Just Got a New Mazda CX9!

[S204STi]

After a few months I have to say I love this car.  Best vehicle I have ever owned.  It's comfortable, drives great and can fit a good amount of people and stuff.

I only have a couple gripes:

- Dim headlights
- Transmission is a bit slow on down shifts
- No RDS on the radio (sounds great though)

Try these for your low beams and these for your high beams.  Those low beams in particular may be more effective that what you've got.  I couldn't find any over-wattage bulbs for your low beams, though the first bulb is as bright as you can get with legal wattage.

[S204STi]

What's RDS anyway?

[the Teuton]

What's RDS anyway?

Radio Display. It shows you what channel you're on, among other things. It can also advertise commercials and issue emergency alerts through the RDS display.

[S204STi]

Radio Display. It shows you what channel you're on, among other things. It can also advertise commercials and issue emergency alerts through the RDS display.

Ah, thanks.

[Catman]

Try these for your low beams and these for your high beams.  Those low beams in particular may be more effective that what you've got.  I couldn't find any over-wattage bulbs for your low beams, though the first bulb is as bright as you can get with legal wattage.

I will try that.  Halogen projectors seem to be weak.

[Catman]

Ah, thanks.

More importantly be able to see the song title and artist.

[NomisR]

More importantly be able to see the song title and artist.

I think the Mazda one only does that for the Satelite radio.. don't really listen to music on radio so never found it useful..

[S204STi]

I will try that.  Halogen projectors seem to be weak.

Yeah, they can be for sure.  They also have a very sharp cutoff for the top of the beam so you don't get much range with them unfortunately, but that first bulb should at least help with seeing stuff on the side of the road and within range of the lights. 

[CALL_911]

Wat?

Is it even possible to get car radios without RDS these days?

My sister's '06 TSX and our old '04 TL didn't have it. 'twas lame.

[93JC]

I think the Mazda one only does that for the Satelite radio.

It does for MP3 CDs too, if the metadata on the CD was set up properly. But for regular ol' AM and FM, no, which kind of sucks but... meh.

[Colonel Cadillac]

My sister's '06 TSX and our old '04 TL didn't have it. 'twas lame.

Yup, plus only power seats and one-touch up/down windows on the drivers side. Why make it so exclusive! Oh, and when you play CDs, no minutes or seconds! That made me the most mad.

[93JC]

The driver's one-touch up/down is pretty common, but no track time on CDs? WTF?!

[Catman]

I think the Mazda one only does that for the Satelite radio.. don't really listen to music on radio so never found it useful..

I listen to most AM and you're correct about the SAT radio but I have no need for it.

[nickdrinkwater]

The head unit in my Ibiza is out of a 1994 Renault Clio (Pioneer/Renault OEM unit) and that has RDS and displays CD track times...

[Catman]

Just swapped out the Thule 450's I had with 460's which mount directly to the fixed points on the roof.

[giant_mtb]

Those for skis? Bikes? Kayaks?  Wut.

[Catman]

Those for skis? Bikes? Kayaks?  Wut.

All of the above.  I have all the attachments!

[giant_mtb]

Sweeeeeet.

[CJ]

I think roof racks are sexy.

[Catman]

Here's the Thule 450 mounted to the factory rails. 



Too much going on here.  The factory rails are flimsy and are only rated to 100 lbs.

Here's the 460 Kit..... 165 lb rating

[Eye of the Tiger]

I think roof racks are sexy.

That must be why they are so damn expensive.

I'm gonna make one like this for the Swift:

[Catman]

Ghetto!

[Eye of the Tiger]

cu$t0m

[Catman]

Ghetto Custom!

[The Pirate]

Those for skis? Bikes? Kayaks?  Wut.

They are so damn handy.  I have all the same attachments as Greg for mine, and change 'em out as activities change with seasons.  Makes it possible to haul a lot of gear with a small car.  I've hauled extension ladders, lumber, and mattresses with it too. 

[J86]

Oooh I need to take a pic with the custom racks I have for the Grandpa Cruiser right now.  8' 4x4s with green astroturf stapled to 'em

[Catman]

Awesome.  I have a Thule cargo box I'll be mounting soon.  Going skiing this coming weekend.  We'll just throw all the stuff in there.

[AutobahnSHO]

The head unit in my Ibiza is out of a 1994 Renault Clio (Pioneer/Renault OEM unit) and that has RDS and displays CD track times...

Europe has always been better about RDS. In fact it's more rare that you find RDS here in the US than not.. ?!

[Laconian]

I've only found a couple stations that support RDS.

In France the RDS is reliable and accurate. The Traffic feature is incredibly handy, where it will mute a broadcast, wake it back up when a traffic update is being issued, then go back to mute.

[mzziaz]

Europe has always been better about RDS. In fact it's more rare that you find RDS here in the US than not.. ?!

Wow, I wasn't aware of that.

OTOH, you've got that satelite stuff.