CX-7 Quality Commentary
- Thread starter mazdaone
- Start date
I am a bit surprised to see the Protege5 held up as an example of how solid Mazdas used to be. I love my P5, but I don't think of it as solid.
My previous car was a 1996 Ford Contour, which was produced before Ford decontented that car from its Euro spec. That car felt much more solid. Things like how the doors and door hinges were constructed and what they felt like to open and close. Far fewer minor buzzes and rattles, too.
I've also noticed that it takes nothing to ding the sheetmetal on my P5--lots of little dings along both sides of the car. I haven't had this issue with previous cars. I'm going to have to write a nice check to a paintless dent removal guy when it's time to sell.
My previous car was a 1996 Ford Contour, which was produced before Ford decontented that car from its Euro spec. That car felt much more solid. Things like how the doors and door hinges were constructed and what they felt like to open and close. Far fewer minor buzzes and rattles, too.
I've also noticed that it takes nothing to ding the sheetmetal on my P5--lots of little dings along both sides of the car. I haven't had this issue with previous cars. I'm going to have to write a nice check to a paintless dent removal guy when it's time to sell.
RaiderMP5 said:
Yes, but what's the source and basis? Many people just repeat what they hear everyone else saying.
GM's cars definitely have their faults, but they aren't nearly as bad as many people say they are. Look at something like the dash-to-door fit on the new DTS and Lucerne, then compare it to that on my Protege5. I can just about fit my fingers in the gap between the dash and the door on my car. The gap on the new Cadillac and Buick is about two millimeters and perfectly even.
On the other hand, I have noticed poor fits with the rear doors on the new Tahoe. But I've noticed much worse panel fits on some new Hondas. The Acura RDX I drove recently had awful fits between the hood and front fenders. The front fenders were much higher than the hood, and the gaps narrowed going forward. Noticed similarly bad fits on the current Odyssey. Honda used to do this stuff very well.
One thing GM does that helps keep their rep in the gutter is outfit the base trims with awful upholstery/suspensions/wheels/etc. then flood the rental fleets with these cars. The only experiences many people have with GM cars is with a rental.
cruzdreamer
Member
- :
- Former owner of Mazda CX 7 GT Electric Blue
This will be my 3rd Mazda for me and I love them despite some of their flaws(which all cars have). The cars do feel solidly built to me in comparison to many American cars. I have had Chevy's,one Pontiac(bad),Chrysler(the worst) Ford's, Nissan's and Acura's. The best were in order 1 -Acura 2- Mazda 3 -Nissan. I had a Protege 5 and loved it but the RX 8 bug bit me hard and I had to have it. Now I have had some trouble with the 8 but I have had great service from Mazda and they always got back to me and would do what they could to make it right. The 8 has 38,500 miles on it and it has never failed me but it had some rough idling issues and a smashed airbag wire. And the rotary is a unique beast!! The Mazda's are really cool, nicely appointed cars and their prices are great for what you get. Toyota's and Honda's are very reliable but rather boring in and out...(new Camry finally looks good!). Acura's are awesome and have better styling than Toyota's and Honda's. Just a little bit more expensive. I guess what I am saying is Mazda's are great cars, top notch in the styling and performance and really are worth every penny. If you are reading this and have never driven one...it's time!! Enjoy the ride everyone!
I had a 1 year old GMC Sonoma that Certified Used. I was at the dealer 30 times or so in the 1.5 years I owned it. They knew me as "Eric with the Sonoma. Yes, still." 17 were for the same problem. The seats slid into the dash when I stopped. like as if I pulled up the handle to adjust it. On the 17th and final time it was rigged to not slide, the dealer told me my car was out of warranty, and said no more free repairs. The next day, it was traded in for 2 Mazdas. NHTSA has it reported by me each time, GM too. I knew of 4 other trucks locally with the problem with the bench seat in that vehicle. It was a know problem, that they redesigned the seat for in 2003. But they refused to replace mine.
I had alternator, rear end, brakes, transmission, drifeshaft simply fell off after breaking the weld at the u-joint... seat recline handles, and other things fall apart.
GMC Safari owned by a friend had pretty much everything in the drivetrain replaced including 2 transmissions by 50K miles.
The list can go on and on, but after my experiences, and seeing and talkin gto many others, I can say that GMC means Generally Made Crappy.
But that is my take on GM making piss poor cars and trucks. Sorry for the threadjack.
I had alternator, rear end, brakes, transmission, drifeshaft simply fell off after breaking the weld at the u-joint... seat recline handles, and other things fall apart.
GMC Safari owned by a friend had pretty much everything in the drivetrain replaced including 2 transmissions by 50K miles.
The list can go on and on, but after my experiences, and seeing and talkin gto many others, I can say that GMC means Generally Made Crappy.
But that is my take on GM making piss poor cars and trucks. Sorry for the threadjack.
lllateralus
Member
- :
- 2007 liquid plat. CX-7
I wouldnt consider it a threadjack. This is a discussion about cars in general, so its cool.
That being said, GM is, by far, the worst. Feel the window switches on a newer silverado. They are so flimsy and loose, theres no way they WONT break. (the switches on my toyota FJ are so tight, it takes considerable pressure to get them to "switch", and there is ZERO 'play' in them)
Im sure the CX's are similar, but havnt taken notice.
I just wanted to comment on the GM comments, thats all..
the only vehicle that GM has produced that appeals to me is the new Vette, specifically the Z06. 500+ HP, and world class performance and a hell of a bargan. Bottom line, its still a Chevy, and I'll never own one.
GM lost me a long time ago. Buicks, Pontiacs, GMC's, the new "Hummers", they are all bad quality, especially long term.
PS. Its not just what Ive heard, its personal experience. Like our good buddy "THEMAN", I was a mechanic for a while too....Ask me how many bad motor mounts Ive seen in pontiacs, jeeps, etc. (just one example that comes to mind... and yes, Chrysler products are poor quality too...)
ps, for those who dont know what the Toyota FJ I keep referring too:
That being said, GM is, by far, the worst. Feel the window switches on a newer silverado. They are so flimsy and loose, theres no way they WONT break. (the switches on my toyota FJ are so tight, it takes considerable pressure to get them to "switch", and there is ZERO 'play' in them)
Im sure the CX's are similar, but havnt taken notice.
I just wanted to comment on the GM comments, thats all..
the only vehicle that GM has produced that appeals to me is the new Vette, specifically the Z06. 500+ HP, and world class performance and a hell of a bargan. Bottom line, its still a Chevy, and I'll never own one.
GM lost me a long time ago. Buicks, Pontiacs, GMC's, the new "Hummers", they are all bad quality, especially long term.
PS. Its not just what Ive heard, its personal experience. Like our good buddy "THEMAN", I was a mechanic for a while too....Ask me how many bad motor mounts Ive seen in pontiacs, jeeps, etc. (just one example that comes to mind... and yes, Chrysler products are poor quality too...)
ps, for those who dont know what the Toyota FJ I keep referring too:
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cruzdreamer said:
Go here http://www.truedelta.com/models/RX-8.com and click on the review link, and you'll see what I think about the RX-8.
I've also got to credit Mazda for stepping up and recalling every RX-8 to check for engine issues, and potentially replace entire engines, even though the problem is often that people use synthetic oil even though the manual says not to.
A large problem with the Big Three is not problems with the cars per se but that they rarely step up like this. Instead, they often try to ignore problems rather than fix them. Like with the pickup seat above. The Sonoma was designed around 1980, so it wasn't one of the General's most recent designs. Not an excuse, just a bit of an explanation that still doesn't explain why they paid for 17 failed repair trips rather than properly fixing the seat.
A big problem with all current reliability stats is they're all based on averages, while what I think most people really care about is the chance of getting a lemon. With average scores, which usually aren't far apart, you cannot tell what your odds are of getting a lemon. It just isn't possible.
It's going to take a very large sample, but I hope to remedy this. At first I'm going to have to report averages as well, but once samples are large enough I intend to report the odds of getting a lemon with each car.
singlemalt_18
My Way IS the Highway
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- 18Sig9/07GT7AWD
regarding "cheap looking" plastic...
There is obviously a lot of fit & finish thoughts out there, and its hard to argue about something that some may think "looks cheap", such as the interior of the CX-7.
I understand that there may be some method to the madness here. Part of the reason for using a mat finish, slightly tectured or modeled surface material, is probably to reduce annoying glare. With such a large, steeply raked windshied, the glare reflecting off of a large, smooth dash surface would be a serious downer. By creating a stepped-down, or tiered dash configuration which allows for more contours, and using the piano-black, textured material, they go a long way to eliminating the possibilty of glare.
Hand finished mahogany & smooth tanned leather is nice to look at, except when it is a reflection in your windshield.
Just a thought...
There is obviously a lot of fit & finish thoughts out there, and its hard to argue about something that some may think "looks cheap", such as the interior of the CX-7.
I understand that there may be some method to the madness here. Part of the reason for using a mat finish, slightly tectured or modeled surface material, is probably to reduce annoying glare. With such a large, steeply raked windshied, the glare reflecting off of a large, smooth dash surface would be a serious downer. By creating a stepped-down, or tiered dash configuration which allows for more contours, and using the piano-black, textured material, they go a long way to eliminating the possibilty of glare.
Hand finished mahogany & smooth tanned leather is nice to look at, except when it is a reflection in your windshield.
Just a thought...
No doubt you're right about the texture. It's not piano black, though, as "piano black" refers to very shiny black trim that resembles the finish on a piano.
I vaguely remeber some reflections in the CX-7 windshield even with the texture. Incorrect memory?
As you say, people who different perceptions, especially in this area. I drove the RDX with a friend of mine. Afterwards we went to a Mazda dealer, where we sat in the CX-7. My perception is that the RDX has a more upscale, more nicely finished interior, as it should given the much higher price. But he preferred the more unique styling and sportier ambiance of the CX-7 interior. Liked it quite a bit, in fact. Exterior panel fits are much better on the Mazda.
I vaguely remeber some reflections in the CX-7 windshield even with the texture. Incorrect memory?
As you say, people who different perceptions, especially in this area. I drove the RDX with a friend of mine. Afterwards we went to a Mazda dealer, where we sat in the CX-7. My perception is that the RDX has a more upscale, more nicely finished interior, as it should given the much higher price. But he preferred the more unique styling and sportier ambiance of the CX-7 interior. Liked it quite a bit, in fact. Exterior panel fits are much better on the Mazda.
singlemalt_18
My Way IS the Highway
- :
- 18Sig9/07GT7AWD
P5w3kids said:
Actually, in the traditional sense of Grand pianos, the finish is known as "satin ebony"; that is the mat or brushed finish. On the "old school" wood finished pianos, this satin not only showed less marks & fingerprints, but was also less likely to become crinkled & split with age as the less common polished ebony.
In todays modern, mass produced pianos with poly-urathane or composite finishes,(Japanese and Korean, no less!), the high-gloss or polished black finishes are all the rage, and can be cleaned with glass cleaner. Sorry to digress on this, but the piano has been a part of my life for most of these 47 years. If I EVER buy myself a Steinway - it will be satin ebony. Would you buy a Ferrari in something other than Red?
Also, I'm sure there will be some reflection or glare, even in the CX-7... So your memory is fine! I just meant that they are making efforts to reduce it as much as possible.
lllateralus
Member
- :
- 2007 liquid plat. CX-7
Nothing yet on the dominating quality of the 10 year old Toyotas.....
spike blue
Member
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- 2007 mazda CX-7,Kia sephia 2006 Audi A4 Sline
I LIKE THE INTERIOR OF MY CX-7 AND I DON'T THINK IT FEELS CHEAP FOR ME !!! i THINK THAT IF YOU LIKE IT AND YOU HAVE FUN DRIVING IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THINK , SECOND I WILL SAID THAT THE RX-8 INTERIOR ISN'T CHEAP , ITS ONE OF THE NICEST LOOKING INTERIORS I EVER SEEN!! I ALLREADY TEST DRIVE THE ACURA RDX AND IT FEELS WAY TOO HEAVY AND IT DOESN'T HANDLES LIKE THE CX-7 , THE INTERIOR IS THE SAME AS THE CIVIC SI SO I WOULDN'T PAY 32K FOR THE BASE!!
cruzdreamer
Member
- :
- Former owner of Mazda CX 7 GT Electric Blue
spike blue said:
Anymore you can say about the Acura RDX? It looks small and I think though it has more cargo than the CX 7....did it seem small? I guess it's looks will have to grow on me. I think this is probably it's closest competitor in my mind. A bit more expensive and we shall see how that turbo fares.
