Mazda MPV

scarter7719 · February 2002

Sorry, stupid jokes are even worse when they're told twice

I'm not sure why that happens...maybe time to upgrade my browser.

SC

javadoc · February 2002

I didn't notice. Are you using a Mac?

/j

stever · February 2002

It happens when you refresh your browser after posting. One fix is to click elsewhere on the page first (like the Scroll Up 20 Messages link).

[edit] I can't seem to get it to happen after hitting Post after a spell check (you're fast on the delete key, scarter7719!).

Steve
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scarter7719 · February 2002

Maybe that's a fig newton of my imagination LOL!

alexv1n · February 2002

Do you have 4 season pkg? The big (6L) windshiel washer tank really helps me go through winter and the bug season in summer. That's really one of the best part of the 4 season package :-)

stever · February 2002

Ah, fig newtons microwaved for 26 seconds... yum (I am on a NutriGrain bar kick this month tho).

Anyone check out the Chicago Auto Show coverage yet for any news that may be on topic in here?

Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards

maltb · February 2002

you mean actually click one of your links? no comment.

stever · February 2002

LOL, I haven't posted a link in here since Jan. 31 :-)

Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards

javadoc · February 2002

... never never click on steve's links. Or was that open attachments? I always get those backwards.

/j

p.s. Malt, he remembers the last day he linked. Sorry, poking fun today!

stever · February 2002

Let me guess - you're irritated because Starbucks is running Kaladi and Cafe del Mundo out of Carrs?

How about a chat graphic? Warning - it's a live link :-)

Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards

javadoc · February 2002

No, but I'm doing an economics paper on the impact of Starbucks on the local coffee economy. Besides, I've been going to Coffee Cats lately. Need you ask why...

/J

ckmccoy5 · February 2002

Can I figure out the date my MPV went into service from the VIN? Any assistance would be great. Thanks.

alexv1n · February 2002

What do you mean by "service"?

If you want to find out the manufacturing date of the vehicle, it is marked on the sticker that is placed on the driver's door pillar (not the door itself, but on the body pillar that separates the driver's door and left sliding door).

maltb · February 2002

You want to know when the clock on your warranty started ticking? Get your VIN and call Mazda. 800-222-5500

bob57 · February 2002

Started to post over on "that" site in response to "excellent" but felt he wouldn't get that either...I'll just troll and watch -

).
They seem to be having a good time - for now.

pjd58 · February 2002

waste my time posting on "Freddy's" site. Fred has shown his ignorance and rudeness, more than once, and isn't worth the time of day. He came on our board and trashed our MPV's and expected us to roll over. I don't post on their board, I do read their board and others, to see how people like their car. But if you come on this board and trash the MPV, I will respond. When I and others defended our vehicle choice and countered with our concerns about the Kia, Fred went ballistic.
I could care less what someone else drives. The MPV was the right choice for our family.

JMO and 2 cents worth!

Pjd58

javadoc · February 2002

not worth my time.

/j

billmckinley · February 2002

It's been one year and 9200 miles since I brought home "The MPV President McKinley." Time for an updated reappraisal, for anybody who might find it useful or interesting.

PLEASURES:

Handling: This is the single biggest pleasure. The van simply doesn't know that it's a big box. It tracks like a cat and corners like a cheetah in track shoes.
Cockpit: Everything is within easy reach. I particularly like the radio controls. The big knobs and buttons are easy to find and use--cuts down on the time with my eyes off the road. And the cruise control stalk is the best I've ever seen--intuitive and easy to use.
Interior: The driving position was my biggest challenge. It took me the better part of the year to find the ideal settings for the driver's seat, but once I did, I'm totally comfortable, even during long days on the road. The side-by-slide seats and rear tumble-down seat are a godsend. And the well the third seat fits into is the best package carrier I've seen.
Power: I've listed this as a pleasure for one reason: it's not nearly as bad as the reviewers would have us believe. Admittedly, it's not rabbit fast. But it does what it has to. The many steep hills around Pittsburgh probably give the engine a bigger challenge than almost anywhere else in the country, and as far as I'm concerned, the car does fine. On flatter terrain, I imagine I'd wonder what all the brouhaha about power was all about. And besides, I absolutely love that sexy little tiger growl the engine puts out when it's revving up.
Economy: At about 17.2 MPG in all suburban driving over a year, I don't feel as though I have anything to complain about. This is a big, moderately heavy car, and maybe I'm too easy to please, but I don't expect econobox efficiency out of it. I'm happy about what I get, as I'm happy about the 23 MPG I got on the one 2500-mile road trip I took it one.

PAINS

Windows: The front windows rattle unless they're fully up or fully down.
Wiper/washer stalk: Hopeless! Twist and pull, turn and yank! The front wiper controls are okay, but try to remember what to do for the rear washer/wiper. Go ahead. I dare you! And I defy you to get it right without pondering it deeply for a while.
Transmission: It's rough, balky, and unrefined. It takes a lot of learning to get the best out of it. That said, it has smoothed out considerably in the last thousand miles or so. I no longer get the "bucking bronco" downshifts that so annoyed me. Most of the shifts are now acceptably smooth. Some of that is undoubtedly my learning how to use the gas pedal, but some of it is the tranny settling in. It'll be interesting to see how it reacts in warm weather, once I begin to use the A/C again. Last year, it was pure torture to drive the car with the air on.
Power: With the air on, The Prez is downright lethargic, especially up a hill or merging into traffic. People who live in the flatlands say they hardly notice the difference, but in hilly territory, it's very apparent.
Brake squeal: It started about 4 months ago. Fortunately, it's still intermittent and occurs only lightly on low-speed braking. If it gets no worse--and so far it's showing no signs of worsening--I'll just live with it. It's not yet bad enough to complain about.
Wheels: There's a wobble and vibration in the steering, especially noticeable in the 20's and at speeds over 50. I've already had the wheels rotated and balanced, to no effect. I guess the next step is an alignment.
Tires: I have the Yokohamas on it. I think they're made of yogurt. One of the reasons I rotated my wheels was that I was afraid to drive this winter with the front tires as worn as they were. And the back tires were only in slightly better shape. They're good enough to pass inspection, but I know they'll have to be replaced before next winter. They'll have less than 20,000 on them.

A year ago, I would have given the car an A+. Now that I've driven it for a year, I can't be that euphoric. Still, the complaints I have are relatively minor. And the pleasures the car gives me are many. Do I regret my purchase? Not in the least. Would I buy another? In a heartbeat. What grade would I give it now? At least a B+. And on a good day--which most of them are--an A-.

Apologies for the very long post. I promise not to do this sort of thing more than once a year or so.

RJ

evaddave · February 2002

I always have trouble remembering which way the rear wiper goes, and it seems I always end up washing the window when I want to wipe it.

That being said, I got it right 3 out of 3 times today. Woo-hoo!

Maybe the wash function should be a button on the end that you push in. Like the GM cruise control stalk. Actually that's a good comparison. I'd take the Mazda wiper stalk over the GM turn signal/wiper/washer/cruise control/swiss army knife stalk any day. *G*

-Dave

pjd58 · February 2002

Just like a teacher.... to hand out grades:)

Pjd58

bob57 · February 2002

The Yoko's on my 01' are still good at 21+K (15"). 90% of my driving is at highway speeds tho.
I have noticed the Yoko's are very sensitive to vibration if the tire pressure is slightly off. I keep mine at 36psi (all four) whether I'm alone or with a gang of screaming six. Everyone tells me to rotate them but it's so smooth at 70+ mph and the wear is so minor I hesitate to touch them.
Thrilled someone else is goofy with the wipers - thought I was getting senile - well, maybe I am but discount the wipers...now if I could only remember where I dropped off those kids today...

billmckinley · February 2002

Cut me some slack here! One way or the other, I've spent the last 54 years in a classroom [gawd, what an appalling realization!]. It kinda gets in the blood.

RJ

traubejo · February 2002

I've been following discussions on this board and several others for about 9 months and had to ask if any of you find the MPV's engine noise.

We rented a 2001 T&C a couple of weeks ago and were really impressed with the power, noise level and how pleasant it was to converse while driving. We both really prefer the MPV's size, handling, design and functionality; had liked it on previous test drives; and wanted to love it when we demoed a 2000 LX overnight a few days later. But we caught ourselves saying "What!?" a lot when trying to talk, and after an hour each of us had the light ringing in our ears reminiscent of our younger, concert-going years. We wondered how fatiguing the MPV's noise level might be on our monthly 800-mile round trips to No-Cal to visit her folks.

I know the 2002 should be quieter, but we're looking at used vehicles to maximize our purchase power. Comments? Solutions? (Different tires, mufflers or added insulation?)

bob57 · February 2002

I drive an hour to work and back every day and haven't noticed any type of noise resulting in any ringing - except on certain spots on the road which is the tires - see my Yoko post above. I find the noise level fairly low myself.
You might try a different highway/road or better yet test drive a '01 MPV abd see if there is a difference. Since you are in the market for a used van the '01's on the lots should be at a good price by now.

badgermomma · February 2002

the above note about noise and tire pressure got me thinking. I have the Dunlop tires and am running them at 32 according to the owners manual, the tire says max is wither 35 or 36, can't remember off the top of my head. So should I be running them a little higher or not. I am also concerned that one has a slow leak so need to have that checked out soon also.

Next question replacement tires, what is everyone thinking of? I have 20,000 on these and think I have more time, but the leak got me thinking. I am not thrilled with these as I have never owned this brand, always used to have SUV's and went with a more aggressive tire. At least these will cost less than our other car, we just bought a Wrangler and only realized it has the 30 inch tires after we got home, oh well it is still a ball to zip around in.

Jane

j2kbarlow · February 2002

IIRC, the Chrysler vans are the current quiet kings, so if noise is your primary concern, you can't do better. But all that noise suppression makes the van A LOT heavier (I'll be nice and not bring up quality concerns). FWIW, our 2001 MPV is significantly quieter than our '98 Subaru Outback was so noise isn't an issue for my family either.

As for suggestions, I'd say the primary noise you're hearing is due to the tires. I don't know of any aftermarket mufflers, but in any case most of them will add noise, not remove it. Added sound insulation would definitely help, but it'll also add weight which will take away from the van's nimbleness. So, if it's really bad (and I know concrete highways are pretty noisy), I'd start with tires. BTW, if you test drove an MPV with 16" rims, they have a "performance" tire which WILL be louder than the all-season tires on the 15" wheels.

alexv1n · February 2002

You should have received a recall notice some months back explaining that you have to inflate your tires to 35 psi (applicable to both 15 and 16" tires). If I'm not mistaken, the maximum tire inflation as imprinted on the tire itself is something like 50 psi (don't recall the exact number). So you should run at 35 psi as recommended by Mazda (see http://www.vakcer.com/mpv/info/Recalls/90006.htm for more details).

badgermomma · February 2002

thankyou so much, I am going to check that this afternoon on my next trip out. I really did think they looked low.

Jane

casselman · February 2002

I plan on purchasing a 2002 LX within the next few weeks, but I have one dilemma.

I have a 9" TV/VCR that I used in my Chevy Venture. It fit perfectly between the 2 seats. However, it is my understanding that it will be too big to put between the seats of the MPV. Any Suggestions?

I also have a laptop with a DVD player. I could use this also, but need suggestions on where to put it.

Thanks.

stone20 · February 2002

I put a 13" TV Between my seats of course I put a crate down And put the TV on it. It was tight but with the support of the arm rests it was not to bad. We went to Myrtle Beach that way so the kids were entertained. 13hr Drive. Hope that helps.

otish · February 2002

We have a 9 inch TV that works in the car too but we didn't like how it fit in the MPV (yes it could be done but it took up too much space and I could not see how it could be done safely). So we went and got the smaller bag type that actually straps onto the front seats. It works much better and takes up less space. For us that was the option.

marylizus · February 2002

I've had a hard time finding one to test drive. We have an appointment to drive one tomorrow. Everyone seems to be expecting them in the next week or so, so they say. We drove a Sedona, but we're worried about its reliability.

kentwong · February 2002

I called the local Mazda dealers about buying the 02 MPV thru the s-plan. One dealer (sales manager) told me that he could sell it $800 below invoice. Another dealer quoted me the actual invoice price as the s-plan pricing. Does anyone know any pricing details or guideline regarding the s-plan?

rklein101 · February 2002

I am also looking for a mpv, and can get the s-plan discount. my dealer has a '01 lx with the entertainment pack. he told me $22,760. this price includes a mazda $2000 cash rebate. is this a good deal, or should i get '02?

scarhill · February 2002

I just bought a 2002 LX yesterday. I didn't get the factory installed cassette deck, because I would have had to also buy rear A/C for $600.

I would like to have a cassette. Does anyone know if it is possible to buy a Mazda add-on cassette and install it myself? How about a part number and/or price?

Alternatively, what should I be looking for in after-market equipment? I'd appreciate any experience or recommendations.

Thanks in advance!

Jim

pjd58 · February 2002

All 2001 MPV LX's came standard with a cassette deck. Many 2000 owner's were unhappy with only the CD player.

I would never and I mean never buy a van without rear air.

Pjd58

budmelon · February 2002

Has anyone bought the deflector from Wooddash.com? This link was from Vackers.com. I was just wandering how it fit? I went to buy one at my local auto chain store and the deflector just didn't have enough curve to fit around the roof. I'm afraid if I push to hard on one end, the other end will pop up. I really like to get one to cut down the wind buffeting.

Thanks.

bob57 · February 2002

You just HAD to tickle excel again.
You're bad now.

)

javadoc · February 2002

I'm sure I have no idea what you are talking about...

/j

maltb · February 2002

says the cat as he belches canary feathers

javadoc · February 2002

Those are toothpicks, not feathers! Nice one malt, btw. I was actually waiting for the pot/kettle remark from you, that never came, but that one's even better.

bob57 · February 2002

At least I wasn't the one to shut down their site! Cough, cough...
Boys, boys....let us all be friends and cough up fur balls together. (?)
Which reminds me - I took my golden out to the park last weekend and the seats look like a bad shag carpet. I came to work Monday and people asked if I was modeling a fur covered shirt. Anyone who says a golden retriever doesn't shed enough fur for another dog in 10 minutes refer them to me.

pjd58 · February 2002

is smoking:) Wow, The Kia board is on Hiatus, thank goodness. More entertaining than Seinfeld and Everyone loves Raymond reruns:)

Carleton seemed to ruffle alot of feathers over there. It's funny, Carleton never attacked anyone, he has a very strong opinion, but keeps his views legal( Edmund's user rules). Some Kia owner's want to hang him high. Some anger Mgmt. is needed over there.

Pjd58

javadoc · February 2002

Well, I never wanted em shut down, no really that's the truth. What's worse... the feathers, or those little feet?

Are you trying for a new fashion statement with the fur shirt?

/j

excelent3 · February 2002

Java-
You know damn well what you are doing. Congratulations on your fine work, every time I see an MPV now I'll think of you and your crony Pjd58, and thats not saying much. Enough said, I told you I wouldn't hang around here and I don't intend to. Two wrongs don't make a right. Happy Trails.

maltb · February 2002

I motion to strike that comment from the record.

billmckinley · February 2002

You go to work like any normal person and all those people who have nothing better to do than sow disharmony amongst the gentle contributors to these sites cut loose! I'm abashed and disturbed and wish like hell I'd been there.

Reqcon: I had The Prez washed over the weekend to take a layer or two of salt off it. Didn't touch the dried pigeon dung that seems to have etched the plastic quarter window. [We have all-season pigeons in Western Pa]

RJ

pjd58 · February 2002

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr:)

Pjd58

bob57 · February 2002

I thought I detected an accent there. This Texas boy was born in Johnstown - youse' guys..!

Kirstie_H · February 2002

Mazda MPVs, guys & gals. If you need to just chat, go to the News & Views Roadside Cafe. Take the personal comments outta here so it's clean for those who want to discuss the MPV!

kirstie_h
Roving Host
Edmunds.com

Mazda MPV

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