Recent content by FRED48

CD What snows did you get, and do you like them?

Yeah, I'm planning on getting winter tires for next season to, among other reasons, add more life to the Michelin Premier's. Honestly, I've never gone more than 40000 miles on a set of tires, regardless of mileage rating; tires are just too damn important.

After almost a year with my '18 CX5 Touring, the thing I find best by far is the smooth ride and handling - a real pleasure to drive on both curvy roads and the hwy. I do wonder how much is due to the vehicle, and how much is due to the Michelin Premier LTX tires I put on when I first bought the...

Turbo no, NA, yes. It is categorically a worse performer in the gen 2 vs the gen 1. Pretty strong and damning, but, never having driven a gen 1, I can't comment. Perhaps the gen 3 will be more to your liking.

Ive lost track Have you yet driven a gen 2, NA or turbo?

Regarding the skidpad grip comparison: that surprises me. I would have expected this to be where the CX-5 blew the doors off of the RAV-4. (Stopping distance has always been an issue for the CX-5). maybe tires make the difference?

you can open the door, but you can't start the car without the fob.

I thought Mazda was supposed to announce two new CUV's in 2019. CX-30 was first; what's next? Or am I misinformed?

Re road side assist: So, if I need a tow, should I go to Mazda, or to my insurance co (Geico)?

My Mazda service was one of the big reasons I bought a second Mazda; sales? not so much. Not saying they tried to rip me off, just made silly mistakes in the paperwork.

that is the one time I'll switch to manual; e.g., descending from a steep trailhead (Butler Gulch); nice to let the engine do the braking.

Guess I've just gotten used to an automatic in my old age!

I will sometimes use sport mode on hilly highways (e.g., I70 through the mountains) when I get tired of the engine upshifting too often to save on gas.

Yeah, the video kept saying that the mazda driver was following the "rules"; i.e., going slow and making awd do all the work. The others were not so much.