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Great info here, hope you can clarify a couple points...
1. There's currently a $1000 rebate on the MPV? 2000 or 2001? Edmunds doesn't show it...
2. Is the low financing rate in lieu of the rebate, or in addition to it?
Any other advice would be welcome, especially ideas on good dealerships in the area.
Thanks
Yes, there is a $1000 rebate on 2000 not on 2001. The financing is still 6.9 for 60 months. I went through the OSU Federal Credit Union at 8.75% for 72 months for payments of $428. I purchased at $200 below invoice at Sunwest in Newport with Kim. She is a joy to work with - she is brand new and very refreshing. I highly recommend her. I do NOT recommend Todd from Eugene - total jerk - know it all type. Power Mazda in Salem has the best selection and John Post was a great 'grandpa friendly' type but was not available when I was ready to buy so went with Kim. If I could do it over, I should have gone to Salem for the selection (15 MPV) I don't know if they were 2000 or 2001. Please don't get a red one. I had my heart set on red and ended up with white. I am starting to really like the white one, but would probably cry if I had to see a red one in my home town. Good luck!
btw, you're safe, I'm not partial to white OR red
I must admit, I have yet to see one single MPV here in town. I'll see what I can do to raise the population....
Anyway, the van is the best vehicle I have driven in these conditions. I really prefer a real wheel drive vehicle on snow, since the fish-tailing is so much fun, but the MPV cuts through it like it's not even there. And you know, here in Chicago we're no slouches in the snow dept. Mud hasn't been a problem either. To get to our barn we have to drive over the race track about a quarter of a mile. After a rain or when the snow melts, the track has about 4-5 inches of mud on it. No problem.
Since this is a mini-van,I certainly wouldn't take the van across any steep ditches or real rocky areas, but in conditions other than perfect blacktop you should be just fine. Hope this helps.
TM33 - If you come this far north, Herzog Meier in Beaverton has/had about 20 vans when I bought. Saw my van there, had it traded to McMinnville, after HM sales mgr tried to clown me with rebate #'s. Rebate has been 1000, OR 1500 if you get the entertainment set up, but not worth it if you weren't going the VCR route. Low Fi is not thrown in...every dealer I talked to said "either/or". believe me...I tried, no go, anywhere. May be different now?? My financing was through USAA at 8.3 for 60 with a guarantee "total loss" payoff thrown in. Bought 1 month ago at 500 below Edmunds invoice + 1000 rebate. Mark E. @ Jim Doran Auto in McMinnville was straight up with me, dealership jumped through hoops to make the trade with less than 24 hours notice so I could take delivery when I had someone to drive down with me on a Sunday. Will be having them install a roof rack next week, at cost + $100 labor. Haven't been back to HM since I might irritate them for taking their emblem off the back of the van they could have sold me!
Cinka1 : I bought $12 furniture pads @ HomeBase that I use under Shelby's crate. Also some $2/set web tie downs that anchor it nicely. Pads are nice and thick, dog hair shakes off easily and the pad even matches my blue van! I am bit picky, but it looks like I planned it when I didn't! Can't imagine having 3 dogs in mine though..at 65 lbs Shelby is enough! She is getting quite comfortable with the jump in though, and I roll the pad out over the rear bumper so she doesn't scratch it. She's 10, and slower now, so it works great! Glad to hear you were kidding about seeing me...must have been a long day at work for me!! Maybe I should stay off the bridges... Ha ha.
Everyone else: PLEASE tell me the gas mileage will get better. Filled up , and calc'd 14.2 in town driving. Did the math twice thinking I was losing it...last tank was 16.3. I really don't drive crazy, just too much around town. Good thing I have NO social life and work is only 3 miles each way...it will get better, right? Van has 850 miles on it.
Sorry for the long post...even Shelby is snoring!
The moon roof and roof rack CAN be installed on the same car. I bought a 2000 LX last month with a moon roof, that just happened to NOT have the roof rack I wanted. I am going in Wednesday morning to have the rack installed. I have seen models with both moon, and rack on them also but don't recall which model. I don't believe the model really matters though, just depends on how the packages are put together from what I could tell. What you CAN'T do is get the moonroof and security package...you have to buy the "touring package" instead, which includes the security stuff.
Thanks to the board for all the helpful input.
ATTICUSF: Funny about the Mercedes comment...I just got home from prepping Thanksgiving stuff at my sis's. Her husband came home (in the dark) and had never seen my MPV. Came in to the house and says "is that your new van...pretty color...what is it?...oh Mazda?...thought it was a Mercedes at first..." ha ha
HAPPY (BELATED?) THANKSGIVING ALL!
Thanks to all the posters..this forum has been great in pointing me toward the MPV -- lots of people who seem to love theirs!
I also had some trouble with the trim getting loose on the drivers side door but it turns out the dealer replaced the door before it was sold to me. Most have been a big boo-boo. I wanted the only Sapphire ES so the dealer mentioned they had to do some work on the door before I bought it. They took care of all my door complaints when I brouht it into for the recall.
Anyway, its been over a year and I still love it. The mileage is still a little lower than ideal but I have a blast driving it here in Massachusetts. I got the Weathertech mats and have been pleased with them too.
None of these vehicles is perfect, so don't forget that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. For the record, the only problem I've had with my MPV is steadily decreasing gas mileage (need to have that checked).
frame as you open driver door. Hope this is of some help.
I just noticed the pass side of my upper dash pad may be defective. It's right by the tweeter (2.5 inch round speaker). I originally thought there was a crack in the dash but, the closer I looked, there's an actual line outlining the round speaker cutout. This only exists on the pass side (driver's side has nothing like this.)
PLEASE check your dashboards and let me know if any of you have the same.
MANY THANKS & happy holidays!
I know of some long-time posters who have left the site recently because of differences of opinion with the moderators. Maybe there are more than we know of.
TB
MPV content...having the bumper recall done this week...17.5mpg last few tanks...love the remote starter...and the new center console (thx everyone)
--javadoc
I'm looking to buy either a Mazda MPV, Tribute or Ford Excape.
I was leaning towards a MPV however this board has been giving me serious doubts.
1. Gas milage of 15 is'nt making me too happy
2. The leaning towards one direction concerns me.
3. Seems to be a lot of 1997 and 2000 used ones for sale. No 1998-1999's at all.
Are these used ones returns from people that were not happy with it? There are tons of 2000 with like 14k on them for sale. I know the engine is under powered, but can this underpowered problem cause so many resells? The milage thing gets to me a lot, because I've been hearing a lot of talk of 15-20 miles consistantly on the lower end.
Now the good, I love mazda cars, this van is really nice and I think is a poor man's honda oddesey. I will not but a toyota ciana, when Honda is so much better for same price.
The under powered and lots of used ones for sale scare me however, some of the odd problems you guys have been talking about scares me as well. I'm used to acura and toyota quality.
So can anyone shed light on all the used ones for sale 2000 with 14k on them? Or more info on the milage spread that seems to go with this van?
Thanks
Jim
As far as problems scaring you, you really need look around on the other boards regarding problems, not just the MPV's. I think if you do, you'll be scared of buying anything BUT the MPV. Find a reputable dealer and take a good LONG test drive. Look for vibration at 65-70 MPH. If its there, it probably can be fixed with a "on the vehicle" tire balance (worked for us). Look for lean- its really just aesthetic, (if you can perceive it) but some MPV's seem to have it to a greater degree than others. Bottom Line- If you are aware of the problems, it is easy to shop for a MPV with none of them since most MPV's don't have them. On the flip side- yes there are some MPV's out there on dealers lots with problems, but thats true of the Honda, Toyotas, GM, DC and Ford offerings as well, probably to a greater degree in both severity and frequency.
As far as not seeing any 99 MPV's, that's because there weren't any. and the the 2000's with 14,000 miles, I don't know- sounds like rental car (e.g. Hertz) dumping.
One final note- with all the money we saved over buying a Honda or Toyota, we opted for the 9 speaker stereo and added an overhead Rear Seat Entertainment System- Yessir, we do love our MPV!
Vanmeister
I own a 626, which tips the scale around 100 to 300 lb less than the competition, and which has a teensy 2.0-liter four-banger. But it will run seemingly forever at 75-80 mph with no complaints. I imagine the MPV will likely do the same.
really enjoying it. I have a bright red ES and I
get lots of compliments on the van. I would
eventually like to add a roof rack. I was happy to
hear it could be added even though I have the moon
roof. The dealership told me it would be about 3-4
hrs labor though so I can't really splurge on that
right now.
I haven't calculated the gas mileage yet but I'm
planning to do that.
We originally looked at the Honda but there is a 3
- 5 month wait in this area. I'm happy I ended up
with the MPV because they are much less common.
It's fun to drive something not so ordinary!
I have no complaints except people stop me all the time wanting to know what I'm driving.
Another topic - I have seen a lot of MPVs with about 15,000 miles on them. Is buying a former rental necessarily a bad idea?
cheers and happy holidays to one and all!
--javadoc
With regards to the MPV Cruisers topic, you can get to it by clicking here. Note that thanks to our Townhall team which is working around the clock to squish the bugs, we now have a placemark like feature called "Mark/Subscribe". You may mark specific topics or messages and they can be accessed directly by clicking on the "Message Centre" button at the bottom of your screen.
If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to ask!
Thanks,
Drew
Edmunds.com Townhall co-host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories conferences
Two days ago, the gentleman at the gas station forgot to "screw in" the gas cap after I got gas. ( I am in NJ, we can't put gas in by ourself). Yesterday, I got the check engine light on. Called up the dealer and they asked if the van just got gas. (Certainly, the van won't work if you don't feed it). He then told me that it is not cover by the warranty. I called up
Mazda customer service (1 800 222 5500). The lady at the other side insisted this is an user error, not cover by warranty. I would say that this is an design defeat. All other cars I own, owned, don't have this problem.
I can't believe Mazda is doing this. It wastes me one day for the service and $$ for their design defeat.
I would not buy another Mazda again.
Please let me know if you have any suggestion. Or, maybe I am wrong.
Thank you for your time.
-java
No offense, but it really cracks me up to hear someone say that they'll never buy a certain make of car ever again just because a stupid check engine light is on. It will reset itself, so I don't see how it has actually caused you any inconvenience. It is not indicative of a poor design, and as someone else pointed out, this is just the way the latest emissions software is designed to work. I know people who drive Toyotas and Hondas that have had this happen, so it's not specific to Mazda. The reason why it's probably never happened to you is because the new emissions standard only been around a few years, and it only comes on if you don't screw the gas cap on tightly enough. If your other cars are older than about 1996 or 1997, they don't have the government-mandated OBDII emissions software. I believe that the owner's manual covers this (my salesman pointed it out to me), so I don't see how it's a design defect if you don't even follow the instructions by making sure the gas cap is screwed on tightly.
Back to the point, several other people have issued similar ultimatums ("I'll never buy a Mazda again..."), and invariably the problem is something trivial. Somebody on this board recently made such an ultimatum largely because the CD player had to be replaced! No car is perfect, so if perfection is the only acceptable result for you, you will be going through a lot of vehicles in the coming years.
When Consumer Reports tests cars, they have a category for "sample defects", which refers to minor problems that are not design-related but are just the result of variances during manufacturing. It is extremely rare for a car to have zero sample defects, including the most reliable cars you can think of (Honda, Toyota, etc.). The last one I can remember was a Nissan Maxima a couple of years ago. I'm just pointing out that with something as complicated as a car, it's almost impossible to build with no errors whatsoever.
And CU's sample-defect count is less useful than it might seem. For one thing, since it is based solely upon the one car they bought, it has next to nothing to do with the one someone else will buy. What's more, it's a tad indiscriminate: a patch of orange peel on the trunk lid and a blown main seal each count as one defect, though they will usually spell out anything they consider serious.
Now to go check my gas cap....
I drive a mini-van, not a dragster, so I never look over at the car next to me, rev my engine while giving the thumbs up sign, and wait for the light to turn green.(no doubt anyone doing this in ANY mini-van would be giggled at) I also have never put the pedal to the floor, or anything close.
I've heard the argument made for the need of power to pass other vehicles. Well, I thought you just needed the desire to go a little faster than the car you are wanting to pass. If I only have a couple of seconds to pass a vehicle to clear oncoming traffic, I don't try to pass. But this has nothing to do with the vehicle I am driving.
I admit that I have a heavy foot in traffic, especially on highways. If the speed limit is 65, you can bet my cruise is set at about 75-80. The van cruises along beautifully, and I've never red-lined the van to do this. So..... what's with the "time off the line" ?
Then again, there's slow and then there's slow. In the November 2000 minivan test in Car and Driver, the MPV was slowest at zero-to-sixty, trailing the poky Nissan Quest by a full 0.8 second, yet it was able to outrun the Quest from 50 to 70, a typical passing situation. And top speed, at 112 mph, was slightly above the group average. Gas mileage, though, was the worst of the group.
I am lookin' for a little help here. MY wife and I are expecing our first kid in Jan. We are torn between the Nissan xterra, accord and MPV. The Nissan is hip and all, but SUV's seem to be expensive for what little you get. The accord is nice, but I have a car. Now, we've also driven the Sierra, Odessey, and Caravan. The Mpv Impressed us because of fuctionality, manueverability, and price. i see all the concerns about power; but the Mpv had plenty for the driving I do,(Heck, my little golf does fine, just need more room!). So my question is, have any of ya'll had to choose betwwen a SUV and minivan? If so, what made you choose the minivan? Might sound dumb, but does the image thing ever come into play? Thanks for the help!
Please forgive my ignorance. I am sorry for my "angry" post previously.
Anyway, I just filled up the tank again, and hopefully the light get reset after several more "cold start"
If the light doesn't go out, then I have to spend one day and $$ for this out of warranty problem!
Did any owner have similar problem? Did it go reset by itself?
Thanks for your time.
Hope this helps!
Drew
Edmunds.com Townhall co-host
Vans and Aftermarket & Accessories conferences
better gas mileage
more car-like ride
SUV?
image
tow a big boat
if you like trucks
The fuse removal is the better solution because you don't lose your radio settings
I haven't checked to see if you can do this on the Mazda, I can do it on my Ford. I did spend about $100 on an interface box and software so I can interface my laptop with the OBD-II compliant computer on the MPV and my Ford. Then, I can really see what the problem is before I clear any codes.
And I really don't know what all of the complaining about the light coming on for a loose gas cap being a "design flaw" is all about. It seems the person who wrote that spent very little time actually reading his/her owners manual.
Read up on OBD-II and you will learn that the evaporative emmissions system is one monitored by OBD-II. (You know, fuel vapors escaping from the fuel tank, the charcoal canister that absorbs those vapors and the purge valve that feeds those vapors to a warm engine.) So by federal law, the system must detect when the "closed" fuel system is not closed. (I.E. a loose gas cap!)
So I contend, the only design flaw is with the Federal Government.
Now, if you were to ask me about customer satisfaction and charging a customer $50-$100 to tell them their gas cap was loose, I'll be sympathetic. But since the owners manual clearly discusses the function of the "Check Engine" light, I really have no sympathy for those who ran to the dealer before they read the owners manual.
Just a bit grumpy today after schleping tons of Christmas gifts around for a mostly ungrateful nearly 11 year old daughter, reading directions to assemble many items that usually require both batteries and assembly. Plus, I'm on call this week, so there is a good chance my sleep will be interrupted nightly until New Years day!
Cheers,
TB