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...see what I get for sharing my knowledge? lol!
/J
/J
Yes, we're still using A/C in November!
a hex on you maltb...
/java
Combustion and catalytic converters produce water, so that is a possible source of rusty water.
FWIW
TB
Happy Thanksgiving everyone !!!!
Funny how its always the drivers front tire that needs fixed huh dear?
/J
But a confession. Wednesday night I was out for a celebratory pre-thanksgiving dinner with my brother and sister-in-aw, who were up for the holidays from Georgia. MaryAnn was the designated driver--I confess a fault, her designation was useful-- and she drove home. That evil woman drove the heck out of the Prez. Handled it like an Indy driver, she did. And the Prez, faithless wretch that it is, practically slobbered its gratitude at her. It was sprightly, quick, confident. I had almost as much fun riding in it as she was having driving it [of course, those two perfect Manhattens I'd had before dinner might have contributed a bit to my sense of adventure]. I was really impressed at how well it behaved with four people in it--four fully figured middle-aged types. Really renewed my respect for the beast, so much so that I might someday forgive it for its perfidy at the hands of another driver.
Hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving with family and assorted rugrats
RJ
Well I found out this. DO NOT TRUST THE OEM JACK! The MPV almost fell off. If it hadn't been for the wheel catching the lugs, I'd be less one toe I am sure. Fortunately they let me use the floor jack and I got it straightened out. I think I will be putting the small hydrolic in today!
I did notice one thing, the spare or the tranny, one of the two, do not like each other. There is a terrible groaning noise while running on the spare. But I do get to have the MPV all weekend. Too bad it's raining, I can't open the sunroof, ;(.
Laters,
MSGJVH
/java
Try it both ways, but I suspect the computer is smarter about when to shift than I am.
I rarely catch it at a bad time and force a hard shift. Most of my hard shifts are when I'm letting up on the throttle, so the comptuer decides to shift, at that same instant, I'm mashing into the throttle again. Guaranteed a hard, ugly shift.
I suspect I would get the same behavior, sans overdrive, since this is usually around town.
FWIW,
TB
OK, I give up guys! There was no way on earth that the filter was going to "slide" out of the housing. I popped the clips then noticed it was bolted to part of the fender well. Then saw two wiring harnesses clipped on to the housing (we're talking about the "filter" half housing here - not the half connected to the intake on the engine). After undoing all that I saw that the housing was jammed up against the inside fender well and was blocked. I could open the housing about 1/8 inch - if I gritted my teeth. It could not move up or back or sideways. I wasn't about to disconnect everything from the other half.
Through sweat & tears (and my wife asking me why I was cussing..the kids saying "Daddy!!) I removed the battery. I rotated eveything foward and changed the filter, rotated back, slid the intake back onto the housing - reinstalled the battery. Phew - that was easy.... ) Ha.
What did everyone else do to change that filter out? I've been working on cars for 48 years and never ran into anything as goofy as this - well, there was that fuel pump on a Bronco II that was almost as bad...they built the car around it.
If that doesn't help, check your email (I send you a message)
/Java
Hey, anyone going to be at the MPV Chat this afternoon? I will try if the wife doesn't drag me out of the house.
MSGJVH
Mazda's specified OK range for rear toe-in for both rear wheels is -5 degrees to +32 degrees.
My left rear wheel is permanently set (again there is no adjustment possible) at +36 degrees; the right rear is at +5 degrees. The tire dealer who did the alignment said this situation is "rare" and that the only fix they knew of would be to install shims on the left rear. The tire dealer was not willing to do his, however, since my MPV is still under warranty and installing shims is certainly not an ideal fix on such a new vehicle.
On Saturday, I stopped by the local Mazda dealer's service department with a printout of my alignment results, the Mazda specs., etc.The service manager said he had not encountered this condition before and said he would "call the factory" for guidance and get back to me. Anybody out there have any thoughts, advice, or comments?
If your kids can see the camcorder monitor, it may be easy enough to strap the tripod down for the perfect setup.
/J
BTW, I did get the tire fixed. Another nail! As for the spare on the front, I guess I will have start carrying a set of jack stands to lift both wheels off the ground. That or the road side assistance is going to get used alot more!
MSGJVH
http://www.prodcat.panasonic.com/shop/listmodels.asp?categoryid=231
I paid around $300 for mine (Best Buy I think) and it does have A/V jacks on the front. We live in a mid-major metro area and we had a hard time finding a combo that works on AC and DC (most work on AC alone). Your best bet may be on-line to find what you want. Other models that I've seen include Emerson, Sanyo, and Samsung. Our Panasonic has served us well for almost three years now and it gets used everyday in the house.
We broke it in right away on a 7 hour trip for the holiday. Power was never an issue. Everyone was comfortable, and the 3 kids were amazed at the number of cupholders everywhere. (our old car only had 2...) I always laughed at all the reviews that mention cupholders, but it turned out to be something we didn't know we cared about! The cargo space easily held stuff for the 5 of us, thanks to the deep well. Now I just need to figure out the best deal/fit for a TV/VCR combo. I'd love the ceiling one, but the price hurts.
Thanks to all - this site is the reason I finallly got the van. I can see why there are so many happy owners!
I'm glad you're happy with your van now, and I think you'll continue to be happy with it. As you can tell by these forums, reliability isn't much of an issue with this thing. You'll have your share of problems, but if you're like the majority, those problems will be more annoying than threatening. And if you're like me, every time you whip that thing around a corner or into a parking space, you'll be delighted and amazed at its touring-car-like handling. Its power isn't the best, though as you found out, it's not an issue, either. And you'll probably grow to love-hate its quirky transmission; but on balance, the "MPV President McKinley" is one of the most competent of the 17 cars I've owned over the years.
Happy Miles, kellyanne!
RJ
I'm glad you're satisfied with a 2001, knowing you were waiting for a 2002 (and all of its changes). You'll likely find very few folks that are dissatisfied with their MPVs around here, but it's an informative bunch (if not entertaining).
Happy Motoring!
/Java
I strongly vote for an LCD setup, which really isn't too expensive, as I've been checking. There's lots of stuff at Tundra Electronics to shop thru and their prices seem pretty good. I'm not familiar with them service-wise though. I think you can get a 6" screen, VCP and two sets of wireless headphones for around $500, a bit more if you went w/ DVD. This is more expensive, but you could go with dual LCD screens in the headrests (looks rather simple) and a VCP or DVD for around $1000. There are drop-down systems out there as well for around $600.
For my money, I'd go for a 300mhz laptop from ebay (easily less than $500), get a dvd drive for it (just got one for $64 on ebay) and buy a power inverter. There you've got a 13" screen and a total package weighing about 3lbs, for around $500.
Sorry, just thought of those TVs hurtling around like cannonballs if they were loose.
/java
Here is the link: http://www.vakcer.com/mpv
Welcome aboard!!!!
MSGJVH
p.s. We would love to see you on the Friday or Tuesday Edmunds chats also! You may even point to the mouse and show the hubby how to use it. He may learn something.
I understand your concerns completely. Just want to make sure I don't misrepresent myself. I bought the TV/VCR combo before we had the MPV. I built a "console" for lack of a better term that could safely contain the combo and be secured with tie down straps in the back of our previous car (a Subaru Outback). I was more than confident in the setup, even in a roll-over. Unfortunately, the same setup won't work in the MPV. I haven't had the time to figure out a way to over-engineer a fastening system in the MPV yet. That said, the 9" combo weighs about 10 lbs. and is a very snug fit (mine is at least) between the front and middle seats when set at an angle. The angle allows my oldest to see fine (he's three), but the youngest (8 weeks) is of course facing the wrong way and doesn't watch TV yet anyway :O) Only in a rollover would I be concerned. I do like that console unit you mentioned over on the yahoo groups though. Keep us posted.
Enjoy !!
/j
So, you gotta know how I did on the deal? I got invoice less the rebate and 5.9 financing. I probably should have taken the 0%, but I needed to stretch out the payments more and they wouldn't give me that and the rebate. They also let me finance the whole deal, including tax and title. Now I have to sell my 86 Volvo so I can pay off my husbands car and have only one payment.
Didn't want the paltry amount they'd give me on trade.
Forgot to mention that on my Thanksgiving trip to Tally(at 1AM of course) I turned the windsheild wipers on about 5 times reaching for the cruise control. Luckily it wasn't the gear shift. I seem to remember others having this same problem. Not really a big deal, and I'm sure I'll get used to it. At a minimum I'll always have clean windows....
My husband came home home last night and exclaimed as he passed the MPV in the garage,
"What a cool van!" Just not words I ever thought I'd here him say!
I have been looking for a minivan for the past 3-4 mos and have test driven all the Japanese models and have decided that the MPV is the most practical one for us. After reading the various threads on the Odyssey, Sienna, and MPV boards, it seems that MPV owners are happy with their vans.
My dilemma (and its probably a recurrent one) is should I get a great deal now on an ES with the entertainment system (which is invoice minus the rebate) or wait until the '02 comes out. I am not in urgent need of a van immediately, and can wait until the '02 comes out in February (as I am told). I'm not sure how much more the new model is going to run for, but if I can get it at invoice and rel. low financing (1.9-4.9), I'll be happy.
I have an 18 month old and a 3 1/2 month old, and my mom lives with us, so at most we'll have 5 passengers, so my only wish would be for a split "magic seat" for the third row.... now wouldn't that be nice?
Congrats on all who have recently bought.
DP
PS Our van turned one year old over the weekend. We have 25645 miles on it already (jeez). Other than the scratches/nicks my kids put in it taking their bikes out and the spills on the mats, the van looks and runs great. The original equipment tires have been replaced with AVIDS in the back and AEGIS in the front. Other than that the van has only cost me gas and oil changes (which I do my self with). What a big difference from the 96 Voyager we unloaded to get this baby. This is the best value van out there (this being said by a die hard Honda fan). We love it!!
I wonder if the way the economy is right now, with 0% deals all over the place, if the 2002s will actually be selling for around invoice just to stimulate sales. Makes you wonder.
In the Javadoc house, my wife is waiting (none too patiently) for the 2002s to arrive because she wants an ES w/sunroof this time as opposed to our 2000 LX w/o a sunroof. The 3.0 engine and other enhancements don't hurt either. AWD would be keen (hello...mazda...) also.
So, bottom line... low interest rates and invoice-level sales prices now or newer and more powerful model and possibly not those incentives in 4 months.
Good luck!
/Java
Give us a shout or a wave if you see us! We live in the SE Cape and work in south FTM. I've only seen one other Teal MPV around town besides ours.
MSRP $25340 / INV $23608. Without rebate, it will be tough
for Mazda to sell 02 MPV. Why? Honda Odyssey LX lists
MSRP $24690 / INV $22262.
My guess is that you can get 02 MPV LX at $22000-$23000.
Otoh, what are buyers paying for Ody's as opposed to invoice, or msrp. Last I checked, which was a few months ago honestly, a buyer was lucky to get an Ody for MSRP with some exceptions for lucky buyers. Edmunds TMV numbers are very close to real-world numbers for out-the-door car pricing and lists a 2002 Ody EX for $30,690.
Coincidentally, a co-worker and friend of my wife's just bought an EX Ody w/leather and they paid approx $2000 over msrp, after waiting 9weeks (and weeks of me trying to get them to save thousands on an MPV). They ended up paying $30,999 for it (I just called her) and the msrp/invoice numbers were 28,690msrp/25,856invoice.
Now, a comparably equipped MPV ES would be currently 26,820msrp/24,819invoice. Add something (I thought $2k, as a *guess*) and it's still cheaper than an Ody by a couple of grand if it costs $31k for an EX Ody w/leather. This assumes that you'd be paying msrp for an MPV. Currently, edmunds TMV for this van is (drum roll please) $24,774, some $5,900 less than the Ody price.
cheers,
/j
Yipppyyyy