Here is what I'm looking for:

• Something to kill the body roll completely without making it ride like a brick since I still gotta drive to work every day


• A bit more sound and maybe some actual throttle response because the pedal feels laggy as hell


• Better tires because the stocks are absolute garbage in the rain and feel greasy


• Maybe a short shifter because the throw feels a bit long and vague for my taste

Is a tune actually worth it on these? Or am I just wasting my money trying to make a slow car fast? I really dont want to go forced induction yet because of the cost and the reliability scares me but man I need some more oomph. I'm looking for a setup that makes it feel like a real sports car and not a glorified cruiser for retirees. What are you guys actually running that makes a noticeable difference? I'm tired of the just enjoy it for what it is crowd... I want to actually enjoy driving it for once...

I have a budget of about 21,000 to 23,000 and I'm trying to find something with under 60k miles near the Seattle area since my current daily is basically on its last legs and I need a reliable commuter before the rainy season really kicks in. I’ve checked the usual suspects but they’re just not cutting it:

• Autotrader is basically just a billboard for big dealerships now


• Facebook Marketplace is full of scams and title jumping


• Craigslist is a ghost town compared to five years ago

I'm specifically looking for the Touring or Grand Touring trim because I really want the heated seats and the better safety tech but it’s like searching for a needle in a haystack of bad listings. Even the certified pre-owned stuff at local dealers is marked up so high it’s basically the price of a new one. I know about the potential for carbon buildup on the older direct injection engines so I'm trying to be picky about service records too which makes it even harder to find a private seller who actually kept their receipts.

Does anyone know of any enthusiast forums or maybe more niche sites where people actually care about their cars? I'm even open to those car-buying services if they aren't totally ripping people off. Just need to know where the actual humans are selling their cars these days because the big sites feel like they're just bots and bait-and-switch ads now. Where are you guys actually finding clean CX-5 listings that won't give me a stroke trying to negotiate?

Sorry if this is a stupid question but do I just go to a dealership or is there a better way to find used ones quickly? Is there like a specific website people use? I really need to find something by the weekend...

I already noticed that piano black plastic around the gear shifter is like a magnet for dust and scratches I literally wiped it with a microfiber once and I swear I see tiny swirls already which is driving me crazy because I'm usually so careful with my stuff. I live up in Seattle so I am dealing with constant rain and mud from my weekend trips to the Cascades and I really need to get this thing protected before I ruin the carpets or the leather. I have about 500 dollars set aside for bits and pieces and I am looking for stuff that actually fits perfectly like it was meant to be there. I am already looking at some 3D Maxpider mats because I heard they look cleaner than the bulky WeatherTech ones but I am curious about what else is actually worth the money for the cabin.

Like is the center console organizer a must have because the deep bin is kind of a mess right now and I keep losing my keys at the bottom. Also has anyone found a good way to cover that piano black trim without it looking like a cheap sticker? I really want to keep that premium feel while actually being able to use the car without a panic attack every time someone gets in with muddy boots. What are the absolute must-have interior accessories you guys have found for the current gen CX-5?

I also saw some stuff online about the Mazda S-Plan pricing where you get invoice price if youre a member of certain clubs like the SCCA but then I read a conflicting comment on a Facebook group saying that Mazda actually stopped allowing S-Plan on the 2024 Miatas specifically because of low inventory. Does anyone know if thats actually true or were they just trying to get more money out of that guy? I cant find a straight answer anywhere and it is making me super anxious because I dont want to overpay just because I am in a rush.

Im trying to stay under $40k total out the door and it feels impossible right now with all these hidden fees dealers are tacking on at the last second. Im willing to drive pretty much anywhere in the Tri-State area or even down to Maryland or Virginia if it means I can actually get a fair price and not get hosed on dealer add-ons like ceramic coating I didnt ask for. Does anyone know a specific dealership that is actually moving these things at a discount right now? Or is everyone just paying full sticker plus fees? I need to get this sorted by Friday or Im gonna be taking the bus to work which is like a two hour trip each way...

Ive tried Facebook Marketplace but its just 50% scams and the other 50% are people who dont reply for three days and then tell me its sold. I went to a local lot yesterday and they wanted $26k for a 2018 with 80k miles... like come on. I have a hard budget of $22,000 and I really need to get this sorted before the snow starts hitting here in Columbus because my current car wont make it through another winter. I just want a reliable 2019 or 2020 Touring trim with the heated seats and maybe the Bose audio if im lucky but everything online is either a salvage title or priced like its brand new.

I even checked Carvana and Vroom but their prices are insane right now compared to what they were a year ago. Is there some specific Mazda forum or a better regional site I should be looking at? I feel like the big aggregators are just rigged to show the most expensive stuff first or its all just bait and switch listings to get you to call the dealership.

Are there any actual hidden gem websites or specific places where people actually sell their cars for fair prices without all the games? Or maybe a way to filter out the garbage on the big sites? Im tired of refreshing Autotrader and CarGurus just to see the same overpriced inventory from the same shady dealerships. Where are you guys actually finding good deals on used CX-5s these days because I feel like im losing my mind staring at these screens...

• something to cover that fingerprint magnet center console


• heavy duty floor mats for muddy boots


• better phone storage


• seat cover for my dog

Ive got about 300 bucks to spend right now so what are the best accessories that actually fit?

I have been looking at a few listings online but I am so confused by all the different versions. Some say Skyactiv and some dont and I dont even know what that means or if I need it? I saw a 2012 one that looked cute but it has like 140,000 miles on it and my friend told me that is way too much for a used car but then another person said Mazdas last forever if you take care of them. I am just really lost and I dont want to buy a total lemon that dies in a week or needs a new transmission or something expensive like that.

Here are some things I am trying to figure out:

• what is the best year to look for if I want it to be reliable


• how many miles is considered too many for a $10k budget


• are there specific things I should check under the hood when I go look at it


• is there a big difference between the hatchback and the sedan besides just the trunk space

I really want something that feels a bit sporty since I am young and want to enjoy driving but safety is the most important thing for me. I am planning to buy something within the next two weeks if I can find the right one. I live near the North Austin area so I am looking at dealerships and private sellers around here and maybe even San Antonio if the deal is good enough. Sorry if these are dumb questions I just really dont have anyone to ask and the internet has way too much conflicting information...

I know my way around a car deal, Ive bought and sold at least five cars on my own and I usually pride myself on finding the best CPO deals or at least a clean title one owner trade in but everything I am seeing online right now is either overpriced by three grand or its a rebuilt title that the dealer is trying to hide until you pull the Carfax. My budget is firm at 21k or 22k tops which used to be plenty for a solid 2019 or 2020 Grand Touring with decent mileage but now people are asking like 25k for base trims with 80k miles on them. Its absolute insanity.

I am located around the Chicago area so I am trying to stay within maybe a 100 mile radius but at this point I would drive to Ohio or Wisconsin if the deal was actually legit. I have been checking:

• Facebook Marketplace (mostly scams lately)


• Cars.com


• Local dealership websites directly


• Even tried looking at some enthusiast forums but they dont have much inventory listed

Is there some secret site or a specific aggregator that is actually up to date? Every time I call about a listing I saw on a major site they tell me it sold three days ago and then try to upsell me on a 2024 model I cant afford. I really need to find a 2019-2021 model before the end of next week because my rental coverage is running out. Where are you guys actually finding the real deals that arent just bait and switch?