The "Problems" discussion is "over here". The more I go the confusiter I get :-) Oh I see, you just want the MPV 2000+ discussion to include problem posts as well. hmmm.
I think oldstyle has the right idea. Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
BTW, our '01 ES is 13 mon old with 10k miles. Absolutely no problems. We plan to keep it 10 yrs. Would like the additional power of the '02; however, the '01 is "adequate".
Keep the pre and post 2000 models separate. Freeze the problems board and tell all those Ody owners to chill out I've been over at the MPV vs ODY board and the ODY owners posting over there take themselves way too seriously.
My wife and I have a 1992 Mazda Protege LX with 156K miles on it. It would probably make it to the 200K mark, but our family has grown with the addition of our first child. This dictates the purchase of a new vehicle since while the baby is small, all the accessories are not (stroller, pac n play, etc). Our other car is a 1997 Honda Accord.
We recently visited the Pittsburgh Auto show and looked at three vehicles: Honda Odyssey, Mazda MPV and VW Passat wagon (well, there actually wasn't one to try out, but we did look hard at the sedan). Each of these vehicles has it own charms, and each would probably work well for us, in perhaps slightly different ways. I'm also involved in amateur astronomy, and all of these vehicles would swallow all of my stuff with ease (if only I could keep my eyes open since the baby came).
I have some questions for you all: 1) Am I the only one who's a little queasy about the Ford powerplant under the hood? 2) 5W20 engine oil recommendation...gosh, that seems awfully thin. Is any other multigrade oil allowed? As you can see above, we buy new, keep'em till they're dead (sometimes even on life support) and then donate them to the Kidney Foundation . I have concerns about longevity with 5w20. I do my own oil changes and most routine maintenance. 3) Air conditioning: One of the few things we found wanting on our Protege was a marginal heating and air conditioning system. Our Honda will give you frostbite in summer and melt your boots in winter. The Protege often required the a/c on 'recirculate' during the summer. Is the additional heater/rear a/c a necessity on the MPV? Summers can be hot and humid here.
We liked the hideaway third seat and the roll-down windows in the sliding doors. The overall size of the vehicle seems okay for us. I haven't visited the show room yet to see how these are coming equipped, thinking that I would get some answers here first.
Our Mazda has been a good car, as has our Honda. So we have no axes to grind either way. Our sales experience with the Honda was "here it is, here's our price; interested or not?" Last August, when we wanted to look at the Odyssey while in for inspection, they didn't have one to even sit in. Despite our clear interest in the minivan, the sales guy kept coming up with, "maybe you are not minivan people." If we are not, then who is? He obviously was trying to steer us towards the CR-V or the Passport.
Our servicing dealer for the Mazda has one great service write up person, one fair one, and one that I'll never use again (what a zipperhead).
The Honda has never had a service issue, other than usual maintenance (filters, fluids and Mobil 1 oil).
We owned a 87 Golf which served us very well but was involved in two accidents which really seemed to ruin it. So we understand the VW way, too.
Any answers to my above questions would be appreciated. Any comments are welcome, too.
Altair, I have owned VW Passat 99 and I traded in for 02 Mazda MPV ES. I can tell you that Passat was an excellent car. One of the best I have ever had. I traded it in for Mazda because I needed more space. Honda was out of question because neither I nor my wife liked it the way it looked like. We have nothing against Honda and our second car in fact is Acura TL 01 (the best car we have ever owned)
We have owned Fords before and the engine (120 000 miles on 3.8L) shouldn't be a problem. Most of the time those little things go bad in Fords and especially AC. From this board you can see that Mazda MPV has very few problems. When we switched from Passat to MPV we noticed very few differences. Acceleration is similar if not better in Mazda. Mazda is as quiet as VW. Fuel usage: Mixed city 80% - Hwy 20% Mazda 20 MPG, VW 21-22 MPG. On hwy Mazda 24MPG, VW 30MPG. The major difference we noticed is the cooling capability. We noticed that in Mazda we need to run AC much harder (we live in Florida) than in a Passat. But again you have to remember that windshield in Mazda is twice as big as in the Passat. Also if you are going to use minivan in hot climate I would advise you to definitely get rear AC. Hope this helps a little.
My feelings about the Ody are fairly well known here. I sort of fell into the MPV last year. Opportunity knocked and I opened the door! I had actually given up on a van altogether mainly due to the same reason you described in dealing with the Honda folks. We I did look at the MPV, I had the same uneasiness about the Ford engine, not so much because it was a Ford, but rather the poor performance reviews the MPV was getting using the 2.5 liter. Of course, that's not an issue now due to the improved power of the 3.0 liter this year. After buying the MPV and joining Town Hall, I discovered that the Duratec, whether 2.5 or 3.0, was touted as a very reliable motor. I'm not very motor head technical !, but I'm sure TBoner or javadoc could post some interesting links to back up the engine's performance record.
I agree with mazda_guy on the rear AC. We live in SoFla too, in fact it's been 90' here the past two days . With both units cranked, the MPV cools down fast. Put them on recirculate and you’ll get the frostbite. Remember, it also has the roll-down rear windows to help. If your climate is cold enough, you may want to consider the 4-Seasons package, but it requires either the Luxury or Security package first and I don’t think it includes rear AC.
Oooo, I'm glad I don't have your problem there altair4... Passat Wagon or MPV (sorry guys!). The Passat is a super car, as is the MPV, and the Passat comes with awd if you want it. The MPV will give you more room than the Passat, and I'd imagine maintenance costs would be similar down the road, given VW's and Mazda's reliability records, imo. MB's right, I wouldn't have concens about the MPV's engine, esp since you seem to be the type of person that keeps up w/maintenance.
It looks like you put some decent miles on your vehicles. IIRC, Mazda used the 5/20 weight oils to lower emissions. I run 5/30 Amsoil synthetic in my MPV and it loves it year round.
A/C... I can't comment as our temps rarely exceed 80F. The heater is really good w/the 4Seasons tho. ;-)
/java-my2cents-doc
p.s. Steve, were users having trouble w/topic titles?
And yeah, newbies couldn't find "MY 2000+" as easily as they'll be able to find "Madza MPV". We should be at 6,000 posts in here easily :-)
I assume you regulars are using the Message Center anyway? Reading Subscriptions is the easy way to keep up in here. Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
I notice that you're from the Pgh. area. Whereabouts? I'm in South Park [86 the snide comments, gang, we were here before the TV show], from which I commute daily in my [reqcon] van, "The MPV President McKinley."
If you do get the Mazda--and I can recommend it, especially with the 3.0L engine--make it a point to get the rear AC. It does a terrific job of cooling the car. Last summer, even on the hottest days, I'd use it to quickly cool down a hot van, then turn it off and just run the front AC, usually at 1 or 2.
The rear heat certainly won't hurt, but I don't have it on my 01 LS and didn't miss it. The back heats up--a little more slowly than the front, but just fine. There is a heater vent under the front seat that blows to the back. Never carried anyone in the third seat this winter, so I can't comment on what it felt like back there.
works so well, my 9 year old keeps adjusting the rear controls to cool the back down. As some have stated earlier, it's a shame you need a HIGH priced pkg. to have rear heat. Although, I'm glad to have the Security Pkg. I feel much better knowing my Wife has the side airbags for extra protection, also prefer alloys to wheel covers. Rear air is essential, even in Ohio. I drove the MPV today, mulch run, and the ABS kicked on quite a few times on the snowy roads, no comments S.Cali MaltB:). I know Java has no sympathy for us down south:) Glad to have the ABS it really helps control the van.
Hey MaltB: I installed 400 sq.ft. of Pergo in our kitchen last summer. I felt like I was back in preschool with the Elmer's...hehehe. With 2 kids and a dog, Pergo is the way to go.
You are correct, I have no pity for you Suther-nerds, lol. My six-y.o. is always wanting the rear heat "on," but I'm sure it's just because the dials are something she can control.
The Side airbags and ABS are "must haves" in my book. The CD Changer, plood dash treatment (I still like the plood...call me a redneck), bigger wheels etc are nice to have w/the Luxury too.
This may seem odd, but I'm selling my single CD player head unit from Mochavan. There's absolutely nothing wrong with it (no coffee inside either!), it's just that I bought a changer unit and don't need the single-CD anymore. If I don't sell it privately, I'll put it on ebay. Email me if you might be interested. Of course, everyone's came w/CD, but you never know.
Yeah, like you guys actually read the Member Agreement when you sign up here. (Note the no-soliciting part ). Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
oh, okay... well I'll cheerily delete it if you want me to! :-) Or I could say that I know a guy that has a cd player he doesn't need... that way isn't not for my "personal gain" and I'm not promoting commercially. lol
As our 2002 MPV is approaching 1000 miles, I'm toying with the idea of having a oil change to flush out any new-metal engine debris.
Conceptually this makes sense to me (more debris in the 1st 1000 miles that I don't need that floating around for another 2000 miles), but would there be any problems with it. I seem to remember some involved discussions on oil - mostly about when to start using a synthetic oil - as a dino oil can 'help' seal the gaskets initially.
Would the same hold true for a transmission fluid & filter change...(or an upgrade in synthetic ATF)
Comments - suggestions - witty banter?
Thanks Mat
WHY would commercials on TV show a happy Alaska Native ready to eat his 'non-frozen' waffles & then have a bunch of penguins wandering around the house?
Wife & I were discussing (after talking about oil change in MPV) that the only penguins in Alaska would be in the zoo. (java/Steve - Penguins are a southern hemisphere occurance, right? -or am I just loosing it ;-)
Penguins in Alaska are even more rare than igloos, Java without a cuppa (or Nanuq with a clean Rover). Good ol' Madison Avenue at work. Steve Host SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Yep, I'm a life-long Pittsburgher, except for a 7 year sentence...uh, transfer to Philadelphia. Got back here in 1990. We live in the lower North Hills.
Thanks for the advice on the rear a/c. I kinda thought it would be a necessity.
It sort of bugs me that you have to pay extra for the security of having the extra side airbags in the LX version. Seems like that should be a standard item across the board.
Where did you purchase yours? I'm closest to Don Allen, but Billco is not too bad. I really need to get a close encounter with this vehicle to see how they are coming equipped and what the prices are actually like.
Were you content with the sales experience? How 'bout service? Thanks for your thoughts.
Yeah, it's a tough decision. I think that we have really narrowed it down to the Passat or the MPV. I don't think I really want to pay more than sticker for the Odyssey or deal with the condescending attitude at the local Honda store (although it's certainly a quick process, since there ain't no deal to worry about).
Regardless, I think either of my remaining choices would work out fine. As I see it right now, it's a trade off of space/utility versus fuel economy/safety. Passat gets 5 stars for frontal impact, 4 stars for side impact, and 'Good' overall rating from the IIHS tests along with fuel economy of 21/30. The Mazda obviously has more room, got 5 stars on the side impact test from NHTSA (no front impact results) and gets an 'Acceptable' IIHS rating along with fuel economy of 18/24.
I need some 'quality time' at the dealers to get some final answers and a decision. Thanks for all of the help from you and the others!
rof...Penquins don't exist in Alaska... the misnomer used to bug me and the d.w. is sure to have some "Alaskan Penquin" gift under the tree 4me @ Xmas.lol. Steve's correct, Nanuq's Rover isn't clean (I hear), and java is never w/o a cuppa-joe.
Mat, I wouldn't go w/synth atx till 15k miles. I put Redline atx in and was impressed w/the improvement in shifting quality. I'm conservative and imo I'd change the oil after the first 1k miles.
Good plan Tboner has...your fine Mazda (fomoco) filter will catch the crud, so I'd go w/that actually at 1k miles.
I don't know the definitive answer to whether to change to synth right away, except that many cars come w/it from the factory, so why not, right? I'd do what TB wrote and change the filter and top it off, then change as your normal schedule.
That's true that 00/01 got 4 stars in frontal crash but I remember Mazda rep saying that for 02 they have changed steering column design plus some other improvements in front and they expect the new MPV to get 5 stars this time (I guess that was mentioned in the video from Mazda's web site where they have announced the new MPV at LA[?] auto show this January).
So I wouldn't be surprised if MPV gets 5 stars all around for this model year...
Has anyone been to the Mazda site lately and checked out the video from Car & Driver? It says that the MPV will have carbon fiber accents instead of wood trim. If this is going to be a later issue from the factory, will it come standard or will it be an option? I am sorry if this issue has already been brought up. I love this board! Every time I view the topic there is something interesting. Thanks!!
Altair, I don't think you can compare crash tests between VW and Mazda. When they publish crash tests results they compare minivans to minivans and cars to cars. Therefore, while MPV may seem has lower rating it is much safer overall than VW.
I bought my 01 at Tomsic Mazda in McDonald. At first they tried to sell me it at MSRP, but as soon as I showed them I knew what I was talking about in regard to pricing, they came in at $3k under. So it was a very pleasant buying experience.
I've only taken it back there for service once, but I was mightily impressed by their friendliness and competence. Because of convenience, I've usually taken it to Rohrich on West Liberty, about 5 min from where I teach. Based on their service dept, I wouldn't recommend them. Period. Surly clods.
I'm getting close to buying the 02 MPV LX at invoice, almost 2K below MSRP. This is mostly through internet quote w/o haggling. Is that a good deal? Also, there are not that many Mazda dealer around. Would you take your MPV to a Ford dealer to have it service?
Looking at the numbers for the 2000 and 2001 MPV, it's clear that this was a single test, and not a test each year (e.g. Head Injury Criterion is exactly 784 in both cases and Femur load is 1438# in both years.) For 2002 the frontal crash ratings are cleared away and replaced with "not tested" but the side impact ratings are exactly the same. It appears that there has been enough of a change that the old front crash test results aren't valid anymore, but the side tests are still valid since that design hasn't changed.
Is there any official notification that the MPV will be retested? Where is it? Though I wouldn't postpone buying until the results come out, I'd still like to know if there is going to be a test soon.
The most serious problem in the NHTSA (frontal)and IIHS (offset) tests for the MPV were intrusion into the foot area and force on legs. While the steering column changes wouldn't affect this, the other changes might help.
Does anyone know if, while they were strengthening the front, they decided to put in functional bumpers. The IIHS page still lists the 2000 results, which are pretty bad, though of course not nearly as bad as for the 2002 KIA Sedona. I know they did a little fix on the MPV bumpers after this test came out, but it would be nice if they took the redesign in 2002 as an opportunity to make some more significant improvements.
I'm not sure if the IIHS did a re-test after their initial low-speed bumper test. Mazda was quick to offer an update to the front bumpers in response to the IIHS tests, which I applaud Mazda (and any mfr) for doing. I'd be interested to know if the $$ figures on their site were from the first test, or a subsequent test that may have been conducted. I'd like to see the van tested again, hoping for a better result of the footwell intrusion, as you mentioned.
all i just signed a sales contract yesterday for 02 ES @ invoice + $300. i tried hard to get Subie-type deal (5k off MSRP but, w/ck in hand, nobody would bite). am very happy with deal i obtained. i beleive once news of 02 updates (engine, tranny, pwr doors, etc)reach the van-buying masses it will become, depending on supply, a much better player/seller in the market (read: sold at/near MSRP). Ody was too big for our needs and too boxy.
altair, the MPV is for wife. i have a 2001.5 passat that i bought last may. GREAT car, very happy with it. base model (1.8T engine/manual) plus alloys & monsoon sound (no moon, no cold weather). VERY happy with it. at the time, i knew they were planning on dropping a V8 into it and potentially a V12 (i.e take it upscale into the 40k range). the quality of fit/finish/materials on my $22k passat is same on $40k. there is a little more body roll than i would like, but not too much. its side & curtain airbags are rare for its class. lots of great touches.
Congratulations samk3 on your new car and welcome to the club! I think you have a great deal! If you are going to finance go with peoplefirst.com If there is no incentives then dealers can't match peoplefirs.com rates.
I am toying with using a home equity loan at 6.5% to finance half of a 02 MPV. With being able to deduct the interest on federal taxes, does anyone know what the effective rate would be. I had heard it's about 2% less, which would mean a 4.5% loan after deducting the interest over the life of the loan.
thanks for the peoplefirst suggestion! by coincidence, i went with them last week! 5.99% for up to 60 mos. great service, quick turnaround time. dealer offered to TRY to find a matching rate. however, once he realized i had the peoplefirst ck already he didnt pursue it.
people first huh? I've never gone w/a non-local bank for a loan. What are folks' impressions? online payments would be keen, and my local CU is offering 6.7% for 72mths. Sub-6% would be nice too.
I did finance my Acura for 60 months with peoplefirst.com Their service is excellent. I just paid off Acura 3.5 years ahead of the time and peoplefirst.com mailed me title within few days. When you finance through a bank or a dealer usually you have to pay some kind of loan application fee. Therefore, even if a bank or a dealer matches peoplefirst.com's rate peoplefirst's loan is still less expensive. You can also refinance your existent loan with peoplefirst.com.
One note,however, you cannot finance KIA, Oldsmobile, and I belive Hyundai and Daweoo. I think reasons are obvious. :-)
With a spring break road trip coming up this weekend and next, I figured it wouldn't hurt to check the spare tire under our '01 LX which we have had for about seven months and 6300 miles. Make sure I can actually get the spare out, and make sure it has air in it. Removing and putting back the spare is not difficult to do, but was a bit clumsy and cumbersome, especially reaching under the car to deal with the retaining plate and its little lever. I am glad I played around with it in the garage and became familiar with it, as every vehicle I have ever owned made it a practice to have flat tires at night, or in the rain, or whatever inopportune and inconvenient time (service station help not readily available) they could manage. Fortunately I haven't had that many flats, but they always manage to be 'memorable'. So just thought I'd pass this little piece of experience on to others to become familiar with the spare and jack now, rather than on the proverbial dark and stormy night. By the way, the spare was down about ten pounds so I brought it back up to the recommended sixty.
On the subject of tires, I know that gas mileage is sometimes a dissatisfaction with MPV owners, especially now when gas prices are rising steeply in many places. I've always heard that keeping tires properly inflated will help the mileage. And keeping tires inflated is easy to do, though often neglected.
So, hope to see you on (and not beside) the road. Happy travelling! danandkat
javadoc, mazda guy is corect re no app fee. the only fee is a $15 charge IF(!) you want the ck overnighted. they approve w/in 15 minutes on biz days.
maybe i'm odd, but after working with a dealer over a period of time i'm reluctant to start sharing income etc. by applying for loan online, it becomes a little more "distant" or "impersonal". which is what i want, in this type of transaction.
you dont have to "make the payments online" as you say. but, in order to get 5.99% you have to agree to establish an auto transfer from bank on monthly basis. YOU select the trans date. if you prefer to be invoiced monthly you pay an extra .25%. if you apply for the loan itself over the phone or by fax, instead of online, you pay an additional .5%. still a competitive rate.
let me know if any other Qs. dealer is searching for my Sand 02 ES. should be able to p/u next week.
javadoc, I agree that it is great that Mazda did something about there bumpers. I just don't understand how they got in the situation where they had to. In the late 90s they got a lot of bad press for having the worst bumper test results ever from the IIHS. You think they'd be a little bit sensitive to the issue this time around. This would be like Ford coming out with a new Pinto, and not checking that the gas tank doesn't explode in rear end collisions. (Alright, maybe a little bit of a stretch here.)
I think the MPV is the best car out there right now for what I need, and I plan on buying one, but I think some of the compromises weren't the best. Performance on the 5 mph test is a management decision. To get decent bumpers you add a very little bit to cost and a very little bit to weight. The main compromise is cosmetic: the bumpers stick out more. The decision-makers clearly thought no one cared about bumper strength. I do, and enough other people did that they needed to do a recall. Just like when they thought minivan drivers don't care about engine power, they made an unnecessary, expensive mistake.
I agree, Mazda was caught with their pants down re: the bumper tests. I guess it's anyone's reasoning why it didn't get more of a priority during engineering. Possibly they engineered the bumpers for 3mph or something. I'm not sure, but I seem to recall that the Feds require a 2.5mph test passing... although I could be wrong, I'm getting old. Maybe it was a money decision and the bean-counters gambled (and lost?). Maybe they engineered it for a 5mph crash w/no damage but they goofed? I remember those earlier crash tests from the '90s, because I was shopping the prev-gen MPVs at the time and they made me rethink whether or not I wanted an MPV. You would indeed think they'd have put bumper strength as a priority, eh?
I'm glad the MPV is looking like a good fit for you. I'm trying to find a way to move up to a 2002 w/o losing on the deal. Right now it's a near thing. Mainly my outlook is, I'd get some better features, marginally stronger motor, but 3 more years of factory b2b warranty... if I can get my payments the same, or better yet lower than I'm paying now (half way thru a 6yr loan), and maybe look into.
I don't know if you are aware that you can go to www.mymazda.com and create a profile for your Mazda. There is some useful information about your car.
So I did and I setup an account for my Mazda to learn that there is a recall under my car's VIN number. Because it didn't explain very well what the recall is all about I have sent them an email. Below is their response. If this is the biggest problem that I will have ever with my Mazda then I am in a good shape LOL
MB
Thank you for contacting Mazda North American Operations. I appreciate the opportunity to respond to you.
You are requesting current campaign information regarding your 2002 Mazda MPV, Vehicle Identification Number JM3LW28J42030XXXX.
Our records indicate that your vehicle is affected by Mazda Recall Campaign 0602D, MVSS Label. Mazda North American Operations has determined that 2002 MPV vehicles produced through November 20, 2001 fail to comply with the labeling requirements of the Federal Vehicle Safety Standards.
The MVSS label located on the B-pillar and in the Owner's Manual Towing and Specification sections does not accurately state the maximum Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
Mazda will be expediting MVSS and Owner's Manual labels to owners to correct all subject vehicles. The owner notification letters will start going out in early April.
Again, thank you for contacting Mazda. It has been my pleasure to assist you. If for any reason this response has not completely satisfied you, please feel free to reply to this message. You may also contact our Customer Assistance Center toll-free at 1-800-222-5500.
you'll be getting a couple of labels to replace the ones on your B-pillar and in a section in your manual.
when you do get the new label, it would be interesting to note the differences. Probably just the weight ratings changed (lower maybe?), as it mentioned above.
Comments
I think oldstyle has the right idea.
Steve
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BTW, our '01 ES is 13 mon old with 10k miles. Absolutely no problems. We plan to keep it 10 yrs. Would like the additional power of the '02; however, the '01 is "adequate".
Dennis
Roadtrip countdown--4 days and counting.
AJN
Roadtrip anolledo? Have fun!
Steve
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My wife and I have a 1992 Mazda Protege LX with 156K miles on it. It would probably make it to the 200K mark, but our family has grown with the addition of our first child. This dictates the purchase of a new vehicle since while the baby is small, all the accessories are not (stroller, pac n play, etc). Our other car is a 1997 Honda Accord.
We recently visited the Pittsburgh Auto show and looked at three vehicles: Honda Odyssey, Mazda MPV and VW Passat wagon (well, there actually wasn't one to try out, but we did look hard at the sedan). Each of these vehicles has it own charms, and each would probably work well for us, in perhaps slightly different ways. I'm also involved in amateur astronomy, and all of these vehicles would swallow all of my stuff with ease (if only I could keep my eyes open since the baby came).
I have some questions for you all:
1) Am I the only one who's a little queasy about the Ford powerplant under the hood?
2) 5W20 engine oil recommendation...gosh, that seems awfully thin. Is any other multigrade oil allowed? As you can see above, we buy new, keep'em till they're dead (sometimes even on life support) and then donate them to the Kidney Foundation
3) Air conditioning: One of the few things we found wanting on our Protege was a marginal heating and air conditioning system. Our Honda will give you frostbite in summer and melt your boots in winter. The Protege often required the a/c on 'recirculate' during the summer. Is the additional heater/rear a/c a necessity on the MPV? Summers can be hot and humid here.
We liked the hideaway third seat and the roll-down windows in the sliding doors. The overall size of the vehicle seems okay for us. I haven't visited the show room yet to see how these are coming equipped, thinking that I would get some answers here first.
Our Mazda has been a good car, as has our Honda. So we have no axes to grind either way. Our sales experience with the Honda was "here it is, here's our price; interested or not?" Last August, when we wanted to look at the Odyssey while in for inspection, they didn't have one to even sit in. Despite our clear interest in the minivan, the sales guy kept coming up with, "maybe you are not minivan people." If we are not, then who is? He obviously was trying to steer us towards the CR-V or the Passport.
Our servicing dealer for the Mazda has one great service write up person, one fair one, and one that I'll never use again (what a zipperhead).
The Honda has never had a service issue, other than usual maintenance (filters, fluids and Mobil 1 oil).
We owned a 87 Golf which served us very well but was involved in two accidents which really seemed to ruin it. So we understand the VW way, too.
Any answers to my above questions would be appreciated. Any comments are welcome, too.
Thanks.
We have owned Fords before and the engine (120 000 miles on 3.8L) shouldn't be a problem. Most of the time those little things go bad in Fords and especially AC. From this board you can see that Mazda MPV has very few problems. When we switched from Passat to MPV we noticed very few differences. Acceleration is similar if not better in Mazda. Mazda is as quiet as VW. Fuel usage: Mixed city 80% - Hwy 20% Mazda 20 MPG, VW 21-22 MPG. On hwy Mazda 24MPG, VW 30MPG. The major difference we noticed is the cooling capability. We noticed that in Mazda we need to run AC much harder (we live in Florida) than in a Passat. But again you have to remember that windshield in Mazda is twice as big as in the Passat. Also if you are going to use minivan in hot climate I would advise you to definitely get rear AC. Hope this helps a little.
MB
I agree with mazda_guy on the rear AC. We live in SoFla too, in fact it's been 90' here the past two days . With both units cranked, the MPV cools down fast. Put them on recirculate and you’ll get the frostbite. Remember, it also has the roll-down rear windows to help. If your climate is cold enough, you may want to consider the 4-Seasons package, but it requires either the Luxury or Security package first and I don’t think it includes rear AC.
Hope it helps!
SC
It looks like you put some decent miles on your vehicles. IIRC, Mazda used the 5/20 weight oils to lower emissions. I run 5/30 Amsoil synthetic in my MPV and it loves it year round.
A/C... I can't comment as our temps rarely exceed 80F. The heater is really good w/the 4Seasons tho. ;-)
/java-my2cents-doc
p.s. Steve, were users having trouble w/topic titles?
2000 -->
and <--1998
There was no 1999.
/j
And yeah, newbies couldn't find "MY 2000+" as easily as they'll be able to find "Madza MPV". We should be at 6,000 posts in here easily :-)
I assume you regulars are using the Message Center anyway? Reading Subscriptions is the easy way to keep up in here.
Steve
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SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
If you do get the Mazda--and I can recommend it, especially with the 3.0L engine--make it a point to get the rear AC. It does a terrific job of cooling the car. Last summer, even on the hottest days, I'd use it to quickly cool down a hot van, then turn it off and just run the front AC, usually at 1 or 2.
The rear heat certainly won't hurt, but I don't have it on my 01 LS and didn't miss it. The back heats up--a little more slowly than the front, but just fine. There is a heater vent under the front seat that blows to the back. Never carried anyone in the third seat this winter, so I can't comment on what it felt like back there.
Hey MaltB: I installed 400 sq.ft. of Pergo in our kitchen last summer. I felt like I was back in preschool with the Elmer's...hehehe. With 2 kids and a dog, Pergo is the way to go.
Pjd58
The Side airbags and ABS are "must haves" in my book. The CD Changer, plood dash treatment (I still like the plood...call me a redneck), bigger wheels etc are nice to have w/the Luxury too.
/j
(hopefully this isn't against the TOUs) ;-)
/java
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
/java
Right
TB
Conceptually this makes sense to me (more debris in the 1st 1000 miles that I don't need that floating around for another 2000 miles), but would there be any problems with it. I seem to remember some involved discussions on oil - mostly about when to start using a synthetic oil - as a dino oil can 'help' seal the gaskets initially.
Would the same hold true for a transmission fluid & filter change...(or an upgrade in synthetic ATF)
Comments - suggestions - witty banter?
Thanks
Mat
WHY would commercials on TV show a happy Alaska Native ready to eat his 'non-frozen' waffles & then have a bunch of penguins wandering around the house?
Wife & I were discussing (after talking about oil change in MPV) that the only penguins in Alaska would be in the zoo. (java/Steve - Penguins are a southern hemisphere occurance, right? -or am I just loosing it ;-)
Steve
Host
SUVs, Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories Message Boards
Yep, I'm a life-long Pittsburgher, except for a 7 year sentence...uh, transfer to Philadelphia. Got back here in 1990. We live in the lower North Hills.
Thanks for the advice on the rear a/c. I kinda thought it would be a necessity.
It sort of bugs me that you have to pay extra for the security of having the extra side airbags in the LX version. Seems like that should be a standard item across the board.
Where did you purchase yours? I'm closest to Don Allen, but Billco is not too bad. I really need to get a close encounter with this vehicle to see how they are coming equipped and what the prices are actually like.
Were you content with the sales experience? How 'bout service? Thanks for your thoughts.
Regardless, I think either of my remaining choices would work out fine. As I see it right now, it's a trade off of space/utility versus fuel economy/safety. Passat gets 5 stars for frontal impact, 4 stars for side impact, and 'Good' overall rating from the IIHS tests along with fuel economy of 21/30. The Mazda obviously has more room, got 5 stars on the side impact test from NHTSA (no front impact results) and gets an 'Acceptable' IIHS rating along with fuel economy of 18/24.
I need some 'quality time' at the dealers to get some final answers and a decision. Thanks for all of the help from you and the others!
Mat, I wouldn't go w/synth atx till 15k miles. I put Redline atx in and was impressed w/the improvement in shifting quality. I'm conservative and imo I'd change the oil after the first 1k miles.
/j
So I changed my filter at 1K and added a quart of Mobil1 5W30.
TB
I don't know the definitive answer to whether to change to synth right away, except that many cars come w/it from the factory, so why not, right? I'd do what TB wrote and change the filter and top it off, then change as your normal schedule.
/java
So I wouldn't be surprised if MPV gets 5 stars all around for this model year...
MB
I've only taken it back there for service once, but I was mightily impressed by their friendliness and competence. Because of convenience, I've usually taken it to Rohrich on West Liberty, about 5 min from where I teach. Based on their service dept, I wouldn't recommend them. Period. Surly clods.
RJ
Thanks.
Is there any official notification that the MPV will be retested? Where is it? Though I wouldn't postpone buying until the results come out, I'd still like to know if there is going to be a test soon.
The most serious problem in the NHTSA (frontal)and IIHS (offset) tests for the MPV were intrusion into the foot area and force on legs. While the steering column changes wouldn't affect this, the other changes might help.
Does anyone know if, while they were strengthening the front, they decided to put in functional bumpers. The IIHS page still lists the 2000 results, which are pretty bad, though of course not nearly as bad as for the 2002 KIA Sedona. I know they did a little fix on the MPV bumpers after this test came out, but it would be nice if they took the redesign in 2002 as an opportunity to make some more significant improvements.
/java
i just signed a sales contract yesterday for 02 ES @ invoice + $300. i tried hard to get Subie-type deal (5k off MSRP but, w/ck in hand, nobody would bite). am very happy with deal i obtained. i beleive once news of 02 updates (engine, tranny, pwr doors, etc)reach the van-buying masses it will become, depending on supply, a much better player/seller in the market (read: sold at/near MSRP). Ody was too big for our needs and too boxy.
altair,
the MPV is for wife. i have a 2001.5 passat that i bought last may. GREAT car, very happy with it. base model (1.8T engine/manual) plus alloys & monsoon sound (no moon, no cold weather). VERY happy with it. at the time, i knew they were planning on dropping a V8 into it and potentially a V12 (i.e take it upscale into the 40k range). the quality of fit/finish/materials on my $22k passat is same on $40k. there is a little more body roll than i would like, but not too much. its side & curtain airbags are rare for its class. lots of great touches.
samk3
/java
One note,however, you cannot finance KIA, Oldsmobile, and I belive Hyundai and Daweoo. I think reasons are obvious. :-)
MB
Pjd58
On the subject of tires, I know that gas mileage is sometimes a dissatisfaction with MPV owners, especially now when gas prices are rising steeply in many places. I've always heard that keeping tires properly inflated will help the mileage. And keeping tires inflated is easy to do, though often neglected.
So, hope to see you on (and not beside) the road. Happy travelling! danandkat
mazda guy is corect re no app fee. the only fee is a $15 charge IF(!) you want the ck overnighted. they approve w/in 15 minutes on biz days.
maybe i'm odd, but after working with a dealer over a period of time i'm reluctant to start sharing income etc. by applying for loan online, it becomes a little more "distant" or "impersonal". which is what i want, in this type of transaction.
you dont have to "make the payments online" as you say. but, in order to get 5.99% you have to agree to establish an auto transfer from bank on monthly basis. YOU select the trans date. if you prefer to be invoiced monthly you pay an extra .25%. if you apply for the loan itself over the phone or by fax, instead of online, you pay an additional .5%. still a competitive rate.
let me know if any other Qs. dealer is searching for my Sand 02 ES. should be able to p/u next week.
samk3
I agree that it is great that Mazda did something about there bumpers. I just don't understand how they got in the situation where they had to. In the late 90s they got a lot of bad press for having the worst bumper test results ever from the IIHS. You think they'd be a little bit sensitive to the issue this time around. This would be like Ford coming out with a new Pinto, and not checking that the gas tank doesn't explode in rear end collisions. (Alright, maybe a little bit of a stretch here.)
I think the MPV is the best car out there right now for what I need, and I plan on buying one, but I think some of the compromises weren't the best. Performance on the 5 mph test is a management decision. To get decent bumpers you add a very little bit to cost and a very little bit to weight. The main compromise is cosmetic: the bumpers stick out more. The decision-makers clearly thought no one cared about bumper strength. I do, and enough other people did that they needed to do a recall. Just like when they thought minivan drivers don't care about engine power, they made an unnecessary, expensive mistake.
I'm glad the MPV is looking like a good fit for you. I'm trying to find a way to move up to a 2002 w/o losing on the deal. Right now it's a near thing. Mainly my outlook is, I'd get some better features, marginally stronger motor, but 3 more years of factory b2b warranty... if I can get my payments the same, or better yet lower than I'm paying now (half way thru a 6yr loan), and maybe look into.
/java
/javadoc
does it have 4 seasons ?
So I did and I setup an account for my Mazda to learn that there is a recall under my car's VIN number. Because it didn't explain very well what the recall is all about I have sent them an email. Below is their response. If this is the biggest problem that I will have ever with my Mazda then I am in a good shape LOL
MB
Thank you for contacting Mazda North American Operations. I appreciate
the opportunity to respond to you.
You are requesting current campaign information regarding your 2002
Mazda MPV, Vehicle Identification Number JM3LW28J42030XXXX.
Our records indicate that your vehicle is affected by Mazda Recall
Campaign 0602D, MVSS Label. Mazda North American Operations has
determined that 2002 MPV vehicles produced through November 20, 2001
fail to comply with the labeling requirements of the Federal Vehicle
Safety Standards.
The MVSS label located on the B-pillar and in the Owner's Manual Towing
and Specification sections does not accurately state the maximum Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
Mazda will be expediting MVSS and Owner's Manual labels to owners to
correct all subject vehicles. The owner notification letters will start
going out in early April.
Again, thank you for contacting Mazda. It has been my pleasure to
assist you. If for any reason this response has not completely
satisfied you, please feel free to reply to this message. You may also
contact our Customer Assistance Center toll-free at 1-800-222-5500.
Regards,
Specialist, Customer Assistance E-Business
when you do get the new label, it would be interesting to note the differences. Probably just the weight ratings changed (lower maybe?), as it mentioned above.
-Brian