I celebrated #Dieselgate court day by going and test driving replacements

"Phyrxes once again has a wagon!" (phyrxes)
07/26/2016 at 17:12 • Filed to: None

Edit: Disclaimer - I will have two small children (both under 3) in car seats in October so whatever I have to pick up has to handle family road trips including strollers which some how take up gigantic amounts of space.

Started at the Mazda dealer where I drove one of these as it is about the size of my JSW TDI and it was very much a drivers SUV (is that a thing?).

2016.5 CX-5 Touring

Then I noticed they had one of these in the lot as a CPO and I was really impressed.

2012 CX-9

I know they won’t have this one when October 18th comes but I’m definitely keeping an eye out for these as the dealership says they get most of their lease turn ins during the fall and most are the top trim.

The one I drove today was the same color as the one above. It was a 2012 Grand Touring AWD with about 30k on it and it would have been cheaper to drive off the lot than a new CX-5.

On a related note the new CX-9 Limited is sweet and way way out of my price range.

Next stop was the Kia dealer to check out Sorrentos and Sportages.

Sorrento

Holy D pillar Batman, it wasn’t terrible but was very meh for the price point. All the CPOs they had were the lower trims so they weren’t pricey just meh and not inspiring.

Now onto the Hyundai dealer to see if the Santa Fe Sport is any better than its Kia cousin (news flash: it is not).

Santa Fe Sport

Some how the D pillar is different and just as terrible. I drove the 2.4 not the 2.0T so no idea how they compare to each other. The interior felt nicer than the KIA but given the trim I am looking at not super amazing.

The Tuscon wasn’t bad but is smaller than my JSW, I can’t deal with the new Sportage grill so I didn’t drive it.

Last stop the Subaru dealer.

Forester

2017 Forester Premium with 5 miles on it. It felt like my JSW just lifted and I was surprised that I didn’t hate the CVT. I suspect that is because they have it programmed to feel more like like a regular speed gearbox instead of just mash on the gas and the revs just kinda go up, but the last CVT I drove was an early 2000s Saturn. I know Subaru lags on interiors but this was something I could not live with as it made my JSW look downright posh.

TL;DR Test drove a bunch of stuff and I will be buying a Mazda when VW hands me my check, unless they pay me to drive a GSW or hand me the keys to a new Allroad.

DISCUSSION (27)

HammerheadFistpunch > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 17:21

This is relevant to my interests. My wife and I have been debating replacement cars for her sportwagen for some time. I like the CX5, and I would like my wife to consider one...we’ll see.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 17:25

Eww, replacing a wagon with a crossover goes against the Oppo codex.

HammerheadFistpunch > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 17:27

Did you already commit to the sellback? What was that process like?

HammerheadFistpunch > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
07/26/2016 at 17:27

finding a suitable replacement wagon (if you want low miles) isn’t easy.

Takuro Spirit > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 17:30

Can’t go wrong with a CX-5. I’d be wary of a CX-9 but if you go CPO you’ll get a good warranty to cover the FoMoCo stuff that’ll inevitably go wrong.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
07/26/2016 at 17:30

If you want to front me the additional cash to pick up a low mileage Volvo that would be awesome as all the ones that are a reasonable year and mileage are stupidly expensive, like more than a new CX-5 expensive.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > HammerheadFistpunch
07/26/2016 at 17:34

I haven’t yet, I just read VWs press release from today that its a tentative approval of the settlement and there is a court date on October 18th and that is when things are finally approved and the buybacks will commence immediately following that date.

All the dealerships I visited were cool and said I wasn’t the only VW customer doing this, especially the Mazda guys who also chatted about diesel stuff.

I’m a school teacher and I have munchkin number 2 arriving in early October so we wanted to get things sorted out as early as possible.

FTTOHG Has Moved to https://opposite-lock.com > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 17:36

I had a loaded CX-9 as a rental a few years ago for a few days. It was very nice. It also was horrible on gas.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > HammerheadFistpunch
07/26/2016 at 17:37

Sad but true for you folks in NA:/

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > HammerheadFistpunch
07/26/2016 at 17:37

Aside from the clutch pedal not existing it was very much like driving my JSW with a higher driving position. The Forester was the same way and had better visibility but that interior.....

My next step is get the Mrs. to the Mazda dealer and see how she feels driving it. I didn’t think I would like the CX-9 as much as I did but I would absolutely take one over a mini van.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Takuro Spirit
07/26/2016 at 17:39

That is right the pre 2017 is a holdover from Ford, which Ford does it share parts with? The ones I saw today were 2012s but the sales guy said I would probably see 2013s starting to pop up off lease.

HammerheadFistpunch > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 17:41

please don’t tell me the CX9 is good, I DON’T want another 7 seat suv, and my wife has her eyes on one. I want her to hate it. I would prefer she drive a cx5, forester or similar over another huge vehicle.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 17:42

Just wire me the money and I’ll somehow bring up enough cash ro buy it for you. Jk

The only affordable wagon that comes to my mind is the JSW but that’s obviously no choice I think, even though they’re really good with the TSI engine. In that case, the Mazda ain’t that bad of a choice tbh.

Takuro Spirit > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 17:44

Edge/Flex from what I remember. Transfer cases, rear wheel bearings, and rear differentials were problematic. So were water pumps in the 3.7L Ford V6.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > HammerheadFistpunch
07/26/2016 at 17:45

If she likes her JSW just put her in the CX-5 first, or if you want her to really like the CX-5 put her in the forester first.

I walked past a 2017 CX-9 Limited sitting in the showroom and I was like damn this looks sweet and then I saw the sticker price of about $45k.

HammerheadFistpunch > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 17:47

I actually don’t mind the new forester interior. But I’m a fan of simply and airy over modern and sharp. She’s likes the German stuff, so the Mazda would probably be a better fit anyway.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem
07/26/2016 at 17:50

I totally expect VW to pitch some ridiculous deal to not walk out of one of their dealerships with a sizable check. But they don’t have anything I really want outside the GSW so I’ll listen and then say “thank you, but no” and walk away.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > HammerheadFistpunch
07/26/2016 at 17:53

The plastic in the Forester is what got me, it felt like my wife’s old 2007 Corolla, plastic everywhere and not the good kind. Even the steering wheel wasn’t wrapped, the infotainment wasn’t terrible but I don’t expect much from Subaru. The one I drove was the second trim so it had the engine that Subaru has been using for years, not the turbo.

HammerheadFistpunch > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 17:59

Yeah, I test drone an XT a while back and I liked it generally. That being said, I’ve owned a Subaru before so I know their shtick.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > HammerheadFistpunch
07/26/2016 at 18:02

I hadn’t realized how expensive the XT models had gotten until I started compiling my test drive list. Everything I drove today would have been out the door for $27k or less.

HammerheadFistpunch > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 18:06

yeah, our plan would be 25-30k tops. So I started looking on subaru’s site.

1. Boo to all the colors, way to bland out the lineup Subaru

2. 6 speed manual transmission “available fall 2016"? I guess its a new trans or something. She likes the manual in hers, I would like to keep a manual in the family.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > HammerheadFistpunch
07/26/2016 at 18:14

The only manual for the CX-5 is the “Sport” base model and the dealership I stopped at today only had a few “Sport” models on the lot and none of them had manuals. Which isn’t a surprise as most people refuse to drive in DC traffic in a manual. Its the same issue when I bought my JSW they had to find one and bring it in from out of town. I”m not sure how much its an issue but the auto felt okay.

Mid Engine > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 18:42

I’ve already done my homework, when my 2013 Jetta TDI goes back I’m pretty sure I’ll be buying a Mazda 3 hatchback with the $25,907 VW will be handing over to me. The five door 3 meets my requirements: hatch cuz Costco and Home Depot runs, over 40mpg’s on the highway, no CVT (we need at least one car in our stable with two pedals, cuz Seattle traffic blows), reliable, and out the door easily under my $30k max.

I really do want to like Subaru’s but the numerous complaints that they devour head gaskets and consume more oil than gas has me less than enthused. Also, I have zero interest in a SUV or CUV, I want a car.

Honda and Toyota do beige, I don’t like beige.

I’m not gonna buy another VW no matter what the “enticing offer” is for TDI owners. Huh, I betcha most other car manufacturer’s will have special offers for us poor suffering souls.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Mid Engine
07/26/2016 at 18:50

If I didn’t need the space I would totally get a mazda3.

Mid Engine > Phyrxes once again has a wagon!
07/26/2016 at 19:26

Our kids are grown and out of our hair, no need for a people hauler. I’ll miss the diesel torque for sure, but I can suffer with my Cayman when it’s time to play..

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > HammerheadFistpunch
07/26/2016 at 21:31

I found the court document stuff that we will be getting in the mail.
https://www.vwcourtsettlement.com/en/docs/Proces…
and

https://www.vwcourtsettlement.com/en/docs/PSC_Se…

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Takuro Spirit
07/30/2016 at 17:46

Thanks for the heads up on the CX-9's Ford bits, I stopped at the dealer I’ll likely buy from and got a chance to talk to a service manager about a CPO CX-9 and while he didn’t say “dont’ buy it,” he was quick to point out which models share Ford bits and which do not.

On a related note the sales manager was an Audi/Porsche guy and he has an interesting theory on what VW might do to try and keep people.

Heavy incentives on a 2-3 year lease with the promise of awesome terms/first in line for the next gen TDI when they get it sorted (assuming the do).