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1. Open door warning (beeping) should sound only when the key is in ON position (ready to drive). It should not beep when the key is in ACC position otherwise it is impossible to listen to music when enjoying view from rear-facing 3rd row seat and open tailgate.
2. Also it would be good to show actually which door is not closed properly when the alarm goes ON.
3. Door should lock when van gains some speed.
4. I'd love having remote engine starter. Now when it's freezing outside it's very hard to warm up the engine. You should be near the van all the time because you cannot leave the engine running without a key in ignition and you cannot leave a van unattanded with engine running and a key in ignition, right? :-)
5. Inside/outside temperature gauge.
6. Power doors/tailgate could be a useful option to choose from.
7. Tire pressure sensors
8. Traction control
9. "In-dash tissue dispenser". Some way to store and easily get facial tissue/paper towelettes. Many drivers just put boxes on dashboard and they constantly fall off from there. Mine is in glove compartment but it takes almost all space in there...
10. Gas consumption/distance to empty tank gauge...
I think that's it what I would want...
A center console between the front seats would be nice - can anyone recommend one in particular? Don't most minivans come with a center console as standard equipment?
Also, I'm new to minivans, and have no idea where to stow my jumper cables, flash light, flares, window scraper, all all that other junk you normally toss in the trunk of your car. I would be curious how other people handle this.
Other than this issue, I really like this car. I think the engine complaints are valid, but I can live with it because of all the other virtues of the MPV. Besides, if I want to drive fast, I will drive my Legend.
William
I do a lot of camping and use this every time.
Ahhh...Music with no beeps.
I just bought a used ES with 20,000 miles on it. From all appearances it is in excellent condition. (2000 MPV ES + moonroof, 6CD, roofrack, GFX pkg, foglights.) Has 16" rims, Dunlop 4000 tires.
I think I want to stiffen the suspension. At 30-40 mph say, moving the steering wheel back and forth a bit (say from 11 o'clock position to 1 o'clock ) results in significant sway. Seems to feel mainly in the front-end. Can't tell what the reaction is in back-end. At 60 mph, I haven't 'shaken' it to the same extent, but again notice quick sway for just a little jostling of the steering wheel.
I assume this is just characteristic of the MPV, and that the shocks (struts) would not have wornout already. So I am looking for solutions: stiffer shocks, anti-sway bar kits, etc.
Interestingly, cornering in city-driving handles great... no excessive lean.
Any observations or similar concerns? Found any 'fixes'? - Thanks
BTW, I just got it, so not much feedback to offer yet. Certainly looks like a good package.
Did you know that the Code of Federal Regulations devotes 100 pages to the specifications of crash dummies?
Stowage space:
What's an ice scraper?
The jack compartment(left rear by the power port) on the MPV has quite a bit of extra room for smaller accessories(jumper cables, flares, water and trash bags).
As far as cell phone goes, mine flops around as I'm too cheap to buy a holder for it.
Tissue box: drivers door pocket.
Few people fess up to liking minivans, including most of the editors here at AutoWeek HQ. But come any long weekend, sure as heck a few'll come a-runnin' for our long-term Mazda MPV. Says a lot about a vehicle fulfilling its purpose. How many sport coupes live up to their advertising as well as minivans do?
A couple of baby boomers, more inclined to beg for the Boxster S, have come to appreciate, even enjoy, the MPV. After a two-month hiatus, even our oft-phlegmatic motorsports editor said: "I scare me: I'm actually liking this thing".
It carried us to and from the office with a nary a complaint, to amusement parks and family gatherings etc...
Fortunately, the complaints are niggling ones. The MPV will continue to be a house favorite, anytime someone needs to move furniture, take out friends, ,etc..
They say that they are averaging 20.1 mpg and have driven it for some 15,000 miles total.
Otherwise, call Hertz or others. I've seen Mazda 626's there, so they may have MPV's as well.
TB
First off I'd like to thank all of you Canadians and Americans who helped sway me to Mazda's MPV, rather than the (expensive, inadequate) Honda or Toyota offerings!!
I just bought a 2001 LX from St. Catharines Mazda today and I have to say it was a painless experience due to the valuable information I've gained from each and everyone of you here! I'm happy to report that I was able to purchase the vehicle at 3% over invoice (25580 + 3%). The best part is that I was able to get over $1,000 more from my trade-in than I thought was possible!! Overall an excellent deal and one very friendly dealership experience!! For those of you in the Niagara/Toronto area, please see Terry at St. Catharines Mazda for an excellent deal..tell him Todd from 97.7 HTZ-FM sent you.
Cheers
1. The power issue is a myth. My last two cars were a quick and lively 94 Voyager and a startlingly quick 98 Cherokee. On a scale of 0-10, the Jeep would be a 10 and the Voyager would be about a 9.6 (Frame of reference: My 74 AMC Gremlin was about a 3). On that scale, the MPV is about a 9.5. Even with three adults in it, it was spritely and and comfortably quick off the mark. I had no hesitation about darting across traffic from a dead stop when I had to. The van responded more than adequately. Going up the many step hills in our area was simply not a challenge for it. Even loaded, it took them in stride.
2. The "herky-jerky" transmission is a myth. Yes, trying to floor it up a steep hill would cause it to hunt for the gear and shift harshly. But in normal driving circumstances, the only term for the transmission is "silky smooth." I barely felt its shifts, and it found and kept its gear smoothly and predictably. I was impressed.
3. The ride is everything it's supposed to be. After spending three years being tossed around like dice in a Yatzee cup in my Jeep, it was a blessed relief not to be annoyed by pebbles and pieces of paper on the road. Sheer pleasure.
4. Handling is a revelation. The Voyager handled sloppily, the Jeep excellently; this car outperformed the Jeep. Case in point: While I was coming homelast night, a car came out of a side street and butted its nose half way into my lane right in front of me. I had no chance to brake, so I swerved. The van flicked around the other car and centered itself back in its lane without a trace of lean and with a quickness and surefootedness I haven't seen on a car since I was driving MG's back in the 60's. Very impressive.
4. The interior--and especially the dashboard--is the most driver friendly I've ever seen. Everything is laid out intelligently and with an eye toward allowing the driver to keep his eye on the road as much as possible.
5. The stalks around the steering wheel are too many and too complicated. Especially odd is the stalk-mounted cruise control. I thought that went out with the nineties.
6. If you're tall like me and like to be close to the wheel while driving, you have to compromise. You can have leg room or closeness--not both. I can get comfortable with the wheel if I tilt it down and drive in the 4 and 8 position, though. This, by the way, also obviates the "hidden radio" problem, at least for a tall person.
7. I haven't yet found the right combination of height, back-tilt, and depth to get a totally comfortable driving position. I'm not overly worried about that, though; it took nearly a year with the Jeep.
All in all, I'm deeply pleased by my first experience with the car. Some adjustments will have to be made before I can be truly comfortable in it, as with any change of car, but I think I'll be able to make them easily, especially if my first impressions hold up.
Apologies for the length of the post, but I know there are others out there who are thinking about the MPV and have some concerns. I had the same concerns and they've turned out to be largely baseless as far as I'm concerned. As of right now, I'm a VERY happy camper. And I'll be back, on a periodic basis, with (hopefully shorter) updates.
rjr425
There are pros and cons to buying used. We missed the pristine aspect of a new vehicle -- but how long does that last? The salesman also said that the van had been pulling, so they aligned it and replaced the tires. So in some ways it was better than new! Anyone looking for a friendly used van should consider the MPV.
Vanmeister
While searching Wal-Mart's U.S. web site I came across what I think is the same thing for $25.00 US (no tax). Is this correct, If so I'll have one shipped to my in-laws in Detroit and pick it up the next time I'm down.
Thanks for your help!
Here's the details on it.
UP
0073921454215
Product Measurement in inches
8.75 I 27.5 I 12.5
Shipping weight in pounds
9.0
Assembled Country of Origin
US
Cheers
Drew
Host
Vans, SUVs, and Aftermarket and Accessories message boards
We also really like the layout of the ES. My wife keeps commenting on how big the interior of the ES is (& she is comparing it to the GC). It seems wider to her & we both feel there is no comparison in comfort to the GC. Love the fold-down rear seat & roll-down windows in the doors. The trip was 150 miles each way & I didn't feel tired or stiff after the ride. Also had a chance to try it in about 2 inches of snow sticking to the road in Mariposa--handled great in that including on the turns. This was with just the standard tires.
Also, considering getting the 4 seasons package and looking for info./opinions? What does "larger" radiator mean? How about what's the auxiliary transmission cooler?? How are these different from LX without package?
So far looking at LX w/Touring Pkg + roof rack for $22.5K (includes des.t and incentive). Seems in line with others. Is Edmunds TMV price achievable??? Haven't seen anyone coming close yet.
Larger Radiator: Gives the engine the ability to stay cool under heavier loads.
Auxiliary Trans Cooler: On the standard models, the transmissions heat is cooled by running the transmission fluid through the radiator. With the aux. cooler, the fluid is run through it's own mini-radiator giving it increased cooling ability, and not adding extra heat to the engine radiator.
Background: The transmission generates heat from the torque converter(fluid clutch) and the temp increases when the vehicle is under increased load(i.e. loading the van full of stuff, towing, or lots of mountain driving).
If you plan on towing, this is a 'must have'.
What engine problems have you heard about re: oil changes???
Cooling system capacity: 10.8 quarts vs. 12.7 with the 4 seasons pkg. It's difficult to say what the radiator size difference is as the number above includes the rear heater. However, any time you increase capacity, the cooling capacity goes up.
I've only had oil changes done at the dealer and they were fine. I thought I had a leak in the roof but no problems since my initial problem and dealer work.
Good luck. Let me know where you go.
Remote starters are a "must have" for those living in northern climates (no, not northern L.A., maltb, lol). Know though, that the keys for the MPV contain a small microchip, and you'll lose one of your keys to any remote start system, in order for it to work. Replacements come in sets of 2 from the dealer, at around $80 a set. Once you have one though, you'll never go without a remote starter again.
cheers,
--java
The cool part is that the factory theft-deterrant system remains intact. I had a regular key made w/o the microchip, and it won't start the van, only the keyfob or the other original key, nothing else (I'm sure a determined thief could steal any car tho).
Most remote starters come with keyfobs that will control (or interface with) your factory keyless entry systems. That's what mine does, and it still works great after 18 months. The only problem I've had was one of the remote' batteries went dead and I had to replace it.
Oh, and if I had my dithers (and I don't) I'd wish my MPV to go out and bring home, in this order, Chinese take out, two movies and ice cream from Cold Stone. ;-)
--java
I've got a really heavy duty extension cord (20 Amp rated I believe) and a timer to match.
I just put the heater in the drivers floorboard. (Clean up all of your papers etc), and run the cord out the drivers door. The weatherstripping keeps it from getting mangled.
Plug the heatercord into the extension cord.
Set the timer for about 2 hours before you plan to leave.
My car is a baumy 90+ degrees, and I don't need to scrape windows. Just unplug the heater and go.
TB
Once tboner started a topic on heating, I have one question about block heaters. Does anyone here have one installed? I know that most of you US guys even don't know what's the white stuff that falls from the skies but anyway...
I tried mine several times this winter and I can't say I could tell any difference. The van stays in an underground garage overnight but during the day when I'm at work it is parked outside... Usually when it is really cold (-20°C or below) it takes about 5 minutes or so to warm up the engine. When I used the block heater I didn't see any difference. Is that how it is supposed to work. What actually is heated (I guess the engine block)? But the temp gauge still lies outside the scale until it actually warms up. And cold air comes from vents for several minutes... Well, just as if the block heater is not turned on... I'm just curious if you have any better experience with BH on your van (a friend of mine owns Pontiac TransSport and complains about the same block heater issue). Maybe I'm missing something here... Any insight?
You won't really notice much difference in how quickly the engine warms up or the heat starts coming out of the vents; those things are controlled by the temperature of the antifreeze flowing through the engine and radiator. BTW, I'm very pleased with how quickly the MPV warms up. In chilly weather (~30 degrees F), it only takes about 2 minutes before the temp gauge starts rising. In my Sentra, it takes 6-7 minutes, which is a drag considering that my commute is only 10 minutes! My old Protege was quick to warm up, too, so I guess Mazda has made that something of a priority (yes, I know the MPV has a Ford engine.).
One note on the trend toward microchips in the keys: while it has greatly reduced autotheft (it really is virtually impossible to defeat these things, even for an experienced thief), it has increased the likelihood of carjacking. The thieves figure the only way they can get your car is by getting the key from you. Personally, I'd much rather have someone hotwire the car when I'm not around than taking it from me while I'm in it. I have insurance, so I'd get reimbursed if the car were swiped, but who knows what bodily harm would come from a carjacking? I have the alarm in my MPV, but not really by choice; it was the only way to get the side airbags and moonroof.
alex, I don't ever use engine block heaters up here, but I really like oil pan heaters. They're basically a 6"x8" pad that you glue (silicon adhesive) to the oil pan and plug into house current. They put out enough heat to keep your pan oil literally warm in the insanely cold temps we see here sometimes. It's nice to know that you wouldn't have frozen glop trying to lubricate the expensive parts of the engine. They don't speed warm up of the coolant tho, which would warm the car's interior faster, just as elvis_hoo said.
--java
--java
It's a 1200W (read really small) heater, and I guess the duty cycle will be about 50% since I have it set to the middle temperature setting.
The cabin of a car is much smaller than a 10'x10'x8' room, so there is much less volume to heat.
So if electricity is $0.25/KW hour (not sure if that is my rate, probably lower here in the midwest), then I might be using $1.50 - $2.00 electricity/week.
Let your car idle for 5-10 minutes/morning for a week and you might use nearly a gallon of fuel, at $1.50/gallon here, it is nearly a wash AFAIC.
Plus, there is absolutely NO SCRAPING of windows, the stuff just melts off the car
TB
My local dealer is holding for me a 2000 ES, with all the goodies...MSRP of $29.030. Has anyone bought this model in the last few weeks and if so what kind of deal did you get? I saw posted that there is a $1,000 back to dealer incentive, if this is true has anyone been able to get part of it in your deal and keep the 0% for 48 months. Please let me know sap...
I've seen several pre-owned 2000 ES models with less than 20,000 miles for under $20k. I think my wife and I will end up going this route when we are prepared to buy. You might want to consider it among your options, too.
-Brian