Hi folks. My wife and I picked up a 2013 CX-9 Grand Touring in Meteor Gray/Black interior last night. The car is a base GT with roof rails and cross bars (dealer to add next week), cargo net, cargo mat, and wheel locks. We almost got the tech package, but the only part I wanted was the navigation so I couldn't justify the price. I figure I'll just get an aftermarket navigation system down the road... likely something better than what Mazda offers anyway.
So far I love the car. The GT package in Meteor looks fantastic and it drives really well for it's size. My main beef with the car overall is the ultra cheap hard dash material (wife's 04 Civic has nicer, soft-touch dash material!!!) and the fake wood trim on the GT package. What were they going for there? Looks purple to me and doesn't fit the rest of the car. I'll likely paint them or get a dash kit to cover them up and give the interior a less bland look. We'll see.
Anyway, looking forward to learning more about my CX-9 here and hopefully contributing a bit as well.
Welcome and congrats!!!
I have some (potentially) good news regarding the the Navigation System! All 2013 CX-9 models have the new 5.8" touch screen display, regardless of whether they have NAV. Mazda made them NAV-ready and they sell the Navigation System as a Mazda Accessory!!! It has a list price of $559.95 or my buddies at MedCenter Mazdsa are selling it on their site for $499.95! It is designed to be 'plug-and-play' so it's easily installed AND it will look and perform EXACTLY the same as the one in the TECH Pkg!!! =)
Here's link to check it out-
Mazda Accessories- Navigation
The new 2014 Mazda6 also has the same setup on i Sport AT and i Touring models w/o the Technology Touring Package. It's standard on all Mazda6 i Grand Touring models.
To the best of my knowledge this makes Mazda the first automaker to offer anything like this! I'm impressed, to say the least!
Moving on to your the 'unique' interior trim....the spec sheet for my 2012 CX-9 Grand Touring FWD (Crystal White Pearl w/ Sand Leather) shows that is has "Wood Tone & Dark Silver Trim". I could only find "Premium Interior Trim Accents" in the 2013 specs. But Mazda explained it in the Press Release at the 2013 CX-9 introduction-
"Sport and Touring models exhibit piano black trim accents while
Grand Touring models feature a high-quality Bordeaux throughout the vehicle. Fitted along the door panels and hugging alongside an updated center console,
this detail is not overly brash but elegantly subtle."
So don't go around saying it looks purple, if anyone comments on it, tell them it's Bordeaux! And it's ELEGANTLY SUBTLE, Mazda said so!!! If you do try to replace or alter it, you will no longer be Elegant nor Subtle....and you can't say that it has "Bordeaux"" trim (the French and French Canadian, in particular, will be impressed)!
I'm almost certain that it is made from a real tree, by the way! Under just the right lighting conditions (when both the overhead interior lights and my garage opener's time-delay light clicks off and visibility is near ZERO), my 'wood tone' trim bears a striking resemblance to a ficus tree I threw out years ago!!! =)
But seriously, I caught a glimpse of the Bordeaux trim last time I went to the dealer for an oil change. I commented to my salesman that perhaps you needed to drink a bottle (or case) or Bordeaux to appreciate it??? I also told him the color reminded me of a blood clot....but it's elegant, dammit!
