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Considering/just test drove a Mazda CX-9 for wife...would like informed opinions

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jeff

jeff

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Thread Starter #24
congrats for your Wife Jeff.
Thanks man.

Happy Wife...Happy life....No wife equals forever Mod life!
Wife>cars

What type of mods did you pick out?

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Just a K&N air filter for now...I contacted a company that makes a real nice axelback for the car and offered to do a video review for a 50% discount. Haven't heard back yet but I've had luck in the past with these things so we'll see.
 


JDG

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#25
Thanks man.



Wife>cars



Just a K&N air filter for now...I contacted a company that makes a real nice axelback for the car and offered to do a video review for a 50% discount. Haven't heard back yet but I've had luck in the past with these things so we'll see.
This is a better alternative to the K&N filter if you are interested: https://corksport.com/blog/mazda6-and-cx9-turbo-short-ram-intake/

Corksport has been in the Mazda game for a longggg time.
 


TyphoonFiST

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#26

JDG

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#27
It's like the only thing available lol. Been looking for the CX5 turbo since @jeff got me thinking about it now and I noticed it works for the CX9 too.
 


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jeff

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Thread Starter #28
This is a better alternative to the K&N filter if you are interested: https://corksport.com/blog/mazda6-and-cx9-turbo-short-ram-intake/

Corksport has been in the Mazda game for a longggg time.
Yeah they're legit...I looked at that product but I don't want intake whooshing so I'm going with the basic K&N filter. But they make the axelback I'm looking at, they have a sound clip on youtube it's really nice sounding.

I wonder what my BAE would say if I installed a Short ram on her car! Good eyes... I was wondering if there were any performance parts for it!
Hmmm....

It's like the only thing available lol. Been looking for the CX5 turbo since @jeff got me thinking about it now and I noticed it works for the CX9 too.
Do you have a CX-5? Those things are right quick, and nice too. We tried it, just not big enough for our needs.
 


JDG

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Yeah they're legit...I looked at that product but I don't want intake whooshing so I'm going with the basic K&N filter. But they make the axelback I'm looking at, they have a sound clip on youtube it's really nice sounding.



Hmmm....



Do you have a CX-5? Those things are right quick, and nice too. We tried it, just not big enough for our needs.
Nah, not yet - but have been looking for the girlfriend over the past two years and couldn't get over how slow they were. Now that they have the turbo and then 2019's are popping up lightly used, I am seriously considering it.
 


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#30
I didn't see this thread earlier or I would have chimed in - congrats to you and the wife! We've owned our 2017 CX-9 since new - nearly 60k on the clock already. It's been for the most part flawless. We had some paint chipping on the wheels so that got fixed while under warranty. The audio system can be finicky when switching between my android and her iphone, but your 2019 should have carplay/android auto, so that should be a non-issue (I've been thinking about doing the upgrade). Tires lasted over 40k miles, but we did rotate routinely. I've run Mobil 1 in it since the beginning, and pretty much only use 87oct at the grocery, with the occasional Shell 93 for good measure. I've had zero maintenance issues to date.

I might suggest finding some clear gloss vinyl you can cut to fit the piano black trim around the shifter; ours is scratched beyond repair at this point, so a protective layer that you can change might be wise. Also, I'm way jealous of the Signature interior - so pretty. The wife didn't like the dark seats, so we went with a loaded GT (for around the same price you just paid - well done!).
 


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jeff

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I didn't see this thread earlier or I would have chimed in - congrats to you and the wife! We've owned our 2017 CX-9 since new - nearly 60k on the clock already. It's been for the most part flawless. We had some paint chipping on the wheels so that got fixed while under warranty. The audio system can be finicky when switching between my android and her iphone, but your 2019 should have carplay/android auto, so that should be a non-issue (I've been thinking about doing the upgrade). Tires lasted over 40k miles, but we did rotate routinely. I've run Mobil 1 in it since the beginning, and pretty much only use 87oct at the grocery, with the occasional Shell 93 for good measure. I've had zero maintenance issues to date.

I might suggest finding some clear gloss vinyl you can cut to fit the piano black trim around the shifter; ours is scratched beyond repair at this point, so a protective layer that you can change might be wise. Also, I'm way jealous of the Signature interior - so pretty. The wife didn't like the dark seats, so we went with a loaded GT (for around the same price you just paid - well done!).
Thank you sir. That is very good to hear. Yes I read about the piano trim and we're avoiding putting anything there. There are a few panels right above the door handles on the exterior, right where you naturally grab the door to close it, they have the piano black too. They were swirled real bad even new and I had the Mazda folks buff them out, but I'm concerned they'll scratch up...have you had this issue? Maybe it's a different grade of material that's not as bad as the interior stuff.

What kind of MPGs are you getting? Any other tips? I'm excited to talk to another owner.

Yes the Sig trim is insane which is part of my draw to the car, wanted something super nice for my wife. I drove it a good bit yesterday, the car is amazing - smooth as butter but also gives good feedback in steering/acceleration/suspension. Really well done SUV for sure.
 


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#32
MPGs aren't as great as expected for a 4cyl, but it's got some weight it has to move around. In town driving around 20. Highway trips around 24-26. Might be better if I ran 93 in it.

Piano trim on the outside is really soft too... they clean up nice, and if you are careful when washing it should be fine. Avoid the automated car wash if you can!! Wiper blades are okay and lasted quite a while - you have to find the O.E. labeled ones to fit (Bosch makes some), as the general universal ones don't (that took a fail to figure out). Stereo is a bit boomy pending your music choice. I've read about filling the Bose subwoofer housing with pillow filling, but haven't done it. Exhaust pipes get covered in soot pretty quick (could be the crappy gas). Seats get dirty pretty quick, but yours are darker so may be a non-issue. The front end design, while gorgeous, also attracts lots of bugs and debris - I didn't put expel on it or anything, and have quite a few chips. I'm nit-picking at this point, there really hasn't been anything to ache about with it. My wife says it's her favorite vehicle yet and she'll drive it till it dies... I don't have the patience for that, but will certainly keep it around another couple of years.

And yeah, it's a joy to drive compared to other SUVs. We've had Explorers in the past, a Honda, Lincoln, and it has the best dynamics hands down. Enough so that I've made some folks a bit nervous on the twisty backroads around here by accident, I just know it's capabilities... Enjoy it!
 


Ford ST

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That is fantastic mileage for something that large. I had a Ford Explorer as a rental v6 it made less torque then the Mazda engine, but more horsepower. The best I got was 19 the worst was 14 and we are talkin about long distance road trip.

You probably would get better mileage with 93 because I believe it makes 23 more horsepower with 93.

I'm with your Wife drive it till it dies. I know Jeff will probably drive it till it's almost dead.

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jeff

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Update....first (and probably only) mod...a K&N filter. Well and I had a turbo badge laying around so I painted it and stuck it on the engine cover for fun. The axelback company (Corksport) I mentioned isn't giving me any discount so that's a no-go...can't spend $600 for some noise.

Also (see pics) when I installed the AF I noticed how much reduction there is in the intake...as an enthusiast this broke my heart some. There really isn't much room to add anything much wider. It's kind of sad to see. Look how after the airbox the circle becomes an oval as it heads back toward the firewall.

https://public.fotki.com/greentrees2/actuator-and-maf-mod/img-8346.html]

https://public.fotki.com/greentrees2/actuator-and-maf-mod/img-8351.html]
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:unsure:

BONUS PIC...the turbo itself...
https://public.fotki.com/greentrees2/actuator-and-maf-mod/img-8349.html]
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Ford ST

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#35
I now have a another Mazda in my life I will be doing the maintenance on.
2020 CX-30 base model all wheel drive.
Even the base model has radar cruise control and a eight speaker audio system with an amplifier.

My dad totaled his Ford ranger a month ago due to ice on a bridge. My parents don't have the finances my wife and I have, so picking out a car was a little more difficult especially with used car prices being extremely high right now. Also any good used car you do fine disappears about instantly, and they are little slower to move on things.

Well I convinced my mom that maybe my dad should take the 2014 Hyundai sonata, and she should find something that she likes.

I did hours and hours and hours of research reading articles blogs and watching videos. So many cars have so many potential problems without a warranty. Hell it seems Toyota makes more junk than anybody maybe their problems are just compounded because of how popular they are. Never been a fan of Toyota anyway boring overpriced cars.

Well a local Mazda dealership happened to have quite a few certified pre-owned Mazdas very low mileage and Mazda has a fantastic certified pre-owned warranty. The price was reasonable considering how high used car prices are right now and nobody wants to negotiate. So to wrap it up my parents now have a CX-30 with 5000 mi on it, and It will have a engine and transmission warranty till March of 2027 or 100,000 miles, so March of 2027.

@jeff How has the CX-9 been any problems at all?






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TyphoonFiST

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#36
I now have a another Mazda in my life I will be doing the maintenance on.
2020 CX-30 base model all wheel drive.
Even the base model has radar cruise control and a eight speaker audio system with an amplifier.

My dad totaled his Ford ranger a month ago due to ice on a bridge. My parents don't have the finances my wife and I have, so picking out a car was a little more difficult especially with used car prices being extremely high right now. Also any good used car you do fine disappears about instantly, and they are little slower to move on things.

Well I convinced my mom that maybe my dad should take the 2014 Hyundai sonata, and she should find something that she likes.

I did hours and hours and hours of research reading articles blogs and watching videos. So many cars have so many potential problems without a warranty. Hell it seems Toyota makes more junk than anybody maybe their problems are just compounded because of how popular they are. Never been a fan of Toyota anyway boring overpriced cars.

Well a local Mazda dealership happened to have quite a few certified pre-owned Mazdas very low mileage and Mazda has a fantastic certified pre-owned warranty. The price was reasonable considering how high used car prices are right now and nobody wants to negotiate. So to wrap it up my parents now have a CX-30 with 5000 mi on it, and It will have a engine and transmission warranty till March of 2027 or 100,000 miles, so March of 2027.

@jeff How has the CX-9 been any problems at all?






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We had a 2017 CX3 up until this year. It was a great little AWD SUV for the price point. No issues whatsoever....except the poorly designed center console they have done away with in the newer models I've heard. They will enjoy it for years to come!

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OP
jeff

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Thread Starter #37
@Ford ST

Thanks for sharing, happy for you and yours. Yeah the new Mazdas aren't the most exciting cars but wow are they handsome, well built, well appointed, they just do everything very very well. Ours is 15 months old now and has been a pleasure to own. Wait till you change the oil/filter...I was quite surprised in a good way when I got under the car a few months back to do the first service. Never has changing oil been so easy and I've probably changed O/F on 40+ different cars. They really thought things out with their newer cars.
 


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#38
Another chime in for Mazdas. We had a 2008.5 Speed3 that I should have never sold. It performed flawlessly as did our 2011 CX-9 until we sold it to get a truck.
 


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#40
Another Mazda CX-9 owner chiming in. Own a 2017 Signature. They are wonderful vehicles. No issues. Everything I want and nothing I don’t. I always wanted one since I sat in a CX-9 at an auto show in 2016 and the interior was nicer than vehicles 3x it’s cost, easily.
 




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