2013 Auto Diesel CX-5 - Yay or nay?

Rowley Birkin QC

Hi all, I've been asked to reccomend a car for my mam. She is currently in a 2007 1.9TDi A4, drives about 15,000km and is not particularly into cars but did specify the following:

• Taller than the A4 to help my grandmother get in and out
• Manual handbrake
• Reasonable amount of "heft" - she was in a bad crash years ago and likes a car that feels weighty, don't know how else to explain that
• Relatively hassle free
• Budget of €10-15k

With that, I found a 2013 CX-5 2.2 Diesel locally to her for about €12k. It seems to be fairly high spec, verified mileage of 175km, Jap import and 1 owner since 2018. Dealer is local and has a good reputation. It's auto which she hasn't driven before but I think is a good idea as she has a bad back and finds using the clutch tiring.

Anything I'm missing out on here?

Thanks!

bazz26

Those Mazda engines have a terrible reputation for reliability, it's Russian roulet with one of them imo. Alot more complicated setup than the 1.9 TDi in the A4.

If she is only doing 15,000km a year then petrol is probably more suitable than diesel especially modern diesels within her budget that have DPFs, etc that don't take kindly to short runs.

Rowley Birkin QC

Cheers for that. Any suggestions worth considering?

I she likes the CX-5 after driving it is there anything to look out for that will spell trouble ahead?

They'll have a mechanic look it over

R.O.R

Nay, Nay and thrice Nay

mickdw

The diesel engine is the problem with the Mazda. Keep away.

AMKC

That Mazda is almost 10 years old. Surely if it was going to have any major problems with its engine it woukd have happened by now. I think people are very harsh on Mazda. Wants they are serviced regularly and not miss treated it should go for ever. The brother bought a CX-5 diesel a year or 2 ago a 2013 although could be 2015 I think and has had no problems with it. Very reliable.

AMKC

That Mazda is almost 10 years old. Surely if it was going to have any major problems with its engine it woukd have happened by now. I think people are very harsh on Mazda. Wants they are serviced regularly and not miss treated it should go for ever. The brother bought a CX-5 diesel a year or 2 ago a 2013 although could be 2015 I think and has had no problems with it. Very reliable.

sumo12

Nay x100

bazz26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621754#Comment_119621754

Plenty of nightmare stories out there around that engine and I'm sure there are some that are fine too. As I said you can play Russian roulette iand hope you get a lucky one but I wouldn't be doing that if it were my mother buying.

bazz26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621588#Comment_119621588

Try and find a petrol CX-5 would be my advice. Mazda cannot even figure out or won't acknowledge some of the problems with that diesel engine.

Larbre34

For a person doing 15k kms, diesel is a terrible idea, especially an older one.

You're absolutely incorrect, above, to suggest that because its ten years old any problems would have manifested by now. In fact now is when problems may well start to pile up, engine mounts, fly wheel, EGR, turbo and intercooler hassle etc etc

And although you will get better mileage from a (well working) diesel, the costs to address each one of those issues alone will be north of a grand and she'd be more in pocket to fuel a petrol V8!

And as for the Jap import, hell nah, run very fast in the other direction.

Stick her in a 1.6 Suzuki Vitara from 2015 for about €15k and it'll last for 20 years with minimal bother.

If its more heft she wants, stick a bag of cement in the boot.

bazz26

The Skoda Yeti is also worth looking at:

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/skoda-yeti-automatic-ambition-1-2-tsi-105hp-dsg-5/31871352

Rowley Birkin QC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621862#Comment_119621862

Why no specifically on the Jap import bit?

It has been in Ireland 4 years based on a history check I did.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119622748#Comment_119622748

Cos when bits of it do go wrong, as they will at this age, not all the parts / electronics / software you might need for the fix are interchangeable with the European spec of the car and so you may find them either impossible to source or much more expensive / long delayed if you can get them.

Yes there are some specialists that deal with Jap import models, but thats no guarantee that the particular problem you have will be either easy or economical to fix, compared to an Irish specced car with dealer parts support.

The fact that this car has been here a few years is not relevant.

Rowley Birkin QC

Grand

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119622810#Comment_119622810

TheGreatUnkown

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621758#Comment_119621758

In my experience, the above statement about reliability is not correct.

OP run a mile from diesel Mazdas. Probably the worst designed diesel in modern history. That 2.2 diesel is junk and anyone in the motor trade will tell you that. Bazz26 and R.O.R are bang on the money.

The dipstick has an X which is above the max level. This is to inform you that the oil is way too high. The fact they had to put this on there tells you everything you need to know about the oil dilution that occurs. I suffered from this despite the fact I did mostly motorway miles. I was averaging 2,000km before the oil had to be changed. This was on an 182 car with a lot lower mileage too. Thankfully I was able to get rid, but forever scarred from the experience. Will never ever buy a Mazda again and I had owned other Mazdas previously (all petrols and no issues).

The petrol CX5s are weedy and underpowered. Need to rev them hard and mpg will suffer. Mazda goes the naturally aspirated route and their petrols have no torque. If you need petrol, plenty of other better manufacturers you can buy.

Rowley Birkin QC

Cheers all. Mazda is now a non-runner.

She did like the auto having never driven one before so that's a win.

She'll take a look at the Yeti. No Vitaras available locally and they look particularly spartan, even for someone not that into her cars!

Any thoughts on something like a Kia Sportage or Opel Mokka?

All seem to be in diesel of this vintage and budget. Thanks!

User1998

Generally there are no diesels in Japan. Its more likely to be a UK import?

If you want petrol automatic you will mostly be looking at Jap imports. The above poster is mostly incorrect about parts. They are almost always interchangeable with European models.

Not a bad idea looking at Jap imports. Maybe something like this:

https://www.donedeal.ie/view/31354295

Rowley Birkin QC

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119623275#Comment_119623275

Definitely a Jap import, I did a history check on it and it also had an odd front bumper.

Nice Tiguan, cheers.

Larbre34

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119623275#Comment_119623275

Aye, but never the part you need at the time....

DaveyDave

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119623081#Comment_119623081

The Mokka has terrible visibility around the rear windows and the automatic gearbox makes you put the foot down a fair bit just getting around like up to speed just doing 80kph on a dual carriageway. The suspension is very rough and isn't comfortable to drive. The interior is very low quality too. Next to no room in the rear seats and a small boot. Even though her Audi was older it would probably be a step down in quality for her and driving them just isn't nice. I drove one a fair bit when a family member had one, I wouldn't go near one. I'm sure the Kia is a much nicer option.

Rowley Birkin QC

So they're still on the hunt for something and the latest candidate is a 2013 1.6TDi Superb - anything specific to watch for?

It's manual, Elegance spec, 145km and advertised at €10,500

Also, any opinions on Cartell vs Motorcheck?

ba_barabus

EGR valves fail regularly and expensively on that engine. I wouldn't

tabby aspreme

The Honda Crv or Hrv may suit you OP

bazz26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119740737#Comment_119740737

If she likes the high driving position of a crossover then what about a Ford Kuga?

https://www.carsireland.ie/3101093

https://www.carsireland.ie/3194853

mk7r

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119741012#Comment_119741012

And injectors....

Matthewjohn

A Volvo XC60 would feel nice and solid, I’ve the same engine in my S60 and it’s been very dependable the last 3 years.

https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/volvo-xc60-2-0d-163bhp-auto-se-luxury-model/31365183

A 1.6 Superb Elegance is lovely place to be but 105 bhp is nothing in a car that size, if she likes the Superb maybe hold out for a 2.0.

Rowley Birkin QC

Thanks again for the feedback & suggestions here, it's greatly appreciated. My mam tends to have a general apathy towards cars and then ultra specific requirements when it comes to actually buying one!

Volvo is a decent shout, anything to watch out for there?

Matthewjohn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119744009#Comment_119744009

I don’t have direct experience of the Xc60 but my S60 which shares a lot of parts has been very reliable the last few years.

The older 5 cylinder 163hp D3 2.0 is the better engine to go for reliability wise versus the newer 2.0 in the facelift model.

If she wasn’t set on a higher up car I would recommend the S60/V60 too, although the boot is fairly small for the car of its size, there’s good value to be had versus the SUVs

Rowley Birkin QC

So, to close the loop on this one... she test drove the Superb on Saturday, liked the spec but not the size of the car. Ended up buying a 2013 Q3 2.0TDi with history, new tyres - clutch & timing belt. Probably paid a little over the odds but she's happy with it so that's me done. Cheers all.