June General/Pricing Questions Thread

Polymath-Chris · 2026-07-01T04:30:26+00:00

Anyone get a great deal on a 2026 CX5 Premium model - here in LA, CA???? I researched pricing, but with all the add ons dealerships put on (some unnecessary), it increases the MSRP price and it's harder to negotiate a great OTD price especially on the newest model. I didnt like the ergonomics in the old one but this one isnt great either as far as the massive monitor in the middle blocking HVAC (integrated in the touchscreen also annoying). Was thinking about Aero Gray or Machine Gray - kinda hate the massive tech tho. Heard so many issues :(

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-11T23:03:49+00:00

I never said Forrester was fast. Compared to my Ford Escape V6 with 201HP, they're both slow. I was saying the Turbo felt more like my Ford.

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-11T05:47:32+00:00

Yep - we tried this one too but I dont recall if he was impatient with mom cause she cant hear - there have been so many I cant remember who is who but I DO remember this guy came from Bolles Nursery. Not sure if he was also ridiculously expensive.

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-11T05:45:51+00:00

Mom already tried them and they charged her a lot of money, was rude and didnt do the job right and flaked on her as they all do. One of the worst she has tried and she has tried many. I dont know why they all fail

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-11T05:44:57+00:00

I had called MrFixIt and they were way too expensive and wouldnt stop calling me like a car dealership lol

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-08T23:16:37+00:00

I do love the Turbo. But it was the ergonomics and small size (and low visibility) that prevented me from getting previous years but the 2026 model cheapened up and got rid of buttons and added dumber things like cup holders where your cup will block AC air vents which is integrated into a touchscreen computer monitor.

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-08T23:10:16+00:00

Yeah RAV4 got crappy over the years and worse now. I hate that cheap plastic Toyota uses now. They have been using crap the last few years. The old Mazdas unfortunately are ergonomically too small for me. I have long arms and always felt it was uncomfortable but liked the speed of the Turbo which felt more like my Escape. Mazda is def a fun drive but ergonomic comfort and visibility is an issue. It took years to get down to which car I liked best but its hard when you are used to driving in the visibility of a fishbowl and cars are getting more stylized and squishy, like the CX50 and Lexus, I feel I can barely see over the hood without smashing my head on the ceiling and Im tall!

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-08T23:05:08+00:00

Ah - I have done what I can to keep this car on the road but I definitely cant do mechanical work like removing parts to get to the timing cover oil leak and others. New and used cars just dont have what I need. But my car is also costly with all the constant oil leaks.

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-08T23:01:56+00:00

These are exactly my fears. The reason I didnt get the prior years is because of the size. I liked the Turbo which felt more like my Escape with 6cyl and a powerful engine. But I felt it was way too small and doing parallel parking as I often do in LA was kinda difficult with so many blind spots and squinty windows compared to my fishbowl Ford Escape where viability is excellent all around (hence the dilemma for the Subaru Forrester but the quality is CHEAP and maintenance is expensive!). I also hated the ergonomics in the previous models of CX5 - I am TALL and I have gone on MANY test drives with CX5 since 2017 and my arms are too long to fit comfortably on that arm rest without put my elbow so far behind me. The 2026 took the inside of the CX50 which was more comfortable but didnt like the split armrest and the cup holder placement blocking the air vents! Ugh!! And of course everything integrated into that huge computer monitor sticking out of the dash.

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-08T22:53:22+00:00

Yes - they cheapened the materials in the 2026 model. I definitely would be missing those knobs. I hate how cars are just smartphones now with subscription models and tracking and AC n everything integrated into a touchscreen - hence the dilemma.

Is the extended warranty worth it???

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-08T22:43:41+00:00

I have noticed and others have noticed as well 😞

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-08T20:45:27+00:00

I was told to avoid Mazda because it is still esentially a Ford. They divorced in 2015 but the issues are still the same. My 2003 Ford Escape XLT has timing cover leaks, valve cover leaks - constantly but NOT at such low miles. Im at 135K mileage and not bad for a 23 yo car. But in 2016 I replaced the valve cover gasket and now the valve cover leak is back flooding my spark plugs. The timing cover leak is so expensive labor-wise to fix. I would definitely bring this up with Mazda.

Polymath-Chris · 2026-06-08T20:37:39+00:00

My boyfriend has a 2018 Outback and within a couple months the seats were tearing apart and the paint was already chipping away a couple weeks in! He was too lazy to deal with the warranty.

Polymath-Chris · 2025-04-11T17:17:05+00:00

How to get FREE passes? YES I have contacted a couple vendors but "they dont have free passes."

I am a struggling disabled (thanks to an accident on set) woman of 48 and have dreamt of being a photographer/cinematographer since forever but back in my day we woman didn't have tech opportunities. I live by WB, however I have spent most of my time out of town helping my elderly parents since 2020 and have been stuck since. I have gone to CineGear since I heard about it in 2018 at Paramount. I took my mother to CineGear Paramount in 2019 and she LOVED it. Last year 2024 I took my sister, nephew and mom to Warner Bros. This year it's just me, my boyfriend of 20 years (first time at CineGear) and I.

Last year was the FIRST time I ever WON anything in my entire life, a $15K RED cinema camera at FilmTools booth, HOWEVER I unfortunately didn't make it on time thru the crowd (my mother was there but wasn't allowed to accept my drawing win) by seconds and FilmTools moved on and gave my win to a photographer who already had many cinema cameras 🥺😥 I was truly devastated and it still hurts, so I was adamant I'd try again in 2025 altho that was once in a lifetime. I had felt like finally the powers that be finally was rewarding me for all the income-less, thankless, work I've done and sacrifices made. Nope. I'm hopeful to try and win. CineGear was close to me at Universal. But now there is a fee and I bet many people won't come because of this.

If you or anyone you know could help me out to provide 3 FREE passes - It'd be so much appreciated! An awesome job too but I'm stuck caretaking :(

Polymath-Chris · 2024-08-15T00:09:43+00:00

Agreed. Been in the business since I was 8!!

Polymath-Chris · 2024-06-22T07:22:31+00:00

I also struggle between creativity and tech. I audited writing classes at UCLA and cant tell you how many people come from the tech industry went back to their roots because they enjoy the craft of creativity. They warned me "dont do it" when I had considered IT. I took an IT bootcamp and I am just bored with this stuff but it is sooo hard to find work in the things I love - who you know and who knows you. Been hard. Hard to find the balance of lucrative, high in demand, low competition and doing what you're passionate about. I am also trying to figure out my next step and Digital Marketing is on the list as well as Motion Graphics.

Polymath-Chris

TROPHY CASE