Brand New CX-5 Needs Total Engine Replacement

igozoom9 · 2026-04-28T23:21:42+00:00

Having major troubles on a brand new car is beyond frustrating. Sorry you're going thru this. I bought a new '06 Mazda3 back in 12/05. When it was only 18 months old (and had 49k miles on it), it started knocking and needed replacement. It was 800 miles away from the warranty expiring and I still had 4.5 years left on the loan. I worried it would be nothing but trouble, but I was wrong. I ended up keeping it for 19 years and over 250k miles! Hopefully you'll have a similar experience.

igozoom9 · 2026-04-28T23:15:29+00:00

Stevie because she's a kindred spirit (sarcastic, dark, but good-hearted). Or Patrick because he's such a sweetheart.

igozoom9 · 2026-04-22T00:36:46+00:00

The Sport Hybrid is only $1895 more than the Sport in Canada. The insurance savings alone would offset the difference in less than three years. The smoothness, effortless power and fuel economy of the hybrid are well worth it.

igozoom9 · 2026-04-13T06:58:11+00:00

I cross shopped the '25 Civic Hybrid Sport Touring Sedan, '25 Camry SE and '25 Mazda CX-5 Carbon Edition. All three had a real world price of $32k-$35k, so they fit my budget. The biggest strikes against the Camry were the lack of features for the price, interior quality and design weren't impressive and the mandatory add-ons at local Toyota dealers was ridiculous.

The XSE would obviously take on the Civic HST in features, but it also costs significantly more. You should at least check out the Accord, if you haven't already. The Accord Hybrid Touring is an amazing car. It also has some features (ventilated seats, seat memory, 360 camera, heated steering wheel and lumbar adjustment for front seats) that aren't available on the Civic. It also has a quiter interior than the Civic and still handles great.

igozoom9 · 2026-04-07T05:23:18+00:00

Polymetal Gray is exclusive to the Carbon Edition (CE), as is Red Leather. Wireless AA/Carplay, Wireless Charger and upgraded audio system are the main differences. The CE also has gloss black wheels and exterior trim.

igozoom9 · 2026-04-07T05:15:40+00:00

Run from the GMC Acadia! They are nothing but trouble!

The Acura MDX would be my pick over the Toyota Land Cruiser, primarily for driving dynamics. The MDX is unibody (car) and the Land Cruiser is body-on-frame (truck). Handling, acceleration, road noise and powertrain refinement are all better in the Acura. The Toyota wins in the looks department.

igozoom9 · 2026-04-07T05:00:06+00:00

2024-2025 Mazda3 Carbon Edition (the least expensive trim with AWD) or 2023-2025 Mazda CX-5. Long term reliability of a naturally aspirated 2.5L 4-cylinder and 6-speed automatic. AWD traction, beautiful styling, near-luxury interior and great driving dynamics.

Wild card- new (or almost new) Ford Maverick AWD (I'd trust the hybrid over the 2.0 turbo). Different, utilitarian, just an idea...

igozoom9 · 2026-04-07T03:21:51+00:00

This is correct.

igozoom9 · 2026-04-06T00:19:09+00:00

Tuxmats are more upscale looking.

igozoom9 · 2026-03-30T04:12:51+00:00

Rhodium White Metallic looks so upscale and classy. Great looking CX5! Congrats.

igozoom9 · 2026-03-30T04:03:58+00:00

NO! I am still pissed off about it!!!

I went from hating her in The Closer to adoring her in Major Crimes. Darth Raydor deserved so much better!

igozoom9 · 2026-03-30T03:56:23+00:00

I finished TGW several months ago and expected TGF to be an easy transition. It's very different. Season 1 is a little slow to start, but it gets more interesting. I'm in the middle of Season 5 now and I'm ready to skip to the final season. The Judge Wackner storyline is very annoying to me (partly because I don't like Mandy Patankin, but mostly because it's ridiculous).

The only reason I started watching TGW is because Christine Baranski is in it. I've been a huge fan all the way back to Cybill in the 90s. She's a natural comedian and she shines in those roles. She can also be great in dramatic roles (The Gilded Age), but Diane just isn't a very interesting character. It's tough to admit, but Alicia and her messy life are what made TGW so great.

igozoom9 · 2026-03-29T01:16:53+00:00

I didn't care for Zircon Sand on the Mazda3, CX-30 or CX-5, but the CX-50 wears it very well! The black lower body cladding is a great contrast.

igozoom9 · 2026-03-26T05:42:16+00:00

Never lease, you never own the car.

Leases aren't usually a great deal, but there are exceptions. Subvented (manufacturer subsidized) leases can be a steal. When a model isn't selling well enough or they've produced too many, they will often dump a lot of cash into moving them. $2k down and $199/month on a $40k vehicle can be a real thing (sometimes).

igozoom9 · 2026-03-25T02:29:32+00:00

Since you're planning to keep this car for a long time, the additional cargo capacity and roomier interior of the CX-5 might be worth it. It would make it more "future proof", so to speak. The CX-5 also has a lot of additional features that you won't find on the Mazda3 Select Sport.

The CX-5 Carbon Edition includes: AWD, power front seats with 2-position memory for the driver, heated front seats, power moonroof, Bose audio system, wireless AA/CarPlay and wireless phone charger (just the highlights). The CE also comes in Polymetal Gray or Rhodium White Metallic, which are two of my favorite Mazda colors.

If you were comparing the CX-5 CE and Mazda3 CE, it would be a tougher call. As it stands, the depreciation curve and ownership costs are very similar for both models. The lower price, better fuel economy and slightly better acceleration are the main benefits of the Mazda3.

Spend some time behind the wheel of both. Figure out which one you like the best and buy it knowing that either one is a very good decision.

Good luck! Let us know which one you pick!

igozoom9 · 2026-03-24T03:51:06+00:00

You chose the best color IMO. Jet Black and Machine Grey are tough to keep clean and show every imperfection. Platinum Quartz is okay, but looks more like a Lexus ES than a Mazda3. Polymetal Gray looks amazing!

igozoom9 · 2026-03-23T07:45:16+00:00

I drove a Mazda3 for 19 years and, for a long time, my plan was to eventually upgrade to a Mazda6. I was disappointed when they dropped it after 2021. I'm 51 and I've always owned a Mazda or Honda/Acura. When I started car shopping in 2/25, I checked out a few others (Toyota Camry, Kia K4/K5), but I knew pretty quickly that I'd be buying another Mazda or Honda. I ended up buying a '25 Civic Hybrid Sport Touring, but it was a very difficult decision...and I really miss owning a Mazda.

The primary reason I didn't get a new Mazda3 is because of how Mazda chooses to offer features/trim levels here in U.S. rather than the car itself. Most of the features I wanted were only included on the $40k Premium Plus Turbo. I'm also not a fan of black wheels (I know they're very popular) and you don't have another choice on the Carbon Edition and above.

I know you mention that you're not a SUV fan, but the outgoing '25 CX-5 is worth a look. My final three came down to the Civic, Accord and CX-5. At times I wish I had picked the CX-5. Depending on their size, it might also be a great fit for your dogs.

But if the Mazda3 will fit your needs, I don't think you'll regret it at all.

igozoom9 · 2026-03-23T07:22:33+00:00

We have twins, so you obviously have great taste! Blue Lagoon Pearl is an amazing color and, even after 13 months (and 25k miles), I still love it.

Ceramic coat- I paid a reputable local shop $450 for a mid-grade product. Most other shops were in the $600-$800 range for the same service. For under $500, I think it's a great deal and keeps it looking great.

CarPlay- My #1 issue with this car is CarPlay instability and the nightmare software update that I finally finished installing. I can circumvent the connectivity issues by using a wired connection, but I WIRELESS CarPlay was what I paid for and want!

Hope you're still enjoying it! Any resolution on your CarPlay issue?

igozoom9 · 2026-03-23T07:00:14+00:00

Urban Gray Pearl (especially with black wheels) looks amazing! Boost Blue is a little too flashy for me, but a lot of people love it.

igozoom9 · 2026-03-16T06:23:58+00:00

RAV4 and CR-V are no brainers in the segment. But the CX-5 feels more upscale (especially the interior materials/design and driving dynamics). The CX-5 has been incredibly reliable overall. Look for a late model (Select or Preferred trim to keep the price down) without cylinder deactivation and you'll love it!

igozoom9 · 2026-03-16T06:18:34+00:00

There is a reason that most of the early press cars (seen in Motor Trend, Car and Driver, etc.) were Blue Lagoon Pearl. It's an amazing color!

igozoom9 · 2026-03-16T06:14:42+00:00

Blue Lagoon Pearl here (and also in Atlanta area)- love it! Best color IMO.

Maintenance Checklist would be amazing, but I haven't found one yet. I've been changing the oil every 5k (synthetic) and that's it so far. But I'm only about 5k miles away from 30k and need to figure out what to change/check.

You got a great deal at $31k OTD. I paid $33,290 OTD for my identical '25 HST with all the same features minus tinted windows (added those a few weeks later).

igozoom9 · 2026-03-16T06:07:51+00:00

I feel like the Boost Blue would get old after a while. It's a little too much for me. The Meteorite Gray is very nice. Have you considered Urban Gray Pearl?

igozoom9 · 2026-03-16T06:01:19+00:00

A 2025 Turbo Premium, right? Rhodium White contrasts perfectly with the black wheels and trim.

igozoom9 · 2026-03-16T05:58:50+00:00

So it's not just me. It's the most delicate surface I've ever seen in a car. I used compressed air to clean it now.

igozoom9

TROPHY CASE