Bought a new Mazda CX-5

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: Astro14
Are we really that far OT? We all agree that Nick's new car is nice...the point of contention is the decision to purchase...and that topic belongs in the vehicles forum...doesn't it?


I do feel that if it was a post here or there that would be in the "grey area". But when the thread goes to what has been going on then we have stopped talking about the vehicle and more about personal finance.

The heading for this forum is;

Thinking about buying a new vehicle? Do you own a vehicle and would like to share your experiences?

While I'll personally agree with quite a bit that has been said Nick is sharing about the VEHICLE. The thread has gone from the vehicle and sadly this is the reason why quite a few members stopped posting about their CHOICE of buying something or what they have bought because they don't want to deal with the drama that pops up.

If this was in the general section and someone popped up asking for advice then it would be good to go.

Take care, bill

 

[rationull]

Originally Posted By: Bill in Utah
Alright guys I'm going to lock this up I think.

Its way off discussing about the actual VEHICLE and Nick's thoughts of it.


Sorry Bill. My long post came after yours but I think we were typing at the same time -- I didn't see yours until after I posted. Not trying to drag this further off topic.


TBH I think the the reason this thread has drifted is partially because most of the posters giving advice recognize Nick and remember the previous situation when he purchased the Cruze. Maybe all the "drama" takes away from the vehicle discussion sometimes (and you're right, it is off topic going by the forum's description) but he didn't start a thread under General/Off Topic and this *is* a community).

 

[Astro14]

Fair enough, Bill. I appreciate the clarification. I did not realize the dampening effect on discussion that you mentioned and agree that is something to avoid.

I apologize for my participation in that.

 

[rationull]

Back on topic for me: Thanks for posting the pics. It looks like there's room for a dog in the back even w/ the seats up, which I might not have guessed from the exterior pics. The middle seat folding down separately is nice too. Can't really tell from the photo but do the rear seats fold totally flat?

If I were in the market for a small CUV this would be the one. Available w/ a stick shift, and I do like Mazdas.

 

[panthermike]

Another new car man! Looks nice, I like what Mazda has been doing lately.

 

[rjundi]

Originally Posted By: panthermike
Another new car man! Looks nice, I like what Mazda has been doing lately.


Unfortunately not financially well. Great cars in many ways but don't catch buyers like the rest have.

 

[hattaresguy]

Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
And youll be making payments when the car is 5+ years old and has who knows how many miles.

No he won't. He'll trade it in for yet something else within a year.


My cousin did this for years, that's how she ended up paying $550 a month for a freaken Jetta. Finally she woke up.

I can see Nick's new thread right now - set it in 2013. "Bought a new Mercedes GLK350"


Yep, seen the cycle a million times.

My friend put it the best.

"Doesn't matter how shiny, expensive, or new a car is, after 10 years its getting crushed into a cube and sent to Japan to become a Toyota."

 

[Mr Nice]

Its his money and can do what ever the heck he wants to do with it.

He will need a bigger vehicle in the future anyways ....

 

[Nick R]

I have updates for everyone! Well, I still like it a lot. But due to some circumstances and a few things, plans are not going to work out as planned. Basically, the bank screwed up and stuck me into a 48 month loan instead of a 72 month loan. Long story short, my payment is outrageous. That, combined with a few nitpicks (Oh I can nitpick anything) means that I will not be keeping this long.

I've also taken a lot of the advice in this thread to heart. So my plan is I'm going to make the normal payments, as well as put most of my comission checks into the payment. What that means is hopefully by tax return time, I will have it payed down to at/well below trade in value, and I will use my tax return to trade it for a more practical, less expensive used car. I'm thinking something like a used forester, or something along the lines of that. This wasn't the plan, but this bank mess up has kind of soured me on the whole deal.

Should have just gone with a used car in the first place, it's far more practical. Yeah new cars are great, but I've finally seen the light- taking the new car depreciation hit is a real pain in the touchus.

 

[kkreit01]

Heh!? What did the papers say when you signed? The finance officer should have went over everything in detail. If you signed at 72 months, for X payment at X interest, that is what your loan is. Bummer. Yeah, and 48 mo payment will be much larger than 72.

See -- I knew you'd be trading for that 3.6L 'Nox soon!

Their might be a used one by the time you trade.

 

[Cujet]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Should have just gone with a used car in the first place, it's far more practical. Yeah new cars are great, but I've finally seen the light- taking the new car depreciation hit is a real pain in the touchus.


I can make a very strong argument against the financial "soundness" of purchasing a used car. First off, you save nothing. The used car is pro-rated, by mile and time. Second, the used car is not "less expensive" to operate, it's slightly more initially and significantly more later on. Nor is a used car cheaper to finance. In fact, when you calculate the cost of "used" v "new" using real world "cost per mile" metrics, you will find that there is a maximum Delta of 5 cents per mile difference, and often, no difference. (real world cost per mile calculations include insurance, fuel costs, maintenance costs, capital costs, loan costs and so on)

Remember, if you plan on purchasing a "cheap" used vehicle to save money, you must also change class of car, often to something that does not fit your needs as well.

And, for goodness sake, don't get wrapped around the axle with terms like "depreciation" and "loss" and "upside-down loan value". The only way to make a new car more expensive is to trade it in quickly and let the dealer profit from your mistake.

 

[addyguy]

Yeah, like kkreit01 said, if you signed papers for a 72-month loan, make them honour it! If it's there in black-and-white, then you have ground to stand on.

Second life lesson you need to learn now, stand up for your rights - DO NOT let the bank force you into higher payments on this one - youmay have to go to court, but it will be worth it.

Don't back down - do it now, and you'll never develop a spine, and will do it all your life....

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
the bank screwed up and stuck me into a 48 month loan instead of a 72 month loan.

Earlier in the thread you mentioned that you intended to pay it off much sooner than 72 months anyway, so what's the problem now? This car should have been paid off within 2-3 years max anyway.

Quote:
combined with a few nitpicks

What were they? I'm genuinely interested since up until now this car was supposedly ideal.

Quote:

taking the new car depreciation hit is a real pain in the touchus.

Well, but you have already taken this depreciation hit the moment you drove it off the dealer's lot. IMO, now you should just stick to the plan and keep it at least 10 years. Over such a long period, the initial depreciation hit will not be as important in the grand scheme of things. If on the other hand you sell it now/soon, you're just taking the hit but not reaping any of the benefits. Another bad move, IMO, but that's just me.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Cujet
The only way to make a new car more expensive is to trade it in quickly and let the dealer profit from your mistake.

Beat me to the punch.

 

[Nick R]

Normally, I would fight it. But I don't have either the time nor the desire to do so. I know I'd win, but that's a lot of time I just don't have anymore. Either way, it'll get straightened out. And I don't plan on doing anything with it until I have it payed down to below trade in value.

As far as nitpicks, they are things that you don't notice until you've driven the car for a while. Namely, The steering wheel, I just can't find a comfortable place to hold it for long periods of time. The wheel is too small imo, and combined with the way the seat adjusts, I can't get a comfortable grip on it for long periods of time. The other one is just that, the seating position really doesnt' change with how you adjust the seat, because the front of the seat cushion is non adjustable. It's height (affects tilt), front-back and seat back position.

And pete there is a big difference between paying more because I want to, and having no option but to pay more. I like having the option of throwing an extra couple hundred at it if I can spare it that month, but I don't like being forced into it.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
As far as nitpicks, they are things that you don't notice until you've driven the car for a while. Namely, The steering wheel, I just can't find a comfortable place to hold it for long periods of time. The wheel is too small imo, and combined with the way the seat adjusts, I can't get a comfortable grip on it for long periods of time. The other one is just that, the seating position really doesnt' change with how you adjust the seat, because the front of the seat cushion is non adjustable. It's height (affects tilt), front-back and seat back position.

These are fairly significant issues, especially if you spend quite a bit of time in the driver's seat. I can certainly understand you not wanting to put with it for the next X years. I suppose one could look into aftermarket steering wheel and seat, but it may not fix the problem.

 

[Nick R]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Nick R
As far as nitpicks, they are things that you don't notice until you've driven the car for a while. Namely, The steering wheel, I just can't find a comfortable place to hold it for long periods of time. The wheel is too small imo, and combined with the way the seat adjusts, I can't get a comfortable grip on it for long periods of time. The other one is just that, the seating position really doesnt' change with how you adjust the seat, because the front of the seat cushion is non adjustable. It's height (affects tilt), front-back and seat back position.

These are fairly significant issues, especially if you spend quite a bit of time in the driver's seat. I can certainly understand you not wanting to put with it for the next X years. I suppose one could look into aftermarket steering wheel and seat, but it may not fix the problem.


You see what I mean then. Everything combined, keeping it long term at this point seems unlikely. And the other real nitpick is the gas pedal. I just don't like pedals that are hinged at the bottom. Every car I've ever driven until now was hinged at the top, this one has the hinge at the bottom. It's slightly frustrating, because I previously would drive with only an inch or two of my foot on the very bottom of the pedal. I can't do that here, I have to use my whole foot practically, and it's just not what I prefer.

 

[daves87rs]

What about going back to a low end Focus (SE)or Cruze (LS) or of the like?

Keep it simple, customize it the way you like it.

I'll add the rims/ wheels, Navi....the stuff I like...

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
The other one is just that, the seating position really doesnt' change with how you adjust the seat, because the front of the seat cushion is non adjustable. It's height (affects tilt), front-back and seat back position.


I hate the way the Japanese do this. My Camry was the same way. It's fine on a test-drive, but once you sit in the seat for weeks on end, you start thinking, "you know, I'd like this seat a little higher." But when you raise it up, it also tilts you forward. I even installed lift blocks under the Camry's seat mounts to raise it up, which helped some. In the end, it just wasn't going to work.

This is one reason why I insisted on the EX-L model of the CR-V, which comes with a power driver's seat. I sat in an EX, and it had a manual seat that adjusted like the Camry's. Nope: run away from that one. A power seat gives you near infinite levels of adjustability, and I can adjust the ANGLE of the seat cushion independently from the height. Perfect. That's one of the life lessons I've learned. I simply have to have a power seat.

But I agree with you on the seating position. I went with a co-worker to test-drive a new 3 hatch. I went straight for the CX-5 in the showroom, but I couldn't find a comfortable seating position (and that one even had a power seat). Maybe it was the odd steering wheel like you said. The seat cushion is also extremely firm, so maybe I wasn't sinking "in" to the seat. Either way, I was sad that it didn't fit me, as I really like it otherwise.

I also agree with you on the accelerator pedal. I much prefer top-hinged pedals. A few Acuras I've driven (though thankfully not our own) have had bottom-hinged pedals and that's not as comfortable to me.

Best of luck moving forward.

 

[KrisZ]

Oh boy, best of luck to you, that's all I'm gonna say, because you will need it.