Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
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I did ask for the special financing, but couldn't get it with the dealer incentive. In our situation the monthly difference between the two deals (one price with the incentive/no special financing and one without the incentive and special financing) came to only a few dollars per month.
We took the lower price. Good luck!
I tried to get someone to send me an old MPV air filter, so I could try it, but no one seemed willing.
I guess you've tested this for us.
Thanks,
TB
Can anyone think of another car that could use this engine?
Thanks.
http://www.weathertech.com/Mazdaliners.htm
http://www.weathertech.com/
Does anybody have one of these? I'd be interested in how it looks and fits.
Thanks
Mitch
Part Number: 0000-88-STPL
Interestingly, under the BIN category on the invoice it says SP-ORD, which I would assume means Special Order?
I just walked in to the Parts Department and asked for one - didn't special order it.
I hope this helps.
I did have a Thule rack for my '90 MPV so I simply bought the "fit kit" and am using it whenever I need it on my ES. The reason I went to Thule was just as you pointed out - factory roof racks are not meant to carry much weight. I do not have any experience on whether the Thule rack would sit above the factory rack.
MPV LX
Highlight Silver
Touring Package
Four Seasons
Rear Air
Fog Lights
3-in-1 Audio
Roof Rack
MSRP was $26,300
Dealer offered $1,000 below invoice AND special financing. My price $22,999 (excl. tax & license)
I was able to negotiate the deal based on the information provided in the posts that many of you have provided here.
If you are in the Detroit Metro Area, check out Metro Mazda in Ferndale. The salesperson that I dealt with was James Fordham.
I look forward to posting here regularly now that I am a full fledged MPV Owner.
My wife and I love the van and its amenities. I showed the van to several co-workers today, one of whom recently purchased an Odyssey and spent $6,000 more (ouch!!!), all were impressed. The clincher was when I backed out of the driveway last night with the family and one of the neighborhood kids stated, "Hey, that's a cool van." Enough said.
As many of you have already posted, the van is initially slow from a standing start, but above 30 mph and at highway speeds, the van has good power, smooth kickdown, and handles beautifully at all speeds. I now only have 120 miles on the van but I have not experienced any body lean, pull to one side or vibration (manufacture date is 4-1-2000). After the next couple of fill-ups, I'll add my gas mileage information just in case someone is still keeping record.
Well, enough said for now. I'll be sure to keep future posts shorter.
Regards,
JB
The folks at SP Performance (thanks for the info, tboner) were very cool about taking the part back. In fact, when I ordered it, I told them what I was doing, and the guy said that it was worth a try, and if it didn't fit, I could return it.
Now I guess I'll call K&N once a month to bug them about making a filter for our van. I don't see how it could be that hard; they just need to get the OEM dimensions and duplicate them.
I'm still keen to put in an underdrive pulley (I've had great results on my Sentra with one of those), but I think I'll probably wait until I need to change the belts anyway since that's one of the steps in installing the pulley. Has anyone put one of those in a Contour? What were the results?
You will get lots of infomation there.
I've not done the UDP yet, but that is on my list o'mods for the 'tour. And when it is time to change the current air filter in the MPV, I'll probably tear the factory filter apart and see if I can marry it to my Contour's K&N, unless K&N gets off the dime and makes one.
Perhaps if you give them the dimensions of the factory unit, there is already a filter that fits and they just don't know yet?
Cheers,
TB
Cheers,
TB
Take care.
Regarding the leather though. I love leather. It's not that cold/hot really, and it repels stains like the dickens. But that's just an opinion.
Cheers!
--Javadoc
Volvo will strictly NOT cover the seats or entire SRS system if they have been covered with a seat cover because it defeats the side airbags, and can cause "great personal injury or death," according to the owner's manual of our Volvo. Simply put, it voids the warranty. I suspect it could very well mover the passenger in the seat enough to cause great danger or harm.
I would urge anyone considering putting seat covers on the front seats of their SIDE-AIRBAG EQUIPPED front seats to NOT put seat covers on them, for their safety alone.
Thx,
--Javadoc
I posted above at #273 an article I read on theautochannel.com about Mazda putting a 3.0 liter in the 626 due to falling sales and competition. I didn't get the impression that this is the Duratec engine even though it is a joint venture with Ford. You engine guys out there know anything about this? Since the manufacturing facility for this engine is Michigan (aren't the Duratecs manufactured in Cleveland?), I could see Mazda gearing this engine for use in other vehicles besides the 626.
This time last year Mazda was saying that a bigger engine was in the works for 2001. Yet I and others on this thread have called Mazda USA to be told that the new engine MAY be coming for 2002 but not for 2001. There's also been an article saying there would be major changes across-the-line for Mazda in 2002. It's taken Mazda 3 model years to get a 3.0 liter in the current iteration of the 626 while Toyota and Honda have been selling hundreds of thousands of 3.0 liter midsize sedan products during that same time. What makes anybody think that Mazda's going to be any quicker on the draw with their minivan?
I'm curious as to how you guys know when Mazda is going to release their 2001 changes. I hadn't heard or seen any date, but thought it would be end of July or beginning of August.
Sorry for rambling, but IMHO, I'd be very surprised to see a 3.0 liter for 2001, and would be somewhat surprised to see it for 2002. I've been watching and waiting for Mazda's changes, and will be anxious to see them, hopefully next week as you've said.
kgvan: When I was ready to purchase, I went to the Mazda website as mentioned by someone else here in the forum. The Mazda site now has a feature that allows you to email up to six dealers in your area with your specific vehicle requirements. I sent an email to six local dealers with my specifications, 3 or 4 dealers responded within a day or two. One dealer quoted above invoice which was unacceptable. Two dealers quoted $1,000 below invoice, each on the same vehicle with all of the options I specified. I contacted the two lowest dealers, one was willing to provide both the $1,000 incentive plus special financing.
All in all, the experience was good with some additional negotiation required. Once your local dealers respond to your request, try to negotiate both the full dealer incentive and the special financing.
Regards,
JB
MPV ES w/CD changer, power moon & roof rack.
This including tax. All that's left is the transfer of license. This was without me telling the dealer what I was going to pay Him.
I don't recall if the 4 season pkg was included. Can anyone out there tell me how the heating is? I fugure if I blast it from the floor vents it'll be ok. Comments are appreciated
Bill
Regards,
JB
Thanks,
gmd3
The dealer took our offer with no questions.
On the 4-S package. With the four seasons you get a Heavy Duty rear defogger (without 4-S you still get the basic one), larger winshield washer tank, larger radiator and extra cooling fan, aux. cooler for the transmission, and rear heat. I highly recommend the 4-S because, if you have rear air, you can only regulate the temp of the cold air if you have the rear heat also. We regret we didn't get the 4-S - and at only $350, its a small price to pay for, potentially, greater life of your engine and transmission - due to the transmission cooler and larger radiator. Best Wishes
did anyone get the teather strap for the kid seats in the second row chairs?
We've had our MPV for 11 months and 9000+ miles and still love it.
Has anyone purchased a car seat which came with both tether strap and anchor kit? Our car seat is made by Century and we did have one prior to that from Fisher Price.
Thanx
My wife loves the van even though she hates to admit it. But I wish I had the extra money and got the touring pakage.
I tryed real hard to find a basic es but none in the LI, NY area.
--java
The mazda has 4 hook, 2 along each side behind the second row seats these are just tie downs. I have been using them for the tether until I get the right part from mazda. Todd 48 has hit it right on the bitton weth the right part from mazda, because if anyone is going to be using the back for anything who needs two bolts sticking up right in the middle of the bed.
Thanks for all the information.
I'v narrowed it down to an LX w/4 Seasons & Security Pkg. Anyone have experience w/o the Rear AC in this neck of the woods?? ( Although it hasn't been a very hot summer.) Is the rear air really worth the $512 extra? A kid or 2 would probably sit in the middle & back seat. Any help would be appreciated . Am looking to buy after Sept 1. Thanks.
The van doesn't have the accelleration of our 92 Caravan 3.0 v6. Heavily loaded it cruised well at 65 mph, but struggled on the hills with the rpms revving to 4k as the transmission downshifted to take the incline. Also, the transmission doesn't shift very smoothly when starting out. The engine revs a bit before the transmission lurches into the next gear.
The "fit and finish" is very good. The ride is very good and the handling excellent for a van. Don't believe the reports the van is too small. It is longer than our 92 Caravan and holds just as much gear.
Changing the oil filter is downright dangerous, as the scratches on my hand took several days to heal.
I expect the van will last a long time but I plan on babying it more than the Dodge. I will probably service the transmission every 24k instead of every 36k. Those that worry about the 2.5L being underpowered have a legitimate concern if they plan on driving lots of miles over hilly terrain with heavey loads. I don't expect we will drive our MPV more than 10k per year and will probably use the Caravan if we go to the Mountains or take another trip like the one we just took.
Overall it is an above average vehicle and offers many options you can only get in the higher priced Honda. I reluctantly agree with those who feel a 3.0 L engine is needed. That would bring this vehicle much closer to perfection in a moderately priced van.
A '97 Quest GXE w/lthr & sunroof through imotors.com buying service at around $16.5k will have to substitute for a MPV ES w/same. I'll be patient waiting for Mazda to address the engine issue. Until then I'll be looking at all the MPVs in bay area hoping to join them when/if new engine is available.
My best to those who found the MPV to be the jewel they were seeking, there is nothing else quite like it on the market at the price.
I've got the whole kiboodle of options including the nlev emissions (included in the options of this particular piece of inventory!) which leads me to my question...what is it & is it an efficiancy thing or "clean-air" thing? Why is it an option?
Just curious... Also, I have the 6cd changer. Silly question, but is this the top stereo? It has 9 speakers right?
Thanks to everyone that can help.
BillG.
The good news is you have the high end killer stereo system that includes a sub.
dnamartel,
Funny thing, with the Quest. Because we had a 97 Quest which we gave up for the MPV, and I found that going up hill, the Quest while revving a little lower RPMs did not handle the up hill as well as the MPV does. Sure the MPV is revving at about 4500, while the Quest at about 3000, but the MPV accelerates, or maintains the speed better. Some of us just don't like to see the tachometer that high, otherwise, the MPV is faster than the Quest you substituted it for, both on the flats, and in the hills. I have to admit though that the engine in the Quest is a little quieter.
Best of luck to you all.
Has it been confirmed that the 2001 MPV will NOT have an engine change? Where can I find more details? Gracias!
Second day after ownership I loaded 2 bikes to the roof along with a Yakima Rocket Box (luggage carrier), a 2" receiver bike rack off the back with three bikes on it. The interior loaded to the ceiling along with two kids and two adults. Mazda would have cringed if they saw this. Went 900 miles to the Colorado Mountains.
So we not only have a lot of weight but a lot of wind resistance. Suspension was totally maxed out. I got 18 mpg on average. YES, I think the vehicle would be better with a 3.0 but I also think it is fine the way it is. It performed better than I anticipated. It dogged at times in the mountains but so did my Subaru Legacy, Mitsubishi Montero and any other vehicle I have taken out west. The perfect vehicle would have been a Chev. Suburban but I'm not sure what I would do with it the rest of the year...you need aircraft marshallers with illuminated wands to help you park the damn things. I am glad I didn't wait for this phantom someday 3.0 liter to come out, I love the vehicle as is. If they put a 3.0 in it, hopefully they will return the air suspension system to it!
First, the roof rack: I think it makes the van look better. We have the ES with ground effects, and that may have something to do with it as well. I've seen MPVs with the GFX but not the roof rack and they seem a little "incomplete."
Second, the fog lights: I think the fog lights improve the visibility of the vehicle. Note that I'm not talking about how well the driver sees outward, but about how well other drivers see the van. To me, the more lights I have on, the more likely someone else will see me. This is not as big an issue with the MPV as it is with my del Sol, for example. Because the MPV is much bigger it is more likely to be seen, but it never hurts to have the extra lights on.