Do you like your CX-9 Navigation?

[IslandTractor]

IslandTractor I can't remeber if you have the Nav or not. FWIW I don't have issues with Handsfree volume when I adjust the iPhone iPod volume control.

Yes, I have Nav. I only had an issue with the phone volume when setting up the BT for the phone initially. For whatever reason the phone volume was set fairly low at that time and I could not hear the incoming caller unless I increased the car audio volume to a level that became painful when I ended the call and reverted to music. Once I figured out I needed to set the phone volume higher at baseline the problem disappeared.

 

[T.Narley]

I wanted it but our 08 doesnt have it, so my Nav consists of my Droid Incredible in a suction cup mount. I don't have any experience with the Mazda nav, but the systems in other vehicles I've used you couldnt do any of the things we can with Google nav. On our trip down here to Florida (3 kids in the car) we found ourselves southbound on I-95 and in need of a Wal-Mart or CVS/pharmacy type store. Without ever slowing down the wife was able to locate the nearest Wal-Mart, get driving directions and check to see how far off the freeway it was.

About 25 minutes later we were back on the freeway, problem solved. The best part, in my opinion, is that the maps are updates on a daily basis free of charge, whereas in-car systems get very stale, very fast.

 

[IslandTractor]

I wanted it but our 08 doesnt have it, so my Nav consists of my Droid Incredible in a suction cup mount. I don't have any experience with the Mazda nav, but the systems in other vehicles I've used you couldnt do any of the things we can with Google nav. On our trip down here to Florida (3 kids in the car) we found ourselves southbound on I-95 and in need of a Wal-Mart or CVS/pharmacy type store. Without ever slowing down the wife was able to locate the nearest Wal-Mart, get driving directions and check to see how far off the freeway it was. .

I agree those are advantages of the smartphone based guidance programs. I find that the in dash unit works better for actual directions and is obviously easier to see but if you have a shotgun passenger to operate a smartphone that is far better for identifying specific enroute points of interest. We use Urbanspoon for eateries on the iphone as it gives ratings as well as directions. I do use the Mazda Nav system though for gas stations and you can set generic points of interest on the fly so we can turn on or turn off things like gas stations or restaurants on the display. Some are displayed generically while others (Shell, Mobil, McDonalds etc) are specifically noted with logos.