Ongoing General Automotive Thread 2.0

[WideReceiver]

Next maintenance required in May or at X km. Is that whichever comes first or can the visit be deferred a bit if mileage is less than stated? We’ll be away in May for several weeks. I thought asking here might save me a call tomorrow.

[Fuzz]

It's whatever comes first, but it's also an extremely flexible "who actually cares" thing. If you are away, you are not driving so no massive miles piling up. Oil eventually ages and breaks down, but a few weeks makes zero difference. I would absolutely wait, because you also buy yourself some time before the next one.

And often places are using outdated oil age date cutoffs to get you to come back sooner. Modern engine design and engineered oils are better than decades ago. Some shops ignore that.

[Bill Bumface]

Oil EASILY lasts a year in most vehicles with normal driving if the kilometres are less than the required interval.

[powderjunkie]

I did a semi deep dive into this a few years ago and concluded I was fine with pushing to 18 months (or even a bit longer).

It is worth noting that if you're driving low mileage that means you're probably doing mostly short trips, which are harder on the vehicle as the engine doesn't get up to full temperature. So you should err to the 'Severe' driving conditions maintenance schedule in terms of mileage interval (but I still don't really care about the suggested time interval)

[GoinAllTheWay]

Currently looking at a couple of SUV's.
2024/25 Mazda CX-5 or the 2024/25 Subaru Forester.
I've owned a Mazda 3GT in the past and the thing was awesome. Never caused me any issues and decent fun to drive.
I'm really curious about the Forester for the awesome AWD but it has a CVT transmission. I've read they had issues about 15 yrs and things seemed to have improved? Anyone have any opinions on that kind of transmission?


The Mazda has a time tested 6 speed transmission and is supposedly a bit "sportier" but have no idea what there AWD is like in comparison.


Also have some interest in the Rav4 Hybrid. They're are a bit pricier but have read their CVT is solid as it includes a "launch" gear.

[InglewoodFan]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

Currently looking at a couple of SUV's.
2024/25 Mazda CX-5 or the 2024/25 Subaru Forester.
I've owned a Mazda 3GT in the past and the thing was awesome. Never caused me any issues and decent fun to drive.
I'm really curious about the Forester for the awesome AWD but it has a CVT transmission. I've read they had issues about 15 yrs and things seemed to have improved? Anyone have any opinions on that kind of transmission?


The Mazda has a time tested 6 speed transmission and is supposedly a bit "sportier" but have no idea what there AWD is like in comparison.


Also have some interest in the Rav4 Hybrid. They're are a bit pricier but have read their CVT is solid as it includes a "launch" gear.

A bit dated information, but we bought a CX 5 in 2020 and cross shopped the Forester. And my folks ended up buying the Forester a couple months later. Deciding factor for me was the interior materials quality and "sportiness" of the Mazda. Five years in on both of them and neither of us have had a single issue. Both are super solid in the winter with good snow tires. One caveat is my folks are oldies who don't drive much, but they have done a few extended road trips and the Forester was all good.

[GoinAllTheWay]

I hear ya on the interior quality, certainly liking the Mazda. Biased as like I said, I've owned one and still maintain the 2005 3 GT I had was ahead of its time. I'd still own it if the back end hadn't rusted out.


I kinda dig the Forester and its larger screen vs the much smaller one in the Mazda but outside that, it's all Mazda for sure.


We rented a car on Van Island a couple weeks back, a Chev Malibu, and I'm pretty sure it had a CVT transmission. It just felt a bit.....mushy? Guess I'll have to drive both to see which one feels better.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

I hear ya on the interior quality, certainly liking the Mazda. Biased as like I said, I've owned one and still maintain the 2005 3 GT I had was ahead of its time. I'd still own it if the back end hadn't rusted out.


I kinda dig the Forester and its larger screen vs the much smaller one in the Mazda but outside that, it's all Mazda for sure.


We rented a car on Van Island a couple weeks back, a Chev Malibu, and I'm pretty sure it had a CVT transmission. It just felt a bit.....mushy? Guess I'll have to drive both to see which one feels better.

I can almost guarantee you'll prefer the CX-5, if it's one of the trims with the turbo engine. I have a 3 GT which uses the same engine and it's a beast, very fun to drive. And you won't have to worry about the AWD either, it's fantastic on the 3 which should translate very closely to the CX-5. My 3 is easily the best winter vehicle I've ever had, I actually look forward to driving in the snow with it

[GoinAllTheWay]

Good stuff, thanks to you both. I'm certainly leaning towards the CX-5 at this point. There's a Mazda dealer near me so we'll rip over this week and try one out.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by GoinAllTheWay

We rented a car on Van Island a couple weeks back, a Chev Malibu, and I'm pretty sure it had a CVT transmission. It just felt a bit.....mushy? Guess I'll have to drive both to see which one feels better.

Pretty much all CVT transmissions feel mushy and are crap if you're not the "appliance" buying type.

[TorqueDog]

CVTs are for snowmobiles, not cars.

[Calgary14]

Just got a Rav4 Prime last week. I've only driven it a few times but love it so far. It's a 2024 so not as much horsepower as the new ones will have but still lots of fun to drive

[MegaErtz]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

Just got a Rav4 Prime last week. I've only driven it a few times but love it so far. It's a 2024 so not as much horsepower as the new ones will have but still lots of fun to drive

What did you pay, if you don't mind me asking? Was there a long wait to get it?

[curves2000]

I don't think you can go wrong with either of those cars, Mazda has some really nice features and Subaru pretty much owns the wagon AWD space. The Mazda is built in Mexico I believe and the Subaru in Japan, or at least used to be. I have always believed that Japanese built cars have a much higher quality standard and build quality. They are perfectionist people with very high standards.

As for CVT transmissions, they have their place in the market and there have been some strong improvements over the years to address longevity concerns. They are not the best designed transmissions and are effectively throw away parts, not really designed for long term, repairable use compared to a traditional gear transmission. I would NOT tow heavy loads or carry heavy cargo frequently with a CVT, even if the manufacture says so. I would also recommend more frequent CVT fluid changes than what is recommended.

Good luck!

[Calgary14]

Originally Posted by MegaErtz

What did you pay, if you don't mind me asking? Was there a long wait to get it?

$56k and it's used so no wait. Almost all of the inventory here is from Ontario, Quebec or BC and they're usually lease returns. I waited two years on the wait list for a new one, gave up and got a regular hybrid and then a Prime became available just recently so traded in my hybrid. One dealer said the wait list for a 2026 Prime is 3+ years

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Calgary14

$56k and it's used so no wait. Almost all of the inventory here is from Ontario, Quebec or BC and they're usually lease returns. I waited two years on the wait list for a new one, gave up and got a regular hybrid and then a Prime became available just recently so traded in my hybrid. One dealer said the wait list for a 2026 Prime is 3+ years

That’s wild. Not much depreciation as that’s close to what we paid a year ago for the 2024 SE. It’s actually pretty fun if you have some charge and go into sport mode. Normally though, I fine driving in eco mode and using cruise control gets the best fuel economy. Beware that defrost or heating the interior will force the engine on when it’s cold out.

[cam_wmh]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

CVTs are for snowmobiles, not cars.

I remember on the farm, family didn't have much money. The old, cab-LESS Versatile swather, was some of the hardest work. The chaff, dust, f***ing black flies, horseflies, and baking on that exposed deck.

That thing was a hydrostatic drive, not too far removed in functionality from modern CVT's. When I think performance transmissions, I do not think of that swather.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

CVTs are for snowmobiles, not cars.

The widespread use of CVT's is probably the low point in Japanese automobile history. They went from quality and innovation to cheap, cheap, cheap.

[Calgary14]

Originally Posted by Wormius

That’s wild. Not much depreciation as that’s close to what we paid a year ago for the 2024 SE. It’s actually pretty fun if you have some charge and go into sport mode. Normally though, I fine driving in eco mode and using cruise control gets the best fuel economy. Beware that defrost or heating the interior will force the engine on when it’s cold out.

Mine is an XSE, but yeah they don't seem to depreciate much lately especially with the lack of supply here. It's a lot of fun to drive even in normal mode

I had to buy a charging cable as it didn't come with one. Do you have 220 in your garage? I don't right now and not sure if it's worth it