I am the second owner of a 2013 CX5 Grand Touring that I bought certified pre-owned at 30k miles. I rolled a lemon (Ford) into the purchase so I still owe about $6k and it’s worth around $10k trade per KBB. It now has 120k miles and is due soon for regular maintenance like tires and brakes, but I also just got a $2k+ quote to replace the cv axle. Looking for opinions on if it is better to get a new vehicle or will I be opening a door to endless repairs now that it’s getting older and up there in mileage? This axle would be the first thing outside of the normal wear and tear items like battery, tires, and brakes.

 

If the axle is the first thing out of the ordinary, you've done well. Fix it and keep going, I don't think you'll regret hanging on to it. As long as you keep up with oil changes you've got a lot of miles left. When it gets to 200,000, that might be the time. You can save up for a hell of a good down payment in the meantime
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Thanks! I just worry about it becoming a money pit, but figured I’d be better off keeping it. We’ve committed to the same age-related maintenance on our Mazda 3, so I hate to have to keep repairing things on this one too.

Our Protege lasted to 250k (on the original clutch!!!) until the engine quit.

I looked back through my records after posting this and the only other thing we’ve done was a transmission flush.

 

Sounds like it's well worth keeping up with the maintenance regimen, on this one.

I'm on my third Mazda. The modern ones are fairly well-designed and -built. Have a 2016 CX-5 GT AWD, myself. I picked it up at 80Kmi from the prior owner (1-owner, plus me). Have had a Mazda3 as well.

When first purchased (by me), I installed winter-capable tires onto the thing, given the weather in my area. Have done all the fluids, including transm/diff. Had the undercarriage prepped and coated, to guard against rust. Just had the brakes done. The system O/S is updated. The Nav/maps system is updated. Installed a new Optima Red Top AGM battery. IMO, all that sort of stuff is standard, normal and customary maintenance. With 50% more mileage than that, closer to what you've got, it'll possibly need the brakes again and it'll be time for another full fluid refresh. It'll be getting close to needing tires, again, like as not. Standard stuff.

Just so long as the engine remains good and the transmission doesn't tank, it's performing well. Above 100Kmi I might consider the shocks, and it'll be time to double-check the tie rods/ends. Above 100Kmi I'll be keeping an eye on all the hoses and synth/rubber bits in the engine bay. Don't imagine there'll be any surprises, here, but worth keeping a closer eye on them as mileage gets up there.

Fairly reliable cars, overall.

 

I know the Mazda Skyactiv 2.0 and 2.5 engines have a timing chain, so no belt to change, so that is a good thing. But at the timing belt change, they aloo recommended water pump and idler pully change since they were in there. Once in my 30+ years of owning Hondas I elected not to change the water pump and it started leaking 25-30K later, and had to be changed, so I always did the pump and the idler when I did a timing belt change.

After the long story, does the Skyactiv engine have anything like that, driven by accessory belts that need changing at a regular interval?

My other common sense recommendation is to keep up on the fluids, and to change them out so you have a baseline. I know the coolant is 5 year coolant, but when was that last changed? Has the brake fluid been changed after 2-3 years?

Not sure about the lifetime Mazda tranny fluid, but that was a big deal on Honda V-6 automatics. Can't tell you the trouble I had with those. It would seem like you should at least check the tranny fluid for color and odor.

Also check differential fluids (I am pretty sure there are front and rear, with a 120K mile life, but depending on service (e.g., severe), you may need to change it more often.

 

Update: I wound up getting the car repaired at an independent mechanic instead of the dealer. However, the driver side heat stopped working and they couldn’t figure it out. I wound up trading it in for $11,500 towards a 2021 CX-5 CET! Loving it so far!

 

Congratulations ! Is CET an abbreviation for Carbon Edition Touring ?

 

Thanks! Carbon Edition Turbo