Hello from new 2010 GT owner

[chuckml97]

Hello everyone,

After a few try to answer the random question, finally register successfully.

Last week, I traded in my 05 Subaru WRX for 2010 GT AWD in silver. Both my wife and I really enjoy driving the CX9. I only got drive it over weekend.

FYI, I bought my GT AWD CX9 with nav, moonroof, power liftgate for $35,550 with 0% finance for 5 years in SF Bay Area.

Here are few questions I have so far:

1. For all previous Subaru owners, how is the AWD in CX9 comparing with Subaru AWD?

2. Do people really use manul shifting in CX9? I have been driving manual for the past 10 years, have to settle with auto becasue don't see any large CUV with manual option anymore.

Chuck

 

[ceric]

Welcome.

For 1, I have not owned a Subaru, so can't comment on the AWD.
However, I found videos showing CX7 on heavy snow. It seemed to work very well. I have taken mine for skii trips. Handled beautifully, of course.
Search "Mazda CX7 Snow" on youtube.com.
CX7 has the same AWD system as CX9.

For 2, I only use the manual mode when going down hills. Other than that, the "fake" manual mode shifts slowly (1.5s according to workship manual). It is no SMG or double-clutch. However, it is fun to play with once in a while, but I mostly leave it alone.

BTW, I am located in SF Bay Area as well.

 

[vikefan7]

I drive around using the manual mode in heavy traffic and I've found it helps a lot with shift points. It gets into 4th gear way too quick if you're in stop and go traffic. Keeping it in 2nd or 3rd helps a lot.

 

[chuckml97]

Thanks for all the replies. I try the manual shift myself, kind of like it. There is some delay after shifting, but I think I will get use to it.

 

[P5w3kids]

Subaru will tell you that their AWD system is much better

I think you'll find the manual shift most useful with hills/curves.

 

[P5w3kids]

For snow and ice the tires will matter more than the specifics of the AWD system. The design of the AWD system will be more of a factor in high-performance dry road driving, which for a car in this class...

 

[jabba]

I had an AWD Audi before the CX-9, and in wet/snowy weather I can't really see a difference between the two, they both seem to take off more or less straight (vs. my Mazdaspeed 3 which zigs and zags), and they both got around more or less fine in snow. In the dry, I typically don't drive fast enough to take either cars to their limits, so I don't see a big difference. Of course, the stability protection in both cars will play a role, in normal driving I tend to think that stability protection trumps AWD...

 

[danz75]

I haven't had a chance to put the AWD CX-9 to the test but i do agree with the comments above that tires make the difference. However, my 03 outback wagon with BFG Traction T/As never failed to get me almost anywhere I needed to. I say almost because there is not a lot of clearance on that car for the more severe off road trails or the dedicated 4X4 trails.