What Are Your Biggest Gripes?

[Infymus]

Yes a sad litany of complaints, but if you analyse it, you may find that some of the items listed may be very fixable when it comes to dealing with the electronics. Is your remote start an OEM or an off brand? Was it dealer installed?

As for the warm up time, here too it seems overly long because mine is warmer sooner. Have you tried using ths seat warmer if you have a GT?
Leave the seat warmer on before you exit and it should be warm when you get in.

You are correct regading the Nav screen.

Good luck.

Darth Vader Grey etc. etc.

Yes the remote start I have is Mazda and was installed by my Mazda Dealership. It has the Mazda emblem on it.

 

[Infymus]

All of your other comments are right-on, but I wanted to comment about your insurance concerns.

An extra $200 a year is only $16 a month. Not much of an increase concerning you're insuring a brand new car. Seems entirely reasonable. And I certainly wouldn't list this as a gripe, against the CX-7. Any time you buy a new car and ensure it, you'll see an increase in your insurance bill.

Incidentally, I only have the GT and pay $59 a month for insurance through GEICO.

Vince.

Actually NOT. This is the 7th new car I have bought in 5 years. This is the first new car I've bought that has increased my insurance. Since 2002, I have had a 2002 WRX, 2002 Outback LLB, 2004 Outback LLB, 2004 Outback VDC, 2005 LGT Wagon and a 2005 LGT Sedan - and now this CX-7. Only the CX-7 increased my insurance costs.

It is not a complaint against the CX-7, just wasn't happy about that. But you know GIECO - if you don't change to a different insurance company every few years, GIECO will never drop rates, never give you better rates and will continue to increase your rates. If you go somewhere else, you get a better rate, and then come back to GIECO, they'll match and maybe go lower.

 

[mikey1981]

I only have 1 issue u raise about the car coming to temp - the needle for the temp does in fact move midway quickly, on the other hand it does take a while for the car to throw heat. 10-15 mins is quite long tho, where do you live weather wise and is the car garaged? Mine usually throws heat in 10 mins tops, but the temp gauge always rises pretty quick.

 

[CXRabbit]

I have really grown to like my CX-7, but here are my gripes.

1. Navigation screen is just not bright enough during the day. Even with lights override, and lights off, brightness up/etc, it is just not bright enough to see it. Tilt option goes the wrong way.

If you know me around here you know I have some pretty significant gripes with the nav/radio system. I'm *this close* to pulling it out. I agree with you, it's often not bright enough.

2. Cannot lock the car without the key in your hand. If you leave the keys in the house, etc, and you are outside and see it is unlocked, forget it. You can't lock the car, it will not lock.

Don't know, haven't tried it. I suppose it's an "issue" if it's true (not that I doubt you) but I have auto-lock enabled so my car is always locked

3. Takes over 15 minutes to warm up. The remote start is worthless for the winter because the car will still be freezing when you get out. The fan system is insufficient to heat the cabin up in a reasonable amount of time. On a 20f day, it will be no less than 15 minutes before the cabin begins to warm up.

I've heard other complain of this and I haven't found it to be a problem. I will say that it's not BOILING hot in under 10 minutes of running in 20 degree or colder weather, but it's certainly warm enough... and another 5 minutes on the road and we're cookin'!

4. Remote Key is recognized about 80% of the time. Otherwise, if you don't hold the key up against the dashboard, the car will beep like crazy at you while flashing the RED KEY light thinking there is no key. Odd because you can start the car, but somebody gets in and closes the door, the car starts beeping at you with a blinking RED KEY.

Again, I've heard other complain but I haven't found it to be the case at all. I've only had the autolock not work once, and that was user error. Car has never not started with smart-key still in pocket. I do make sure it's not near my cell phone (different pocket) and that there's no loose change in that pocket either. I also don't put it in a wallet with credit cards or sit on it. It's winter now so it's in it own designated coat pocket always... and that will be the case as long as I'm wearing a jacket. When warm weather gets here it will go in a cargo pocket of my shorts.

5. Remote start only lasts 10 minutes. Should last at least 20 minutes IMO because this car can't get warmed up in 10 minutes PERIOD.

I asked about the time being increased to 15 minutes and no one seems to know how to do it. USUALLY remote-start systems can be increased or decreased for their run time... ultimately though, it's better for it not to run longer... you're killing your gas mileage (see below)

6. LOUSY gas mileage. Getting 13.0 to 14.0 MPG. I do Not have a lead foot. My gas costs have doubled with this car compared to my 325 HP, 350 TQ Stage 2 Legacy GT that was getting 24 MPG.

Dude, I feel your pain, but we did not buy this car for it's efficiency. Well, at least I didn't. I was getting over 33 mpg on the highway with my last car... so the difference HURTS... but that's the trade-off for all the nice features, cargo space, safety and zoom zoom.

If you're in the cold weather like me, the weather is SAPPING out any possible fuel efficiency. Winter gas mix sucks. Running it with remote-start hurts it. Idleing to keep it warm instead of shutting it off when you normally would is killing it. And the cold weather itself causes the whole thing to run less efficient.

And if you're like me and do a lot of around-town driving, forget it. This is where the car really doesn't perform well as far as efficiency. It's got all the zoom zoom, but we pay a price for that.

Coldest weather I'm getting about 14 mpg around town. But just in the last week with it back in the 40's and I'm back up to 17.5 mpg.

7. Insurance: Extra $200 a year for this car in the US under GIECO.

I don't think mine went up that much. I'll have to look at the numbers again.

...Glad to be out of Suby and into this CX7.

I liked my Toyota Matrix a LOT, but it was lacking all the creature comforts I got with the CX-7, and I like the car a bit bigger (I feel safer on the road). I LOVE the get-up-and-go I have now too and I don't feel like I'm in a big truck.

Overall, like you, even with my gripes I *LOVE* my CX-7. Once I get the radio addressed... well... stay tuned

 

[mikey1981]

mine went up a few hundred, going from a (new)'04 EXV6 Accord Coupe to this. I would have figured theyd be at least the same, if not my coupe being more expensive since its listed as a sports car. o well.

 

[meanstreak]

mine went up a few hundred, going from a (new)'04 EXV6 Accord Coupe to this. I would have figured theyd be at least the same, if not my coupe being more expensive since its listed as a sports car. o well.

There are two things that may be the cause of the CX7 being a little higher but it also depends on what people were driving before put the CX7 on their insurance. For one it might be in the sport utililty class and the other thing may be the turbo-charger.

 

[nkabak]

Hot Flashes

" Takes over 15 minutes to warm up. The remote start is worthless for the winter because the car will still be freezing when you get out. The fan system is insufficient to heat the cabin up in a reasonable amount of time. On a 20f day, it will be no less than 15 minutes before the cabin begins to warm up."

I actually tried to see how long it took for my CX-7 to warm up. Ambient Temp. was 26 degrees. and with one minute warm up in my driveway, within 2 miles I had heat. Not burning your sole/soul heat, but warm.
Perhaps you should have your dealer check that out?

As as suggestion, while driving home late last night, temp was about 7 degrees, I put the center vent tilting upward and it had a good effect on the surrounding cockpit warmth. Made the trip more comfortable that way with the two drivers vents tilted towards me. Try it, you'll like it!(yippy)