Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
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2000 sand mica LX with lots of goodies for way under invoice. I think the big dealerships are more eager to get rid of 2000s now. Smaller ones don't seem to mind hanging on to them. All that seems to be left is LX or DXs with lots of options. Basically, we got all the options for no cost.
By the way, I think $1,000 under invoice on a 2001 sounds pretty good. Try calling carsdirect (check their web site for their 800 number) and they will give you a good price to compare it to. They give you the price immediately that they would offer it to you for if they got it for you. (I got that suggestion from a previous post and thought it was helpful).
Haven't posted in awhile, but I do keep up with the boards on a regular basis. It's good to see all of the activity being generated in the MPV related topics.
rjr425: I too had very minor, almost imperceptible shaking when my LX w/Touring van was new. I originally thought that it might be related to the front end alignment; however, I did not experience any pulling to one side or the other. Now, the slight vibration only appears at speeds above 80 mph, so I believe that the problem is related to the Dunlop tires. The problem seems to become less noticeable as the tires wear. Hope this helps.
vikki26: With the LX touring package order the 3-in-1 package to get the cassette player with the CD player. I would also recommend getting the four-seasons package with rear air. The reason is that the four seasons package adds temperature control for the rear air in addition to providing heat. Without the temperature control, the rear seat passengers will have to live with turning the fan speed up, down or off to regulate temperature.
Regards,
JB
So long as we can get a fair trade in for my '98 Chevy Malibu (3 brake jobs <21K miles...under warranty thank god) will do the deal.
Oh, any car mats/nets etc...have to pay retail prices at this dealer...whatever!
Maybe it's because of NY but, i've found achieveing the Edmunds TMV prices to be extremely difficult....Trade in $'s at 3 dealers so far >$1K less than TMV. I understand the saga about the dealer "not making a profit" (what a crock) by selling $1K under invoice but, trade in not even close. Oh, I have found out painfully that one should never bring up "holdback" during negotiations....seems to really piss these people off.
3-in-1 stereo = am/fm, single CD & cassette
6-CD in-dash changer = am/fm, 6 CD changer & NO cassette
I would highly recommend 4-seasons pkg unless you normally don't have rear passengers. Besides larger radiator, larger w-washer bottle, beefier rear defogger, you get rear (pass side by 3rd row seat) thermostat & fan controls. Fan speed can also be controlled by switch on dash.
Good luck.
I don't have the 4 seasons package and frankly I don't want the child sitting closest to the temp controls wreaking havoc for the others. With rear air only, I control the temp for them with the fan speed on the dash. If I get a consensus that the temp needs adjustment, they can ask.
To clear up some confusion, the super sound system comes with the 3 in 1 audio.
philbeau:
I thought the entire goal when you go to a car dealership was to tick them off, no? My tactic is usually to keep the sales person and "manager" just upset enough that they become completely annoyed with me...and usually they make concessions to have me out of their faces. I was rude enough when we were dealing on our old Contour that I was calling the competing dealership from my cellphone, while I was negotiating with the first dealer. "Hey, he has it in a better color for a better price, right?" Oh, I normally bring a set of overalls to inspect cars...which REALLY gets salespeople antsy. Okay okay, I have way too much fun watching them squirm. ;-)
Really, [most] dealers aren't comfortable with the consumer having anywhere near the level of information that they do during the deal, and holdbacks are the "third rail" for them; if the customer touches that, bad things could happen...not. Also, some haven't discovered that consumers can obtain a copy of the dealer's actual invoice, right off the internet.
--java
Thanks again.
RJ
I took the kids to the playground and they had a great time playing in the puddles, but I cringed thinking about them getting into the new van. I put paper mats left over from the dealer under their feet, but come on folks,what do you all do to keep the interior feeling and looking clean (I realize it won't actually stay clean on the floor with feet on it-- but hopefully the carpet won't get all muddy and matted.)
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Wendy
I recently found some great floor mats at Costco. They're the kind with tall sides and channels for water and [non-permissible content removed] to get trapped in. They're only $20 for a set of 4, and they come in grey and tan, for that matching look. Mrs. Javadoc loves them so far, and me weekend cleanup of the MochaVan is much easier.
--java
Thanks,
Wendy
Also seems like out mileage is all over the map. I got around 20 with the first tank of gas and the last one I checked and got about 18, does the mileage settle in, when?
Otherwise love the van, it is very easy to drive and park and comfortable. I have 2 kids in car seats, bench seat configuration, and we have all gotton in and out of the same door several times. My DD loves it and points out other minivans now.
Jane
Just curious.
I would say on average, Javadoc is correct more times than not. The problem is that there are too many variables and dealers don't have the time or desire to explain the whole process(price, options, financing, and trade-in), so the customer feels ripped off after they review the deal.
Most of you are NOT very knowledgeable. There's nothing more irritating than going to a dealership and knowing more about the vehicle I am interested in than the salesperson. Just two weeks ago, a dealership didn't even know how to fold the magic seat in an "unnamed" minivan. So please explain to me why salesmen are always standing around waiting for a customer instead of studying the brochures of their vehicles? And it's not just the scummy people that came before you that's the problem. It's the scummy people that came in with you and will continue to come in after you that give salesmen a bad name. It will never change.
You cite examples of other industries where it is not appropriate to negotiate on price by invoice, however, purchasing an automobile is a different scenario altogether and for most people, the 1st or 2nd most expensive purchase they will ever make. I take offense to a salesman that tries to separate me from a thousand bucks. I too, work too damn hard for my money to simply let a dealership take what I consider to be an excessive profit.
Based on your previous argument, you probably don't feel it is appropriate to negotiate on the price of a house either, but that is another expensive purchase where the industry standard is to negotiate. If consumers did not have access to invoice information, dealers could charge whatever they wanted and the public would never know. So don't criticize savvy customers for negotiating with this method.
Second, I've been participating in MPV threads for a long time now, and my humor (if you can call it that) is very dry, and I'd hope most posters could see my wit (or lack of) for what it is. So, re: the coveralls remark, yes, I do bring them w/me when I'm looking at a used car. You never know the history of a car, and you should look it over very carefully, as well as have your mechanic look it over to make sure there's no hidden collision damage, or internal problems.
Third, IMHO, most salepersons do not know much at all about the vehicles they sell, with distinct exception to my experiences with Mercedes, Volvo, Lexus, Rover and Audi salespeople, who can actually tell you the history of the company, let alone know if the car has an inline6 or V6 under the bonnet. If you're a car salesperson and you know the intricate details of the iron you sell, then that's great, and more should be like that. I can relate to abbanat's "magic seat" story as all to typical, and better product training could fix that stigma very easily.
Fourth, I won't illustrate the gorey details of our previous Contour purchase, except to say that we were dealing with a well known West Coast dealership, owned by a swindling cowboy (and his dog Spot!) who'd stand on his head/eat a bug to make you a deal. Any tactic I used on them, they darn well deserved it. I should post that story on my website...
As to buying my TV at the Wiz, or a loan from the bank, I make my electronics (and most other) purchases over the net, and my banking online. It just plain saves time, and that's a precious commodity.
--Cheers!
java
Could you please tell me where on Costco.com you found the floor mats...
thanks,
Kim
--java
Thanks for your input. Knowing as much or more than the salesman was good (because I could talk circles around them) and a bad thing (because I could talk circles around them). I had a sales manager try to tell me stuff that was outright lies...the problem is how to you convince someone who supposedly knows all about this product that they're wrong. Needless to say I didn't make the deal there.
Well, anyhow, after getting worn down I settled for the best deal out of 5 dealers. Could I have gone to "the end of the earth" to continue this quest...of course. Maybe I would have saved $200 or $500 or nothing. The deal fit my profile (albeit at the high end).
Anyhow...sorry to go on...
2001LX Security Pkg, 4 seasons, Roof Rack $21,957 (incl.dest and incentive) $50 over Invoice (that's that damn $50 Long Island Assessment Charge). Feeling pretty good about the deal. Of course the problem lies with the trad in. I didn't get close to "fair value" for the car. About $800 less than Edmunds TMV for the trade in. If I heard one more time they weren't making profit on the deal I was gonna strangle someone...YOU'RE RIPPIN' ME OFF ON THE TRADE IN AND GONNA TURN IT OVER @ $4K PROFIT !!! They look at you like you're crazy.
Now i'm reliving it all and getting pissed off...
Anyhow, done deal.
A indeed, Queens Greatest Hits... part of the collection. I guess I better do this when I pick it up.. once I get it home I get the enviable task of handing the key over to my wife.
She'd probably prefer pre-1975 Genesis or Peter Gab riel.
It was that I read your message and had purchased via their website another product. I went in and you can search for mats etc.but I did not find anything. I would suggest you call them or email.
Whoever posted it should let you have the make of the mats they bought.
Costco is a warehouse, like Sams Club and you have to be a member, but not sure if applies to email purchases.
Although I do not have an MPV, there are number of ads in the auto mags check www.weathertech.com who make custom fit mats for a wide range in black, tan and gray.
Rgds
KRACO, that's the brand I got at Costco, that's right. They work great, and I agree, a good substitute to the Weathertech mats. Thank you Cinka1, you always come through with great info.
I think the majority vote is that Queens "Greatest Hits" CD does wonders to cleans one's conscience after a buy. It's great to belt it out over the stereo in your MPV. I like Tom Petty's "Full Moon Fever" also as a second choice. Also, "Low Rider" sounds excellent. Ah, takes me back to those care-free college days, driving my Miata, top down, wind in the face, girlfriend (now wife) by my side...oh, wait, I'm supposed to be coding...
--java
Have you noticed any of the annoyances others have posted (i.e. Vibration in steering column at Hwy. speeds). Only got it up to 60 on a test drive (Saturday midday traffic)
Ford Explorer. Only $200 less then what Edmunds trade-in value was listed at. We love the way it drives.
I do have a couple of questions. Is there a way to turn on all the interior lights at the same time while you are driving? And does anyone know what size speakers are used in the front doors and rear cargo area?
We've not noticed any of the general issues some others have seen, thankfully, and the van runs great. Some folks are concerned with fuel mileage, but ours has been on par with the EPA's ratings as 19city/25+hwy. Right now tho, from using the remote starter and studded tires, mileage has been down in the 16mpg range (all city) during the winter, but that's to be expected.
Yup, we truly enjoy the MPV, and try our best to convert our DC van-driving friends. Come on Drew, join the club, but don't trade your ML320. ;-)
--java
Thanks for your input.
Deanc3
Great deal and good for you. Enjoy
FWIW, there are actually 3 MPVs on my street alone. The '00, a '99 white MPV AWD, and a '99 blue MPV AWD All-sport. I should try to snap a picture with all three of them one of these days. In order for the MPV to make it on my personal list (I don't need a van now though ), it will need AWD (already available in Japan), and a bigger engine. I'd also like to see an improvement on the offset crash test results.
Drew
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Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
Our neighborhood's looking like yours...no wait, maybe you live on my street! ;-) We've got our Emerald LX, then two houses down there's it's identical twin, and then two more houses down there's a pair of '93 4x4s...Accross the cul de sac there's two families with ML320s, one black, the other silver (I like the silver one, nice). Ah, suburban life, ain't it quaint?
--java
So Drew, if we ever do see the AWD on this continent, can we hold you to a test drive?
Maltb, I've also heard rumblings of the AWD unit shipping with the 3.0, but not gotten anyone to fess up to that. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
--java
We're looking for a LX with rear air, touring package and 3 in 1. List is $25,730.
One told me even at invoice $23,655 dealer cash is 1K not considering holdbacks. Edmunds true value shows $22,597 but I can't get close.
What is realistic? We have 5K to put down on a purchase and others are suggesting Smart Buy to keep the payments down. Any thoughts?
Also telling me that to get me 6.9 financing will have to charge me more? I thought price and financing were two different things?
Would appreciate some unbiased help.
Michelle
I am thinking of trying Plug 'n Go. Supposed to be 8.75" Wide, but it just may be narrower at the bottom. I think the short style will fit under the armrests, while the tall may interfere.
I saw it at www.autoenhance.com at $40 (plus shipping). Other sites were $55, $60, $70.
good luck
I picked up a 2000 mpv lx $20,000. Pretty happy with it but,after signing papers that say the vehicle was tru the dealers 57 point inspection and after asking the dealer if that work had been done(asked about 3 times) he swore it had been done.It was nightime when picked it up (DON'T PICK UP A VEHICLE AT NIGHT) anyway the next day I happened to look under the hood and the resovoir for the coolant was empty,winshield fluid,empty,oil 1 quart low and oil was dirty.This van was only 1 year old,why would the coolant be low? I am going to keep An eye out for leaks but,I am told the coolant can be leaking into the engine.The dealer said the coolant evaporated..I've owned alot of cars and never had the coolant evaporate in 3 years. Also driving beside the van I have noticed the dr.rear wheel looked like it was hopping.Inside the van when sitting in back seat there is vibration on that side Has anyone experienced these same problems? Also in the daylight noticed scratches and dings.Probably should have went with new.The van only has 15,000 miles.1 year old.Is there anything else I should be on the lookout for? Any advice would be appreciated.
http://www.nhtsa.gov/
and http://www.autosafety.org/
Lots of good info.
I know someone who races his Contour in SCCA events from time to time. It has a 2.5L Duratech in, but it's the SVT variety (I think that's Ford's Special Vehicle Team). It's been modified enough to give it an extra 30 HP in the Contour SVT, and it also gets slightly better mileage. This is still a stock engine, standard equipment on the Contour SVT sold to consumers at their Ford dealership .
If someone is going to the expense of getting a race car and putting an new engine in it, you'd think they'd want to spend a little more to get the one best suited for racing.
This doesn't detract from what you said about durability . Any changes made to increase performance of the SVT engine probably didn't improve durability, so if this engine survived this extreme racing test, the standard one probably would have to. It just wouldn't have been as powerful.
Of course, this is just a conjecture since I wasn't there.
Anyhow, I remember mention of the 'cabin air filter' some time ago. Do all the MPV's have this? Do you know the part number? The parts guy couldn't find one except for the Tribute.
The Mazda mechanic said the air filter didn't need to be changed. It's never been changed and we live in the desert. 20,000 miles seems a long time for it to go without changing. Have others had this experience. I'm going to look at it myself when I have time.
About tire pressure. The other day the gas station mechanic insisted that I should go with the side wall and not the door sticker. He put 50lbs in the tires! It drives totally different now. It doesn't shake as much at high speeds, but you can feel every bump in the road. Could some of you experts out there explain about tire pressure. I know the wrong pressure can be dangerous. Mazda says 36, the mechanic says 50. I tried to call Dunlop, but they were closed.
Cabin filter: Part number LC74-61-P11 and your dealer should have it in stock for about $33.
Some shops have adjustable torque air guns or special torque limiting sockets. However, it is always a good idea to check one nut on each wheel after any shop services your vehicle as you don't want to be stuck on the side of the road with frozen lugs.
I have a 2000 ES (silver for those that care) with about 8K miles and love the car, but the gas mileage does not seem to match the estimated mileage (20/23). On a full tank of gas, I've been averaging about 250-280 miles when the empty light comes on - mostly highway driving. Edmunds says the total miles should be 360/410. I've tried varying grades of gas and varying stations (Exxon, Mobil, etc.) 2 questions I have are: (1) does anyone know how many gallons are remaining when the light comes on? The dealer told me 2-2.5, but if that's the case, then add the 14 gallons at fill-up and it totals to 16-16.5 gallon tank (when everything says the MPV has an 18 gallon tank). (2) Have others had the same problem with mileage and has it improved?
I appreciate any responses
I didn't price your exact package but, am confident that if I can get a deal with the schister dealers in metro NY you can do the same...or better!
Good luck