Car shopping (w/ 3 kids) - CX-9 an option

[MazPro2000]

Hey all,

Background: We currently own a 2005 Ford Freestyle (that we love), but its CVT transmission is going and will cost $2K plus to fix. I think we're going to get rid of that and get something a few years younger. We have three kids, two of whom are still in car seats. Three rows is a must. The FS has captains seats in the middle. We absolutely love that. The oldest can scoot right on back to the third row with no problem. Third row is split so one side stays down 99% of the time, leaving tons of space for storage.

So my question: Is there anyone on here in the same situation? Since the second row is a bench on the CX-9, we have to figure out if there is room for the oldest to get back there without moving the car seats. I swear I read somewhere the second row can be slid foward with the car seats installed and have enough room to enter the third row. Is this true?

Please let me know. If so, we're going to add this to the list of options. I want this to work so I can have an excuse to test drive one. I want some "fun to drive", and it appears from reviews this car has it, for it's size and purpose. Thanks all in advance for the responses.

Josh
FYI - I'm not new to the Mazda family. I do own a 2000 Protege with 150K miles on it. Love it, dog it and have no problems with it!

 

[RoadKing01]

Welcome to the CX9 forum. I only have two little ones at the moment but I can tell you my experiences with moving car seats around to access the 3rd row.

Little background on my situation. I have a 1y/o still rear facing ( driver side ) and a 5y/o using a booster type of seat (passenger side). Both in the the second row most of the time.

The bench seat in my CX9 is big enough for my wife to occasionally sit in between or off to one side both kids, and we leave the 3rd row flat most of the time. I imagine that your oldest should be able to fit there as well. My wife has ridden there for over an hour with no complaints and even has her own set of wireless headphones for the RES.

If you decide that the 3rd row is a must use, it is fairly easy to remove a booster-type of seat and slide the middle row forward easy easy ingress \ egress. If your little ones are still using seats that are latch based it may be easiest to have have your oldest climb through the rear hatch. You can leave one seat of the 3rd row flat to allow for easier access to the seat that is up.

It would be fairly difficult to access the 3rd row with a latch based child seat on each side of the 2nd row. The 2nd row seat backs rock forward to allow easier access and doing that would be pretty difficult if not impossible with a seat latched down on both sides.

I would take your car seats to a dealer and test for a configuration that best suits you. If you find one that works for you, I think you will be happy with the CX9 as a family vehicle. If you cannot find one, then you may want to look other options like the Acadia\Traverse\Enclave that offer 2nd row captains chairs.

Take your time and test as many vehicles as you can before making your decision. You have to live with that decision and payment so make the one that is best for you.

Good luck with your search, and if you decide to go CX9, please come back and post when you get a chance.

 

[tex2670]

I've had my CX-9 for almost 1 month.

I don't see how you can tilt any middle row seats with car seats secured in there--I suppose you could use the fore/aft adjustment to just move the whole seat forward without tilting. You'd have to test that out yourself on the vehicle--but I know that my wife would get frustrated with that solution really fast. If the captain's chairs are a *must*, I'd suggest looking at the Toyota Highlander. They have a middle piece that can be removed from the seat--you can swap it out for a console-type insert, or keep it out completely for Freestyle-like access to the 3rd row.

However, keep in mind that your carseat situation is temporary. Once your kids graduate to a booster, then YES, you can tilt and slide the middle seat forward for 3rd row access, because the booster isn't secured in.

The other possibility is the rear hatch entry, since you plan on leaving 1/2 of the 3rd row down most of the time. Not sure how old your oldest is, or what trim level you are looking at, but when my wife drives the car pool with the new CX-9, she just hits the power liftgate button, and whoever's riding in the 3rd row lets themselves out the back.

We went back and forth between the CX-9 and the Highlander. I think that we would have been happy with either one; however, I'm definitely very happy with CX-9.

Good luck with your car search.

 

[MazPro2000]

Wow. Thanks for the quick replies.

RoadKing01
I think we are going to just test it out at a dealer. The captain chairs aren't a must if the third row is easily accessible. We've just been spoiled with them. I didn't realize the CX-9 was wide enough to fit two in seats and one in the middle. My oldest is pretty skinny (even for a ten yr old), so that could be an option. The GM products are not even an option.

tex2670
We too have driven the highlander. That was pretty nice. The middle seat removal thing is pretty slick. It seems we'll be doing the same back and forth as you. I want some fun to drive factor though! (thumb) Just have to take it easy on the gas pedal though. And I know you can't tilt with the seat installed, but was wondering if you can slide it foward enough without tilting. No problem though. Looks like we're going Monday to look at one!

Funny that both replies mention going out the back. All three boys love doing that regardless! We open it to get the stroller and all three are already there waiting to jump out. Who needs doors, right? I guess as long as the back is not packed from a bulk shopping trip, that's an option too.

Thanks!

 

[tex2670]

Wow. Thanks for the quick replies.

RoadKing01
I think we are going to just test it out at a dealer. The captain chairs aren't a must if the third row is easily accessible. We've just been spoiled with them. I didn't realize the CX-9 was wide enough to fit two in seats and one in the middle. My oldest is pretty skinny (even for a ten yr old), so that could be an option. The GM products are not even an option.

tex2670
We too have driven the highlander. That was pretty nice. The middle seat removal thing is pretty slick. It seems we'll be doing the same back and forth as you. I want some fun to drive factor though! (thumb) Just have to take it easy on the gas pedal though. And I know you can't tilt with the seat installed, but was wondering if you can slide it foward enough without tilting. No problem though. Looks like we're going Monday to look at one!

Funny that both replies mention going out the back. All three boys love doing that regardless! We open it to get the stroller and all three are already there waiting to jump out. Who needs doors, right? I guess as long as the back is not packed from a bulk shopping trip, that's an option too.

Thanks!

My wife's main requirement was the power rear hatch. All the cars we looked at had one, so it didn't have to become a deciding point. But she wanted to be able to drop off at car pool without getting out of the car. I can tell you that the Highlander was really nice when we test drove it--and we went back a second time for an extended drive too. We had an '04 Pilot, and I can tell you that the CX-9 is such a remarkable improvement over the Pilot (not that I ever disliked the Pilot while we had it)--I noticed it from the moment I drove it off the lot.

 

[table5511]

I only have 2 kids, both of which are still in carseats w/latch system. Both forward facing.
I have taken my sisters kids around too. When it is my 2 kids in their carseats in the middle row, and I fold one 3rd row up, and one 3rd row down, it is easiest for that 3rd kid to get in the 3rd row seat. But if both 3rd row seats are up, then your option now is to use the lever under one of the middle row seats and slide one of the middle seats forward and have both 3rd row seat kids get in that way.

You cannot fold the middle row seats forward with carseats installed. All you can do is use the lever underneath the seats in the middle row, and slide them forward. I have found that even for kids, its a little difficult for kids to get into the 3rd row by sliding the middle seat(s) forward. For adults getting into the 3rd row, with carseats in the middle row, you have to suck your gut in and squeeeeeeeze through there.

To summarize, its fine accessing the 3rd row w/out carseats installed in the middle row, but with carseats installed in the middle row, its pretty cramped because of the fact that you can't tilt the middle seats forward. But like other have said, if you have a 3rd kid, just have him/her get in through the hatch. (however, like in my garage, I cannot open the hatch with the garage door closed)

Hope you find the right car!! The Infinity JX may be an option for you. The new Nissan Pathfinder is going to be a unibody structure with a 3rd row, looks very promising. (2013 pathfinder).

 

[MazPro2000]

helbigtw
That was exactly the response I was looking for. If the Freestyle was working properly or cheaper to fix, I'd drive it till the wheels fell off. Unfortunately, we are not in the financial position to check out the Infiniti and the Pathfinder is still too far off. Gotta get rid of the Freestyle soon. Think I'm going to take off work early today and take the LONG way home and swing my a Mazda dealership to look at a CX-9. Maybe take a quick look at a CX-5 for when my Protege bites the dust!

 

[ceric]

About CX5, I noticed two things I did not like (just FYI).
1) there is no vents for the 2nd row passengers (at the backend of center console)
2) the 2nd row seat is a bit too upward. It should lean backward a few more degree
Other than those, love it.

Can't answer the car seat questions of CX9 since my kids were big enough when we bought our CX9.
However, the 3rd row can sit medium-size adults for short trips comfortably. You can't say that
about Pilot or Highlander.

 

[MazPro2000]

Okay. We couldn't help it. Went to the dealership with the family and checked out the CX-9. What an awesome vehicle. The Highlander doesn't even compare as far as I'm concerned. I'm preaching to the choir here, but wow. It's tight, taut, an absolute blast to drive. And, yes, we did the kid through the backseat test. With the latched car seats in, our oldest can slip behind a slid forward second seat. Not an every time thing, but if he has to, it's possible. Anyway...it's now time to get the funds right and see what we can do. Unless something crazy happens, we're hoping to be a future CX-9 family!

Oh - and I get $500 off just for owning a Mazda already (the 2000 protege). How's that for cool?

 

[table5511]

Nice. Yeah I'm not a big fan of the Highlander, and think that its really a big step below the CX-9.

 

[qck]

Anyway...it's now time to get the funds right and see what we can do.

One a side note just in case you do no know, at least at my dealership, go to buy it on the very last day of the month. It is the best day to negotiate the lowest price.

 

[MazPro2000]

One a side note just in case you do no know, at least at my dealership, go to buy it on the very last day of the month. It is the best day to negotiate the lowest price.

That, I did not know. I will keep that in mind. Thanks!

 

[RoadKing01]

Glad to hear you liked the cx9. That first drive is pretty enticing. When we bought ours, I told my wife that she was supposed to play the "I really want it role" and I was going to play "I'm not sure role". As soon as I got behind the wheel I knew we were in trouble. It was a blast to drive and was very similar to my Altima 3.5 in driving characteristics. (or at least as close as a CUV can get). Needless to say I bought it that week and have been happy ever since.

On a related note that may help you, your bank may offer a blank check car loan at a very low interest rate. My bank (pnc) gave me a check for up to $30k and a fixed interest rate of 2.9%. I negotiated my lowest price, and as soon as the salesman told me he couldn't go any lower than 5.9%, I pulled out my check and told him I had my own financing. He wasn't happy to lose that negotiating point but I had him. It might be a good option for you too.

 

[ceric]

Some tricks to get lower prices:

1) as qck said, do it near end of month (quota concern of salespersons) or long weekend such as Labor day
2) do e-mail price bid among several dealers
OR
go to dealership and ask the receptionist for the best salesperson (in the sense that who has the most sales that month)
That person usually has more bargaining power against the sales manager. More discount to you.

 

[HOLOHOLO]

Lotta dealerships now have a dedicated internet sales person on staff who will cut through the BS with you or can dispatch you a good salesman. The more serious you show yourself to be, the better/higher the person you will get to deal with. So be prepared to close.

Nice thing about the CX-9, you can keep it till the kids are "young adults", and you will all still fit. And the dog.

 

[tex2670]

Glad to hear you liked the cx9. That first drive is pretty enticing. When we bought ours, I told my wife that she was supposed to play the "I really want it role" and I was going to play "I'm not sure role". As soon as I got behind the wheel I knew we were in trouble. It was a blast to drive and was very similar to my Altima 3.5 in driving characteristics. (or at least as close as a CUV can get). Needless to say I bought it that week and have been happy ever since.

On a related note that may help you, your bank may offer a blank check car loan at a very low interest rate. My bank (pnc) gave me a check for up to $30k and a fixed interest rate of 2.9%. I negotiated my lowest price, and as soon as the salesman told me he couldn't go any lower than 5.9%, I pulled out my check and told him I had my own financing. He wasn't happy to lose that negotiating point but I had him. It might be a good option for you too.

That is definitely the best way to go on financing. Those F&I reps always tell you "We will match any other deal you have", but once you are there, they play the--"Well, do you have it in writing?" game. If you have a check or sight draft from another lender, the answer is "Yes--and I have the funds."

 

[jrgmanict]

I had my financing in hand from one of my banks but the F&I Guy at my dealership actually beat what I had in hand for the rate and I walked out pretty happy at that point.

That is definitely the best way to go on financing. Those F&I reps always tell you "We will match any other deal you have", but once you are there, they play the--"Well, do you have it in writing?" game. If you have a check or sight draft from another lender, the answer is "Yes--and I have the funds."

 

[RoadKing01]

I had my financing in hand from one of my banks but the F&I Guy at my dealership actually beat what I had in hand for the rate and I walked out pretty happy at that point.

That why I let the salesperson give me his final offer before revealing I had my own check. If you are buying new, it should not be too difficult to get 0%-1.9% from the dealer. If you are buying used like I did, it is much more difficult to get a lower rate. I gave them a chance but they would not come down any more.

 

[MazPro2000]

Thanks for the advice and tips here. Definitely taking note. Going to have the Freestyle paid off and offered as a trade in. Kind of torn though as it has transmission issues. Gotta figure out what it's worth like it is. Maybe they won't test drive it. Ha! Figuring on having a set price for the value of the FS, some cash down and now, hopefully a "blank" check from the credit union. I like the check idea as a back up plan. Never even thought of that.

 

[tex2670]

Thanks for the advice and tips here. Definitely taking note. Going to have the Freestyle paid off and offered as a trade in. Kind of torn though as it has transmission issues. Gotta figure out what it's worth like it is. Maybe they won't test drive it.

I don't think they test drive it. But if you had any tranny work done @ the Ford dealer, it might be in the carfax.