14/09/2026 7:35 am
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Ive been driving Mazdas for years and always loved the handling dynamics but Im in a serious pinch right now. My last car just died on me and I need a daily driver for my 40-mile commute ASAP. Found a 2017 CX-5 local to me in Seattle but it has 145k miles on the clock. The price is sitting at 9k which feels kinda steep for that kind of mileage but the interior looks pristine and the service records are all there.
Im torn because I know these Skyactiv engines are generally solid but that is a ton of road time. My budget is strictly capped at 10k so I dont have a lot of wiggle room for major transmission repairs or suspension work.
- Needs to be reliable for at least another 50k miles
- AWD is a must for the winter
- Gas mileage cant be abysmal
Is this thing gonna be a money pit or can I actually get some good life out of it? Im worried the transmission is at the end of its life but I dont know if im just overthinking it because I really need a car by next week. Should I walk away or is it worth the risk for the price...
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14/09/2026 8:40 am
> I dont have a lot of wiggle room for major transmission repairs or suspension work. Late to the party, but honestly, you should walk away. Spending your entire 10k budget on a car with 145k miles is just asking for a headache when you're in a pinch! If you need a reliable daily driver for that commute, you need something that won't drain your bank account the second a sensor goes out. Have you looked into a Toyota Corolla LE 1.8L instead? I know you want that SUV height for Seattle winters, but an older Corolla is literally bulletproof and will handle that 40-mile commute way cheaper. If you really need the AWD, maybe try finding a higher mileage Subaru Impreza 2.0i Premium that has documented head gasket repairs already done. If you do stick with the Mazda, don't forget you'll need extra cash for basics like a good set of tires. I swear by Michelin CrossClimate2 All-Weather tires for the PNW weather, but they aren't cheap. If you dump 9k on the car, you're gonna be stuck driving on bald rubber! Seriously, save some of that budget for maintenance. You don't want to be stranded on I-5 because you went all-in on a high-mileage gamble. Keep looking, there are better deals out there!
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14/09/2026 7:35 am
Honestly 9k is way too high for 145k miles. My buddy had a Mazda CX-5 2017 Touring and the transmission started acting weird right around 150k. If you absolutely need to buy it, make sure you swap the transmission fluid immediately with Idemitsu ATF Type TLS-LV. That stuff is a lifesaver for these transmissions. If they cant prove that was done, I would walk away. Dont let the nice interior fool you.
1
14/09/2026 8:10 am
To add to the point above: 9k is definitely pushing it. I have seen those Skyactiv engines go forever but the suspension is usually toast by that point. You might want to check the control arm bushings.
- Check for uneven tire wear
- Inspect the struts for leaks
- Look under the car for rust Not sure if it will last 50k without some cash, but if the records are clean it might be okay. Just be careful with your budget.