Not again....
 

we tried to purchase a 2017 CX5 but they came out late this year. The dealers wanted to unload their 2016 CX5 inventory but the asking prices did not reflect a one year old car, so we thought to wait for the 2018 model year. Yeah, the dealers are doing the same thing this year. The Toyota RAD4 is starting to look good.

Where did you find a 2018 CX-5? Dealers only have 2017 models as far as I know. BTW, "asking price" is just what it says. It's your job (as a buyer) to make an offer for what you want to pay. It's called "negotiating".

That's the problem...there are no 2018 CX5s until they unload the 2017s at prices we will not pay, as they are already a year old. Why should we eat the depreciation? We refuse to play the negotiation game with back and forth trips to the dealer. We buy our cars through our credit union, they do the shopping, we do the buying...usually in less than an hour to do the paperwork.

Dealers are still sitting on new or very low mileage 2016.5 CX-5s in Socal. And they are damn near giving them away! If your credit union is incapable of locating one or getting you a decent price, I suggest you learn how to use Google or quit complaining. This is not rocket science. When you put your fate in the hands of a third party, this is often what you get.

I'm not sure what your Credit Union is doing, but they are clearly dropping the ball. I bought a Mazda during the fall/model year change over a few years ago and basically I was offered the new year's model for X or the previous year's model, but one trim level higher, for that same X.

Why not do your negotiating via email versus back and forth to the dealer? I always do and usually between 2 ro 3 dealers from the comfort of my own home. I only visit the dealer when I get a good price.