year with our GT

[mmichel]

Hi all,

We picked up a new 2010 CX-9 GT with NAV, RES, Towing, and every other factory option offered just about a year ago. It was my wife who picked out the CX-9 after I sent her to check out the CX-7 (along with the RDX, CR-V, Rav4). I thought we could downsize now that we only have my now 11 year old son at home, but after she and my son saw and drove the CX-9, downsizing was no longer an option. LOL! Anyway, she of course had to have the "blue one", which happened to be loaded to the max. I must admit when I took it out for a test drive the handling was like no other SUV I had ever driven. It actually compared well to my Acura TL! (I also drive a c5 Corvette, so I'm more of a car guy anyway).

Anyway, knock on wood before I make my next statement, here we are a year later and the CX-9 has been excellent. The 9 has never needed to go back to the dealer for anything. I do all of my own maintenance, so other than two Mobil 1 oil changes, I've not had to do anything. I don't drive the 9 much, and maybe I would get use to some of the following quirks if I drove it more.

- The NAV system is NOT very intuitive (but the traffic is very accurate). My Acura system is so much easier to use, and so are the Garmin's we use in my Vette and my wife's BMW.
- I can't enter an address as I drive. I know it's a safety thing for Mazda, but I can do it in my Acura (maybe because it's so much easier to use).
- Bluetooth Phone pairing was a pain. Once I got them paired though all has been fine.
- Bluetooth doesn't auto-detect which phone to sync with. I have to manually sync my phone if I use the 9. Again, the systems in my TL and my wife's BMW will sync to any paired phone automatically. You can even set the order of precedence in my other cars if more than one phone is in the car at a time.
- Mazda, please give us lights in the door buttons (window switches, etc). Just cheep not having them.
- Storage behind the 2nd row isn't great, but as we were downsizing anyway this isn't a big deal. Form over function, but I like the 9's styling, so I'm happy.
- there are a few more nitpicks, but those are the ones that stick out for me.


OK, the good things:

- Wow, for a large SUV this thing handles really well. I love the steering feel and the "connected" ride.
- The leather in our 2010 (black) is much nicer than the leather in my Acura, Vette, and my wife's BMW convertible
- The RES, rear HVAC controls, and unbelievable 2nd row legroom give my son a limo like experience. He actually chooses to sit in back even if given the option to ride up front.
- Again, backseat room is awesome. Any adult who has ever sat in the back seat has commented on the amount of room back there.
- The HID headlights are awesome. Again, better than our other cars.

Overall my wife is thrilled with her CX-9, and I have no regrets either. Now if I could just get my wife to take better care of her cars (she is so hard on her cars). The 9's interior already looks like a McDonalds BOMB exploded inside. And the outside is full of dings and scratches. I do my best to keep it looking good, but it's a loosing battle. I gave up a LONG time ago trying to keep my wife's cars looking new, and I've accepted that it's just the family car. I spend most of my detailing efforts on my cars and my wife's BMW convertible, because at least I have a chance with those cars. LOL!

I'll likely be a fly on the wall for the most part, but I will continue to share any experiences that I feel could benefit the forum, and this will be my first place to look if I have a question.

Well, that's my story. Thanks for reading.
- Mike
10 CX-9 GT

 

[table5511]

What do you mean by lights in the door switches? I have red lights in my window switches. My wife keeps telling me "its just a car" and then when I tell her that if she ever curbs a wheel that I will just go a buy a new wheel I say, "afterall, it's just money." And then she doesn't say anything. I think she gets the point, I drill into her head to park at the end of the parking lot, next to an island, and on the uphill part of the parking lot, etc. A few seconds more out of the day is worth it to keep it looking nice.

 

[ceric]

Hi all,
- The NAV system is NOT very intuitive (but the traffic is very accurate). My Acura system is so much easier to use, and so are the Garmin's we use in my Vette and my wife's BMW.
- I can't enter an address as I drive. I know it's a safety thing for Mazda, but I can do it in my Acura (maybe because it's so much easier to use).
- Bluetooth Phone pairing was a pain. Once I got them paired though all has been fine.
- Bluetooth doesn't auto-detect which phone to sync with. I have to manually sync my phone if I use the 9. Again, the systems in my TL and my wife's BMW will sync to any paired phone automatically. You can even set the order of precedence in my other cars if more than one phone is in the car at a time.
- Mazda, please give us lights in the door buttons (window switches, etc). Just cheep not having them.
- Storage behind the 2nd row isn't great, but as we were downsizing anyway this isn't a big deal. Form over function, but I like the 9's styling, so I'm happy.
- there are a few more nitpicks, but those are the ones that stick out for me.

- NAVI is not 1st rated. Got that. No one argue against it.
- Can't enter address. Same for Lexus/Toyota. They also came from Denso (owned by Toyota)
- BT does not auto-sync? What do you mean by that? I don't have to do anything to synch up with my phone.
Is your phone paired as the 2nd on the list? In that case, yes. BT only "looks" for the 1st on the list. Same in my wife's Prius NAVI.
Again, both come from Denso - same stupidity in design.
- lights with window switch? Funny because I have them. Check with your dealer. They might be out somehow.
- no comments on others.

Enjoy your new ride.

 

[mmichel]

Weird on the door switch lights thing. Our driver side window switch light up, but that's the only one. I'll need to look closer at this one and maybe visit the dealer. It's a 2010, could something have changed?

The phone does auto-sync with my wife's phone, but I have to choose mine if I want to use it. My other cars will auto-detect any paired phone and auto-sync.

Thanks for the replys, I need to look into the door switch thing.

-Mike

 

[kornholio]

That happens because the other windows are locked. When you push the lock button to unlock it all the lights come on. When it is locked only the drivers window button is on.

 

[mmichel]

Turns out that Mazda decided to change the Window Switches in the mid-year 2010 CX-9s - I guess to save money (what, a buck?). So I bought their most expensive offering, loaded to the MAX, and they decide to cut the little things that just make Mazda look cheep. Here's the change: View attachment Master Window Switch LEDs.pdf Oh well, it's still a nice car. But Mazda better be careful, while other manufactures are learning that content matters, Mazda is picking the wrong time to go the other way.

 

[table5511]

WTF???? I thought Mazda separated from Ford to cut the bull! Sorry bout your luck!

 

[mmichel]

NP, thanks for your input and ideas anyway. At least now I know it's not an issue.

-Mike

 

[c4racer]

We moved from a BMW 4.6is to the Mazda CX9 touring, AWD over the summer. So far we really like it as well. Although I am less thrilled with the road feel and steering feel which is nowhere near as good as the BMW. But the car is much less trouble to maintain, gets far better gas mileage, and is much easier for my wife to drive - plus the added row of seating is useful for us although not required on a daily basis. We have 2 teenagers both in high school and we have carpool transport duty for 4 kids almost daily during the week. It does handle fairly well for a larger vehicle and it is slightly bigger overall than the X5 which it replaced.

So far we are 5 months in and closing in on 6K miles and ski season is just upon us, so I am looking into winter tire options from the Tire Rack this week to get ready! The car is a great family weekend road tripper - we had a soccer tournament in Santa Rosa a few weeks ago and took 2 extra teamates so 6 of us total. Plenty of space for all - very comfortable. And logged 22mpg on the 225 mile round trip. The X5 would have seen 17-18mpg and was limited to 5 people and that is going 3 in one row which is cramped for a long drive.

I have a Corvette myself btw - 07 Z51 coupe, which I drive more days than not during the week and log more than 10K miles per year. Love that car!!

 

[table5511]

Another winter enthusiast in the midst! I was just reading through my Ski magazine Top 12 this morning, drooling like a dog at all the resorts that I wish I had the time and the money to go to. I was somewhat spoiled growing up and my folks would fly us to Calgary, Alberta every year and we would stay in Banff for skiing at several different establishments in the area. Now that I live on my own dime, those trips don't happen so much anymore. If only I could convince "the man" to up my pay.

 

[teedeebee]

Turns out that Mazda decided to change the Window Switches in the mid-year 2010 CX-9s - I guess to save money (what, a buck?). So I bought their most expensive offering, loaded to the MAX, and they decide to cut the little things that just make Mazda look cheep. Here's the change: View attachment 189769 Oh well, it's still a nice car....

Speaking of cheap, I learned that the reason the "MAZDA" name was removed from the lift gate of the 2010s and 2011s was also to save money. Perhaps they think that the "bird" logo is universally known but it's not. On more than one occasion I have been asked, "What make of car is that?". But as you said, the 9's elegant appointments and superior engineering more than make up for their cheapness.

 

[DW '11 CX-9 GT]

Agree on the Nav unit, PITA compared to my Garmin, or even my iPhone for that matter... Love the BT though, and feel they really got it right with the voice recognition, impressed with how well it works.

The door panel lights have bothered me too, bummer they discontinued that... wonder if there's a way to rig something?

I generally like the car, but wish I would have gotten AWD (if it would be better, don't know).. I HATE the front wheel drive feel (I too drive a Vette, '07 ZO6) and had a Pathfinder before as the utility vehicle, so miss the rear wheel drive, and feel it's way more fatiguing to drive such a heavy car with FWD. I also find the traction nannies downright unsafe in situations where I have to punch the thing while slightly turning from a dead stop... car won't move basically, just shuts down.. better of course if traction control turned off..

Still hate the steering wheel position and size of wheel (I posted separately on this issue)... I'd like it to be a bit bigger in diameter and thickness, and be able to adjust farther down in a real TILT angle...

Other peeves; the seat memory adjusts don't do the side mirrors (as the Nissan did)...
also, the space between the seats when all are folded down in back makes loading things via sliding almost impossible... lots a room back there, but... not exactly flat, and that space sux... kinda silly the auto back hatch won't open when the car is running... I know, safety safety, but geeze... and the manual shift gate?? WTF? Who moves a shift lever UP to downshift and visa versa?? This one mystifies me... but don't use it that much, unless in hilly terrain, as the gearing drives me nuts with it's choice of downshifts/upshifts...

Again, I like the car/truck, whatever it is, better than my Nissan for the most part, as it gets a bit better mileage and feels more like a car, the reason I switched anyway, and have gotten used to the little things I don't like over the last 5 or so months of ownership, and still feel I would have had to pay a lot more to get something different/better, if it exists (wasn't nuts about Ford/Jeep offerings, and most other things too small in back).

But the above issues might be something other potential owners might think about if they have the same feelings I do about mentioned topics..

And advise would be to drive both AWD and the standard FWD to feel if there is enough of a difference to choose one over the other, for whatever reason! I didn't and now wish I would have, just to see if the steering feel would have been a bit easier with AWD, at the tradeoff of possible loss in MPG..

Peace...

 

[blackntan]

Now if I could just get my wife to take better care of her cars (she is so hard on her cars). The 9's interior already looks like a McDonalds BOMB exploded inside. And the outside is full of dings and scratches.

LOL... ^^^THAT^^^

I fight the same losing battle Wife had an Expedition a while back, and it looked like the McDonald's bomb went off in it, all the time. She never cleaned it out, that was, for whatever reason, my job. She just gives the kids free reign with food in her cars. The next car was a 2010 Jetta. She had it for a year and a half, and it wasn't as abused. I started telling her to stop feeding the kids in the car. For the most part, it stayed decent. Then we got the 2011 CX-9 for her 5 months ago. I have pounded in her head NOT to give the kids food in the car, wait til she gets home, or whatever. She has done good with it so far. The kids are absolutely not allowed to eat in my truck, period, and they survive, while the interior of my truck looks like-new.

I've driven it a few times, and I'm very impressed with the ride. I'm not too picky about high tech gadgets and creature comforts, so I'm very pleased with the Touring model's features, leather, and bose/sunroof/liftgate package. Wife hasn't found anything to gripe about, and the few times I've driven it, I can't find anything to gripe about. Probably the nicest car we've owned, except maybe the 12mpg Expedition Eddie Bauer she used to drive.

Taking it on it's first road trip in a couple weeks. Will be about 1300-1500 miles round drip. Looking forward to the nice, smooth ride, and 20+ MPG

Oh, the only gripe I have about the 9 is the stupid oil filter. I have another thread on that, so I won't rant in here about it.

 

[table5511]

Nice lookin' Toyota b.a.t. you got there. I lol'd at the mcd's terminology "mcdonald's bomb" its so true. I look at a lot of cars every day for my job. Mcdonald's bombs seem to go off everywhere. Nothing says a clean car quite like moldy french fries shoved between the seats.