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Mazda MPV

14748505253159

Comments

  • evaddaveevaddave Member Posts: 156
    I've found the best use for the CD holder is breaking the hinge tabs off those pesky jewel boxes. *G*
    It seems every time I open it, one of those little suckers snaps off. It's a good thing we have the changer so we're not getting into the CD holder much.
  • bob57bob57 Member Posts: 302
    Copied from a local Houston TV news broadcast web site. I heard the actual news then jumped on the internet to make sure I heard it right.
    Well, I guess we should all go out and rid ourselves of these horrible MPV's we all have been complaining about here.
    *************************************************
    This year's edition of "The Ultimate Car Book" finds the Saturn L does best in eight categories, including safety features and crash tests.

    The Mercury Villager and Nissan Quest also fare well. They're the highest rated minivans.

    The ratings are part of an annual survey done by the Center for Auto Safety, a group founded by consumer watchdog Ralph Nader.

    Other top-rated family cars include the Ford Taurus, the Volkswagen Passat, the Honda Accord and the Volvo S-80.

    The book also ranks vehicles based on consumer complaints filed with the federal government. The vehicles with the most complaints -- the Mazda MPV minivan, Kia Sportage SUV and the Ford Excursion SUV.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Here's a link to the story:

    steve_ "Minivan Ranking" Jan 29, 2002 12:45pm

    Under the Top 25 Best and Worst Vehicles part of the story:

    "The Center for Auto Safety analyzed complaints made to the government by Americans having problems with their vehicles. Below are the models that received the fewest complaints, and those that received the most. Models introduced in 2000 and 2001 are not represented due to a lack of data." (emphasis added - can't find a decent link to paste, but if you go to http://wire.ap.org and go to one of the participating papers, like the Idaho Statesman, and then go to business news, you may find it before it rolls off the wires).

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    That article really has me upset, I mean really upset. Edmunds is reporting the same story on its NEWS page, btw. Should they? I suppose it is news, however unrealistic it is, imho. I looked earlier on the Wire, but it's not there that I can find.

    I cannot see any logic in this group's (that wrote the book) opinions. They aren't using 2000 and 2001 data, but they are touting this book as the cars to want for 2002. So, the discontinued Villager/Quest is their bet for a minivan? Uhhhhhhhh... and a Pontiac Montana? Puh-lease. Can you think of a less reliable minivan? Well, maybe one. There's more, but I'll keep it tailored to minivans.

    I just can't believe an org can put tripe like this out when it's so outdated! Consumers that are not so savvy as your typical TH'er are going to lap that stuff up like a kitten does milk!!! Remember the "Unintended Acceleration" snafu for Audi that ended up being bonehead caused by consumers? That was mis-reporting by "60 Minutes" that cut Audi deep. You can still see the scars.

    Of course, I'm biased because I have a MKII MPV, and the book lists an MPV as one of the most complained about vans... of course the data is horribly out of date, so as to be useless, but publish a book about it nonetheless, and tout your credibility as a "Consumer Advocate" group, and toss in Nader's name while you're at it...

    I'll stop before I recieve nastigrams.

    /java-(steam still billowing)-doc
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Hey, Quests are terrific (up to 61,000 miles anyway - ask me again in three or four years). I wasn't going to mention it, but bob57 brought it up :-)

    The durn java page won't link right - (not you, that other java!); it's under the Auto Business section linked from the main wires page from my other link. Maybe if it wasn't almost midnight here, I could find a better site to quote from.

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    The Quests aren't bad at all actually. But, and forgive me because I respect the fact that you have one Steve, Best minivan? I can see why the MPV wouldn't have that honor, but... the entire book is worthless but could kill some otherwise superb vehicles, and not just the MPV. I should buy the book to start fires on cold winter nights.

    /j
  • msgjvhmsgjvh Member Posts: 196
    Does anyone have an Email for Mr Nader. I think he would be very upset to find out that this book is using his name to tout outdated BULL*&*&! I promise you this that is not a book I will be buying for consumer information. I bet they are still remarking on how unreliable the Model T was!
  • tboner1965tboner1965 Member Posts: 647
    I wonder how Ralph Nader would like this 8^)

    I just volunteered one of my Duratec Vehicles to be a turbo candidate.

    http://www.contour.org/cgi-ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=27&t=000340

    No, not wifey's MPV, but the SVT Contour. Hopefully by the first week of May, I'll have a turbocharged 2.5L Duratec pumping out 300HP.

    TB
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    be difficult, I should think. What vender Tb?

    /java
  • tboner1965tboner1965 Member Posts: 647
    I think I'm going to be beta tester #2

    TB
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    You lucky guy! I'm green w/envy. I think 300hp is doable, assuming you can fuel it. I get 262 at the wheels in the sedan (about 306 at the crank) and that's with minimal effort (a few $$$ parts), with 2.3L and 1.0bar of positive pressure, so you can do it.

    /j
  • bob57bob57 Member Posts: 302
    Didn't I see Nadar driving a Corvair?
    :-))
  • red2001red2001 Member Posts: 1
    My MPV's birthday is coming up...1yr. old! And I was considering purchasing a combo system but was discouraged to discover that due to design there's not alot of room if one wished to place something between the front seats. Any ideas for under $400 out there? I scanned this topic until #1700 and hadn't really found anything relevent and the minivan entertainment topic dealt mostly with other models of minivans. Thanks for any suggestions.
  • hankrtghankrtg Member Posts: 5
    I just purchased a 2001 MPV after considering
    the 2002 Toyota Sienna. I decided on the MPV
    because of its lower price and because I just
    simply liked it better than the Sienna. I
    haven't really found the lower horsepower of the
    MPV to be a problem. The Sienna didn't seem all
    that powerful either. My biggest decision Other
    than between buying the Sienna and the MPV was
    whether I should wait for the 2002 MPVs. In the
    end, I decided that a 2001 MPV LX from the
    dealer's lot was exactly what I wanted. So, I
    decided to take the $1500 incentive and buy the
    2001. It has the very attractive emerald green
    color and has the RSES, rear bumper step plate,
    roof rack, rear spoiler, dual A/C, 4-seasons
    pkg, and security pkg as options.

    Initial impressions:

    1. Lack of power is overemphasized by critics.
    So far, it seems to have enough acceleration
    for a van. (Wouldn't be enough for a vette,
    though!)
    2. Rear seat is not particularly wide, but
    acceptable.
    3. Sizewise, the MPV is just right for my
    garage. The Honda Odyssey would have barely
    fit at all. The Sienna would have fit, but
    walking around it would have been a little
    inconvenient.
    4. The MPV drives like a car. The Sienna drives
    more like a truck. I just got rid of a
    Rodeo. I wasn't looking for another truck.
    5. There is a slight brake clunk sound when
    lifting foot from brake pedal. Not
    particularly annoying, but noticeable.
    6. Speedometer seems to me to be reading high.
    If I drive 55, it seems like I'm creeping
    along, and cars are passing me right and left.
    7. Wish the front driver's seat had power
    adjustments, but not too big an issue.
    8. My kids like the lateral sliding captain's
    chair - a nifty idea.
    9. I wish the VCP for the RSES weren't mounted
    in the center of the floor when the rear
    seat is folded down. I think it is going to
    get bumped a lot with luggage if I don't
    remove it for trips. But, if I remove it for
    trips, what was the point in having it?
    10. Gear shift lever blocks the driver's view of
    two radio buttons in drive - a very minor
    issue.
    11. Power windows at center seats are nice. I
    wonder why other vans don't have them?
    12. The standard sound system in the LX sounds
    astonishing good - much better than any
    that I have ever had in a car before. It is
    also great to have both a CD and cassette
    player built in.
    13. Overall, the MPV is a very comfortable and
    attractive minivan. It is easy to drive and
    handles well. I'm very surprised Mazda is
    not selling more of them.
  • pjd58pjd58 Member Posts: 366
    Congrats, I hope you enjoy your new ride. Your review of the 2001 MPV was right on the money.

    Many happy and safe miles!

    Pjd58
  • srivatsansrivatsan Member Posts: 7
    Hi,

    A dealer is offering a 2001 MPV LX with the following options:

    - 4 Seasons Pkg
    - Dual A/C
    - Touring Pkg
    - Roof Rack
    - Fog Lights
    - Bumper Step Plate

    The MSRP is $26,630. He is offering it $4000 below
    MSRP at $22,630. Is this a good price?

    Also, can anyone attest to the long term (>100k miles) reliability of recent Mazdas, especially the automatic transmissions?

    Thanks!

    Sri
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    According to my fiddlings on Edmunds' TMV, that price is about $1,800 below invoice, nice! Edmund's puts the invoice at roughly $24.5k, if I'm correct. Does anyone know the current rebates on the MPV? Bottom line, I think that's a pretty good price at first look.

    /javadoc
  • hankrtghankrtg Member Posts: 5
    I looked over the www.autosafety.org WEB site to see what the
    hub-bub was all about regarding the AP news article that ranked the
    MPV minivan as one of the vehicles with the highest number of
    complaints. It appears that they might be lumping together all of
    the years since the vehicle's introduction. I saw a lot of stuff
    from the late 1980s and early 1990s. For recent years, they
    mentioned that the brake clunk sound that I noted in my last post
    had been the source of some complaints. However, since I did not
    read the book cited by the article, there is no way to really know
    what data the author used to base his judgements on.

    For people considering the MPV, forums like these at edmunds.com are
    more valuable than articles by researchers who might be very biased
    and report a slanted interpretation of some set of statistics.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    Nader biased? say it isn't so!!!
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    The 2002 Ralph Nader...unbiased at any speed...

    This spring, at a lobbyist near you...

    /j
  • bob57bob57 Member Posts: 302
    Where is that link for recalls? I just received a recall for my '01 CE; ...brake system does not meet stopping distance with partial failure...".
    Did I miss this earlier? (since I never look at the mail exceot for bills - I almost chunked this).
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    The Edmunds Maintenance Guide

    Steve
    Host
    SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
  • bob57bob57 Member Posts: 302
    I was thinking of the CE Sienna
    Nevermind - found it.

    http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/central2.cfm
  • kkcymrukkcymru Member Posts: 48
    I think this biased researcher hypothesis is a little bit on the paranoid side. Why would the researchers be biased against Mazda or the MPV? If it was anti-Japanese bias or anti-foreign car bias, there would be no reason to pick on Mazda over Toyota or Honda or Nissan. I can't think of anything reason consumer advocates in general or Ralph Nader in particular would be biased against Mazda. (Ford maybe, but then you'd expect the Windstar to get hit as bad).

    A more likely occurrence is a methodology that's applied fairly to all the cars, but unintentionally favors some cars over others. For example, it might hold past problems against a care, even if they are no longer relevant in the current model.

    I haven't seen this years book, but I think this is one of the studies that breaks down the score into several factors, assign weights, gives each car a score on each factor and adds them up. Though this is a very common methodology, in a lot of ways, it stinks. It assumes factors are independent and additive. Instead of one subjective judgment (e.g. I give this car a 9.5) you make one for each factor. Then you add a subjective weighting. Even in computed factors like mpg, cost and acceleration the relationship between the measurement and the points given is subjective (If we give 10 points for 0-60 in 5 seconds, what do we give for 12 seconds? 5? 2? 1?)
    So what you have is a large number of subjective decisions wrung through a formula, and somehow because you've assigned numbers - maybe even to two decimal places - your result is seen as being more objective.

    A good rule of thumb is to never attribute to ill will that which can easily be explained by incompetence.
  • otishotish Member Posts: 59
    We just made many a long distance trip in our MPV (over Christmas from Chicago to Austin, TX and back) and 3 weeks later from Chicago to Kansas with 2 kids. We just bought a new Video player from Target to use in the van that worked great. It is one of those bag ones that hangs by straps between the 2 front seats and the kids liked it. I was concerned because the screen seemed small (at 4.5 inches) but it was fine. We actually have another TV/VCR (9 inch) that works in the car too but it was just too bulky to really work (especially when you are travelling with lots of stuff anyway). So we bought this one for somewhere between 300-350 dollars at Target. I highly recommend it - easy to hook up, stays safely in place (important to me) and keeps the kids entertained.

    By the way, I can't believe they aren't making the 2002 in red - are they nuts? It is the best!
  • kkcymrukkcymru Member Posts: 48
    I was hoping to buy a red 2002. How can you have the sportscar of minivans and not offer it in red? Who ever heard of a "shimmering sand" sportscar?

    Oh well, I know I'm the one who's out of step with the times. Go to any Lexus, Mercedes, Acura or other luxury car dealer and you'll see the same boring (imho) colors. Personally, I think in ten years the next generation of car buyers is going to be going throught the used car lots and looking at these cars and saying "What were they thinking? All the possible colors and this is what they chose. Why didn't someone adjust their medication?" Of course, I'm probably wrong.

    I'm sure I can find a color I'll be happy with. Probably coastal blue or sage green. But for my next car after the MPV I hope to me looking at a MINI. Check out www.miniusa.com for their color choices. Chili Red, Electric Blue, Liquid yellow, Silk Green. Even the more staid colors like Dark Silver, Pure Silver, Pepper White, Velvet Red and Indi Blue are impressive.
  • budmelonbudmelon Member Posts: 27
    Well, after much reading and asking and more reading, we bought a 2001 ES. The 2.5 has more than enough power for us. Love the ride and handling of the MPV. We have a '95 Villager now and it is basically night and day. Oh yes, love the moonroof. A partial open air motoring. The color is red and we didn't have a choice because the dealer only has one ES left on his lot and we wanted an ES. The retail was $36G(Canadian) and he sold it to us for $31.5G(Canadian). I think we got a good deal.

    Now, is there anything I should be looking for when we pick it up on Monday evening? Any help will be appreciated. Can't wait. Now, I know what the ZOOM, ZOOM feels like and it feels good.

    Thanks again.
  • lawleelawlee Member Posts: 11
    Does your Cdn$31.5K for the ES include sales tax or not ? Which province are you in ?

    LL
  • billmckinleybillmckinley Member Posts: 167
    Congrats on your new red(!) ES. If the "power issue" is a non-starter with you, as it is with most of us, you're gonna love driving that thing around town.

    Happy Miles!

    RJ
  • budmelonbudmelon Member Posts: 27
    Lawlee: I lived in Calgary and the $31.5K excluding tax. The total and final price would be $33,705(Canadian). That includes the freight, air tax and admin. fee. If you do live in Calgary, email be at

    bobby.chong@excite.com

    I'll let you more about where I got it.

    As for the power, I don't feel it being sluggish at all. We test drove two of them and love the power and the handling. Definetly looking forward to it on Monday evening.
  • sandesdriversandesdriver Member Posts: 15
    I just installed the K&N air filter (part no. 33-2177-1)on my 2000 ES. I bought it at my local Autozone store, they had to order it for next day pickup, for $61.10. It came with detailed instructions and photographs of the engine compartment. Be aware that installing it requires it to be somewhat of an amateur mechanic requiring disassemble and reassemble of several hoses, clamps, etc. but I managed to do it in about 1 1/2 hours most of which was trying to identify connections to free up the filter housing. It fits just fine. I'll monitor my driving performance and mileage to see what the effect might be.

    The K&N website shows no filter for the MPV and does not even recognize the part no. I sent an email to the tech support people kidding them about my "ghost filter". Believe it or not, I received a reply that they have no filter for the MPV and I should return the filter I bought and install a paper filter!!! I replied that I was sorry that tech support does not understand K&Ns product line but if they look real hard they might find my filter.
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    I know this is a day late and all that, but here's a link that might help others out. I think the process took me about 10 minutes for the air filter.

    /java
  • rutger3rutger3 Member Posts: 361
    Congrats on your new purchase. I am sure you will be happy with it. The only minor flaws are:
    - no power lock control on the passenger side door
    -trans.shifter blocks out first 2 radio sets
    The MPV is a nice vehicle. We have 11k on our 01 LX without a problem. Good luck.
    BTW, we had a 94 Villager. I will say that although the MPV is nicer,the Villager had a few things which I wish we still had.
    -power third seat window controls.
    -yes, a power lock control on the passenger door.
    -power drivers seat
    -IMO, a smoother engine
    Mazda should have put the first three on the MPV.
  • budmelonbudmelon Member Posts: 27
    Thanks for the insight, rutger3.

    We picked it up last night and I did noticed the shift lever blocking the radio buttons but haven't notice the power lock control on the pass. side yet. I drove it home last night instead of the wife. I will have more time tonight and I'll be in the garage with the manual and going over the MPV.

    I do agree that the MPV is nicer. It definetly has better brakes than the Merc. and better cornering ability as well. Like I said on my last post, I don't think that engine is under power at all. We took it to the highway and I was doing about 65 MPH and when accelerating to 65, it sure pull strong and I like to hear the sound of the engine revving. Makes me feel like I'm in some kind of really sporty car. Music to my ears. Oh yes, love the huge moonroof. That is one on the main reason we got an ES.

    Thanks again for your help.
  • mainsail2mainsail2 Member Posts: 77
    The good news is that the K&N filter can be installed in about 2 minutes by merely removing the air filter clips and holding the housing open far enough open to slide the old cartridge out and the K&N in. It feels a little "forced" but it does work. The bad news is that the K&N appears to be a little overjealously promoted by the manufacturer. Mine (and only maybe) gives a little bit in the way of performance, but I don't notice a thing in the way of fuel economy. I've had it for nearly 10,000 miles so far. If I had it to do over, I'd save the money. I ordered mine through Autozone too.
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    I didn't really notice much of an improvement when I went to a K&N filter, but I've never really experienced any real hp gains with their filters before, unless you incorporate some sort of ram-air or cold-induction system at the same time, and then the improvement is minimal still. I think it produces as much more hp as the "Zoom Zoom" decal on the rear quarter window of MochaVan , but I noticed a slight improvement in mpg after the filter change. I do feel secure in the fact that the filter does a much better job at filtering contaminants out of the engine, so imo, it's money well spent at any rate.

    /javadoc
  • scarter7719scarter7719 Member Posts: 89
    Lets try to get TBoner's friend to devise a turbo kit for our MPV's (he said, pleasantly recalling the Saab 900T years b/k )!

    SC
  • budmelonbudmelon Member Posts: 27
    I'm sure this has been discussed before but I was over at Vacker.com and getting some more info about extra keys, and the first line says that cut new transponder equipped key. I assumed that this key has some kind of "chip" built into it? Now, is this only available at the dealer? Or Wal-Mart or some hardware store has it as well?

    I do have the imobilizer in the MPV.

    Thanks.
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    AFAIK, the keys for the MPV are "dealer only," and you are correct, they are micro-chipped keys. I have never investigated if your local hardware store can physically cut the key for you once you get it, or if it's a special key that has to be cut by the dealer also. Then there is a programming procedure, as you've seen over on vakcer.com. It's important to note that these keys come as matched PAIRS and you shouldn't try and buy just one... or so I've been told.

    Which reminds me, I've been meaning to get extra keys ordered for months now, I'd better call and get that done.

    /javadoc
  • budmelonbudmelon Member Posts: 27
    I guess I'll go to the dealer this weekend. Hey, that's perfect because now, I have a reason to drive the van. It is my wife who will be driving the van most of the time.

    Cool!
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    Yo no comprendo...

    As long as it has a working chip in it and it is cut to match the lock, you can program a single or a pair. Each key has it's own ID.

    The advantage of a dealer key(in general) is that they cut to a code rather than copy an existing key. The last thing you want is for something not to work when you are programming keys.
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    So, that's why they told me I had to order a pair! Are you saying it's for their convenience? the service tech always tells me that they're only sold as a pair. So, it's possible the service dept. is full of merde. Thank you for clarifying Maltb... I wasn't sure you were 'bout today.

    /javadoc
  • jstrauss88jstrauss88 Member Posts: 7
    I bought just one from Roger Beasley Mazda in Austin. You have to have 2 keys that the computer already recognizes in order to program any additional keys yourself.
  • darrellpdarrellp Member Posts: 2
    Hi
    I just did a oil change on our MPV, My self for the first time and need some feed back from others out there that have changed there own oil.
    My question is that I have put 5 US quarts of oil in the van and yet the oil is only coming up just barely above the Minimal hole on the dip stick. the manual says that the engine only holds 5 qrts. so is my dipstick not the right size to acuratly read oil or does the engine really need more oil/ have any of you had to put more than 5 qrts in your van. I don't know if this makes a difference but I put a K&N 2010H oil filter on, does this filter hold more oil than the OEM filter. Should I fill the dipstick Max or will I run the chance of overfilling the engine and damaging it ????
    any feed back will be appriciated
  • msgjvhmsgjvh Member Posts: 196
    Make sure you have backed the MPV off the ramps and are on level ground. Run it for approximately 3-5 minutes then let it set for another 3-5. Then take the reading. I hate to say this but also make sure you put all five quarts in. It's possible you opened a quart and set it aside. 5 quarts should have the stick reading full. Make sure it is fully seated in the oil tube.
  • javadocjavadoc Member Posts: 1,167
    The Specs I have from this link state crankcase capacity is 5.7L, which is just over 6 quarts. But, before you take that to the bank, does anyone have a different figure? I don't want to risk over-filling the pan. Additionally, according to Mazda's website, the 3.0L motor takes 6 quarts, but that doesn't mean automatically that the 2.5L did also, so that's why I'm hedging.


    /javadoc

  • canielcaniel Member Posts: 28
    I've been using K &N oil filter and Mobil 1 since about 10,000 miles (now at 29,500) and I have always put exactly 5.5 quarts in to get it to the full line on the stick. 2000 MPV LX 2.5.
  • tbaytbay Member Posts: 22
    my 2000 takes 5.5 litres.
  • darrellpdarrellp Member Posts: 2
    Thanks everyone I'm going to double check oil level again(10th time but never hurts to be sure) then I'll be going to auto zone for another qrt of oil.
    thanks everyone for your help.
  • alexv1nalexv1n Member Posts: 248
    On the following page: http://www.vakcer.com/mpv/info/fluidspec.htm you can read that oil replacement takes 5 quarts, however if you change oil filter as well, you need to put 5.5 quarts it. I hope that helps.
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