2009 CX9 GT - About to be owner

[radar_007]

Hi,

Just about to put a deal together on a 2009 CX9 GT Copper Red, No NAV or DVD.

Any comments on cold weather performance? I am in Alberta and things can get pretty cold up hear ( a few days last winter were -40C ).

Also on the test drive today I noticed the BSM and TCS switches are reversed. Anyone else with issue.

Anything else to be aware of.

I have enjoyed this forum so far in my search for a replacement for our family vehicle.

I hope to learn more from all your combined wisdom in the future.

 

[ceric]

Read the new issues of Truck Trend and Car and Driver.
CX9 (after 4 years) still get 1st or 2nd place among all contestants.

Just make sure you put on good all-season or snow tires.
You should be fine in cold weather.

And, fix those misplaced buttons...

 

[table5511]

I have been to Calgary/Banff/Lake Louise several times, and know first hand how cold it is there. Seems everyone's windshields are split from one end to the other even on new cars. Regarding the CX-9, there is only a thin battery insulator around it, very very thin. You would be better suited to ditch the oem insulator and buy an aftermarket complete containment/insulator box for the battery, if you get a CX-9. Winter heating displacement is good, and warms your feet and uppers evenly, unlike some Ford vehicles which are unable to get your feet warm in the winter. I will have to double check to see if the washer nozzles are heated (I would imagine they are), as this makes a huge difference. There is nothing worse than frozen nozzles in the winter. You may want tires with a little more grip that the oem tires provide. Being that there is alot of snowfall in Alberta, you would be well suited to buy seperate wheel/tire combo for the winter, and just swap them out winter/summer. The oem Mazda wheels (both 18 and 20") are PAINTED silver, and not machined, and therefore are prone to chipping, which further calls for a separate wheel/tire combo during the winter. Just buy like some 18" steelies with 245/60 R18 winter tires or all season leaning towards winter tires.

 

[radar_007]

Thanks for the advise. I am about 4 hours from Banff, just got to like the scenery in the Rockies. Great skiing. I was planning on getting 18's with winters to save the rims of the 20's and it doesn't sound like those Duellers are any good in the winter.

We got the BSM and TCS switches sorted out. The connectors at the swicthes were crossed. Someone must have been color blind.

Hope to be an owner today.

 

[table5511]

I envy you. I've been to dozens of resorts, and think the Canadian Rockies are better than in the U.S. They tend to have more "above the tree-line" skiing, yet at a lower altitude, which is much easier on the body. Winter Park is 9 some at the bottom, and 12,050 at the top. I know first hand how sick you can get going from top to bottom to top and so forth in Colorado. I can't get enough snowboarding in Lake Louise, its just fantastic. And the night time activities in Banff are great, hotsprings and all. Now if I can just convince the wife...

 

[sjg]

I'm jealous. I've done some of my best skiing in Lake Loise and Fernie. Would love to get back out there. With winter tires my CX9 has been pretty flawless dealing with snow and ice in NY and VT including some unplowed situations but it's still not a truck with 4WD. I can't speak for the deep cold conditions though because I've only been in around 0F in VT.

 

[table5511]

I took a road trip to Mt. Snow several years ago, went to go "out on the town" one night for dinner and got lost in a freak snow storm that instantly coated the road signs and road, I couldn't tell where the road edge was, and it was dark to boot. Thankfully had my big honkin' Winterforce tires on my Passat for the trip. Never seen snowfall rates of that kind before.