New '07 CX-9 GT AWD Owner from Seattle

[Armchair Bronco]

Greeting, this is my first post on this site.

Last weekend, my wife and I bought a lightly used 2007 Mazda Grand Touring AWD CX-9 dressed in Sparkling Black and chrome. The car has 33K miles but is in fantastic shape. It's pretty much loaded top-to-bottom with all of the goodies including:

* rear-seat DVD system & upgraded BOSE stereo
* nav system and assistance package
* auto-dimming mirror w/ compass and 3 garage door openers
* anti-theft system
* remote start, privacy glass, splash guards, roof rack, and Class II towing package

The only extra it doesn't have is the remote lift gate, so this CUV was probably an earlier 2007 model.

Anyway, we paid $25K + tax for it and for the first time in my adult life I DO NOT have "Buyer's Remorse" after plunking down 25 G's for such a big-ticket item.

This is my first Mazda and I'm VERY impressed. This CUV replaces our 11-year-old Dodge Grand Caravan. I have a wife, 3 active kids and a golden retriever and this car will be perfect for my family! Mazda really hit the sweet spot with the CX-9. I know that some Mazda owners consider this line to represent "Brand Betryal", but come on, fellas: this car is targeting guys like me with big families who also want some Zoom Zoom mojo! This car delivers fun driving in droves! (headbang)

Yesterday, I ordered a bunch of OEM parts to round things out, including:

* all-weather rubber floor mats (a requirement in Seattle)
* roof rack cross bars (I know the OEM ones aren't super strong, but they'll work for us: we have a Thule roof container that is only loaded with bulky but light items like pillows and sleeping bags)
* cargo liner (this was WAY overpriced at $78, but it's where the dog will stay and I wanted something that was properly fitted)

 

[Armchair Bronco]

Here are a couple of photos from the dealer:

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

Welcome to the family. Now you know why the rest of love our CX9s.

 

[Armchair Bronco]

Welcome to the family. Now you know why the rest of [us] love our CX9s.

True, dat! For the last week, I've spent each evening driving around with the CX-9. Sometimes I hang out in the burbs; sometimes, I hop on to I-90 and head east for a bit. I'm just amazed how responsive this car is. My other car is a 2004 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro, and *that* car is definitely fun to drive. Very low center of gravity, extremely responsive, all with a nice throaty growl from the turbo-charged engine.

But the CX-9 has its own sophisticated mojo going on. It's deceptively fast with great acceleration considering it weighs a couple of tons! And the interior (with the exception of just a few items like the glove box) is very luxurious. I feel pampered driving this thing.

A few things bug me:

* there's a lot of front display panel glare on the windshield at night
* I wish the display brightness were completely adjustable; in the dim mode, I don't like how it tops out *just* below the brightness level I want
* the towing packages applies too much torque from 0 to 5 MPH making the car a little jerky at super low speeds. I understand this is necessary for towing heavy loads -- I just wish I had an option to switch between "normal" torque and "camping-mode" torque

But these are all minor issues in the "Grand Touring" scheme of things.

Why can't American companies make cars like this? (huh)

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

It definitely doesn't know it's a big 7 passenger vehicle. Gotta love those Mazda genes.


* There's a lot of front display panel glare on the windshield at night

Is it the orange graphics, or the blue accent lighting? I leave my dash lights on bright at night and have no problem with glare from the dash.


* I wish the display brightness were completely adjustable; I don't like how it tops out just below the brightness level I want.

How bright do you want it? It's VERY bright when left on high at night.


* The towing packages applies too much torque from 0 to 5 MPH making the car a little jerky at super low speeds. I understand this is necessary for towing heavy loads -- I just wish I had an option to switch between "normal" torque and "camping-mode" torque

That's not the towing package. The CX9 is pretty torquey in general.


* Why can't American companies make cars like this?

If they did, maybe they wouldn't be in trouble. Ford even built the Edge on the same platform as the CX9 and still managed to make it a turd.

 

[Armchair Bronco]

I find the orange color to be too bright at night, but when I press the button over the tachometer and the display panel dims, then it's not quite bright enough for my taste.

In the dim mode, I can adjust the brightness down to nothing or up to a built-in maxium level that's just misses the mark for me. Frankly, I don't know why they have these two modes. Why not just have a single potentiometer that goes from black to blazingly bright orange? In that case, I'd be happy with something around 55%. Oh well.

Like I say, these are minor issues. If they fixed this and de-cheapified the pasticky glove compartment and the center console cup holders, they would have addressed most of my complaints. (Oh, and why isn't there a seat back pocket on the front passenger seat? I see them on later models?) Oh, I almost forgot: I think the climate control system is a little over-engineered. I had to read the manual to figure everything out, and that's a "No-No" in my book. My Audi has a climate control UI that's a lesson in simplicity that hides complexity.

Glad to hear that the torquey-ness I'm sensing isn't because of the towing package.

I agree with you about the Ford Edge. I'm seeing a lot of them around where I live. They look OK on the outside, but I was totally underwhelmed with the interior. However, I'm not even that interested in test driving one because with a family of 5, I need a car or CUV that seats *more* than 5.

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

There are two modes for the dash lighting because the gauges are lit all the time, not just at night. Normal mode dims the dash when the headlights are on, bright mode leaves them at the setting they were at before the headlights were turned on.

With the headlights off, you can adjust the gauge lighting a bit, and then when the headlights are turned on, and you use the brighter non-dimming mode, it will maintain that setting. (You can't adjust the bright mode while the headlights are on)

At night turn the headlights off and see if you can adjust it to your taste.



The HVAC system is actually a lot easier to grasp than the manual would suggest. I found the instructions overly complicated, but the actual system quite simple to use. Auto pretty much takes care of everything for you. Just set the temp, and forget it.

Don't be afraid to ask specific questions that your manual doesn't answer. That's what we are here for.

 

[hamproof]

Strange your 07 GT doesn't come w/ powered liftgate since you mentioned assistance package was part of it. On my 08, it is listed as GT Asssistance Package which includes the NAV and powered liftgate. The pre-req is the Moonroof & Bose package OR RSES w/ Bose package.

Do you have the original sticker on for the car? Maybe call Mazda up with the VIN and see if that particular built is suppose to have the powered liftgate option installed.

On the interior, there's a button to open the powered liftgate if so installed. Do you have it or is it a blank piece?

I don't think the auto A/C is that complicated. I had an 01 A4 before. It is pretty much the same. Press the auto button and set the temp. That's it.

About the passenger seatback pocket, are you referring to the 2nd row looking at the driver seat, or 3rd row looking at the 2nd row seatback?


Btw, Mazda wouldn't have the CX-9 in the first place if not for Ford. To say why American car companies cannot come up with something like the CX-9 is just so fark. Ford Edge is actually pretty nice for the segment it is competing under. Name me another 2 row SUV from GM and Chrysler that is as nice as the Edge.

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

Early 07s simply weren't available with the power liftgate or the front passenger side seatback pocket. No remote, no wiring, nothing.

 

[Armchair Bronco]

Apparently one of the early criticisms of CX-9 was that the liftgate was too high when opened for short people grab hold of. So the power option was quickly added half-way through the 2007 model year.

Thankfully, I'm not short.

Regarding Ford & other American car companies: I understand what your point is. But I still think that the Edge falls short compared to the CX-7 or CX-9 in terms of the overall package.

American cars feel so "American" -- I simply prefer the feel (exterior, interior & handling) of German and Japanese cars...none of which went bust recently.

 

[ceric]

Welcome, Armchair Bronco.

 

[Armchair Bronco]

Welcome, Armchair Bronco.

Thanks! It's great to have an active CX-9 forum where I can get my questions answered. Maybe in time, I'll know enough to answer a few questions on my own. (wink)

By the way: I had my first bit of "Good Luck" with this car today: this morning my family and I took the CX-9 to the local Brown Bear Car Wash for its inagural trip through the soapy tunnel. I just wanted to wash the mildly sticky pine tree pollen off the car so I asked for the el cheapo "Bear Essentials" wash for $6.00.

I told the kid running the wash that I'd appreciate it if he could carefully direct me into the rails since this was a new car and I still wasn't used to the size of the car. I said: "I don't want to mess up my new 20" rims!" He helped me out and I gave him the "Thumbs Up" sign.

Next thing I know, we're in the car wash and all of the neon lights for the "Beary, Beary Best" wash (at $12) are going off: wheel cleaner, undercarriage, teflon treatment, the works! Either he pressed the wrong button or he wanted to really make the car look nice. Anyway, the car looks great and I saved $6 bucks! (second)

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

did you figure out the dash lights?

 

[Armchair Bronco]

did you figure out the dash lights?

Well, I tried to make the adjustmet when the engine wasn't running and with the headlights at various settings. It didn't seem to matter.

I have 2 basic settings with the dash lights: either adjustable from zero to just a light glow that emphasizes the blue rings; or fixed with a very bright orange glow that's just a tad too hot for me.

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

Maybe you have less adjustment because of the added blue accent lights. Ick

 

[Armchair Bronco]

I took my '07 CX-9 into my local trusted auto shop in Issaquah for a buyer's inspection (even though I've already bought the car). There are only 3K miles left on the 36K mile bumper-to-bumper warranty so I wanted to have the car looked over.

I paid $89 + tax for the inspection, and the car has a clean bill of health. Here were the findings:

* The battery is past its prime and should probably be replaced before the winter.

* The 20" tires are also nearing the end of their useful safe life. The shop said that I should consider replacing them, too, before the cold weather sets in. If I go with Firestone tires, it'll run me $1050 installed. Costco tires combined with a discount coupon seems like a better value.

* Everything else looks great.

And if that weren't enough, my all-weather rubber floor mats, cargo liner and roof rack cross beams arrived today, too. The floor mats work realy well. I'll talk about them in another thread.

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

I paid $200 less for MUCH better tires.

 

[ceric]

Buy tires from tirerack.com.
(1) find a installer near you (contracted with tirerack.com) with low price and send them the tires
(2) go to the installer for installation.

or,
(1) send them to your house.
(2) take them to Walmart for installation

$1050 for 4 tires? No way I am paying for that.
Yoko Spectra-X is $160/per. Plus shipping for about $60.
That is $640+$60 = $700.
Installation is typically $15-$20/per, plus some fee $5/per.
You are looking at
$700+$80+$20=$800.

When SportsOwner said "$200 less", he wasn't kidding.

Costco has good price but limited choices unless you really are in love with Michelin and BF Goodrich.

 

[Armchair Bronco]

The $1050 installed price I quoted wasn't from my local repair shop: while they were doing the inspection, I had 90 to minutes to kill. I wandered into a Firestone dealership and their quote was $181 each for Bridgestone P245/50R20 tires, or $724 for 4. There was another $108 for "road hazard protection" (what's that?), $40 for installation and $30 for misc. valve costs. (Oh, and $90 for the taxman, too.)

Anyway, I agree that I can do a lot better than that. I need something that will work really well in light to heavy rain year around (remember, it's Seattle!) plus 1 or 2 hellacious ice storms per year. Would this change what you guys have already recommended?

 

[ceric]

To be fair, my pricing calculation excludes the "road hazard protection".
It is a form of insurance if you will to replace the tire in case of unrepairable situation and free plugging or patching in cases of flat tires.

I usually skip that, but it is just me.