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Thanks to javadoc and cmuniz for the information about the fog lamps. I'll look at the Hellas just for the heck of it and try negotiating with the service manager at Mazda of Clearwater to see if I can get them down to a reasonable installation price.
My wife and I purchased a 2000 MPV on the day after Thanksgiving, 2000. We bought a white LX with the GFX package (inc. foglights), moonroof, LX2 interior (faux woodgrain, 16in alloy wheels, common options), 6CD changer/AM/FM stereo with 9 speaker/180W sound system, rear air, and some sundries that I can't remember. Total MSRP was $27,500.00 Dealer offered $5,500.00 to move them out the door, so we paid $22,000.00 plus TTL. (This was about $2,000.00 under invoice!) I was concerned about the "underpowered engine" but we drove all the vans, including the MPV and the Sienna back-to-back, and we liked the MPV more than the others.
Now with 9 months and 15,500 miles on the van, I think we made the right choice. It looks great inside and out. The angular features stand out, especially with the ground effects in place. The dash is well laid out and looks awesome. The stereo rocks. The AC is cold, and we need it here in Texas. It handled better than the others and we still love the drive, city and highway.
We've driven home to Michigan in the winter with a baby in a car seat and the back loaded to the cieling with stuff. It was comfortable, safe, and stable the whole way. The sliding second seat is great for moving close to the car seat/baby, but it easily slides away with adults in the van. The flip/fold 3rd seat works great for loading cargo or for storing cargo behind the seat in that generous space behind while the seat's in use. Also, it works great to change diapers! Just flip it backward as a tailgate seat with the hatch up - instant changing table.
As far as the engine is concerned, it is slower than the other V-6 minivans on the market. However, it's really not that noticeable unless you punch it at the green lights as it seems to lag most from 0-30 mph. Acceleration from 30 through 85 is more than adequate, but it is louder than the Toyota/Honda/Chrysler due to the higher revs. The engine does burn fuel as well because it runs about 3000 rpm at 70-72 mph. We've consistently run 20 miles per gallon. While running up north without the AC we got 22 mpg on the highway at 75 mph. Down here with the AC on all the time we get 20 mpg in mixed driving.
Overall, if you're in the market for a small to mid-size minivan, the price/performance punch of the MPV can't be beat. And from what I've seen this year, folks should still be able to write great deals on these vans at great loan rates. Zoom-Zoom!
P.S. Has anyone seen an engine performance chip for the MPV. I might consider trading some petrol for more ponies.
I own a used MPV 2000 LX which I love (purchased 3/01), but I'm having the following problems:
the right passenger sliding door rattles about 70%; I've had it in twice, and the second time it was silenced for three whole days. Anyway, it's back in (the dealership is really trying to get to the bottom of this). They removed the sensors which connect when the door is closed, and the rattle was gone. Now they propose to remove the sensors from a new van and install it into mine.
The left sliding door window rattles when it's down some or half way down. A new regulator was ordered, installed, but the window still rattles (the dealership is perplex about this one too, and the van remains at the dealership). In addition to my van, there were two other MPVs(same model and newer) with the same window problems, but both windows rattle.
Lastly, on occasion when I start up the van after it's been the garage overnight, I feel hot air from the vents for approx. 3-4 seconds. Not a big deal, but I think in another year it'll increase. It is not humid nor really hot where I live (25 miles outside of San Francisco).
Can't wait to read your advice. As you can tell the van is at the dealership, (today is Labor Day 9/3) and the van will be worked on again on Tuesday 9/4. Any info I can enlighted the professionals with will be greatly appreciated!!!
Thank you all so much!
In any case it's easy to find out. Look for a slide release on the front of the middle row seats, as on the front seats. That should tell you in a hurry.
RJ
billmckinley, do you own a 2001 DX? Or an LX? I couldn't figure which from your above statement. I purchased a 2001 MPV DX from a dealer last Saturday. They did not have the vehicle on their lot, so it will be Thursday before I pick it up. I optioned it as follows:
Rear AC
Power Package
Rear Seat Ent Sys
Tinted glass in rear
The dealer is going to have to send the car out to install the RSES and tinted glass. Does anyone have any experience with this "film" type glass tinting? I figure it will not be as good as the factory stuff?
Here's my deal: Invoice price on vehicle and invoice on options; plus 2% "profit"; MINUS $1000 cash back and 1.9 % financing. Does that seem OK? I think I may be somewhat disappointed that the middle row seats do not slide fore-aft like the LX does :-(
By the time you pay for the tint and power pkg. you may be close to the price of a basic LX, IMHO.
Pjd58
I have been using one place in Houston (Xtreme Tinting) for the last 11 years with no problem - lifetime warranty - and never had a problem with peeling, etc., and the price is reasonable. I have no idea if they are located anywhere else tho.
I got mine, the MPV President McKinley, in February. I've put about 6500 miles on it so far, and aside from a really cranky, quirky transmission, I love it to death.
And by the way, it's an LX. And your deal sounds like a very good one to me. Better than I got, and I did better than I ever had before.
RJ
For those of you that have the Rear Seat Entertainment System,
1) Can you play the audio from the VCP thru the cars stereo?
2) What did you get with your RSES? TV Tuner? Antenna? Headphones? Game interface?
3) Is your RSES factory installed, and if not, what brand is it? Rosen? Audiovox?
Thanks!
:->
RJ
/J
For those of you that have the Rear Seat Entertainment System,
1) Can you play the audio from the VCP thru the cars stereo? Yes. You need an FM modulator.
2) What did you get with your RSES? TV Tuner? Antenna? Headphones? Game interface? DVD only.
3) Is your RSES factory installed, and if not, what brand is it? Rosen? Audiovox Mine is called Farenheit, bought it this weekend at Fry's. The cost, installed, was $550.
I bought ES MPV last weekend. Had the VCP installed yesterday.
Why did you choose the protege over the protege5. I am seriously considering a protege5. I love the look of that little wagon. Looks like a mini-MPV (<<<-----required content) to me. Plus the kids would love it as much as the MPV. (<<<-----required content).
Yes, by using an FM modulator. On mine, you set FM dial to 88.7.
2) "What did you get with your RSES? TV Tuner? Antenna? Headphones? Game interface?"
I got TV tuner, antenna (hidden within roof liner), 2 sets wireless headphones & accessory interface (allows hookup for Nintendo, video camera, etc.).
3) "Is your RSES factory installed, and if not, what brand is it? Rosen? Audiovox?"
Mine is Rosen brand. I purposely did NOT want factory installed sys as I didn't like location of VCP (underneath 3rd row seat). My dealer (they arranged install of sys through local trim shop that specializes in Rosen systems) was willing to give me all of above options for invoice price of factory installed base system (which does not incl. TV tuner, antenna or interface module). Those items are considered "extras". The base RSES (which is Rosen) only includes ceiling mounted screen & VCP. Incidentally, my VCP is mounted under pass fr seat.
I just purchased a Mazda and had a great experience with a dealer in Cincinnati. I put a $500 dollar deposit down on my car, since they had to get it from another dealer in KY. I used my credit card in case of a problem. Never, never write a check for deposit.
I hope you get your money back soon.
PJ and Msg: I too really like the P5! That's one sharp car, I tell ya. I'd prolly consider one if I were in the mkt for a small wagon. Kind of a "Mini-Me" MPV, eh?
/J
www.bbb.com where you can get the BBB ratings of dealers based upon consumer complaints etc.
*actually, I would rather have a cavity filled than buy a new car again since I feel they, car dealers, are never to be fully trusted but,...
Here is the link to the BBB's Rosenthal Mazda in Arlington review:
http://www.dc.bbb.org/report.html?compid=16321&national=Y
good luck.
/J
The burned seat etc was not a good thing, but could be fixed. I don't recall, did you ask them about the things you mentioned to us, or did you just storm out? I don't recall the details of your story, but I certainly hope you gave them a reasonable chance to explain and make good by you.
Our dealer scraped the side of our ES driving it off the showroom floor.
I just had them right up the "We Owe" and we had it fixed the following week. BTW, we put about 300 miles on the brand new loaner MPV we were driving, so that is another way a new MPV could have a bunch of miles. We were real gentle with our loaner 8^)
I'm glad your are happy with your vehicle.
TB
I'm glad to hear you didn't give up on the MPV after your bad experience.
Keep us posted on your MPV. The group of owners on this board are wonderful and very helpful.
Pete
/J
I expected Mazda to do the same.
I guess I'll need to check more closely.
Of course 400 miles out of 50000 is less than 1%, so it's not worth losing sleep over.
OTOH, if 400 miles bothers you, then by all means get a vehicle as close to 0 as you can.
TB
/J
The minivan comparison at edmunds.com said that the Max.Towing Capacity of MAZDA MPV, Dodge Caravan and Toyota Sienna are 3000 lbs., 1800 lbs., and 3500 lbs. respectively.
How can MPV tows more then Caravan by such a big difference? Has anybody using MPV towing before and could you share your experience?
lhr
Although, like you, I would be having doubts about paying for a "new" car with 400 miles on it...unless I got a GREAT deal.
Now I have to read all of the posts from the various MPV boards!
Did the dealer offer any incentives (either $1000 cash + 1.9 financing; OR $1500 cash)???
Seems to me that the dealers are tight-lipped about what incentives are available. I took the $1000 + 1.9 APR.
I was happy with 4.9 (my credit union only had 6.7), but 1.9 would have been even better.
They were not making a big deal about any incentives, and heard of them while there.
Having read all the good feedback about MPV, I decided go with it. I just signed a deal for MPV 2001 DX. Here is the price.
MPV DX 2001, towing package, 15" alloy wheel, convinient package, Keyless entry and security alarm.
MSRP=$28034, sale price is can$24510.
The freight + air condition tax + administration fee is cnd$1235
Total price is (24510+1235) + TAX = 29607.
zero down payment, 36 month 0.9% finiance.
Just wondering how well other canadian did.
The business manager push me buy an extended warrenty, which is 7 year, 160000km (100k mile) bumper to bumper. The cost is cnd$2195 + tax.
My questions is that is the warranty worth of that money.
lhr
I hope this helps.