The wife wants to buy a Mazda CX-7 but I dispise the Navi system they have ( plus you have to use SIRIUS with it )

The dash opening is large enough for a Z1, but Crutchfield says that even the N3 would require modifications....

Anyone have any thoughts?

The radio area is a good 2% larger than a double din as is.

Haven't seen the dash of those things yet, but if it's anything the rest of mazda's line up your going to have to do some glassing to get it to fit properly.

Glassing?? Fiberglassing?

I installed car stereos back in the late 80s so this is new to me.

Someone had told me that Mazda had started tieing the AC units into the radios... I don't suppose there is any way to find this out before dropping the money on the Z1 is there?

Yeah fiberglassing. Best bet to find out is just drop by a shop and see what they have to say. My experiences with mazdas is that the ac controls are in the same bezels as the stock radio, how ever they are not tied into the radio much past power connections.

Now life gets MORE interesting....

Being the fact that I was a Customer Relations Manager for Honda for many years... I know the need to test drive a lot of cars in the same group.

So the wife drove a Nissan Murano, the Chrysler Pacifica and the Huyandi Santa Fe...

She fell in love with the Santa Fe, in fact I really liked it to. They aren't the pieces of plastic they were 10 years ago.

It has everything the CX-7 does with the exception of the rounded back end ( which gives us more cargo space anyways )

Well now I wonder if you have seen a Z1 in a Santa Fe.

Yes as a matter of fact, I have put a z1 and a couple of the eclipse dd navis into santa fes.

How close to "stock" can you get the Z1 into the 07 Santa Fe?

It looks like it would fit just fine ( its just a matter of finding a good piece of material to make the faceplate and surround in )

Did the dash take any or many modifications?

Can you use the steering wheel controls with the unit?

Btw - Thanks for this help.

The 07 I haven't had the pleasure of dealing with yet. From what you're saying though sounds like it's not just a double din radio anymore. As for steering wheel controls, I'm sure one of the many availible interfaces could be used to make them work with the z1.

http://img488.imageshack.us/img488/4126/radiotj8.jpg

Is what the 07 looks like ( no XM (although they were supposed to have it in May ))

Gee I wonder WHY I want the Z1 :)

The things people will do for sat radio :). Anyway, doesn't look too bad. the radio doesn't look to have any real curves. I don't see why a custom kit couldn't be easily made to work. Then again that really does depend on what it looks like disassembled. I really am no help am I.

Well I was actually willing to accept a the AVIC with the flip screen but my wife said if its not flush then it wont go in.

UPDATE: She just asked me "Is there any way to have a silver faceplate so that it matches?"

Why oh why do I even try? LOL

That's what they make paint for :)

Thats why I just have to find a good installer....

Dont suppose you know anyone in the Tampa Area?

Not in Tampa, but a friend of mine use to work for a place called blvd customs in st. petersburg. They should be able to help you out. website is www.blvdcustoms.com

Thanks...

Now I just have to convince find an installer she likes.

I am looking at the size of the Z1 and D2 - what size should I be concerned with as far as to what will fit?

DIN Chassis size or Nose Size?

It would appear that the NOSE size on the Z1 is larger than my opening, but that chassis size is fine. Is the nose size the faceplate dimensions?