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SC
pjd58: I wonder too how we made it growing up. When I was around 6, dad drove a Corvair. I don't think that thing even had belts in the back!
SC
I could not get any quote from Internet as, State of california has passed a legislation that stopped all internet extended warranties.
My question: Where is a cheap and easy place to get another filter. I'd rather order something on-line or by phone and save the time and $$ of going to the dealer. Suggestions anyone. I have a 2000 LX with going on 30,000 trouble-free miles.
J.L. in Kentucky
Those no-back boosters are 'invisible' to most people and shouldn't make your child feel like they are in a baby car seat. Maybe if more parents saw info on what happens to a child's body during an accident when the belt doesn't fit correctly they might be more open to boosters.
Dealer showed me the table showing rates for Mazda extended warranty. BEWARE: Mazda offers three levels of warranty (something like Gold, Gold Plus and Platinum). Only the top one is an exclusionary bumper-to-bumper policy; the others are not particularly worth considering.
The "sticker" rate for the 6 year/72,000 miles policy was $1898 or about that with a $50 deductible. The dealer kindly offered me the policy at $1,500 at which point I had to laugh out loud. I'm sure I could've gotten him to knock down another couple hundred, but I came prepared having priced warranty from 6 or 7 on-line dealers. They all came in at $950 to $1,200 with $0 deductible ($100-$150 less with $50 deductible). This is for the same 6 years/72,000 miles.
By the way, why not price the policies on-line by inputting a different state/zipcode? It's not like a Web site checks California IPs...
Also, I can find nothing in my manual regarding changing the transaxle fluid and how often it should be done. Is it in there and I just missed it? Or??? I can't believe that Mazda would have you run the car forever without recommending a change. The same thing for the timing belt--though as I recall the Duratec has a timing chain and perhaps a chain is considered more durable than a belt and normally wouldn't need to be changed. (On the same subject, is the Duratec 2.5 L an interference or noninterference engine?)
And one last thing, the maintenance schedule recommends changing the cabin air filter once a year or every 12,000 miles, IF INSTALLED. Were cabin air filters installed only on certain models? How do I tell if my MPV has the filter?
Thanks for all the good posts lately. I have enjoyed seeing everyone's input on various topics.
danandkat
Transaxle fluid: It's not uncommon for manufactures to leave this detail out so that their maintenance costs appear lower. I wouldn't go more than 60k miles on auto trans fluid.
Interference? with a chain I really wouldn't about whether or not it is. Your motor would be noisy or run poorly long before you found out if a valve was tweaked by a piston.
All >2000 MPV's have a cabin filter. It's behind the glove box and not very difficult to get to.
I will keep my eyes open for a Green MPV ES around here. If you see someone in a dark green Protege waving at you you will know it is a citizen from the small world of Edmunds!
I wonder if they have some factory to dealer incentives going on that we don't know about or if I was just lucky to be able to dig into their holdback.
Hope this helps others negotiate a good price.
BTW, what is the best source for accessories online?
Am debating on the 6 CD player. Seems like a lot of $$ for what is basically a single player and a holder for five CD's since you can't random them all. Anyone REALLY like theirs and can offer an opinion?
/j
MB
Transaxle fluid--Hmmm. Makes me wonder what other details I should know about that are commonly left out of owner's manuals to make maintenance costs appear lower.
Timing chain--sounds like from what you're saying that the chain will stretch (and let you know that it has done so) far more likely than it will ever actually break. d&k
Dennis
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Glove box removal/cabin air filter by mainsail2 Aug 27, 2001 (07:28 am)
Don't pull out on the whole door assembly! Look underneath with a flashlight with door open and you will see that the LEFT lower hinge assembly is the "pull out" hinge. You must firmly,but gently pull out from this lower left hinge and then slide door slightly to the left. Once this hinge is released the door will feel loose and will wiggle right out. It's also easy to replace.This applies to the 2000 MPV and I assume the 2001 as well.
Here's how to remove the glove box...
There should be some "stoppers" that you bend in on the inside of the box to get it loose. Basically, it's a matter of flexing the back-top of the compartment. Then, you pull the glove box toward you while pushing down, and remove what Mazda calls "Clip A" which is located on the left wall of the compartment I believe. Finally, you slide the glove box toward the driver's door (left) and the box should be free and in your capable hands.
After you get the box out of the way, you just basically remove the cover from the filter box and pull the filter out. Carefull, I'd get a plastic bag ready for the filter just in case it's extra dirty.
Hope that gets you thru it!
/javadoc
by maltb Mar 21, 2002 (12:43 pm)
Open the glove box and press the left and right sides in until the stopper tabs release. after tilting the box out all the way, pull the left side of the box up to release the left hinge and then slide the box to the left to release the right hinge. Now that the glove box is out, remove the air filter cover by pulling the tab on the right(or left, don't remember). The air filter will then pull straight out towards you.
/j
Some states do not allow the elimination of the DOC fees because somebody is an S-plan.
For example. If I remove the doc fee for one person, everyone who purchased a car from us in the last 18 months is entitled to a refund of the doc fee...can't charge one and not the others.
this may explain why some dealers will not do away with the fee.
Thanks in advance.
BTW, my MPV is a midnight blue LX with pretty much every option available (security, luxury, 4-seasons, and roof rack, it was the showroom vehicle). I thought about the ES but didn't want the power doors. I find them annoying more often than helpful. I do wish I could have gotten the ES sound system, however. Maybe I can do something after market.
With the deflector come few sets of different metal clips which are numbered. I tried to use recommended ones but they seemed too short so I used other set and they worked fine. Unfortunately I don't know the brand because I trashed the box.
If you are interested I can give you phone number to the store. Let me know.
MB
1. I negotiated to $300 over invoice for ES w/Moonroof,4 seasons, fogs,rack,bumper, 6-disc. Am I paying too much? Someone mentioned $1 over. Any dealers in the NYC Metro region offering this?
2. What is S-plan? Even though it "seems" to be discontinued on MPV, how did one get it? $15 below invoice? sounds tasty.
3. Any opinions on lease vs buy? My concern with buy is the resale values on the 2000-2001 MPV's are CRAPPY. Huge depreciation if you browse Kelley's or Edmunds.
4. Does any one else realize that Mazda is totally suckering any buyer who can't wait to order a MPV with all of these ridiculous options/add-ons? I only want the Moonroof with Sage, but nothing is available UNLESS you spend for pathetic options like 4-Seasons (what's wrong with the regular battery and wipers) and a 6- disc changer!!!!! This stinks. Realistically, with all of this stupid garbage tacked on, the MPV ES is not much less than an Ody at full sticker!!!
Unfortunately, my wife is allergic to parallel parking and god help those around her if she had to manuever that boat.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
DoubleL
In my opinion and understanding of economics, one large factor that determines resale value, therefore including depreciation rate, is market demand of any vehilce on question. Real world reliability performance has a soft directing hand in of it as well. Marketing image does too. Keep in mind that popularity breeds unto itself which is why you see so many people buying into the whole Odys and Town&Countrys and Camrys and Accords sensation that these are the best out there for you. Anyways continue to learn as much as you can before you buy. Be firm, its your money so you're in the driver's seat as to how and where your deal will end. Good Luck.
Despite the overall good review, the mood on the Sedona thread is no longer glowing. Reality seems to be settling in.
MB
Sure if you don't mind giving me the phone number. I know what you mean about the wind noise. We were driving at about 60km/h (about 35mph) and the wind noise is so terrible that I had to close it and use the tilt instead and that just isn't the same as a fully open sunroof. And you were doing 80mph with the sunroof open? Wow, that's amazing. I have to get one soon before summer comes. If it ever get here, it was snowing again last night in Calgary. Oh well.
Thanks again.
Linda
Anyway, I'd like to see the reliability data for the Sedonna after a year. I'm real comfortable with our 2002. Over 2000 miles and no problems!(knock on wood
AJN
Good Luck! (Hang in there, unless you will be walking to work if you don't buy, then you have nothing to lose, and the dealer has everything to gain!)
S-Plan is only available to certain group of people whose employers have close ties to Ford. You most likely can't get it.
Leasing MPV is a terrible idea precisely because of what you mentioned: low resale value. I paid $10 to get quotes on leasing an MPV at leasewizard.com and resale after 3 years is shown at around 45%.
Buy one, the rates are very low.
I don't know what you're talking about regarding the options. I could've had an ES without the changer or 4-seasons. They told me it might only take a week or two to get one like that. I did want both of these options, however, because they are useful to me.
MB
/j
Steve
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/j
Steve
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Thanx
Bean3422 - I assume that you are in the DC area. If so, which dealer(s) are you leaning towards?
RBB
The ad was in last weekend's Post and it said that they were selling all Mazda's for $1 over invoice. The dealership was called Arlington Mazda, or something like that. I'm sure there's only one with such name. Good luck.
MB
The S-Plan is for those who qualify for the Ford Partner discount. I qualify through my company. You will need a partner code and apply on Ford's website. You will get a pin number and you will tell the dealer that you qualify for the S-plan.
They will give you the price with no haggling.
demand. I think I paid for ES 02 something like $50 under invoice.
MB