to say they shouldn't. Gets real tiring after awhile. I think only about 10% or less of BMWs are sold with stick and they are supposed to be the ultimate driving machines. Which means? Not a lot, just that people still like sportiness but don't want to work at it. No problem with that either. Purists get all upset but if that bothers them so much they need some real problems.
I am sure there are people that will only drive stick shifts and I get that also. MY on comment is on relating to a CX-5 the stick did not excite me. I drove both on the same day and did not feel the stick added a huge amount of performance. Just my 2 cents.
I still have the same question, anyone out there lease this car yet?
I wonder why the skyactive AT is 1 mpg higher for mazda3 but several mpg lower on the cx5?
I hate car shopping This was my first choice and then drove a VW Sportwagen, which I really liked a lot (I found the CX5 a bit hard to see out the back, but it might just take getting used to (?)) ... VW reliability does make me nervous, though, since I tend to keep my cars awhile.
Poor CX-5 Sport 6MT roll-out. Only three colors (black, gray or silver) really!? Only 13 Sport MTs available within 300 miles, with a stock level of 300 total. I suppose I should be pleased that any manual version is available at all, since the Ford Escape is "automatic only." I don't think so.
Finally, Mazda's weak financial situation. After losing $1 billion last year and closing their Michigan assembly plant, while building a Mexican plant to help them out of their exchange rate induced losses, it remains to be see whether Mazda will find the partner they seem desperate for, or join Saab, Pontiac and Plymouth on the once great auto badge list.
So I opted for a C platform hatchback with five more horsepower, two inches less wheelbase, three hundred pounds less weight and costing roughly $3,500 less money, and pulled the trigger on a Focus SE Hatchback Sport Package 5MT. Love this smooth, quiet and responsive European Ford with its row-your-own transmission.
Let the flaming begin...
Seriously, the Focus is a nice ride, I test drove it and liked how it handled, and it's got great options. However, I've disqualified it from my search due to the smallish gas tank. And because there's a lighter hatchback coming this summer with the same MPGs but 200 HP. :P
I was looking forward to the Focus but I crossed it off my list because of interior volume. My knee bumps on the console of my current Focus, I'd like a car in which I don't have that problem.
I also think the CX-5 actually drives better, due to the slick 6-speed and more communicative steering. The Focus feels more refined than the larger CX-5, but the CX-5 feels more maneuverable than the smaller Focus.
Talk about a "car snob"....look in the mirror!..... :P
Jabroni expert, how mature! Tell mommy, you are on the computer again.
Centerpoint option is not available with the FM radio, so I haven't messed with that at all. All the other sound options are default in the middle.
Any help or other experiences appreciated!
Less than a year ago I ripped all my CDs to my computer and sold them. I can't blame that on Bose but it did alter our relationship.
I was especially impressed with the solidness of the ride. It felt like a heavier vehicle as it soaked up the road imperfections. Road noise is considerably less noticeable than in our Mazda6 and is right on par with Infiniti SUV. Cornering was almost a flat as our Mazda6 which is pretty impressive for a CUV. I think this is a really nice vehicle that moves adequately and whenever the thought of wanting more grunt raises it's awful head, just thing about 30mpg on regular and it makes it much more bearable. I wasn't all that impressed with the Bose system however. We also have an older Infiniti QX4 that has the Bose system and it sounds subtantially better than the system in the CX-5. I'm not an audiophile so I could live with it, but I did notice the difference. Other fit and finish items were very good and the quality of the materials were on the higher end versus it's competitiors. I liked that the center console didn't look like a space ship and was easy to use and understand with real buttons and dials.
I could get used to driving this by just anticipating situations a little better and realizing that I'm not going to be racing other people away from stoplights very much. I don't do that now with the Mazda6 so it's not something that I would have to make a lot of adjustment for.
Is this normal or have they forgotten to remove a protective covering? It sure doesn't look like it can withstand any mud or gravel thrown by the wheels.
The front wheel wells look normal and are made of a hard plastic or metal.
The dealer claims it's normal and that it's found in all CX5s in their lot.
Can any other CX-5 owner confirm this?