u/TroubleshootLife

Funny to think that at the beginning of the year we had zero EVs, and now we’re fully electric ⚡️😂

I finally drove our Quicksilver Model 3 and Cosmic Silver YL back to back, and they really have two different personalities.

The Model 3 sits lower, feels lighter, and is definitely more playful. Ours has 18 inch wheels and is not a Performance model, but the suspension still feels more sports car like. It is smooth, just firmer and more eager to be tossed around.

The YL surprised me in a different way. Even with the 20-inch wheels, the suspension is buttery smooth. It handles bumps much more calmly, feels significantly quieter, and still has plenty of power and fun when you want it.

For me, the Model 3 is more fun when I just want to drive. The YL is the easy winner for family life. Three kids, grandma, child seats, captain’s chairs, strong AC, ventilated seats, and everyone finally has their own space.

And FSD is a huge part of the ownership experience for us too. Once you get used to having that extra layer of assistance on longer drives and in everyday traffic, it becomes one of those features you really miss when you get into something that does not have it.

We really appreciated the YL after selling our CX 9 and spending a couple weeks trying to make the whole family work in the Model 3. My 11 year old especially loved being sandwiched between two child seats 😂

I also like having both silver colors. Quicksilver was originally what I wished the YL came in because matching twins would have been fun, but Cosmic Silver has definitely grown on me. They each have their own character.

Right now the Cosmic Silver YL still feels pretty unique around here too. I have not seen another YL on the road in my area yet.

Never thought we would switch this quickly from gas cars we genuinely enjoyed, but Tesla gave us something we did not want to compromise on: form, function, family space, FSD, and still something enjoyable to drive.

Finally picked up our Model Y L last night and got the windows tinted first thing this morning.
Since I live near a park with this old military aircraft on display, I figured it was a fun backdrop. One of the most analog machines from another era sitting behind one of the most technologically advanced family cars you can buy today 😄✈️⚡️
And maybe I’m spoiled now, but after getting used to FSD Supervised, driving anything without it really does feel a little like driving the past 😂
A few quick observations:
Cosmic Silver looks much better in person than it does in a lot of photos. For anyone worried about the “grandpa gold” or old Toyota champagne look, it really isn’t that. It has a subtle warm tone depending on the lighting, but most of the time it reads as a modern silver with more depth. Still my favorite color, and it should be easy to maintain.
Delivery was excellent overall. No car is absolutely perfect. I found one tiny speck under the clear coat on one of the fenders, so apparently one of Tesla’s paint robots had a tiny bad day 🤖😂. It’s very small, but I documented it. I also have a minor liftgate alignment adjustment I want them to look at. Nothing major.
One interesting interior difference I noticed between the black interior and the Zen Gray cars I saw before delivery: the black interior has an Alcantara-like suede material across the dash trim, while the Zen Gray uses fabric. The same thing happens on the doors below the ambient light bar. The black version has a softer Alcantara-like insert, while the Zen Gray material feels shorter, tighter, and more textile-like. Small detail, but I prefer the feel of the black interior.
I also included pictures of my Diono seats in the third row. This setup works really well for us. It keeps the captain’s chairs completely open, and the kids actually have a nice view from back there.
Driving impressions so far are excellent. The car is very quick, incredibly smooth, and much quieter than I expected on the highway. I have the 20 inch Uberhelix wheels, so there is a little more road texture than with a smaller wheel, but the adaptive suspension does a great job compensating for it.
Our other Tesla is a Model 3 Premium Long Range RWD on 18 inch wheels, so I’ll probably do a proper comparison after spending more time with both.
One suggestion for anyone taking delivery: get it on the highway fairly quickly. It’s an easy way to catch any tire vibration, wheel balance, alignment, or wind noise issues while everything is still fresh.
I already gave the paint and glass a coat of spray wax too. I’ve used spray wax on windshields for years. At highway speeds the water just blows off, which means I barely need the wipers in light rain. Very useful when Tesla’s automatic wipers decide they’re auditioning for a drum solo 😂
Overall, the whole family loves it. I’ll probably line it up with our Quicksilver Model 3 this weekend and take some side by side photos.

Figured I’d share this here since everyone in this group already knows these cars pretty well.
I’m selling our 2021 Mazda CX 9 Grand Touring in Deep Crystal Blue with about 73,000 miles. We’ve had the vehicle since new and I’ve maintained it every 5,000 miles throughout our ownership.
It’s the Grand Touring, so it has the 360 degree cameras, heads up display, 20 inch wheels, captain’s chairs and the other GT equipment.
One of the bigger advantages is that it still has Mazda Certified Pre Owned powertrain coverage through May 2028 or 100,000 miles. The CPO coverage stays with the vehicle, so there’s still almost 30,000 miles of Mazda backed protection left.
It was just serviced and inspected by Mazda with no repairs needed. It has Michelin CrossClimate 2 tires that I chose specifically for their longevity and wet weather traction here in Florida, and they’ve been rotated every 5,000 miles.
The vehicle has been extremely well cared for inside and out. Non smoking, regularly detailed, and I’ve even always used protectors underneath the child seats to protect the leather.
Full disclosure, the CARFAX shows two minor incidents. One was when another driver backed into the vehicle while it was parked, and the other was when another vehicle was pushed into the front fender. Both were professionally repaired. I have the CARFAX, before and after photos, repair information and a recent Mazda dealer inspection video and I’m happy to share everything with anyone seriously interested.
I’m located in the Orlando area and asking $20,500.
I’ve looked pretty extensively at comparable CX 9s locally and nationally, and once you narrow it down to Grand Touring, similar mileage, condition and remaining Mazda CPO coverage, there really aren’t many comparable ones around here.
I’m not in a rush to sell it. I’m replacing it with another vehicle, so I figured I’d give someone in the CX 9 community a chance before eventually going the dealer route.
If anyone is seriously interested, send me a message and I can share the full listing, photos, CARFAX and documentation.

Hopefully this helps someone who’s trying to make the same decision. Every family has different priorities, but here’s why the Model Y L made the most sense for ours.

We have three kids and currently drive a Mazda CX-9 with captain’s chairs, so the Model Y L is actually very similar in size and seating. I don’t feel the need to drive a “refrigerator with wheels” just for the two or three trips a year when we need extra cargo space.

I already own a large Thule roof box, which solves that problem perfectly. It won’t work with the Falcon Wing doors on the Model X, but if the Model X had been the clear winner for my family’s needs, I would’ve figured out another cargo solution. It just wasn’t enough to tip the scales.
Here’s what made the difference:
• FSD is a must-have for me. I was going to subscribe anyway, so the included year has real value.

• The Launch Edition is a great value. I would’ve likely chosen Cosmic Silver, the 20-inch wheels, black interior, and tow hitch anyway. The 20-inch wheels only cost about 5 miles of range, and I think they completely transform the look of the vehicle.
• The acceleration boost was the one feature I probably wouldn’t have paid extra for, but since the Y L is a little heavier than the regular Model Y, I’m happy it’s included. A 4.4-second 0–60 is already more performance than I’ll ever realistically use.

• Ventilated second-row seats and the new front seats with thigh extensions were surprisingly high on my list. Living in Florida with kids, those are features we’ll appreciate every day.

• I prefer the simplicity of the Model Y L. Conventional doors, adaptive suspension instead of air suspension, lower weight, better efficiency, and fewer long-term maintenance concerns. The Falcon Wing doors are incredibly cool, but we tend to keep our vehicles for a long time, and I try to think about what ownership looks like eight or ten years from now, not just when it’s brand new.

The Model X is still an amazing vehicle, and if someone gave me one tomorrow, I’d gladly drive it. 😄 But for my family’s needs, I think the Model Y L hits the sweet spot. It gives us almost everything we wanted while staying simpler, more efficient, and likely less expensive to own over the long run.

Curious… if you were shopping today, would you choose a new Model Y L Launch Edition or a used Hardware 4 Model X?