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Cheers
MB
For those of you purchasing soon here's what I paid: $22,989 ( 2% over invoice ) for LX w/ security pkg., rear a/c, roof rack, step plate, floor mats, and cargo net. Bought it just a few days after rate went up from 4.9 to 5.9. I "politely" complained to sales manager, so he
gave me $350 more for my trade in. I was very pleased to get $1950 for a 93 DCaravan w/ 136K miles. Other dealers had offered $1,000 - $1500. Covington Pike Mazda in Memphis - very easy to deal with.
Things I love about this van:
Reliability/Quality - according to what I've read on this site
Real windows in the middle
The deep cargo well
Stereo controls on the steering wheel
Handling - it is SO fun to drive! I feel like a 16 yr old who has just gotten her license (finding an excuse to run errands!)
Minor quirks I can live with:
Location of the parking brake - why can't it be
by my left foot? Takes up alot of space where it is.
Low glovebox - but it does hold a lot.
Seatbelts in 3rd seat location aren't height adjustable. Of all the places, they should be here as this is where kids ride and the belt
scrapes my 8 yr old's neck.
Disappearing hood - it just takes getting used to after driving the old Caravan and seeing the
hood ornament to use as a guide when parking.
Leather seats (YUCK) should be an option on the ES. Almost bought an ES as it had most of my options as std. features, but I hate leather seats. Hot in summer and cold in winter. Did you know the manual advises not to use seat covers if you have side airbags?
Sorry for the long post, but enjoy sharing. Hope to continue to be a regular reader and poster. Happy driving! ZZZOOM! Julie
MB
Mazda_Guy, Don't you worry, if you ring the chimes at casa del javadoc, we'll have a party. Time it right and we might be able to break away from TH long enough to slay some fish. You've seen that Toyota Tacoma commercial, right?
The reason being that I don't see it as a "parking" brake, it's an *emergency* brake. And if your brakes fail, God forbid, you'll be glad the brake lever is located where you can actually control it, instead of off to the side half buried under the dash where you have to take your eyes off the road to hit, and then with your left foot, your knee up in the air, and the release is separately located somewhere above it, also half buried under the dash... you get the idea...
Afterall, you're reaching for it because something bad is about to happen, and presumably, you're a bit distracted, right ?
I had a case where we ran over a piece of metal in the road, which flew up and cut the brake line at the wheel. I was sure glad I could grab the e-brake and maintain control.
Not everyone's take on the matter, I know, but hey, what can I say...
In the extreme case, there's an emergency avoidance maneuver, where you grab a fistful of e-brake and induce a brief spin to do a 180 (like in a head-on situation, where you want the other guy to hit your backend, as opposed to your front). Not to be attempted lightly, and yes, practice first in an empty lot at slow speeds, but you get the idea. The e-brake allows you to deliberately lock up just the back wheels to bring 'er around in a hurry...
Just my 2 cents...
I was wondering what kind of deals I could expect. Thanks for the info.
bsvoller: Hope your not headed my way with that e-brake in your hand :-)
Back to gardening..... mowing, edging, mulching etc. Java, when do you start mowing? July?:)
Pjd58
...melts I dare say. Hopefully a month (please, just a month!). Sorry, no time to PS in an MPV stuck in the snow like I wanted. Pic dated 4-15-02.
/j
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Speaking of shoulder belts rubbing necks, we have the same problem with our 8 y.o., even sitting outboard with the adjustment all the way down. Has anyone ever seen a type of contraption that hooks to the lap belt & shoulder belt, pulling the shoulder belt down and away from the neck? It kinda forms a triangle where the two belts meet at the buckle. One of our friends had this thing about five years ago, but I have never been able to find one. Maybe they weren't safe and aren't made anymore?
Bsvoller, on days like you see above in java's picture of winter wonderland, I used to do some pretty amazing stuff with the e-brake in the high school parking lot! Of course, this was Indiana, not FL. I'd post a pic (if I had one)of the sunset tonight on the water, but I'm afraid our Alaskan friend might not appreciate it 8-)
SC
Beachnut, I too saw one of those gizmos a few years ago, but not lately. Time to google I guess.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
My almost 10 year old fits much better in the captains chairs than the back bench so I try to keep her there most of the time. There is car seat discussion board over at Parentsplace.com that can give you more info on those belt positioners you were asking about.
If installing the filter can give that much of a boost in mpg, it'll practically pay for itself in a few tankfuls of gas!
/j
Count me as one who also like the handbrake where it is, but then again, I would by far prefer a manual transmission.
Java: 86 degrees in Ohio yesterday! Be nice and maybe I'll point the weather machine NW in your direction:>)
Pjd58
Julie: You can buy those seatbelt covers that are very soft. They just wrap around and stay together with velcro and slide where you want them. (~ $7.00 a pair). Of course on mine they say Honda...(couldn't find any other red ones).
E-brake: (Isn't it really a parking brake?) I like it even tho it takes up some room between the seats. In our Sienna (foot style brake) I'm always accidently popping the hood open when I think I'm releasing it (getting out of car, closing the hood, ignoring the laughter from wife and kids...)
Does this sound right?
I drive a 2000 MPV. There are times when I hear a cracking noise in the lower front-end when backing up and turning, or sometimes when coming to a stop when travelling down a hill. The sound doesn't happen always--usually when first starting out. I used to hear a similar sound in previous cars when I had a cracked ball joint.
I've mentioned this to the dealer twice, who checked it out, found nothing wrong, and said the sound is common in MPVs. Has anyone else experienced this?
Thanks,
Glenn
...Devil's advocate says that the kids should be in booster till a certain age/weight (some say 80lbs), at which time they should be tall enough that the belts hit them correctly. Also, they shouldn't be using the vehicle's belts until they've outgrown the 4 or 5-point harness provided on the booster seat. I guess it's all what you want though, since I've seen great arguments for either viewpoint on some child safety seat message boards. Here's a neat alternative from a leader in child seat designs.
/j
Pjd58
Pjd58
Ours makes a similar noise. It happens worst when the weather is warm and the van is warmed up. I just posted about this in the Problems forum. There is a TSB that describes the problem and the solution--the trouble I've had is getting the dealer to believe it.
Maltb or somebody here has the TSB number. I'd even bet they have it memorized.
-Dave
Thanks for the advice on seatbelt adjusters for my kids. I am currently using a device similar to a locking clip, but it has 3 slots and pulls the shoulder strap down somewhat. Works OK I guess. Hope it's safe. I could not imagine having my active 8 yr. old boy sitting in a booster seat!
I need some advice: My van had pinstripes which I got the dealer to remove. I noticed it
left some sticky residue, which didn't come off after it's first wash. I gently used some bug/tar
remover on the spots and it helped. However, it looks like some scratches were created because of this. Was this a big "no-no?" I honestly know nothing about keeping a nice finish on a vehicle , but I'm determined to give this one lots of TLC. Should I wax these spots now? Any favorite brands of wax?
Pjd58 - I noticed in an earlier post you mentioned Zymol treatments. Could you please explain what that is?
Thanks! Julie
For your scratches, and I'm no expert, but you've probably only scuffed the clearcoat so it's not serious. One option: you can go to any good auto store, like Pep Boys and buy a "Clay Bar" that can clean up the paint something fierce (follow instructions... water is your friend). I use them a couple of times a year on my cars and they stay glassy smooth. If the 'bar doesn't work, you can use some mild paint cleaner/scratch remover by someone like Mothers. Or, and this is getting serious, you can go to an auto-body supply place, and buy some sanding stone that's like 1200 grit (like paper smooth), and wet-sand it smooth. A sanding stone is just that, a flat stone made for sanding. Good luck, have fun!
/j
Link where you can purchase Klasse:
http://store4.yimg.com/I/classic-motoring_1684_135087
Thanks
MB
We then stumbled onto the Fisher-Price Futura 20/60 Car Seat with five point harness (not the version with the shield or bar that comes down in front of the kid) and that has worked great for us. It is a car seat, rated for kids weighing from 20 to 60 pounds (whereas most car seats only rate up to 40 pounds) and it has worked out very well for us. Our son is comfortable in the seat, and he is secure from a safety standpoint. I think it will protect him much better than a traditional booster seat will until he reaches 60 pounds.
It attaches to the car easily and VERY securely using the car safety belt (I don't know if they have come out with one that uses LATCH technology yet--I suppose by now they have). You could use a top tether with this seat if you wished, but I don't think you would gain much by doing so. The seatbelt attachment holds the seat such that the top of the seat does not move more than an inch or so even when giving it a good strong pull.
danandkat
All waxes mentioned are good & we all have our opinions. My suggestion is to read some of the posts in the wax & the Zaino forums.
Dennis
/j
They have Class II 4-bike racks. If not you may be able to get an adapter to go from 1 1/4" to 2".
I have never seen a Class III hitch for the 2000my+ MPV due to its towing limitations.
Thanks!
P.S. We've had our 2002 LX for about 7 weeks and we just love it! We've especially enjoyed rolling down the rear windows in this 80 degree plus April weather we're having here in Ohio.
I would *not* recommend an 1.25" to 2" adapter, because you'll move the weight too far back from the bumper. I believe the rule of thumb is every 6" of extension from the hitch receiver reduces the tongue load limit by 30%. With a 200 # limit (no weight distribution possible here), you'll exceed the tongue load limits quickly with 4 bikes plus the rack.
That said, we have a great 4 bike carrier we bought through REI, made by Access. Check it out at www.softride.com. They have a patented tilt out mechanism that keeps the bikes level when you extend the bike rack out to gain access to your rear hatch, and it fits an 1.25" receiver. We use it on our Forester.
hth
http://thule-comments.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/thule_comments.cfg/php/enduser/home.php
Interestingly, Yakima doesn't have a provision for e-mail contact, and Thule's website provided no phone number.
Anyhow, I have contacted Yakima in the past and found them to be very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable--a nice combination to come across! I would hope that Thule would be the same.
Hope you are able to find what you need and glad to hear you are enjoying your MPV. Four straight days now with temps above 80 degrees in SE Wisconsin. But lows near freezing forecast for the weekend. Like they say, if you don't like the weather around here, wait five minutes!---danandkat
Thanks to all for the great info., now, do I get the 1.25" or 2" hitch :-(
A place someone could go on their racking quest is REI. The folks there have always been really helpful and don't make me feel any dumber than I already am. They also may let you go test out your equipment on the van for a bit.
/j
I mentioned that Softride has this patented design for keeping the bikes level when you swing them out to gain access to your rear hatch. This mechanism uses 2 vertical bars spaced about 4" apart in line with the receiver, so you gain mechanical leverage against side to side sway. A single post will twist more.
I use Yakima for everything else, and really like their stuff. Thule is a great name too. But this design strikes me as superior, and the price was competitive. I use a Yakima locking cable, so that the key matches all of our other rack stuff (Rocketbox, ski carriers, etc).
By the way, in my original post, I had the maker and the model switched. We have the Access LT 1.25" bike rack, made by SoftRide.
hth
Those cheapy positioners that fold over the seat belt to help position it are terrible. They are not safe, they are not tested, they do not meet federal safety regulations. They get around this by saying that they are for 50 pounds and up and there is no regulation for over 50 pounds so it is lawyer double talk. If you child needs one of these then they need a booster. Please don't use these, they are not safe, they actually end up pulling the lap belt higher up on the abdomen and over more vital organs, I don't know why they are allowed to be manufactured and sold here, but they are and it is so misleading.
Guideline for not needing a booster are back to back, seat to seat, knees bend over the end of the seat, should belt hits mid chest and in the middle of the shoulder, and the child can stay that way for the duration of the trip.
No back boosters like Java linked to are great for the MPV, they need head support which the MPV has and must be used with lap and shoulder belt. There are may styles some are cushier than others, shop around. High back boosters are also acceptable and give you the option of using in another car that doesn't have head support. They also add some support for sleeping.
If we all put our kids in boosters, it will be the norm and they will all be safer.
Jane
My impressions:
This minivan is awesome! It will be my wife's primary car, but I got to drive it all day today and I'd like to report my findings:
1. This minivan has great handling and power. I drive 2000 Acura TL and, while I'm not saying it handles the same, it's certainly quite close. Both the power and handling are superior to 2002 Honda Accord V6 that I got to drive for the last month.
2. The controls' ergonimics are great for the most part, but there are couple minor quirks. For example:
* the steering-wheel audio controls do NOT allow you to move from one radio preset to another, like is common in most other cars.
* As was pointed out before, the shift lever blocks some of the controls on the dash and
* there is no door lock switch on the passanger side;
3. My manual shows that there is supposed to be a storage bin next to cupholders in the 3rd row on the driver's side of the van. My MPV doesn't have it! What's going on?
4. The seats are too narrow for my wide butt, but my wife is perfectly comfortable.
5. Fog lights add excellent illumination to the sides. It is extremelly helpful when making turns at night.
6. Wheel locks are now standard on ES. That's pretty cool.
7. Wind noise is very high at speeds over 65mph. However, I'm comparing to Acura TL, so it may not be a valid comparison. I did notice very high noise in the Acura MDX at the same speeds as well, so it may just be a function of the vehicle size, mirrors size and presence of a roof rack.
8. Radio reception is TERRIBLE compared to the other 3 vehicles that I have driven in the area: 2000 TL, 2002 Accord and 1999 Subaru Outback. Outback had the worst reception of the three and it was the only one that did not have an integrated antenna glued on the back window. I'm thinking these stick antenna, like the one on the MPV are bad in general.
9. Sound quality from the SuperSound system when playing CDs is very good, but I expected better based on the comments on this board.
10. Sage Green is an AWESOME color, everyone comments on it.
11. Storage is lacking as far as I'm concerned. I did take out the front ashtray to make a great cell phone compartment, but I could use more storage space.
By the way, S-plan pricing is no longer available on the MPV. See my next message on this.
Anyway, I found out this news yesterday, when buying the MPV. The dealer tried to charge me a $220 documentation fee and I had to insist that it was prohibited by Ford. We ended up looking at the fordpartner.com Web site and the sales manager noticed this little bit of unfortunate news about MPV and S-plan. To make the long story short, the dealership was extremely nice and not only still allowed me to buy the car at S-plan, but removed the $220 fee as well. By the way, this dealership - Brown's Fairfax Mazda - has excellent reputation in this area.
And congrats on the new ride, dulnev.
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
1. This minivan has great handling and power. I drive 2000 Acura TL and, while I'm not saying it handles the same, it's certainly quite close. Both the power and handling are superior to 2002 Honda Accord V6 that I got to drive for the last month.
That is good and bad. While you cannot move from preset to preset station you can scan all the stations. I found that while traveling outside my town it is better to have scan than preset function. If you have preset function then most of the time you cannot access any stations while you travelig away from home.
* there is no door lock switch on the passanger side;
Passenger can lock the door manually or you can use remote.
3. My manual shows that there is supposed to be a storage bin next to cupholders in the 3rd row on the driver's side of the van. My MPV doesn't have it! What's going on?
I think there are motors for power sliding doors in the place of storage bin.
4. The seats are too narrow for my wide butt, but my wife is perfectly comfortable.
This is very subjective. Seats are wider than in TL and my seat can fit two of me lol
7. Wind noise is very high at speeds over 65mph. However, I'm comparing to Acura TL, so it may not be a valid comparison. I did notice very high noise in the Acura MDX at the same speeds as well, so it may just be a function of the vehicle size, mirrors size and presence of a roof rack.
I can't confirm that. I have driven MPV (I have roof rack) at 85 mph and wind noise seems not excessive at all. Maybe a little more noticeable than in TL. The most noise comes from the road depending on the surface material used for the road construction but again that affects all the cars. While driving at high speeds I didn't have to increase radio volume. I found out, however, that wind noise level goes dramatically up with outside high crosswinds.
8. Radio reception is TERRIBLE compared to the other 3 vehicles that I have driven in the area: 2000 TL, 2002 Accord and 1999 Subaru Outback. Outback had the worst reception of the three and it was the only one that did not have an integrated antenna glued on the back window. I'm thinking these stick antenna, like the one on the MPV are bad in general.
I don't see any difference with the radio reception. Again I live in an urban area. TL's radio is as good as MPV's
9. Sound quality from the SuperSound system when playing CDs is very good, but I expected better based on the comments on this board.
Sound quality is very subjective. For me is great. I had great system in Passat, TL, and in MPV is great as well.
10. Sage Green is an AWESOME color, everyone comments on it.
I Agree 100% -:)
By the way, S-plan pricing is no longer available on the MPV. See my next message on this.
Which Ford Motor Company vehicles are eligible?
Virtually all Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Mazda, Volvo, and Land Rover vehicles are eligible. In addition, cash allowances are available for 2002 model year Jaguar vehicles.
Ford Super Duty F450-F750, Thunderbird, Aston Martin and Mazda MPV vehicles are not included in this program. This list is subject to change.
MB
Great car, ain't it?
Happy Miles!
RJ