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I clicked on the girl pics
http://www.mpv.mazda.co.jp/interior06.html
The left hand side seat does not have the Slide-by-Side feature for the US vans.
It very good news that your nearest and dearest are ok and that the MPV protected them in the crash. This is the best "Crash Test" rating of all.
Tj
I also noticed a problem with the tranny while we were at our vacation location as well. At certain throttle settings while accelerating, the tranny would slam while shifting from 2nd to 3rd gear. It only did it from 2nd to 3rd, and it didn't do it during slow or fast acceleration, only during moderate acceleration. I haven't noticed this problem the last couple of days. Has anyone else experinced this problem? If the problem comes back, I will take it in to the dealership.
I have really grown to hate these Dunlop tires. They're noisey and they ride like absolute crap! The sidewalls are so stiff, they transmit every little bump in the road (especailly the short choppy ones) through the entire van. I can't wait until these tires wear out so I can replace them with some good all-season touring tires that are quiet and ride nice. I'll gladly give up the extra performance of the "H" rated tires for a quiet, smooth ride. As if this van will handle like crap with touring tires? I think not.
Has anyone in here changed the tranny fluid and filter on their '02 or newer PeeVee? If so, please post the procedures you used to do so. Mine's getting close to the mileage where I'd like to change the fluid and filter.
I know I've posted a lot of negatives about our PeeVee, but I'm still very happy with it. It offers more than enough room for our needs, and it provides all the comforts and options we'll ever need.
And frankly... who cares? Gas is cheap! It is not like in Europe $4 - $6 a gallon.
If you want good milage get GEO Prizm :-)
mazda guy
Love our PeeVee!!!!
Tj
Also, some of you may not mind spending money on gas, but I have better things to spend my money on. Gas is not cheap. Between both our vehicles, we spend more than $100 a month on gas. I'd much rather spend that money on other things. And thanks for the advice on the Prius, but there's no way my family, and all our stuff would fit in a Prius. I don't think 30 mpg is asking for too much from an MPV.
Might be that it's due to the fact thet Ody's and Sienna's engine have the variable valve timing. Rumor is that the new 2006 MPV will havve 3.5l engine with variable valve timing.
The EPA says that an alignment may increase your mpg by as much as 10% and proper tire inflation can increase it 6%, so don't overlook the MPV's sneakers. cite
Steve, Host
You said: And frankly... who cares? Gas is cheap! It is not like in Europe $4 - $6 a gallon.
I'm sorry, but I just have to add my 2 cents to that post....IMHO, whether gas is "cheap" or not so cheap isn't the point. All of us "should care" what we get for MPG since our natural resources will not last forever.
I know this isn't a statement that can be simply presented, but overall, I think we should all do our part to conserve gas (not just gasoline, either) so that we don't have to rely on outside sources for our energy and also so that we don't have to drill in all of our "wild" areas because we abuse our resources.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but if I need a few groceries I feel guilty if all I do is run to the grocery store. For me, an ideal way to run errands is to hit Walmart or Target for basic supplies, then loop around to the other side of the mall to hit the grocery store. That way I feel like I haven't wasted my time or my gas.
I remember one time my neighbor made a special trip to Target to get a new video that had come out. She got that one item, nothing more, and also didn't stop at any other stores. To me, that was a huge waste of gas. And just this past weekend, this same family wanted to go to their cabin (over a 2 hour drive, one way) but one daughter had a commitment till Saturday afternoon. Rather than wait till she was done and then have the entire family go, the husband and other daughter left for the cabin Saturday morning and then the wife and other daughter drove separately later the same day. Again, IMHO, that is a huge waste of gas and someday we'll all pay for these kinds of excesses.
As for our 03 MPV mileage, we've been pretty pleased so far. We're not expecting huge numbers this soon (purchased the end of May) but we've had a couple of really good tanks. I'd tell you the numbers but the MPV is on a trip today.
Mazda Guy, sorry to rant....nothing personal. I just think we should all care more about our resources than how much the cost per gallon is and whether we can afford the gas. If we're not careful, our prices WILL get as high as they are in Europe.
Sincerely,
Sharon
P.S. Don't some of those other vans maybe get better mileage because they use a premium gasoline? Just curious.
I have a bug deflector on the hood, put it on myself...
Really works good. Crossing the Midwest very few bugs on the windshield... 50 bucks at MazdaStuff...
Tj
Does the 3.0 engine have variable timing?
Is regular gas recommended for the 3.0?
Any changes in the engine for 2004?
Here are the ratios for each gear:
1st: 3.801
2nd: 2.131
3rd: 1.364
4th: 0.935
5th: 0.685
Reverse: 2.970
Final Drive: 3.491
-Brian
Haven't had it out on the highway for a full tank yet, but I'm hoping for mid-20's at 75-80 mph without AC. 23 mpg would be on the low side.
For a 3800# vehicle that stands as tall as the MPV, mid-20's is as good as you're going to do. Air resistance has a lot to do with frontal area, and tall vehicles have more area no matter how streamlined.
The Sienna gets better mileage because their engine is more sophisticated. Without VVT, you can't optimize the valve train for more than one rpm range, it's that simple. The 5 speed helps, of course, by offering more vehicle speeds that translate to an efficient engine rpm, but the Sienna matches there.
Mazda, and their parent, Ford, are behind the industry leaders on engine technology. In fact, I know of no American production model that is currently offered with a VVT engine.
Ford just broke ground on their first VVT engine plant - first job scheduled for 2005 I believe. Honda and Toyota have been selling cars with VVT technology for years. Even little Subaru has some now in their higher end models. It's embarrassing.
-brianV
One way to estimate the differences in mpg for a similar vehicle is to keep in mind that all things being equal, you lose about 0.1mpg for every 100lbs increase in vehicle weight. So if you turned it around the other way, a 3,900lbs MPV weighs about 400lbs less than the Odyssey, so you can estimate a 0.4mpg difference, given their similar shapes, cd and frontal area, although the Ody does have a slightly larger frontal area. Of coure, there are hundreds of different variables, so this is only one way to estimate.
The Honda's VTEC motor does give it an advantage in mpg, because they can use very conservative cam profiles on lower revs (to save fuel) and move up to an agressive cam profile when you stomp on the gas and peg the tach.
FWIW, my neighbor has an Ody, and he reports that his fuel economy is normally in the 14-16mpg range in town and 20-22 on the hwy, where my MPV's fuel economy is in the 18-19mpg for city and 23-25 hwy range... me being shod w/lead loafers at all times, too.
Also, don't forget that the EPA rates fuel economy using a set course which simulates highway speeds of about 43mph, and an urban circuit with minimal stoplight time, no hills at all, and speeds in the 20mph range. Hardly real world, but it is standardized, at least.
Wash: Yeah I try to avoid brush car washes. But the better places clean their brushes...
Gas: At 7K we get 21/26mpg using middle grade fuel.
Gezz bottgers Why do you want to DIY tranny oil??
It is cheaper and safer to let the pros do it. Look for specials; my dealer has them all the time...
Variable timing: That is a way engineers use to compensate for crappy engine designs.....
Military vehicles use it so they can burn any flammable liquid for fuel...
Tj
It's cheaper to have my tranny fluid changed? I don't know how much the places where you live charge for this service, but here it cost roughly 3 times more to have it done compared to doing it myself. Even if I catch a special, it's still less expensive to do it myself. Also, I've never run into any safety issues while doing any preventitive maintenance on any of my vehicles.
chetbob
It definitely sounds like you have a problem, and it may not be just a cruise control issue. First of all, your engine shouldn't be turning 2900 rpm's at 65 mph. My engine turns 2500 rpm at 75 mph. If your's is turning 2900 at 65, your tranny may not be shifting into 5th gear. Setting the cruise also should not change the rpm's. I would definitely take your PeeVee in to the Mazda service center. There is definitely a problem.
The only thing I do any more is to check the engine oil only if there is a drop of oil under the older car which is usually never.... When service time rolls around the shop comes and gets the cars and returns them....
I should sweep the yard(designer gravel) but I am going to get some illegals to do it...
I would rather spend my time by the pool working hard on my tan...
Yeah, I am a lazy bum, but I worked hard to get here.... (snicker)
Tj
Sorry...............
Tom....You shouldn't have to feel bad for wanting to sit around the pool and work on your tan. You've worked hard to get were you are. Some folks are just sensitive.
Leslie
We just purchased a popup camper and because I don't have a hitch or breaking system installed on my MPV yet, my sister loaned me her Suburban to tow our camper home with. On the way back, they were line painting on I-89. We were required to move all the way over to the left lane as all of the other lanes were closed. We got home last night and there was white paint all over the front of our new camper and on my sisters Suburban. I told her what happened and she isn't concerned but I AM!!! Does anyone have any suggestions for getting the paint off??
Thanks!
Leslie
Tj: VVT can be used for lots of things - in the mainstream market it's used either to improve emissions, increase the power range, improve gas mileage or some combination of all three. As I understand it, it's a technological breakthrough that enlarges the engineering envelope - it lets you "have your proverbial cake and eat it too," in exchange for more mechanicals and expense in the valve train (you don't ever really get anything for free...). They've been used in racing engines for a long time now.
I don't know squat about military engines, but an engine that's capable of burning any flammable liquid is pretty impressive in my book. I wouldn't call that crappy design necessarily. It's a design made to meet highly unusual requirements, and unless I miss my guess, you don't get that for free either - they prolly made some compromises that folks experience as "crappy". Can you explain ?
chetbob: I second bottgers - your rpm's shouldn't change with cruise control, and they seem high for the speeds you're quoting. Better get that looked at pronto.
leslie: Yikes ! A friend of mine at work just did that, and she hasn't figured it out yet either. Bright yellow reflective paint all over her new sage green Maxima... Note to self... If it's down low on the rocker panels (where you won't notice a patch job so quickly), you can always sand and overpaint with a can of matching touch-up.
-brianV
Pricing will be announced in November (hopefully the pics will all be 2004 by then too).
Sharon.....agree with you about gas mileage/usage.
We should be doing everthing we can, no matter what the price of gas, to limit our usage of it.
If the bigger, heavier, more powerful Odyssey and Sienna can get better mileage then the smaller, lighter, less powerful MPV, then something is wrong. While I prefer the more manouverable and compact size of the MPV, the substantially better gas mileage of the Sienna is hard to overlook.
Geezzz: Regarding the "paint job". Stuff always happens when you borrow someone's car.. At least for me... At least the owner was a close relative.. I don't have a clue on how to get it off... The road paint is probably tougher than the car paint...
Regarding VVTiming: Military and race car engines are disposable engines with short life span.. VVT on everyday cars is a sure sign of using an engine to fit to many different cars. In other words a crappy engine from a cheapskate company... Stay away from them... Unless you enjoy pain..
New Mazda 3 Hatch: Mazda USA has it on the web. Neat car. DW wants one if it drives as good as it looks. Her old car is about shot...
Tj
Mazda has been using VVT engine technology in other markets than the US but hasn't imported the technology until now.
Really, when you look at the power to displacement ratios, Honda's 3.5L/240hp motor is not much better off w/VTEC than Mazda's 3.0L/200hp motor. The Honda makes 68.6hp/ltr and the Mazda's motor makes 66.7hp/ltr. This would indicate that a 3.0L VTEC motor in the Ody would generate 205hp, but the Mazda's makes 200hp, without VVT. Throw the Mazda6 motor in the mix and you get 218hp for 3.0L... even more efficient than Homda's motor. But really, the VVT in the Honda makes at best, 1-2hp/ltr of an improvement over a non-VVT motor such as the Duratec used in the MPV. So, as the old adage goes, 'there's no replacement for displacement.' Well, there's always forced-induction!
The way that I see it, VVT generally moves the powerband north where it's less useable in daily driving, while you gain better fuel economy down low on the revband.
Whether you own a Mazda, would like to own a Mazda, or just like going ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM... be sure to stop by and meet and greet your fellow Town Hall users! (We may even pull out some Mazda triva questions)
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javadoc: Your stats only speak to peak power output on the high end. It's my understanding that VVT(-L) has been used to extend the torque curve downward where everyday drivers can really use it. Isn't that how Toyota gets 95% of peak torque at just 1800 rpm without sacrificing high end power ? Honda does the same. So yes, in terms of peak output the differences are small. But the overall performance difference over the entire power band is considerable.
They have up to 3 cam lobes per valve to account for low-, mid- and high-rpm settings. There is no way to get optimized engine output over such a large rpm range without varying both the cam timing and the lift (VVT-L, and similar). Or have I completely missed the boat here ?
-brianV
Good point on the torque however. I forgot to mention that. The latest versions of VVT technology are incorporating ways to bring the torque curve lower, into a more useable realm.
However, if you drive an Ody, you'll notice a large soggy section in the midrange, although off the line torque and high end hp is good. The Toyota version is better though. I don't know if Toyota is using VVTL-i in their Sienna (I've only heard them call it VVT-i), but I'll let you know how well the power is distributed, when mine arrives in a couple of months. ;-)
We drove a little over 500 miles. Mostly 70 mph with the A/C on. Two adults, three children 8,10,13. Approximately 100 lbs of cargo.
26 mpg on Mobil 87 octane. I run Mobil 1 5w-30 in the Duratec. 19,000 miles on van. New OEM air filter at 15,000 miles.
The DW regularly gets around 21 mpg in her city commutes.
Mark.
Cheapskate companies with crappy engines use VVT.
Plus it is insane to use this nonsence for everyday cars... "Oh boy, I can get 2or3 hp after all that work and complicated flaky technology while driving 20-45 mph to work"...
Why not build a slightly bigger engine with a simple reliable timing system???? Which will get better milage.... If you were burning gas/kerosene/propane, ok VVT is necessary... Or trying to make different engines run with the same tranny(cheapskates)..
I don't like to use a beautiful highway engine like the MPV Duratec to do commuter work. We use the other car for town driving..
Honda and Toy are major cheapskates that is why I will never buy their products again after being burned....
"KISS" is the golden rule for engineers..
Tj
What does this have to do about MPVs? Hmmm... I'll scrounge for content. Not having this type of technology deployed in the MPV (as of yet) hasn't been a point which has cost the company much, if anything with the press, I think. Sure, the sheer hp figures are a tad lower than the big-two, but ah, what's a few ponies among friends?
http://www.mazda.ca/root.asp
There's a GS, GX, and GT version in Canada. The Mazdausa site is down, probably for re-vamping.
As far as Honda read the boards about the Honda crap trannies(they replace them with rebuilts)... And Toy has lowered standards on the Lexus..(Cheapskates)
No Thanks my MPV is a better car and better bang for the buck....
Tj
less 2,500 rebate. Before taxes and fees. 4 seasons pkg. power sliding doors. Love the mpv.
The new 3.5 Duratec will be a world class engine. Just watch.