Mazda MPV

garyjwms · July 2001

Let's try this again --

I was off on some of my figures in my last post (that's what I get when I post at 2am) So for the record, here's what I paid for options on my MPV LX via Carsdirect:

Security Pkg: $843 (vs. MSRP $980)
Rear A/C: $512 ($595)
Roof Rack: $172 ($200)
Rear Bumper Step Plate: $43 ($50)

With Rebates, my MPV LX came to $21,118 vs. the Sticker price of $25,105 -- not bad, eh?

billmckinley · July 2001

Not bad indeed. Aside from the step plate, you've described my purchase. I got mine in Feb, paid $22046, and thought I'd made the best deal of my life [which in fact I had]. I'd be jealous if I hadn't made the best deal possible at the time.

Way to go!

RJ

ckmccoy5 · July 2001

We have to part with our Silver '00 LX due to a job change. If anyone knows of someone who'd be interested, please respond. We are in Michigan. Miles: 17000 Price: $17700. Thanks and apologies in advance if this is out of line for the board.

stever · July 2001

To access Edmunds.com's Used Vehicle PowerShopper (buy or sell), please visit http://applications.edmunds.com/products/ups/. Good luck.

Steve
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Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards

alphadaddyo · July 2001

Happy to report that I purchased a 01 silver LX yesterday. I've been researching for 2 months, and I thank everyone for their posts on this board. My deal was as follows:

Certified used w/5K miles
Base LX w/Rear air and floormats only (No 4 Seas or Sec)
19995
220 proc fee
1200 TTL (Maryland)
21415 out the door @ 6.49%

I struggled alot before buying a used car. It amounts to only a 1K savings over a new car, and I was having frustrations trying to knock down the price. However, new cars are not avail in this area with this config (I determined we need rear air but don't need much else), so a new car would have been 22+ for LX Sec w/rear air, or else a DX w/power and rear air for about 20K. The kicker was the mazda certification. This adds 1 yr/12K miles to the warranty, and since the car is lesss than 1 yr, I actually have a better warranty than a new car.

Also, this car was a lot cheaper than 01 LXs listed on carmax, which are uncertified and always have more mileage. So only saving 1 or 2K was frustrating, but I feel as though it was the best deal possible. And 2K is 2K! The good news for MPV owners is that resale value is high.

Transmission is a bit rough, but I get the feeling that will smooth out once I get used to driving it.

billmckinley · July 2001

Congratulations on your purchase--and on getting something of an extended warranty to boot. Not that you're apt to need it, probably.

As for that balky shift, just remember not to drive it roughshod--keep things gentle and steady, and you should be fine.

And here's something else you might try. I've been having trouble since summer with a VERY balky, bucking downshift, typically when I accelerate uphill after slowing down to make a turn. I was really having to flog the car through the gears on the hills around Pittsburgh. The other day I had no one in the back, so I turned off the rear air, which I usually leave on even when I'm alone in the car. The difference was amazing. Pick-up improved significantly, and the bucking-bronco downshift completely disappeared. I was stunned. I've spent the last month or so, since hot weather arrived, resigning myself to a sluggish, balky car for half the year, and all of a sudden I'm back driving the car I fell in love with in February, March, and April. So try using the rear air to cool the car down faster, then if you can, switch it off. I think you'll see a lot smoother performance from the van.

Happy miles!

RJ

scotsman2 · July 2001

I've just moved to Toronto and am planning to buy a used MPV. I was hoping to get some advice about what to look for in a '96 or '97 MPV. Were these "good years" or should I go for more vintage? Are they reliable or should I take an extended warranty? etc

Any advice will be appreciated. Thanks!

stevecanuck · July 2001

I can't give you any pointers on used MPV's ... except to say if this is your first time to Ontario check any used car for rust from all the salt we put down here.

And if the "scot" in scotsman2 likes a good scotch, try Feathers at Victoria Park and Kingston Road - home of over 200 single malt whiskies. Plus real ale. There'll be a blue MPV 2000 outside some nights

Again, welcome to TO.

scotsman2 · July 2001

Thanks for the heads up on rust! I am indeed a Scot and partial to a wee dram so I may try The Feathers out one night. Thanks for the tip.

Cheers

carczar · July 2001

I got an LX'01 Emerald Mica for my wife one month ago. Paid a little over $21500 for Sec Pkg, 4 seasons pkg, roof rack, bumper guard, dual AC. Here are the likes and dislikes.

Likes:
The only minivan I've driven that actually drives like a car. Cake to park. Reliable so far (2200 miles). Nice, versatile interior. Not too big, not too small. Second row bench/capt chair option. Disppearing 3rd seat very handy.
Dislikes:
Underpowered engine especially noticeable at starts and uphill climbs. Abrupt gear changes (worse when the engine's cold)-
Feels like it has a mind of its own until you learn to modulate the accelerator. Handbrake for parking eats up space between the front seats.

I bought it at Rosenthal Mazda/Nissan in Virginia. I hated the buying experience as the dealer came up with one hidden cost after another (example: administrative fee they tried to tack on was a ridiculous $289). He even had the nerve to tell me that this was "common practice." They make you feel like a cheapskate for trying to negotiate hard. I would have walked out if I had the luxury of time for shopping around. Also my wife and I liked the color and options on it. If you buy around this area, make sure you ask for a "walk-out price" before you settle for the final price. They even neglected the paperwork for TTL. I had to get them to send me the paperwork one day prior to the expiration of the temporary plate. I would NOT recommend this dealership to my friends. Also for prospective buyers, make sure you have a thorough test-drive. Two of the four I test drove had problems (noticeable to violent shuddering of the steering wheel at speeds above 40mph).
Despite the woeful buying experience, my family's enjoying the MPV a lot. We've already taken several long trips with it. No problem to report so far. Cruises quietly and smoothly once it gets up to speed on the highway. Stereo sounds much better than the Odyssey's. Better manuverability than the Sienna. We did not consider a domestic model after our bad experience with a 97 Plymouth Voyager (very unreliable).

pjd58 · July 2001

glad to hear you like your MPV. We own a 01 LX Sand Mica with the exact same options you have.

The owner's on this forum are very helpful.

Happy and safe miles!

Pjd58

patsfan · July 2001

I'll give this a try........
I am ready to buy a minivan (gulp), and would like a Mazda MPV. The engine talk has me worried, however. Given the 3.0 on the (near?) horizon, would you a) wait and get the 3.0 (assuming it will be available in the next 6 months) or b) buy a 2001 now with the 2.5 find out for myself if it is underpowered.

Please weigh in and I'll tally the results.

Thanks!

dbs2001 · July 2001

We have had our '01 ES for 6 months & 6k miles. Overall I'm happy with the choice. I do wish it had more power at the lower end for entering freeways. I suggest you wait for the 3.0; however, I expect you will end up paying at least $1500 more for that due to discounts, etc.

Dennis

patsfan · July 2001

Thanks...

Wait - 1
Buy Now - 0
"Only you can decide.." - 1

bjohnson71 · July 2001

My parents purchased a 2001 MPV and I enjoy driving it except for the lack of power. My wife and I are waiting until the 3.0 comes out to decide what van we are going to buy!

pierac · July 2001

Just wait, The 2002 Van will be out in about 5 months. I agree with others who have posted that the 3.0L V6 will only bring this van up to the standard of most other vans in the power plant department. This should keep the Van in the same price range. I my self believe this is the best van for the money because it fits my special needs. It's smaller, more car like, and I don't need any extra room that the larger vans offer. Plus, it's the best looking van on the market.

Next, If you don't like the new 2002 there will still be plenty of 2001's on the lots. At even better deals. When I was looking back in March of 2001 the dealer was trying to sell me one of several 2000's still in stock at a very BIG discount.

I have been very pleased with the comments of MPV owners. This really is a great Van for the money.

pjd58 · July 2001

it's wrong to tell someone to wait or buy on a purchase. If you refer to the 3.0 forum( your creation) my post #89, I gave patsfan the facts and my opinion to make a sound decision on his own. No one should tell a prospective buyer what to buy. Just give them the info and let them make up their mind. Just because you want to wait for the 3.0, that doesn't everyone should.

Patsfan: Just research the MPV and make a informed decision. Taking a poll on people's opinions wouldn't influence me in the least. Also, don't think there will be many 01's available when the 02 becomes available in Jan. The 3 Mazda dealers in my area have only 8 or so vans left. If you wait to Jan for a 01 pickings might be slim for the color and trim level you want. Mazda is no longer producing any 01's. All that is left is in port or on dealer's lots.

wireless1 · July 2001

Hi everyone... long time lurker, first time poster.

I have really appreciated the discussions on this and other MPV threads. In fact, this plus my other research and test driving has convinced me that this is the van that my wife and I would like to buy. (And my vote for the "Wait for 2002 or not?" discussion is - Personal Choice. My wife and I both feel that the 2001's are adequate for our needs, but I certainly respect anyone who rather the larger engine. Live and let live...)

The problem that I would like some comments on is finding the actual vehicle. We live in Dallas and we have decided that our minimum requirement is an LX with: Security Package, 4 Seasons Package, Rear Air. The problem seems to be that no one in Dallas appears to have a vehicle with the 4 Seasons package. I am really puzzled. Each dealer questions me like I am some kind of idiot for wanting it. Their point of view is, "Who would want a rear heater (part of package) in Dallas?". While I agree with that, it is a 4 Season package, not a 2 season package. What I really want is the larger radiator, extra cooling fan, and transmission cooler. None of the local dealers seem that interested in finding this for me. Might be because I am using the S-Plan to purchase and I doubt that means much money for them.

Any suggestions? How far do you think I will have to travel to find what I want? I know the northern states will have it, but I would like to limit the "hassle factor" for buying this.

Sorry for the long post, thanks!

Rick

msgjvh · July 2001

Why don't you shop the internet services. They seem to do a pretty good job for most people. Besides it pisses off the dealers, but hey its their fault for being so lazy!

pjd58 · July 2001

for the money (approx. $400.00) the 4 seasons is a great value. We own a 01LX with the same options you are looking for. I'm glad I have the extra cooling capacity for the engine and tranny.

I would do a search on the net with dealers within a 100 radius and see what you come up with. I'm sure you will be able to find a 4 seasons in Texas, although there seem to be more allocated up north.

Good luck and let us know the out come!

tboner1965 · July 2001

Here is as close a comparison as you can make today.

Drive an 01 MPV

Then drive a 01 2wd V6 Tribute.

It has the 3L.

As far as acceleration goes, it will be very close to the 3L MPV.

This should tell you if you really need the extra torque and HP of the 3L.

HTH

TB

garyjwms · July 2001

My opinion is . . . The 01 MPV with the 2.5 is the best bargain out there right now, and it'll be interesting to see whether the bigger engine at higher cost will make the MPV less of a bargain (of course it's got the best design, the best handling, etc. but if it becomes difficult to get an MPV for under $25K then sales might sag, IMO).

I'm perfectly happy with the 2.5 MPV. It accellerates fine for my tastes, and for $21K you cannot get a better van. My bigger concern is its MPG -- I got 21 MPG on the first tankful, but it's been around 16 MPG since. I think my wife likes running the AC. . .

As for what to decide, I think I'll join the choir and say it's really up to you.

garyjwms · July 2001

Wouldn't you know, one month after buying my MPV I've managed to lose the little key fob that activates the alarm and the keyless entry. (My wife still has hers, fortunately). My fob was still attached to that cheap wire ring that it was on when the dealer handed me the keys, and it managed to work itself free. I've retraced my steps back to when I last knew I had it, and so far no luck. My hunch is that my 1-year-old daughter, who is always playing with my keys managed to pull it off somehow, and I will find it wedged between the sofa cushions, or behind her toybox or something like that. I hope this will be the case, anyway.

Anyway, I'm in the market for a replacement, and so far, I've got a bid on a replacement fob I've found on ebay (Looks like a new one being offered by a locksmith). I haven't yet checked on what the dealer would charge for one, but does anyone else have any suggestions as to where I might find a replacement one for less than the dealer?

Gary

isuzudave1 · July 2001

We just got a 2000 MPV w 7500 miles on it. It seems up hills from 2nd to 3rd it 'lurches' - otherwise drives fine. Does not happen EVERY time, but enough to make it seem not right. Is their a bulliten on this? Think synthetic fluid would help it? Thanks!

patsfan · July 2001

Thank you, evryone. The main reason for my question was to see how passionate folks are about the 2.5 and it's performance.

Most people were satisfied with the engine as it is. Most also felt the $$ will go up with the 3.0. Good idea to try the Tribute, though.

Decision: Time to buy!

Thanks again...

tboner1965 · July 2001

It weighs about 300-400# less than the MPV so
maybe you could take a few extra sales dudes or sales gals along with for balast. 8^>

We like the 2.5L. I would like the 3L even better. But we don't drag race the MPV and I'm not afraid of high revs.

TB

su_a_ve · August 2001

Whoever said before, carsdirect is not a referral (like autobytel).

They use the locator to find the vehicle, and yes you wil be picking up the vehicle from that dealer. But you actually pay Carsdirect !!! When you start your shopping, you literally can build the vehicle the way you want it, but that won't mean you'll find it. But then once you enter your CC for the deposit (which I'm told is fully refundable) you'll talk to a rep who will then get into the locator and find what's out there from all dealers within a radius. Once you find the car, you can then buy it, or you can get your deposit back. But in any case, the price should have the same markup over invoice as quoted by their system.

I did not buy from them cause I was not sure about the 4.9% financing at the time. Carsdirect was only advertising the dealer incentive. Their price was $150 over invoice. I paid $240 over invoice (2001 LX).

My .02...

stever · August 2001

fwiw, CarsDirect is an Edmunds.com PowerShopper partner. Here's a link that further describes the process. Info about other partners can be found here.

Steve
Host
Vans, SUVs and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards

rice13 · August 2001

I had the same problem as Wireless1 described in his post: I couldn't find the combination of color and options that I was looking for. I called all the local dealers and they didn't have any luck either. (I was adamant about finding a blue or red van -- can't stand earth tones, and it's too hot here in North Carolina for black.) After countless calls, I finally went with Carsdirect.com. The price I got with them was comparable to the best price I'd been able to get locally for a boring color. Cars direct located us a vehicle in Atlanta, and my husband flew there to pick it up. (We almost had to mud wrestle over who would get to escape our tots overnight and enjoy the peace and quiet of the 6 hour drive back to NC. But that's a post for another board....)

Using Cars direct saved us the headache of further calls to locate what we wanted. But that was really the only advantage. I think the company is actually fairly limited and is little more than a broker. Price wise, we paid about the same as we'd been quoted locally. They just enabled us to find a closer match with what we were looking for.

Contrary to what's on their web site, this is not really an "interned" buying experience. The only thing that happens on the interned is marketing and solicitation of buyers. You tell them what you want, with the options you're looking for, and they give you a price. If you like the price, you give them your credit card number and contact information. Then they contact you by em-ail or phone (we worked by phone) and the rest is done in that medium.

Incidentally, the way our deal worked was that the pleasant "vehicle specialist" at Cars direct took our order and looked for a vehicle by making calls to dealers they work with. They don't make an exhaustive search -- it's limited to their contract dealers. After making a few calls, the vehicle specialist came back with the closest she could find to what we wanted. It had one additional option that we didn't want (fog lights), and after we expressed hesitation about the deal, she actually called the dealer back and the dealer agreed to split the cost of the fog lights with us. So we went with it. Payment was made directly to the dealer, not through Cars direct. (Some of the information on their web site seems to have been superceded in actual practice.) Anyway, Carsdirect doesn't collect anything from the buyer - you pay direct to the dealer. The dealer gives a cut to Carsdirect. The guy at the dealer was very up front with us and told us what Carsdirect got: there was $900 profit on the vehicle, including holdback. Carsdirect got $450 of it.

Anyway, if you're having a hard time finding what you want, you might want to try Carsdirect. But you'll have to travel to pick up the van -- they won't deliver it.

All in all, after hemming and hawing about our purchase, we're pleased with our Red LX - a major step up from my fushia '84 Volvo wagon. Judging from other comments on this board, we'll probably continue to be happy with it.

pjd58 · August 2001

glad to hear you found the color you wanted. Red is a tough color to find. While we were looking for our MPV, I visited 5 Mazda dealers and only saw one red DX. I like some of Mazda's vibrant colors. I've been looking at Tributes and love the color Galaxy blue. Thank goodness you didn't want an ODY, the color choices are terrible.

My Wife drives a Sand Mica 01LX and loves her color choice. At first, Sand Mica wasn't my first choice, but the color kind of grows on you. Sand Mica changes color slightly in different lighting.

You really like bright colors, a FUSHIA Volvo:)

Happy miles!
Pjd58

pjd58 · August 2001

are you going to paint Rolf Fushia? LOLOLOLOLOL

Pete

dandandkl · August 2001

This is the first time I'm posting a message here. Does anyone know of any web site or after accessory company that sells a bumper or bumper guard for the back or front of a MPV 2000? I live in New York City and commute daily which is not a problem but when I park in the garages I've received numerous little and not so little dings from the attentants that valet park my van. Or maybe any suggestions on how to safe guard the bumpers. Thanks and I have enjoyed reading some of the hints that the users have provided and I do like my MPV because it's better than the Ody and all the other vans.

tboner1965 · August 2001

I dunno if this hint will help, but I find a daily beater you really don't car about dinging is a very cost effective solution 8^)

TB

javadoc · August 2001

There's a very fast old purple (fuscia?) colored 245 wagon out there LINK maybe it was Rice's? But no, Rolf will stay his original blue/green self...keeps me out of the speeding tickets I sorely deserve. I need the lettering off the back of that car, lol.

Rice! Congrats on your purchase of an MPV, tho I mourn your loss of your fuscia brick (the Volvo) if you off'd it.

--j

garyjwms · August 2001

Well, there is a happy ending to this story. I wrote over the weekend that just one month after we brought home our new MPV, I managed to lose one of the key fobs that activates the locks and the alarm. After retracing my steps and coming up empty, I began to research what it would cost me to replace it. I located a locksmith who has a store on ebay, that specializes in remotes and key fobs, many of them factory sealed and new. The link to their site on ebay is the following:

http://www.ebaystores.com/id=374567

The Fob for the 2000-2001 MPV cost me $26.95, incl. shipping & insurance. The local Mazda dealer should reprogram it for me without charge. I was hearing that replacement fobs from the dealer ran as high as $90, though a dealer had e-mailed me on Monday to tell me that the part alone costs $62.

But as it turns out, the morning after I purchased the replacement fob, my wife called me at the office to tell me that the staff at my daughter's daycare had found the one I had lost. It turned out that my hunch was right -- my daughter had been playing with my keyring, and had pulled it off. So now we have an extra fob, "just in case" this ever happens again.

garyjwms · August 2001

I'm happy to hear other folks' experiences with Carsdirect.

I was the one that had described carsdirect as a "referral", but I did qualify it by saying that they do operate differently than autobytel, and others, who merely pass your contact information onto an area dealer who then does the dealing. I guess what I meant by "referral" is that Carsdirect doesn't have any inventory, they are limited to what is in dealer stock. From the dealer's POV, it is a referral, in that a customer comes in and drives a vehicle off their lot, and the dealer transacts what amounts to a cash sale with Carsdirect. That's how our sales rep at the dealership described it, anyway.

The vehicle specialists at Carsdirect also appear to work regionally, as the guy who worked with me explained that he was responsible for customers in So. California, Arizona & Nevada. Fortunately, I only had to go 45 minute to Irvine to pick up my MPV. And similar to Rice13, the vehicle that I ended up buying had a few more features than what I had originally requested (such as Rear A/C, a roof rack & the rear step plate) but these are features that I am now happy that I have. The color we got (Sand Mica) was our second choice, but we're happy with the color as well.

As for how we paid for the vehicle, our 2 Cashier's checks (our down payment and that of our lender's for the loan amount) were made out to Carsdirect, but we brought them to the dealership when we picked up the vehicle. So in our case, we didn't actually "pay" the dealer, though we turned the checks over to them.

As for the price, it was much less ($1000) less than the best price that I could find on my own with area dealers. Here's how it broke down:

2001 MPV LX w/Security Pkg, Rear A/C, Roof Rack & Bumper plate:

MSRP: $25,105 Invoice: $23,118
Our price via Carsdirect: $21,118 (after rebates)

I was curious as to how the dealer & carsdirect made money on the deal, and so Rice13, I am glad you shared that bit with us. However, our dealer also said that the holdback is dependent upon a positive customer evaluation -- essentially, he said that if we give the dealership less than perfect marks on the customer satisfaction survey, they don't get the holdback, and they lose money on the deal. Did you hear anything like this too?

All in all, I was happy with Carsdirect, and based on our experience, I would recommend them, and at least using their website to comparision shop.

wireless1 · August 2001

I was the one complaining about finding the right vehicle. I am glad to report that we finally found a dealer that was willing to look around and get us what we wanted. Last night I picked up our:

2001 MPV LX
Sand Mica/Beige
Security Package
4 Seasons Package
Rear Air

Not an option more, not an option less than we wanted. The deal went reasonably smoothly, though I feel in my gut that the dealer used a transportation charge (since they had to go get it from another dealer) to pad the total amount of the deal. I hesitated and they basically haved the charge (from 200 to 100), but I agreed in the end because I was getting a good deal otherwise. Because of the company I work for, I was eligible for the Mazda S-Plan (the Mazda version of the Ford X-Plan) which gave me a price that was 1.3% below the invoice price. Then I was able to take $1000 dollars rebate AND 1.9% financing. So overall I love the van and love the price.

Haven't driven it all that much in the last 24 hours, but I already appreciate the handling. I expected more lean in turns, and I was pleasently surprised when that didn't happen. I also find the ride to be comfortable and quiet. Looking forward to a long trouble free life with this van.

Thanks,
Rick

billmckinley · August 2001

Congratulations on your purchase--and the deal you got on it. You did great!

As to the handling, I think it's the single most impressive thing about this van. I'm constantly amazed at how car-like it is--a total change from the other three vans I've owned over the years, and light years from the wallowing I'd grown used to on my 94 Voyager, a car I loved in all respects BUT that.

Welcome aboard, and Happy Miles.

RJ

patsfan · August 2001

Last offer from dealer:
'01 Sand Mica ES with 4 seasons, muds, net and rear mat, moonroof, roof rack, fog lights - $25,900.

I am thinking I can weasel another $200 - thoughts?

I test drove the van and to me the power was fine . again, thanks for your suggestions.

msgjvh · August 2001

Did that include the $1500 rebate? If it did I would run away! You can certainly find a better deal. It's never their last offer at that price! If they say that walk away!

rutger3 · August 2001

What is the invoice price? You should be able to get the van for invoice less the rebate. Also, you might want to test drive it with the A/C running up a hill to be sure the power is okay with you. If you rarely use the a/c or have flat terrain where you are then it should be okay.

rblader · August 2001

msgivh is right. If it doesn't include the rebate, then you're better off to keep on looking. I got my 2001 ES with all of that plus a rear bumper rubber step plate and the in-dash changer for $1000 less. Looking back, I think I could have gotten it even cheaper(a few hundred bucks more-if I took the time to haggle.)

pjd58 · August 2001

and they only had 3 MPVs left( 2 black LXs and a Sand Mica ES). I'm glad we purchased our MPV a few months back and got exactly what we wanted. It seems the $1500 rebate is helping sales.

I went to the dealer to look at 01 ES Protege, what a nice car. Currently, Mazda is offering 48 months at 0 percent, $500 rebate and a free Moonroof. They also have a few Pro 5s, but don't want to pay over MSRP with no incentives. I currntly have a 96 DX Protege. Any MPV owners looking for a compact sedan should consider the Protege. Largest interior in it's class, and larger than some midsize cars.

Sorry to get WAY off topic.

rice13 · August 2001

I was interested to see what others paid via Carsdirect. We paid 21,300 after rebates for an LX with rear air, roof rack, and fog lights (the option we didn't want). This included destination and all other extras exception documentation ($198) and state tags/tax. Sounds like others have done better and gotten the security package too.

By the way, our dealer told us that the holdback of 2% was automatic - not based on the dealer's performance or how long they had the vehicle on the lot. Ironically, I had e-mailed this same dealer directly a few days before I gave up and contacted Carsdirect. I hadn't gotten an answer because the guy who had been handling internet sales for that branch of the dealer had left and hadn't yet been replaced. So we probably could have worked out a better price by dealing with the dealer directly via the internet. Oh well.

We are enjoying our apple red MPV. No problem finding our car in the parking lot! We took our first road trip this weekend up to the mountains in North Carolina. No trouble on steep climbs with 3 adults and 2 kids. The shifting does seem a bit jerky, but this is the first automatic I've ever owned, so I guess it'll just take some getting used to. Apart from that, the entire family (from 2 year old to elderly grandmother) was happy and comfy. My only regret is that there is so little cargo space. We can't fold down the back seat because we have 5 regular passengers (hence the van). The best solution for us was to take out one of the middle seats. That actually worked extremely well. We put the cooler, food, and car toys there and Mom or Dad in the middle row could dish out whatever was needed.

As for the fushia Volvo - it's in Durham, NC. We can't get rid of it until my 5-year-old gets unattached from his best pal. He's a self-proclaimed "vehicle boy," and thinks of the Volvo (which he calls "purple") as his best buddy. (Somehow he hasn't noticed that he's already cheating on the purple car with the red van.)

Our driveway now holds the bright red MPV, which really vibrates with the fushia Volvo and recently repainted red '90 Mazda pickup.

j2kbarlow · August 2001

rice13 - I know what you're talking about with boys and their (parents') cars! However, my 2.5 year old (who can already name every make of car on the road) wasn't as attached to our Subaru. When we told him that we'd have to say goodbye to the Outback, if we got the MPV, he said, "Let's get the minivan!" BTW, we're nearly neighbors - I'm in Raleigh. So it's good to hear the MPV can handle our mountains with ease in the summer!

patsfan · August 2001

Final deal:

'01 Sand Mica ES with fog lights, moonroof, 6 disc cd, net, mat, 4 seasons, step plate, roof rack, and mud guards.

Trade: $5,500 is what they gave me ('96 Jetta GL, 65k miles - KBB said $6,000).

I gave them my Jetta and $20,465. If I add what I thought my car was worth ($6,000), I come up with MPV cost of $26,465. Sticker was $28,900. I financed at 4.9%.

Edmunds had a TMV of $26,695. How did I do?

By the way, we love the van.

wireless1 · August 2001

Patsfan,

The best measure if you are doing well is to find out the invoice price for your vehicle and options and compare your price to that number. Based on my own experience of buying this van (about a week ago) I would say that you should be able to walk into any dealer and buy the van for about $300 over invoice before rebates. I have heard that some have managed to negotiate to invoice. I was lucky and managed to use Ford's partner plan to get 1.3% below invoice.

Right here on Edmunds you can select the car and choose the options and see the invoice price. If your dealer wants more than $300 over invoice before rebates, I would say that you can do better.

My $0.02

Rick

patsfan · August 2001

Thanks, Rick. According to Edmunds, invoice for this van is $26,715. I went with all the necessary info. and was shooting for below invoice. I got it for $26,465, but that was after the $1,000 rebate, which you get vs. the $1,500 when you take the 4.9 financing.

vaikar · August 2001

Just purchased my MPV ES yesterday. Thanks for all the great information I found in this discussion group.
Got a pretty good deal. I got ES with roof rack, cargo mat, net, fog lights. Drive out price was $26,000 (with the $1000 rebate) [this works out to almost the invoice price on this car]. Did not pay any dealer fees, paid only a $50 documentation fee.
The dealer in houston (Jeff Haas Mazda, Justin Flannagan) I dealt with was very nice. Found him to very honest and did exactly what he agreed to do.
I had a question for you folks, did any of you get an extended coverage and how is Warranty Gold coverage?
The finance department at the dealership tried to sell me an extended warranty for $1300.00 (I got a better quote for a longer term from Warranty gold ($738)).
Thanks

patsfan · August 2001

The warranty is not worth even $500, let alone $800 or $1,300. Happy trails......

Mazda MPV

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