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Want to go from Mazda to Tesla.

crownedPom | 2026-03-12 05:50 | 7 views

Hi all, I financed a brand new 2025 Mazda CX5 in December 2024. I have \~14,000 remaining to be paid until it’s paid off. My car payment is $312/Monthly. I’m not even sure I am asking the correct sub, but have had some buyers remorse on the Mazda due to lack of tech. I am really tech savvy and enjoy building custom PCs and really want a large screen with a car that is customizable. I also don’t drive long distances which makes me think an EV is more practical. I am going to Demo the Model Y tomorrow so I can obviously ask employees there but do you guys think this sounds reasonable? Could I even get a Tesla and keep a similar monthly payment as my Mazda? Willing to lease instead too if that helps. I also feel a bit irrational wanting to trade my brand new Mazda in after just 15 months of owning it and only putting on 7,000 miles in that time frame, but again I feel some buyers remorse and have always wanted a Tesla but felt I had to get a gas car for whatever reason. I am located in Texas. Thanks for any insight! I’m literally just a girl (lolz).

Comments (54)
it_is_raining_now 2026-03-12 06:01

It doesn’t sound financially responsible for something that’s a want. That being said. I have a cx90 PHEV and my wife has a new model y. Im team Tesla now after being a skeptic for quite a while. After my Mazda lease I’m getting another model y

BeachFuture 2026-03-12 06:05

Love my model y but be aware insurance can be pricey. So factor that in.

Josorioalcerro 2026-03-12 06:05

Hi. I did this. Went from a 2022 Mazda cx30 with only 19k miles to a model Y Juniper. So far it’s been 2 months ownership and I don’t regret it at all. I was quite happy with the Mazda but driving the Tesla is a different experience specially with the FSD. Do the test drive, try both, the model Y and the model 3 but I’m sure you will really like it.

Mobile-External6554 2026-03-12 06:58

Tesla is a really good option if you want a more affordable car with the latest technology. I can't imagine driving anything else. While the upfront cost might be a bit more, you definitely get a lot for your money, especially with all its features and how customizable it is. Seriously, it's a bargain compared to other overpriced underwhelming vehicles. I've owned a bunch of different cars, including ones with monthly payments that went over $1000. I'm currently driving my third Tesla – a 2026 Model Y Premium. Honestly, I'm obsessed with how refined, tech-forward, and easy to use they are. It's truly the best choice if those features are important to you.

TheGreatArmageddon 2026-03-12 07:40

You can always rent a tesla for a roadtrip. Drive, charge, drive, charge until you get tiered pf EVs and get back home happy in your low maintenance, pocket friendly ICE car

shiftersix 2026-03-12 07:48

Whatever you think the insurance is going to cost you, it is more expensive. It's more expensive than our X5 of the same year and higher MSRP. It negated all gas savings. Call your insurance company and get some rates. Make sure you're okay with it. Also, having the ability to charge at home is a huge bonus. I had to live with just supercharging for a month and I absolutely hated life.

clearbox 2026-03-12 09:55

This… is how it started for me. Wife got a MY. I drove it a few times, then had to get my own.

NBK_Shikogi 2026-03-12 10:22

This is a terrible financial decision. And just so you know the big screens in Teslas are not customizable, so not sure where you got that from.

PrizeMeans 2026-03-12 10:38

Not sure what you mean by “customizable” when it comes to owning a Tesla lol. It’s a car..

Tellmeyoulikerabbits 2026-03-12 10:50

I have both and only want to drive my tesla. It's likely a bad financial decision to sell so early but if you really want it then I recommend buying a used model y. Look for a 2024 model that has hw4 (better computer and cameras). Used teslas are so much cheaper and affordable these days.

Dangerous_Mine3962 2026-03-12 11:16

Literally throwing $14,000 in the trash. It comes down to that. If you finance your cars, you can’t afford to throw $14,000 in the trash.

rhia_assets 2026-03-12 11:43

I owed $15k on my 18 month old Jetta and Tesla gave me $18.5k for a trade in for my Y! Worth it.

spewing-oil 2026-03-12 12:00

Refined?

goodvibezone 2026-03-12 12:31

The only thing you may not yet is customization on the screen. ApplePlay will be here at some point for Apple users, but the screen itself (while has many options) is not that customisable like you would see on Apple or Android screens. I'll set aside the financial part...that's your decision. But typically anyone who tests drives immediately falls in love...

JD_352 2026-03-12 12:37

You will not be able to keep the same payment. Even if you go to a lease, Tesla’s depreciate A LOT so that’s what you’ll be paying over those 3 years plus if you roll any negative equity into it. Leases start at $459/month per the website and that’s the standard trim. You’re closer to $600/month on a premium trim to lease depending on options. There’s higher insurance costs. I went from a Lexus to a MYP and insurance is about $400 more per year. Then if you want FSD, $100 per month.

Glum_Perception_1077 2026-03-12 12:38

This is what I knew before purchasing a Tesla. Knowing the insurance rates def would have pushed my purchase back a couple years.

jefedezorros 2026-03-12 12:58

Not $14k though. The trade in value on a 2025 Mazda CX-5 is $20k. So OP will take back $6k from the trade in. So what is thrown away is the original price paid minus the trade in. Not knowing the trim, it ranges wildly, but let’s say it was $30k out the door. OP is throwing away $10k.

Dangerous_Mine3962 2026-03-12 13:03

I am under the assumption this is a lease with a $312 car payment….dude put stacks of cash or had a heavy trade in to get him to that payment. Either way $ is going in the trash. Whether it’s during the trade in or when he bought in Dec 2024.

jefedezorros 2026-03-12 13:06

Yeah. He said “financed” in the post. But yeah probably a trade or hefty down payment if he is that concerned about keeping the payments low.

it_is_raining_now 2026-03-12 13:14

FSD is HIM

IndieDevML 2026-03-12 13:15

That’s for pointing it out. Those considering should call their insurance first and get a quote. I was bracing for something terrible, but replacing a 17 year old car with a new model y was only $65/month more, plus a few things I can do to bring it down further. Not great, but not terrible for me. The lady complemented me on working to figure it out before purchasing as many people end up surprised.

Putrid-Box4866 2026-03-12 14:00

Yap. There are two kinds of cars in this world. Those that drive themselves, and others.

KonaRona23 2026-03-12 14:52

Out of all possible cars you could have, the Mazda is up there with the Tesla in reliability and has better build quality on the interior. I own a CX9 that was built in Japan and a 2023 Model Y. I love my Tesla and it’s an amazing piece of tech.. i can totally empathize with the technology angle as driving the CX9 feels like a step back into a different age, but the quietness of the cab and the smooth ride over bumps in the road is just not even comparable. We don’t plan to lose the Mazda anytime soon, it’s perfect for road trips and the Tesla is perfect for bopping around town.

deztructo 2026-03-12 15:04

15 month old nice Mazda that you bought brand new? It didn't appreciate in value so it's a terrible financial decision just to satisfy more tech in a car which isn't the point of owning one. Own both a old semimanual fun Toyota and the Tesla. Long commute for work. Tesla AutoSteer perfect for easing that long drive. The Toyota is for weekends and what I customize, mostly the subs and infotainment. You cannot really customize the Tesla without constantly updating it. Even accessories like the SEXY buttons are updated. A sub on my M3 that I had a shop add needed where it's main power connection relocated. I returned recently for my Juniper which already does have two stock subs, but was interested in maxxing it and told me they recommended updating the signal input on my M3. I agreed what they proposed was simpler and cleaner signal, but would have to replace the wiring adapter and amp. Decided to just wait until I pop the sub driver.

crownedPom 2026-03-12 15:19

It’s not leased. I put $10,000 down when I bought the car.

crownedPom 2026-03-12 15:20

Did you trade in your Mazda to Tesla? Did you have a remaining balance on your Mazda?

crownedPom 2026-03-12 15:21

This is a really good point! My CX5 was also made in Japan and is a beautiful car.

StormTrpr66 2026-03-12 15:41

I went from a Lexus to a MYP and insurance is about $400 more per year. You're lucky. My insurance for a MY went up BY $1800/yr, yes, that's correct, $150/mo MORE than what I was already paying for a Rav4 Prime, which I thought was already high to begin with. My current annual rate is about $4200/yr. That's State Farm in SoCal, I'm almost 60 and have a perfect driving record. Add that to the car payment (previous car was paid off), and the $110/mo for FSD and premium connectivity.

StormTrpr66 2026-03-12 15:51

Given the numbers you posted, it's unlikely. You're going to take a big depreciation hit on the Mazda, you will then have to roll that $14K balance into the Tesla's loan, if you're even able to do that - you might have to pay it off in advance, depending on where you live your insurance will likely go up, possibly by a lot, I'm talking like double the rates you're paying now, and with any new car there will be some other expenses too. But only you can do the math. Your monthly payment will be determined by a couple of main factors - the amount you finance, the interest rate, and the term of the loan. If you want to keep a $312/mo payment, just go to any loan calculator website and start punching in the numbers. But either way, it will require paying off the $14K owed on your current loan, PLUS putting down a pretty significant down payment on top of that. I can give you an example using my own situation. The car cost me $50K + tax, tag, etc. I financed somewhere around $25K give or take at 0.9% over 60 months. My monthly payment is roughly $413/mo. My insurance costs doubled and my annual tag renewal went up (in SoCal it is significant, like over $600/yr).

KonaRona23 2026-03-12 15:57

I'd give yourself some time with the Mazda until you've paid it off. Let Tesla continue to innovate. There's no need to go into more debt right now if your car is in good shape. The payments are manageable. The grass is always greener on the other side until you have no green left when you get there.

MrGodyr 2026-03-12 16:07

Are you mainly talking about FSD? Or all of the EV tech in general

JD_352 2026-03-12 16:11

That’s low - I pay $2600/yr and have a perfect driving record lol. Lexus was 2200/yr. StateFarm in FL. I even tried the Tesla insurance and have a “great score” on there and it’s still around the same price.

StormTrpr66 2026-03-12 16:16

I don't think you understand. It did not go up TO $1800/yr, it went up BY $1800/yr. My annual is now about $4200/yr.

crownedPom 2026-03-12 16:49

Just the EV tech in general! Love how everything is built into the touch screen.

crownedPom 2026-03-12 16:51

I think I am definitely going to follow your advice. I don’t want to make a bad financial decision. For now, I will just have to admire the gorgeous Tesla’s from afar. Maybe once my car is paid off I can get into a Tesla.

quentech 2026-03-12 16:58

> My insurance for a MY went up BY $1800/yr, yes, that's correct, $150/mo MORE than what I was already paying for a Rav4 Prime My insurance for an MY is less than $1200/yr, total. Basically the exact same price that my 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee was/is to insure.

quentech 2026-03-12 16:58

> That’s low - I pay $2600/yr I pay $1200/yr. Shop around.

StormTrpr66 2026-03-12 17:05

Location has a lot to do with it. I used to live in Miami. Insurance on all my cars was less than half of what I'm now paying in SoCal. In SoCal all insurance rates are obscene. I could have gone with Tesla insurance for almost half the cost of State Farm but the experiences other people have reported with them are not something I want to deal with in case I ever need them. State Farm is expensive but they've been very easy to deal with.

StormTrpr66 2026-03-12 17:07

I was beyond skeptic. I couldn't stand Tesla or their CEO. Then I test drove one..... Still hate the CEO but man, the car is pretty awesome!

KonaRona23 2026-03-12 17:09

I think it’s a wise choice, but certainly not the easy one! Save the difference in payments each month so you have a down payment when the time comes. The cx5 is still a beautiful vehicle and a dream car for many people. Perspective is everything!

JD_352 2026-03-12 17:10

Makes sense. I keep them for the same reason. Just will shop quotes around a bit and see if there’s anything worth switching for.

JD_352 2026-03-12 17:12

Oh dang! Yeah that’s steep. Read that wrong definitely. Guess mine seems like a steel. Back in the NE I was usually paying about $800/year less so can relate to the location to price but can’t relate to those CA prices!

Igotnonamebruh42 2026-03-12 20:04

You could’ve just get the 2026 cx5 if that’s all you want(and cheaper)

IzzysGhost 2026-03-12 20:41

If you have good credit, and qualify for the 0.99% APR, putting down $23,500 on a Premium RWD Model Y will have a payment of $320/mo. You should be able to cover your loan balance on the CX5 if you sell it and maybe have a little left over. Seems nuts to me, but it's your money.

Jugga94 2026-03-12 22:04

You sound like me. I was a skeptic. Went and test drove one. I had a 4runner. Wife had a Lexus NX. Traded both in for two Teslas. Best decision ever

it_is_raining_now 2026-03-12 22:14

They really are amazing. However, I’m still getting used to the simplicity inside the car. The lack of buttons is still a little weird to me but I think I’ll get over it.

Jugga94 2026-03-12 23:00

I’m used to it now. I just set everything to auto and it works like a charm

Pristine_Cricket_633 2026-03-13 02:56

Wow, I never buy a product without first knowing who and if I like the CEO. Sarcasm. Your grocery cart is full of how many douch bag CEO's 😆

Pristine_Cricket_633 2026-03-13 03:00

Do you drive on sidewalks?

StormTrpr66 2026-03-13 03:03

Not always.... But I do live in an area with some of the highest insurance rates in the country, despite my having a perfect driving record after about 45 years of actual driving experience

iguessma 2026-03-13 09:36

No. Tesla's aren't even that customizable. On top of that you're going to eat all the depreciation. Learn patience. Having a Tesla doesn't make you techy either.

andrewsz__ 2026-03-13 21:50

Seems silly to put down so much on 0.99 Apr. but I’m sure you have a reason !

IzzysGhost 2026-03-13 22:06

I agree, but OP wanted to match current payment. I have 1.99% on an Ioniq 9. I put $0 down and rolled all the fees into the loan. I have a big payment, but after investing I should come out ahead than paying cash. That, of course, was before Iran.

Admirable-Eye2709 2026-03-14 07:21

Bruh a lot of us hate the CEO. But still love my MYP. I’m conflicted for sure.

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