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SUVs Mazda CX-9 Honda Pilot vs Mazda CX-9 vs Toyota Highlander
444 messages, Last post on Nov 10, 2009 at 12:41 PM
You are in the Mazda CX-9 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
2009 Honda Pilot vs. 2008 Mazda CX-9 vs. 2008 Toyota Highlander - Although we've been hearing about a mad dash to get out of sport-utility vehicles and into fuel-efficient compacts, the reality is that seven- and eight-passenger crossover SUVs like the 2008 Mazda CX-9, 2008 Toyota Highlander and 2009 Honda Pilot aren't going away anytime soon. (more)
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Replying to: baggs32 (Aug 03, 2008 6:00 pm) |
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Seeing the going prices on 08 MDX models, base model going for 33K, and top-of-the-line between 36K - 37K, certainly cutting into sales of top-end models of both platforms. Dunno what CX-9 purchasers cross-shop with though,
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Replying to: ch1rravu (Aug 06, 2008 2:01 pm) To me, the extra horse power/torque is not why I buy SUV/CUV for. I can complete understand the point of high-end luxury and sports car requiring premium fuel, though. People who buy them probably could care less about gas price. People are getting a fully loaded 2008 CX9 (MSRP for $40K+) for $31K to $33K. According to you, that is still less than the "base" model of MDX. Granted, MDX is more sporty (pulling 0.84g instead of 0.8g) and has better SH-AWD (instead of ATS-AWD). MDX is not as dominating as few years ago when Acura can charge mark-up over MSRP for them. Those days are long gone. I considered MDX before I bought CX9, but few things turned me off. - expensive (at least $8000 more comparably equipped - MSRP-wise) - small (wider but smaller in all else) - premium gas - no SmartKey (I am addicted to it. My key is always in my pocket.) - Acura does not give you better service than Honda/Toyota/Mazda but charge you more for it. |
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As much as I had aversion on Premium fuel, it may ought to be a lesser turn-off these days. Say, you find a decent station that has premimum gas 20 cents over unleaded gas  3.80., its about 5% premium over your total Gas bill. Hence, premium fuel argument is less compelling these days .. compared to yester years. (Obviously, folks say, when gas prices are already that high, why pay an even a penny extra !? Can't debate too much on psychological/emotional points !!  Compare that to 20 cents when the gas prices were $1.30 ., it was over 15% extra on your total gas bill compared to the unleaded gas bill !! One of my cars accepts both, with regular/unleaded it gives decent performance, while with Premium gas, it gives out about 4% more horses with lean burning and better compression (company spec numbers, I am not making up ..). So, when/if I find a gas station with only 20 cents over unleaded prices, I rather fill-up with premium these days (see the above 5% only extra in bill point). But I do see there are a few gas stations - that want to charge 30 cents or more for premium., if their regular price is decent, I simply go with regular gas. By all means - I won't recommend premium for cars that are happy with regular gas, and have no added benefit with Premium gas .. |
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I think we were all wrong here about how the CX-9's AWD system works. I looked in the shop manual for the CX-9, and it is in fact a full-time AWD system. I believe it's something like 60-40 default. It's also a has viscus cupping diff's that can send power to either side of the car. There is also no limited slip like some there thought it had.
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Aug 07, 2008 9:33 am) But seriously, there's no control mechanism on the CX-9 front or rear differential. The coupler is magnetic and mounts on the input side of the rear differential. So, call it Active Torque Split or whatever, you can still get stuck spinning two wheels.
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Replying to: maltb (Aug 07, 2008 12:39 pm) A computer controls the AWD, using 34434 sensors to do so. |
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For what's it worth, the price points for the similar fully-loaded top end model on each of these cars seems to have settled at different places, factoring in all the current deals and incentives. I am basing this on what the multiple deals posted in each vehicles buying experience posts here, excluding deals by one-time posters that don't back it up with specific dealer info. Based on that, it seems like you can get a fully loaded (nav, RES, etc.) Toyota for not less than $35K. The fully loaded Honda Touring can be had for less than $34K and the fully loaded Mazda GT for $31-32K... All three are offering special financing with Mazda having the most agreesive terms and Toyota the least. However, the Honda deals allow both the financing and dealer incentives to be combined which the others do not (though some have reported getting the best deals from Mazda anyway and still getting the financing). From a per economic viewpoint, the Toyota is the worst value and the CX-9 the best. The Toyota is also the only one in the bunch with no memory seats and with the least overall seating roominess. But it obviously has other benefits... |
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CX-9 loses on popularity, resale value and brand image. However, it wins on other aspect like handling, styling, functionality.... That is why it had won on all comparison tests. I own a CX-9. |
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For what's it worth, here in Central NJ, it is the Honda dealers that are being the most aggressive and good faith so far. I have gotten quotes comparable to the best listed on the fourms here for comparably equipped. The Toyota dealers are still a ways off and surprisingly the CX-9 dealers have been the least competitive (relative to the best prices listed in the forums here)... This is ironic since he Honda is an '09. They are really bending over backwards to move these... Don't know if that is a good or bad sign.
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