Hey all...new guy considering a 5 or CX-7

[Sponge]

Hey guys - not sure if I should post this in the 5 or CX-7 section?

Life long Jeep and Subaru guy looking to cross over to the Mazda side. We just had a kid and the wife is going to stay home so we are losing her company car...

Here doing a little research...looking at the 5 and the CX-7. Am I really old enough to own a psuedo mini-van? (omg)

Both have simliar lease programs right now here so it'll be down to which one we like better I guess.

It's between these two cars and the Subaru Forester(peep) ...maybe the CR-V or RAV 4 but I am very anti Hon/Toy so we'll see

Hopefully going to do a little test driving next weekend...

Look forward to digging around on the site more!

 

[Sponge]

So Mazda isn't offering the 5 in Red anymore? I know I have seen red one's on the road? Or am I wishing I was?

This may be a big blemish on its scorecard! I am a red car fan

 

[dommo_g]

Dude, if you absolutely have no need for seating for 6, get the CX-7. Lots more balls than the 5. Unless you're not into that.

 

[Sponge]

Me, wife, Baby, Dog...maybe not a need yet but the cargo and sliding doors my wife will like...I am a power nut hence the Legacy

I am looking forward to driving the MS6 engine in that CX-7 afraid of the FWD torque steer(shocked) definately going to hate it after loving my Subie AWD... We'll see what the deal works out to be.

 

[jandree22]

While I try to promote the 5 as much as possible, because it IS a great car, I agree with dommo. You have the need for speed and you don't have a need for tons of seating. The CX-7 looks pretty bad ass too, IMO

 

[miatafied]

What's the deal with the CX-9?

 

[7red7]

I was also considering waiting for the CX-7 when I purchased my 5, but once I drove the 5 I was sold...If your wife is primarily driving the car (or yourself for that matter) and hauling children, the dog, and other goodies around you'll definitely become a big fan of the sliding doors...The easy seat collapsing has also come in really handy and with the sliding doors it's really easy to get it done fast...

There a lot of people that will tell you the 5 is underpowered for its size, but in all honesty I have to see that...I've never heard the engine working too hard to get up to speed or pass another car on the road or freeway, and it loves to cruise at 80-90mph without you even noticing it got there...In my honest opinion, if you're going to be driving faster than that on a regular basis than you'd want a smaller car built to be driven that way...For what it is though, the 5 can hold its own with any little sub-compact car on the road...

The CX-7 is very nice looking though, and if you want a more upscale looking vehicle and don't mind driving a Nissan Murano/Subaru Tribeca knock off than go for it...Also keep in mind that although it does have the M6 engine in it, it's there because that big rear ended thing needs the extra power to get it moving

Sorry for the little CX-7 bashing at the end there, I had to defend my ride just a little bit *LOL*

 

[Sponge]

^I hear you on all points and that's why I am leaning towards the 5 but its going to be my wife's decision so we'll see.

The CX-7 right now can be leased at a very reasonable rate and that's the only reason we are going to look at it. Otherwise its a bit more than we want to spend. When you mention the Tribeca that believe it or not ugly looks and all is my first choice. Once you sit in it you would know why...for as ugly as the outside is the inside is beautiful. And you can't beat Subaru's AWD build quality or resale value.

I am truely dissappointed in no Red. They just axed the red in the Subaru Legacy too!

Probably going to be drive thru the lots this weekend so my wife can make my job easier (yes no on looks) and start test driving next week sometime on the finalist.

I wonder when there will be a Mazdaspeed5? Now that would be smoking...

I wish Subaru would come out with a 5ish car there have been spy shots but it'll be a few years

 

[Zoom5Zoom]

CX7 you can tow with

Mazda 5 you can only have more kids with.... cross your legs man(ughdance)

 

[mountjonas]

we rarely have the rear seats up in our 5. we take almost weekly trips from los angeles to san diego (120 miles each way) and the 5 satisfies us completely. right now it's my wife, 7 month old daughter, my dog and me. we fit with all of our weekend stuff and will still have room for 1 more kid, when the time comes.

yeah, it's not as fast as a cx-7, but sliding doors and the lower ride height are key for getting our daughter in and out of the car.

 

[WhiteStar III]

We just had a kid and the wife is going to stay home so we are losing her company car...

Here doing a little research...looking at the 5 and the CX-7. Am I really old enough to own a psuedo mini-van? (omg)

Both have simliar lease programs right now here so it'll be down to which one we like better I guess.

Congrats! 1st kid?

Go with the 5 and this is not a biased response.

The sliding doors and high roof line make it easier to manuever the baby into the car seat. I couldn't tell you how many times I've accidentally banged my son's head trying to get him into my SUV. He prefers the openness of the 5's cabin and the sightlines so he can point out all the cars and school buses in our path and he always asks about the "Buu Car".

 

[paging_drburgos]

i agree about the comments from all of you with kids. I have a 4 and a 5 year old and i much prefer this car over my SUV. One of the reasons i traded in the Mitsu was because of the space. It was such a big car with no interior room (go figure). My 5 is smaller on the outside but cavernous on the inside. I do like the CX-7 but find it hard to compare the two.

 

[Sponge]

Yes she is my first thanks! She is two weeks old today actually...

Agreed that these two are in different classes except price because of the incentives on the CX-7 right now...Mazda has lowered the resale value pretty bad for the early adopters.

Too bad they don't have the same kind for the 5.

After taking her to the doctor and back today getting that car seat out of my Legacy's back seat I am thinking the whole time this sucks I hope she likes the 5!

Now with that said there are 19 used 5's on Chicago Metro lots and picking up a Sport for 15K w/8,000 miles sounds very good to me...

 

[dommo_g]

CX-7 can be had with AWD. Plus the aftermarket for that engine is gonna be huge once the MS3 starts hitting the streets. Imagine a GT35R turbo on that thing?

 

[7red7]

Now with that said there are 19 used 5's on Chicago Metro lots and picking up a Sport for 15K w/8,000 miles sounds very good to me...

And hey maybe you can pick up a Cardinal Red in one of those lots by your house Nothing wrong with buying a used car especially when it's still this new of a vehicle...

Good Luck!!! And congratulations on your newborn!!!

 

[JimboNC]

Why I would buy the 5 over the CX-7: I have no family, only a dog who weighs 16 pounds and rides in the back seat. She uses armrests to see outside, so I would have armrests made for her use which fold up/down depending on the design. Never carry passengers or at least only one in the past five years. Never had passenger amrest before in front. Prefer the regular gas and better mileage. Can see better to backup. Folding seats when I need to carry bulky items. Easier and cheaper to upgrade to a more up-market car.

Dislikes: Black interior -- easy to change with custom made seat covers. No dead pedal for driver's left foot.

CX-7: Too big, premium gas, bad fuel economy, no telescopic steering wheel, hard to see out the back, ordinary in any color other than Copper Red. Too pricy.

 

[Sponge]

And hey maybe you can pick up a Cardinal Red in one of those lots by your house Nothing wrong with buying a used car especially when it's still this new of a vehicle...

Good Luck!!! And congratulations on your newborn!!!

Thanks! and that's what I am thinking too...there is a red sport w/8K on it sitting at the lot by my house. We'll see what works out!