Base Model Regrets

"mazda616" (mazda616) 08/15/2015 at 10:54 • Filed to: Base model regret

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I hope I’m not the only one that feels this way. We bought our Mazda CX-5 in December 2012 and it was brand new and we were so excited.

The excitement has worn off, for me at least. It’s nothing in particular wrong with the car. It drives great, gets excellent gas mileage, has been very reliable, and has plenty of room. The lack of features is annoying, though. I never thought I’d be one to look down upon base models but I guess with this, I am. The only options our car has are a Bluetooth radio and roof rails. Oh, and an automatic transmisson (shut up).

First of all, we should’ve gotten leather seats. The tan cloth isn’t holding up well to stains and such (as to be expected), and it’ll get worse once we have a kid someday. Second, the blind spots in this damn thing are horrible. I have checked and re-checked them before and still ended up almost merging into someone on the interstate. A back-up camera would be nice too, especially once we have a kid. It would make me feel better, at least.

All of the would’ve been remedied by getting a Grand Touring or even a Touring model rather than our Sport. And it wouldn’t have made much of a difference on our payment! Oh well, I guess. Live and learn? At least it’s paid off.

jkm7680 > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 10:59

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Light colored cloth seats are horrible. After 3,000 miles they’ll be extremely dirty and ready to be steam cleaned.

mazda616 > jkm7680 08/15/2015 at 11:01

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The driver’s seat has already turned blue from our jeans.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:04

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I regret not paying more for a car with AC sometimes. Although being the UK that’s only like 10 days a year.

Shiftknob > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:05

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Do you guys have seat covers back there? Here in the Philippines it's quite common and will set you back for USD$20.

Sneaky Pete > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:06

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Not sure how blind spots when changing lanes would be fixed. I have a base model 2012 CTS that is a huge upgrade over the Fit I was driving daily, but still wish it had certain things like the backup camera, built in garage door opener, sunroof.

jkm7680 > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:07

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Same happens with leather. One of the many reasons on why I avoid light colored seats.

My seats are currently blue, but they came from the factory like that.

Funktheduck > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. 08/15/2015 at 11:08

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Haha. Living in the south it's required. Heaters are kinda optional.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:09

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Leather seats can be had under a grand.

Blind spots are remedied by adjusting mirrors properly . Since I switched to the method in the article, I have no issues.

Rear cameras range from $300-1500 depending on whether whether it’s mirror or nav added...

Or you could trade it on a $30,000 grand touring.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:11

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Trust me. I know the feeling all too well.

I leased a 13 Civic LX. And it was a car. It had some nice features but I was so pissed I didn’t spend a little more money and get an EX just for the Sunroof and better sound system.

So, I did the reasonable thing and halfway through the lease traded it in for a 2008 Volvo C30...

dogisbadob > jkm7680 08/15/2015 at 11:11

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doesn’t happen to my 96 I30’s tan leather seats. They still look good after 20 years and 250k :)

dogisbadob > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:12

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The only real problem about base models is no sunroof :(

Funktheduck > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:13

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If you had waited another year a lot of that would be standard I think. When I was shopping for my 3 the ‘14 I looked at you had either add an expensive tech package to the Touring trim or go to Grand Touring to get blind spot monitoring and back up camera. It became standard on Touring for ‘15. I paid about $1000 more by going with the ‘15 a few months later to get features standard that would have cost over $2-3k to get on a ‘14.

If I had a normal job I would have considered the 2.5 Touring but I drive so much the smaller engine’s gas mileage adds up.

AthomSfere > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:13

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I think the difference is: Your features mostly make a difference in a larger vehicle. I have the Base FR-s and need nothing more. Heck, some of the features I would rather were removed and saved me a few more bucks. The stereo for example is stupid. I have a touch screen and 8 speakers and it still sounds like crud.

Textured Soy Protein > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:13

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My gf’s last car was a base ’08 Nissan Sentra that she bought used, and didn’t realize it didn’t have cruise control until several months after she bought it. She really missed having cruise control.

Now she has a base model ’13 Civic but at least it’s got cruise, and a backup camera.

Next go round I’m going to try and talk her into something with a sunroof (which she likes but has never had) power heated leather seats (which she’s always very impressed by in my cars), auto-dimming mirrors (because she complains about bright headlights at night) and blind spot monitors.

She’s terrible at adjusting her mirrors. She always sets them so the sides of the car take up too much of the view of the mirror, then complains about other drivers sneaking up on her. I’ve tried to convince her to set her mirrors differently but that’s a losing battle. At least with blind spot monitors that should help make up for her terrible mirror preference.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:18

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I know the feeling. I got touring instead of limited. Granted I like the way leather with cloth inserts look, the suede is getting chewed up bad. Also the limited has ABS.. touring doesn’t. 3300lb car without ABS... Yeahhhh

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:23

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For me it’s the opposite. I have a 2013 Ford Fusion pretty much loaded and I should’ve got a base model instead. I have a sunroof,it’s never been opened(I hate sunroofs). I use the nav 2-3 times a year, A $100 garmin would of been a smarter buy than the extra $1,000 for nav. The leather seats are nice for sure but I could live without them.

My wife has a base AWD 2013 Ford Escape with the only features being, A/C,Cruise,Tilt,heated seats & Bluetooth. And it’s honestly perfect it has everything I need and nothing I don’t.

I should of got the base or near base and saved myself $8K. You live you learn.

One thing tho is to avoid light seats no matter what. We always get dark grey or black seats.

Amoore100 > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:24

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I was going to complain about the same thing but actually, Volvo seems to do light color cloth seating very well. The seats in my car have fake leather portions matched with sections porous cloth that are airy enough to be comfortable and not easily become stained by contact with other materials. However, my dad has spilled coffee twice due to the awful cupholders, and so now the passenger’s seat has a few light stains...

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 11:41

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Like some people have already said, go aftermarket for leather. Katzkin leather is about $1k installed. Backup cameras are less than $50.

I'm also a fan of stripping car seats and washing the fabric in the washing machine. But I'm a little crazy.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > jkm7680 08/15/2015 at 11:58

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I have light gray cloth in the Tacoma and the seats look awful already.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > jkm7680 08/15/2015 at 11:59

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Black leather, though I really don’t care for the look or the burning heat in the summer, is the way to go. My wife’s seats still look flawless after years of abuse

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 12:03

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Wait, wait, wait. So the CX-5 ISNT the second coming? Coulda fooled me!

jkm7680 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 08/15/2015 at 12:06

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Agreed, I’ve got dark blue leather in my A4 and after nearly 20 years of use they still look pretty fresh.

LongbowMkII > dogisbadob 08/15/2015 at 12:15

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No stains on my 186k murano with tan leather either. now there is some cracking and flaking on the bottom of the sides but... eh

WesBarton89 - The Way to Santa Fe > dogisbadob 08/15/2015 at 12:23

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I second this. The I30 leather holds up quite well. My 2000 still looks really good as well after 15 years and 259k.

mazda616 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 08/15/2015 at 12:35

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I said we loved the car itself. I simply wish ours had more features.

pjhusa > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 12:44

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With BMW and Benz, every model is the base model.

I mean, better engines net you around 3 more features, which you could purchase on cheaper engines and save money.

pjhusa > Textured Soy Protein 08/15/2015 at 12:45

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I hate cloth. But I hate SensaTec even more.

Brickman > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 13:02

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I like that F-150 :)

Sn210 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 08/15/2015 at 13:10

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Same here with my 08 LX :(

Wished I was irresponsible and got the Si, I'd probably still have it

RazoE > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 13:15

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Dat Chrysler Cirrus.

RazoE > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 13:16

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Blind spots can be eliminated with these bad boys.

2 for $5 at Autozone.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > LongbowMkII 08/15/2015 at 13:24

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You drive a Murano? That is not a vehicle I would have guessed.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 08/15/2015 at 13:28

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It’s amazing what features “base” models come with these days. My old pickup is an SR5 which just means it’s a 5 speed with intermittent wipers and 2 extra gauges.

mazda616 > Brickman 08/15/2015 at 13:29

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Me too. It is loaded with every option. That guy just moved, though. And the new owner of that house has an old, dented up TrailBlazer EXT. Yuck.

mazda616 > RazoE 08/15/2015 at 13:29

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Really? I will give that a try.

RazoE > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 13:32

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I’ve had them on every single car I’ve ever had. Even on my Supra with the RHD (JDM, YO!) folding mirrors. They’re also great when parallel parking.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 08/15/2015 at 13:39

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I know my old 86 chevy pickup has NO features whatsoever, NONE! except an optional automatic transmission.

No tach,no radio,crank windows,vinyl bench seat,vinyl floor,no A/C,No cruise,No tilt, NOTHING!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Sn210 08/15/2015 at 14:18

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If my grandma would have driven stick I would have an Si

GeeKeWL > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 08/15/2015 at 14:34

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err, what?

“ABS are required on all new passenger cars sold in the EU since 2007. In the United States, the NHTSA has mandated ABS in conjunction with Electronic Stability Control under the provisions of FMVSS 126 as of September 1, 2011.” (Source: Wikipedia)

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > GeeKeWL 08/15/2015 at 15:52

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Mines an 06

BaconSandwich is tasty. > RazoE 08/15/2015 at 16:01

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My wife has these. I’ve sort of wondered if a strip across the bottom of the mirror might be more effective.

LongbowMkII > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 08/15/2015 at 18:26

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I have defended its honor a couple of times, but its the Family DD. Due to the events of today I am going to write a post about it soon, but mostly about the importance of washing your own car.

boxrocket > mazda616 08/15/2015 at 21:26

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Go to a dealer and offer an even trade. They get a used car with excellent resale value, and you get the car you want.

mazda616 > boxrocket 08/15/2015 at 21:29

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I have thought about that. Or else trade for a Touring or Grand Touring and pay off the difference.

boxrocket > mazda616 08/16/2015 at 00:05

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Precisely. Find a way to make it work, it will be worth it.

wiffleballtony > mazda616 08/16/2015 at 01:03

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My car is largely base. I’ve had it for over three years and I don’t feel like I am missing out. IMHO a lot of features really just make a car look outdated. Like mounted cell phones in 90s cars.

Kevin Barrett > mazda616 08/16/2015 at 12:15

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Second, the blind spots in this damn thing are horrible. I have checked and re-checked them before and still ended up almost merging into someone on the interstate.

They can see you checking and move to block you. Stop checking.

GeeKeWL > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul 08/18/2015 at 01:08

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a 2006 what? :)

greasemonkey235097 > mazda616 08/18/2015 at 03:41

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Only reason to get base model is the manual transmission, because Mazda will not let you have it any other way!