AWD Vs. FWD and 18" Vs. 20" Handling / Ride Comparison - Help me choose

[JTEN98]

I'm very close to picking up a 2012 CX 9. I have a few questions for current owners. (Thanks in advance for taking time to reply!)

Questions first, background second.

1) In dry weather conditions, is there a noticeable difference in handling between AWD and FWD?
2) How significant / distracting is the torque steer on the FWD models? (Severe being a 1990 Grand AM HO Quad 4 with 5 Speed or Turbo Daytona from the late 80's LOL)
3) In what month is the 2013 model year CX-9 expected to be at dealers?
4) If you have driven/own the newest Explorer AND the CX 9, what was your take away impression between the two?
5) On a short test loop of an AWD GT, I enjoyed the connectedness of the excellent steering and 20" ride. Does this connectedness become more distracting or uncomfortable on road trips?

Background.

1) Much online research through about 7 makes/models to get to short list. (CX 9 and Explorer. Appreciate the Durango is all new, but to chubby looking for me).
2) Have only test driven the CX9, 1 AWD Touring and 1 AWD GT. (Was amazed by how low pressure the Mazda dealer was!)
3) Without having answers to the questions above, I'm thinking my sweet spot is a GT, no NAV, FWD, Roof rack, Moon and Bose, thoughts?
4) We live in Central Illinois. Winter weather yes, but generally not severe or long lasting.

 

[Pootie Tang]

1. I have an 08 and drove both the FWD and AWD. I really wanted an AWD for our somewhat frequent ski trips but the AWD, to me wasn't as fun and light feeling. My advice is you have to drive both and choose for yourself.
2. It's not bad, but for my car, 1st gear is very low and I am constantly chirping tires if I want to accelerate quickly (which it does). Fun sometimes, annoying other times.
3. NA
4. No. These are very comfortable cars to take on long trips. Mazda has done a fantastic job with sportiness and comfort IMHO.

3. 08 Nav SUCKS. Hopefully improved in the model years you are looking at. Roof rack decent. Can support load bars and double roof boxes. Bose pretty darn good but not audiophile.
4. For mild winter weather, the FWD might be OK with tolerable traction devices. To me, chains/cables are very annoying and would not be tolerable for long. I have been told that an Autosock fitting the CX-9 20" wheels will be available this winter. The AWD might be a better fit for your seasons.

Good Luck!

 

[table5511]

1) In dry weather conditions, is there a noticeable difference in handling between AWD and FWD?
- I only have FWD and the only time I loose traction is under moderate accelleration from a stop on wet roads, or if I am intending to try and light em' up for some reason. Regarding snow, tires play the largest factor in this but AWD naturally is much much better in snow.
2) How significant / distracting is the torque steer on the FWD models? (Severe being a 1990 Grand AM HO Quad 4 with 5 Speed or Turbo Daytona from the late 80's LOL)
- Torque steer is very noticeable when I am driving it solo in semi-manual and I tend to have a lead foot. Not noticeable when I drive the family around because I don't get on it much.
3) In what month is the 2013 model year CX-9 expected to be at dealers?
- Don't expect much if any difference at all in 2013 model. 2014 will be a re-designed CX-9. 2013 model may come out in late fall of 2012, like Sept?
4) If you have driven/own the newest Explorer AND the CX 9, what was your take away impression between the two?
- have only been inside 5 or 6 new exploders. They are all junk except for the limited edition. (in my opinion). If you can fork out for the limited, its pretty nice*
5) On a short test loop of an AWD GT, I enjoyed the connectedness of the excellent steering and 20" ride. Does this connectedness become more distracting or uncomfortable on road trips?
- Generally, potholes/uneven surface, etc is more widely seen in-town vs. the interstate, so usually fewer bumps happen on a longer trip. The 4 of us go from central KY to western PA and also sometimes to northern VA combined about 3 times per year. To PA is about 6 hours, VA is about 9. No problems except for how hard it is to access stuff in the 2nd row while traveling at 75mph compared to say a minivan. It travels very true in the lane and does not wander around which is very beneficial on long trips.

Background.

1) Much online research through about 7 makes/models to get to short list. (CX 9 and Explorer. Appreciate the Durango is all new, but to chubby looking for me).
2) Have only test driven the CX9, 1 AWD Touring and 1 AWD GT. (Was amazed by how low pressure the Mazda dealer was!)
3) Without having answers to the questions above, I'm thinking my sweet spot is a GT, no NAV, FWD, Roof rack, Moon and Bose, thoughts?
- I agree NAV is nothing special, but sunroof for me is a must, I happen to like the Bose in the 9, and I have the rack and the optional crossbars, and they enhance the appearance of the vehicle. Now with the nav also comes the large touchscreen which I like for radio channels, sound/screen adjustments, etc, but the actual usefulness of the nav is not that great.
4) We live in Central Illinois. Winter weather yes, but generally not severe or long lasting.
- I lived in Ingleside, IL about 9 years old to 17 years old. 5 miles from Wisconsin, about 15 miles from Lake Michigan. My Grandparents lived in St. Louis, so I am familiar with central Illinois (and how flat it is, no need for awd).

* A word on the Exploder i.e. Explorer. While the new version is vastly nicer than the old, it still screams "I am filled with tons of cheap plastic."
The interior is what rubs me the wrong way mostly except for the Limited, and a fully loaded Limited you gotta shell out some big $$$. The interiors of those things are caked with hard cheap plastic and not a whole lot of cushiony material. The cloth seats are terrible. Professional automotive folks seem to think the ride is ok but not confident in its footing like the CX-9.

And the icing on the cake for crappiness of the Explorer: Here is an example of why not to get one. I recently handled a claim with an Explorer that had damage to the shiny black vertical strip between the 2 pieces of glass on the back door. This is called the "vent glass run channel." You heard me right, this part is not serviceable. This is some sort of black shiny plastic filler glued to the run channel, and if it is scraped, scratched or dented, your only option is to replace the entire vent glass run channel AND the vent glass, all one assembly. Guess what the price is? about 500 big ones list price, or somewhere between 300 - 400 retail price. You have to buy the whole thing!! Now on normal vehicles, front and rear door appliques have either actual painted steel (no applique), blackout tape, plastic snap-on, clip-on, or bolt on appliques. In the case of damaged/dented blackout tape, you take off the tape, repair the steel behind it and put on new blackout tape. With snap-on/clip-on/bolt on, you just replace that trim piece.

But with the Explorer, Ford now pimps you for 564 bucks. That is some cheap crap. I believe the front door appliques are the same way, but don't quote me on that.

Based on how they build the Explorer alone, DO NOT BUY.

 

[HOLOHOLO]

I test drove the GT AWD with the 20"ers and bought the Touring FWD on the 18" wheels.

They drive similar in many ways, especially at higher speeds, but the FWD torque steer is a little over the top. You'll feel it, (and possibly lose traction) anytime you enter traffic from a side street or gun it through a corner. There is plenty of power to break the wheels loose on a dry road with the FWD.

If you have a heavy foot, then the FWD on wet/icy roads would concern me. In that case, bite the bullet and get the AWD GT (you'll bite it every time you fill up too)...

I'm a "sporty" driver and I really enjoyed the feedback and stability of the 20" rims on the test drive, and the balanced powertrain of the AWD - but when I got back to my potholed roads, on the rainy side of Oahu, I really appreciated the softer ride of the 18's. I think they drift around the lane a bit more.

For short trips on dry, rolling beat up roads - get the FWD 18's.
For longer, seasonal journeys through hilly, twisting terrain and slippery roads, grab the AWD with the 20's.

Either way - drive straight past the Ford dealer and don't look back!

 

[table5511]

Either way - drive straight past the Ford dealer and don't look back!

Factory Ordered Road Disaster

 

[knowaczark]

Factory Ordered Road Disaster

FixOrRepairDaily

 

[JTEN98]

Thank you all that replied.

Looks like maybe I'll drive a FWD GT before fully deciding. Also looks like I'll wait till Aug or so to purchase for best $??

 

[batman25]

There is a some torque steer in the FWD but I live in the south so there isnt much ice or snow. I wanted the AWD but there wasnt any around when I was buying. I like the ride of 20s way better than the 18s. That could be because I can from a RDX with 20s so the ride was much softer. Not many SUVs can out handle the RDX

 

[JTEN98]

Put a deposit down on a 2012 GT FWD and hopefully it will arrive in the coming week. One of our current vehicles is a Cherokee, so I didn't feel the need for another AWD/4WD vehicle. I am wanting to see if the service dept will change the OE tires to Parada Spec X or Avid Envigor. What are the chances they will? Based on what I'm reading, the Parada might not get more mileage than the OE, but is a better tire outside of mileage.

Feedback welcome.

 

[table5511]

Congrats! Seeing that crappy tire contracts are in bed with auto makers, they practically promote terrible tires. I don't think they will do that for you, but doesn't hurt to ask.