Today, I embarked on a journey to trade in my 2016 Honda Accord for a 2021 CX-5 Signature, but fate had other plans. At Enterprise, I was unexpectedly tempted by a 2022 Nissan Rogue SV with less than 100 miles on it. The deal seemed too good to pass up - only $255 a month with a 60k mile/5-year warranty, and a stress-free, fair experience. Plus, there’s a 7-day, 1000-mile return policy, albeit with a $200 restock fee.
But here’s where it gets tricky. I couldn’t shake off my initial fascination with the CX-5. So, I headed to a Mazda dealership and found a tempting 2022 CX-5 Premium, a lease return in great condition. After an exhausting 6-hour negotiation marathon, I managed to bring them down from a $8k over-list dealer add-on price to a more reasonable $28k. But the deal still included a $698 LoJack fee.
Fast forward, I’m sitting in the finance office, and the deal is set at $315 a month for 72 months, including a warp 100k mile/7-year warranty and a bi-annual oil change package.
In a whirlwind of stress and second-guessing, I signed the papers for the CX-5 but then rushed back to Enterprise to return the Rogue. The Mazda folks weren’t thrilled when I expressed my doubts about the deal and I left Mazda with the Rogue.
So now, Reddit, I’m decompressing and reevaluating. Was the Nissan Rogue the smarter choice for long-term value and reliability, or did the CX-5’s allure and features justify its price? I’m second-guessing my decision and could really use your perspectives.
TLDR: Opted for a new Rogue with a solid warranty at Enterprise, but a visit to Mazda led me to start negotiating a 2022 CX-5 after hours of negotiation. Ended up with the Rogue but wondering if I made the right choice. What do you think?
Not to sound rude, but is it really that common to finance cars for 72(!) months over there? In germany its basically unheard of and financially irresponsible, the amount of interest paid during those years… 36months is the most common, 48 the upper end on finance lengths. I got taught If you cant afford it with a down payment/trade in and 48mo finance, it’s above your current financial situation.
but is it really that common to finance cars for 72(!) months over there?
“According to information-services company Experian, the average used- and new-car loan spans between 67 and 69 months — somewhere between five and six years — as of July 2023.”
So yes, it’s so common that the average is now close to 70 months. Though most people I know who finance do 60 month loans. I did for my last new purchase, but that was a 0% rate from Mazda so it cost nothing.
The CX-5 is a reliable vehicle that handles exceptionally well and is fun to drive. The Rogue has a trashy CVT transmission, and thousands of customers have had problems with them.
Buy what you like to look at.
It’s a car, they all have 4 tires and doors and shit…
Nissan is junk.
Run from both deals.
Do not base your vehicle purchase on a monthly payment with an abnormally long term. 48 months is plenty, 60 is pushing it, and 72 is flat out absurd.
The Rogue is not a good car. They are generally cheap but their CVT transmissions are the worst out there, even Chrysler has better CVT transmissions. Toyota and Honda have better CVTs, but CVTs in general are not reliable transmissions compared to the 6-speed auto in the CX-5.
The CX-5 deal is a bad deal considering the expensive LoJack fee, the largely unnecessary extended warranty and the oil change package. Buy a CX-5 and finance it for 5 years if you absolutely have to, with the goal being that it is fully paid off when the factory powertrain warranty expires. Do the basic services yourself if you have the tools and you’re willing to watch a few YouTube videos. Or take the car to an independent shop for basic maintenance, and follow the maintenance schedule as outlined in the owner’s manual. Then you can take the money saved from the warranty and the dealership oil changes and put it towards an emergency fund, which you may never need to use.
The alternative is to buy a used CX-5 at a much lower price, but you’ll need to be ready for any potential repairs should something happen outside of warranty.
IMO, if I were buying my daughter a car tomorrow, I would be looking for a good deal on a used 2015 or 2016 CX-5. Very reliable, cheap to maintain, and probably easy to find on the used market.
Thank you for your insight.
I have a 20k emergency fund. And financially stable and could afford more a month.
I am going to redo numbers at 60 months.
Any other years that you would suggest?
Sounds like you’re in a good spot financially, but I would still reconsider a 60+ term, it’s just money thrown away on interest, but whatever works best for you.
2017 is a good year if you prefer the design of the 2nd gen. Personally I don’t like to recommend the 2018+ N/A CX-5s because they have cylinder deactivation, and those engines may have issues with cylinder head cracks that Mazda hasn’t resolved. Actual failure rate is pretty low, but still. 2022+ turbo models are good too, as long as you’re okay with the potential extra failure point down the line with the turbo. I have a 2018 CX-9 with 103k kms and it’s been nothing but good to me.
Thank you so much for the help!
What do you think the reason Consumer Reports rates the 2022 rogue with high reliability?
Can I trust consumer reports?
I try not to base my decision on only one source, regardless of how credible it may be. I try to include multiple sources, from outlets like CR, Car & Driver, online forums, Facebook groups, Reddit, etc.
Mazda is going to be more reliable, but that wasn’t your worst mistake. Never judge a deal by the monthly payment. Look at the total cost. You can stretch a loan out longer to get a lower monthly payment, but you will be paying longer and can wind up spending thousands more in interest.
I can easily afford either car. I went back and purchased the CX-5 I was blind in the moment. Thanks for making it clear for me.
Nice, hope you enjoy it for many years to come.
I believe I will!
The CX-5, without a question, is a better overall vehicle. You couldn’t pay me to drive a Nissan.
Thought experiment: you get a CX-5 for $350 a month or someone pays you $350 a month to drive a Rogue, which whole nothing special, is actually statistically a fairly reliable car that sells more units than the CX-5 in the US.
You’re saying no, I wouldn’t drive that Rogue even if you paid me? I would. That’s five grand a year in your pocket to drive for free.
Be real.
Again, as I said prior, you couldn’t pay me to drive a Nissan. Not even a rental from insurance.
Rogue… from Enterprise?
You bought a car with garbage CVT transmission from a rental car company?
I’m sorry OP, but I don’t think you could’ve made a choice more wrong.
Car was from bankrupt dealer, 91 miles.
I thought they fixed the CVT based on consumer reports.
I guess I shouldn’t have trusted consumer reports.
It’s really hard to say.
At least long term quality index looks decent for current gen; previous gen, however, was notorious.
Just be on top of the maintenance and hope for the best.
you made the wrong choice. How much research have you done prior to purchase as based on your story you kind of rushed the whole process and got swept up by shiny words from Enterprise. Nissans, at least in the last 15 years have been hot garbage. poor build quality, ticking time bomb CVT transmissions (which you have, RIP transmission), oil consumption issues at 20k miles+, sub par fuel mileage, and a brand that has fallen so hard not even their GT-R could cushion the fall. And i hope you looked carefully at the warranty from Enterprise and its normally full of asterisk and conditions before they honor it.
also note when buying fleet vehicles from rental companies like Enterprise or Hertz, their cars, although low mileage, have very likely been driven hard because you know, rental.
i would of deny the LoJack outright and if they wouldn’t budge, i would go somewhere else. you are not obligated to purchase a vehicle with features/add-ons (especially not factory add-ons).
I generally agree with the statement about buying a previous rental car, but I’m guessing this Rogue is a trade they received.
Enterprise has a “minimum holding requirement” which means that they can not sell any car from a particular brand until it reaches a specified mileage. Auto manufacturers don’t want them buying fleet vehicles at a discount and immediately flipping them.
Maybe it has changed since I worked there, but the lowest required mileage was around 10,000 - 12,000.
All that said, the Nissan is still the wrong choice IMO.
Thank you for your help. It helped me go back and get the CX-5.
The CVT issues were when Nissan still used Jatco for their transmissions. They’ve switched to another manufacturer as of like 5 years ago and haven’t had nearly as many issues. Just the reputation they’ve earned from those problem years.
That’s what I am hearing.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve learned it’s no good to second guess yourself when making large choices in life. No one in this sub is going to say made the right choice because we can’t be objective. Enjoy your new car or join a Nissan sub if you need validation.
Mazda is more reliable, safer, and has better features. Nissans are shit and have been for at least the last 10 years. 🤷🏻♀️
You’re right, I shouldn’t be the test customer. I went back and got the CX-5.
Thank you, I guess I can’t trust consumer reports all the time.
Do all the negotiation via text or email before going in. There’s no reason to sit there for that long.
Noted for next time. It was exhausting.
Just chill on the couch and let them text or email you, come to a number you’re happy with and then see if you can do the paperwork online
Good advise, thanks!
Never ever fall for the extended warranty pitch. It’s a pure ripoff.
As someone who has and is using a 3rd party extended warranty, not all of them are. It’s saved me $1200 so far, and most likely going to be saving me about $4k next week.
The neighbors had a Nissan Rogue. It battery drained while parked. Twice I saw it towed off to the dealer on a flatbed.
They traded it in for a CX-5.
I’ve always thought Nissan quality was low, and anecdotal observations buttress that viewpoint.
What year?
Either 21 or 22.
Do not get a Nissan. Worst car ever. Worst drivers ever. Don’t join the club. Ffs.
Yep, don’t know why it even crossed my mind. I am happy I was able to change my mind.