Feeling guilty- too big?

[Snvl pearl]

I love, love the comfort of this car, but it's just me, my hubby and 2 pugs.... Any other empty nester/ single folks? Great family car for sure, just feeling guilty for all the gas I'll be sucking...! Also, do you find it hard to park? Truly drives like a dream though, so far....

 

[jlanger]

Back up camera makes a huge difference in parking IMO, sure it doesn't fit in quite as tight a spot as my old protege 5 but at least I can haul stuff in it. Not an empty nester or single, but if it's comfort big is the real key in rides. A minivan might get a bit better mileage and is bigger, but then again you won't get AWD or higher ground clearance that we have, not to mention style!

 

[drchuck]

Mine is 4 years old, and I went through the same process. Finally decided that balance was the key. Comfort, performance, load carrying ability, price (compared to other vehicles in the class) and of course fuel. Fuel to me was but one of the keys. (I'm 6'6" so that alone knocks many vehicles out for me). IMHO, the CX 9 represents the best blend of my personal key elements. Personally, I had been watching the CX on the road for over a year, and when it made the short list, and finally the only thing on the list (number 2 was the Toyota Venza, which drove just like my 1965 Chevy II) I then spent parts of 3 days driving my dealer crazy looking at it on the floor. Four years later, I am convinced had I bought anything else I would have still been looking at the CX. As a bonus, this is the first vehicle that I have ever owned that didn't look the least bit outdated 4 years down the road. Could it get better mileage? Sure. Does that bother me? Well, Zoom Zoom. Balance, remember?

 

[table5511]

My in-laws are empty nesters and just bought a new Pilot and a new Accord and its just the 2 of them.
CX-9 is not hard to park, you just have to remember when pulling out of a parking spot, it is a bit longer, so pull a little bit further out of the parking spot before turning the wheel so as not to wipe out a wheel on the curb. Same principle applies for going around a corner with mud on the inside of the corner....don't cut the wheel too soon or else the back wheel will run through that mud. My wife seems to be attracted to that problem, God love her.
Glad you like your CX-9!

 

[tex2670]

Personally, as an empty nester, I don't think a 3-row SUV is what I'd want. But, as my dad said, "That's what makes horse racing." If that's what car works for you, you don't need to justify it to anyone.

 

[Snvl pearl]

Thanks all, I may have to make more 12 hr trips north as my parents are aging, and my hubby is a big guy....he wanted a highlander to begin with... Having a small car is definitely easier to park, but I have driven our tundra and used to own a minivan. I do agree the cx9 is probably the best looking larger crossover out there.... And is fun to drive! I will bet
Mazdas next version will have better gas mileage!

 

[hornsfan10609]

Maybe look into the CX-5? Far better mileage and still should be comfortable, i'm 6'4" and I fit into any mazdas except for first gen Miatas

 

[jrgmanict]

When looking at a new vehicle I was replacing the truck I was driving and wanted something different.
We have Three Kids (24, 19 and 17) but for the most part the 17 year old still goes with parents the most so we are pretty much empty nesters.
I need something that had a good cargo capacity (hobby) and pulling power (other hobby).
So I looked at a lot of Crossover SUV's but settled between the Pilot (Wife owns one) and the CX-9 as my choices.
The CX-9 won out because of the styling, performance (Zoom, Zoom) and I owned a Mazda earlier in my adult life.
My work keeps me away from home as I'm a Contractor in the Aviation industry so the CX-9 is used to move me from one location to another and getting ready to do it again.
I cannot complain with much about this car other than some of the options I would like to see but were not there.
I have no regrets as I and my wife get closer to that Empty nest as I believe that we will end up with Grand Kids and the cars we drive will help with doing things with the new generation.
But on a side note I make up by riding a Motorcycle to cut down on the amount of gas I use on my daily commutes as I try and ride more than drive if possible.
Enjoy your CX-9 as it is a very good choice and we should be happy with what we drive as it is a place we spend a lot of time in or on.
John

 

[sts7049]

no kids for us, it's just my wife and i. however, we wanted an SUV to take our two dogs on trips.

i don't find the cx9 hard to park at all. quite nimble i think.

 

[chuyler1]

Sounds like my wife and I aren't alone. Been looking for something with towing capacity that wasn't too big to drive daily. Our "kids" are a terrier-mix and a greyhound. I've been driving Mazdas for over a decade. The CX-5 seemed ideal but lacked the towing capacity. My wife passed on the Mazda3 in 2012 and bought a Focus instead. I agreed with her decision because at the time the 2013 Focus had way better gas mileage and better standard options.

Now I'm stuck in the same predicament with the Ford Escape having the upper hand on the CX-5. Ford's 2.0T with towing package will haul 3,500 lbs and handle the 275lb tongue weight of our camper. The CX-5 can only handle 2,000/200. I've been watching the auto news reports hoping to see the new Mazda turbo diesel make its way to the CX-5 but I've given up hope that it will arrive in time for my next purchase.

In steps the CX-9. Originally I thought it was too big but after a test drive I think I'm in love. I'm 6'3" and small cars are usually fine but the minute I sit in a larger vehicle I feel right at home. I might make a few more test drives of competitors but that will only be to verify that the CX-9 is the right choice for us.

 

[Snvl pearl]

I cannot imagine you would be comfortable in the cx5! My husband is about 5 10 and he is so much happier w the 9.. On a comfort level there is no comparison!