A friend is on the verge of buying a Mazda CX7, in fact I think he has to make a decision this week. He has been offered a pre reg 58 plate for around 16K. Knowing that I have an interest in cars, he has asked my opinion. However, I am not really sure what to tell him. He currently drives a Jeep Jimny but wants to get something bigger as there is a friend junior on the way. It will predominantly be used for hauling the baby around locally and maybe a 5 mile trip to work. Once a month he does a 200 mile trip to visit family. What should I tell him? Personally I would love one myself but couldn?t justify the running costs. Are these likely to surprise him?
Edited by Honestjohn on 09/02/2009 at 10:01
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Don't know much about the car (other than it looks quite nice), but I'm getting the popcorn ready for the comments to come. :)
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Car very similar to the Subaru Outback - which I have - and the CX-7 is perhaps a little higher. As I do only 9,000 miles pa, I can cope with an average of 20mpg. Can your friend? That sort of driving will be down at 18mpg.
I haven't driven one, so cannot comment on that aspect. The concept is reasonably sound and easy to get baby into and out from without breaking your back. Not certain I would buy one having come from a very small 4x4. Why not a nice mini MPV.
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Not the sort of car you would want to try and get rid of in a hurry. The first 08 reg I saw was one of these, I've not seen another since.
Agree with Espada - an MPV will do the job and will sell in a few years time.
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I think he has been swung by the bling aspect of the car and thinks 8K off the new price is a bargain. He seems to believe he will see the quoted 28mpg combined cycle and I don't think he has paused to consider 400pa tax and Gp 15 insurance. However, all I can do is point out the facts and he will have to make his own decision. Driving a Mazda 2, I am at the other end the spectrum so not the best person to give him the benefit of my experience.
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I see far more Subaru Legacies on the road than CX-7. Think I have seen one. Not a good buying decision and he will NOT get 28mpg, not even on a run. Depreciation will be so great that in years time, he will not get £5,000 for it. If he thinks he will keep it for seven years, and can afford the loss in value and the cost of fuel, then great, but unless he has his own business I would strongly avoid.
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I see far more Subaru Legacies on the road than CX-7. Think I have seen one. Not a good buying decision and he will NOT get 28mpg not even on a run. Depreciation will be so great that in years time he will not get £5 000 for it. If he thinks he will keep it for seven years and can afford the loss in value and the cost of fuel then great but unless he has his own business I would strongly avoid.
So what. It's fast, it handles, it's quite practical and it's very individual, almost exclusive!
Some people still buy cars with the heart, and this guy sounds like one of them. Good for him.
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"So what. It's fast, it handles, it's quite practical and it's very individual, almost exclusive!
Some people still buy cars with the heart, and this guy sounds like one of them. Good for him. "
Yes, you are right, but I can afford, not only to buy an Outback or CX7, but also run one. Not many can, at 20mpg and eye-watering depreciation. There is nothing inherently wrong with the car, but just as I don't run a Lamorghini Espada (even though it would suit me very much) so I'm not certain the OPs friend should buy a CX7.
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"I think he has been swung by the bling aspect of the car and thinks 8K off the new price is a bargain."
He's buying it because of the discount - it will cost twice as much in fuel as the Jimny - can he cover this and an extra mouth to feed?
He needs to sit down and work out what his family budget is like and what it will be like once the baby arrives - I estimate our almost 3 year old costs about £1,000 a month to 'run' - worth every penny!
Edited by daveyjp on 09/02/2009 at 20:21
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A neighbours son has one, fast and reliable but is it good value?
Depends on his "spare cash" he has every month (and I mean every month)
Jimny to CX7 in 1 move? Jimny could suggest money is or was tight.
Why not go half way and upgrade to a Suzuki GV @ £12K discounted.
I know it is only £4000 less but it will be miles cheaper to run - better MPG, less RFL/Ins,smaller servicing bills, cheaper tyres...............
My son runs a now 3yr X5 - £200+ per tyre, my X-trail £100/tyre - much as I would like his car when he sells it (say @ £14K and I sell the x-trail for say £11K) I could not run the car on the same money as the X-trail.
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I'm considering one of these on a 2 yr lease. Obviously the £400-00 VEL will be factored into the lease.
I don't think I can recall seeing one on the road. Initial impressions are that it looks distinctive, the spec & the interior look quite good.
If I can convince myself the 25 mpg is ok then I might take the plunge. I haven't read a bad comment other than it drinks petrol. It won an award where the idea of the 'rally' was to extend the mpg above the manufacturers figures. The driver managed high 30s although they were driving in slippers & coasting. Realistically if you drive a 2.3t & enjoy it then you shouldn't expect diesel economy.
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Good luck getting 25 mpg, this is the same engine as is found in the Focus ST, which regularly returns low 20s mpg. Factor in 4x4 and weight and I reckon you'll be looking at mid teens mpg.
They do look good though. Yes, I have seen one.
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After reading this thread last night I saw 2 CX7s on the M40 today so there are a few around.
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