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Vans & Minivans Mazda MPV Mazda MPV
8183 messages, Last post on Nov 14, 2009 at 9:59 AM
You are in the Mazda MPV Forum. Your Host is Karens
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And I get the first "real" post. Thanks KarenS, TB
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The 2000 MPVs have been out long enough now that there are a scattering of used ones appearing. I've been thinking about getting one new or used. There's a used ES with about 18,000 miles advertised at $21,999. Supposed to be "loaded" -- not sure what all the options are but I know it has a moonroof. Any thought on buying new v. used? Also, what price would make this a good deal (assuming it's in good condition, mostly highway miles, etc.)?
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Since the new ones for sale are pretty well discounted you should be able to get a good price. Ask the dealer the question, why should I pay $22K for a new one when your invoice price on a new one comparably equipped is about $24-25K before any rebates are considered. My gut tells me that with about 20K miles the price of the van should be around $20K plus tax tags and title. I'd make a strong case the following way. Get the option list on the used van, figure the invoice price of a new one with those features, then offer not more than 82% of invoice, minus any current rebates since that generally reduces the trade values of all vehicles. Figure a lifecycle of 100K miles, it has 18K miles so it's 18% used up. Let's figure that if the van is truly loaded then invoice might be around $25K, if there is a $1K rebate, then a new one "costs" the dealer about $24K, so 82% of 24K is about $19.7K, so I wouldn't go much higher than $20.5K just on the van. If you can wait, then tell them your offer is good for so many days (say the 30th of June) and maybe they will sell it to you. I'm not a car professional, so there are probably many ways to figure it. That is what I figure the van is worth to me, if it is a perfect vehicle. What it is actualy worth to you depends on the condition, color, and the state of your current transportation. None of that considers a trade. If you can, just buy the van without trading. My $0.02 Cheers, TB |
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Didn't complete the thought. If I liked the vehicle, I'd open at $19.7K if there was a $1K rebate on the new ones (assuming the new invoice of $25K) If there were no rebate the numbers may go up about $800, but this gives you one way to (in a purely mechanical way) determine A value for the used vehicle. Not necessarily THE value, but a reasonable starting point. This is what a used vehicle is worth to you, 82% of the wholesale cost of a new one today. Cheers, TB |
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kondo: thanks for the tip! I will try that next test drive. elvis_hoo: I agree with you. I want the brakes to work, effectively and consistently. Rear drum or rear disc deep down are not that important. I've noticed a lot of the car reviewers and car magazines are interested, and comment positively, only on the latest and greatest technological advances that are going into cars today. I rarely see comments about reliability and affordability (except maybe in Consumers Digest and the like), two things I think their readers would be very interested in. The greatest disc brakes in the world aren't any good to me if they're part of a defective batch from the brake manufacturer! A couple of other comments about my first test drive: the saleslady, who was very nice but very new, said to put a 3/1 stereo in the MPV would cost about $300 (all they had on the lot were CD's and CD changers). That still doesn't sound right to me given the MSRP on the 3/1 stereo is $150 from several sources, including Edmunds. Also, driving on a hot day at noon in Houston, the A/C did a good, but not great job. But I think she should have rolled down the middle windows to let some more of that heat out. I did like the rear A/C blowing on my neck when I sat in the middle row, and my wife could feel it all the way up in the driver's seat. I just don't see now how you can live without it in hot climates (and I don't see any MPV's on the lots here without it!). She also said she would have no problem getting us an MPV in sapphire blue or sand mica, but that the teal would be difficult, that it was not a popular color. What's the latest you're hearing on color availability? We're also looking at the Montana short wheelbase and the Subaru Forester (just in case 4'11" wife can't park big minivan in garage). We looked at Saturn LW2 but the tilt wheel in its most upright position still impeded my big knee when trying to hit the brake. That could be a problem, you know? In the next couple of weeks, I will rent wife a Venture or Montana short wheelbase (almost identical size to an MPV) to let her practice putting in and pulling out of garage. Anyone know of anyplace to rent an MPV, esp. in Houston area? Also, any comments about the other cars we're looking at would be appreciated. Thanks! |
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| With the article I posted before, I was trying to make the point that as early as September 99, Mazda was saying that a 3.0 liter was in the works for model year 2001. I hope they stay true to that comment, because I think it will benefit all potential MPV buyers, even those who don't want the bigger engine! | |
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I'm 5'2" and have no trouble parking the MPV-- I did have to learn to trust the front end since I can't see where the front of the van ends. We considered similarly-priced large sedans as well as the MPV, and it has a smaller footprint than anything else we considered. It also takes up less room in the garage than my husband's 1988 Taurus we traded-in. I also think it's about 3-4 inches narrower than the short Venture (but the same length). Our dual-air MPV "sleeps" in the garage and has no trouble keeping us cool out here in 100+ degree West Texas, but our humidity is nothing like Houston. |
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Er, make that three... 1) Thanks TBoner for all the excellent posts.. 2) Anyone know more about the 3.0 litre in 2001?? We'll have 3 kids & 2 adults on trips. In the test drive, the van seemed a bit to eager to shift. 3) The only other thing I can see needing would be a split back seat. Don't know if that's possible with the tumble under uh.. make that four.. 4) How `bout power controls to vent the rear window. Does anyone else find they need the feature on the MPV?? The wife and I keep coming back to this van, and think it'll be the one for us. My biggest concern was/is the engine. But then she drives a `87 Tercel wagon, so any more power is great, but how `bout durability.. |
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I have not found it necessary to open the rear vent windows yet on our van. The a/c works very well (we have the rear a/c also), so power opening rear vent windows, IMHO, would be not really needed. Regarding the brakes discussion...there are a few advantages to having disk brakes on the rear of a vehicle. However, stopping power really is not one of them. Let me explain why: When you apply the brakes, the weight of the vehicle is transferred onto the front wheels (assuming you're are driving forward like most sane drivers). Thus, the rear brakes do little of the work, at most 25%. The reason most higher-end autos have rear disks are for fade-resistance, as disk brakes both cool faster and provide better modulation of the braking power. These are both features lost on about 90-95% of common drivers, since they never really tax the braking systems. I used to race VW GTIs in the SCCA club scene, and I had upgraded the rear brakes to disks, mainly for two reasons: first, I could modulate brake bias (front to rear control) better to make the car slide in turns, and secondly because the pads are easier to replace than the shoes on drum brakes. These are two issues you probably won't ever encounter on a minivan (I hope nobody's club-racing an MPV?). (I would think,)the reasons for Mazda to use the drum brakes probably is monetary (their cheaper), and also none of their competitors are using disk brakes in the rear, not even cutting-edge Honda. If you've looked at the rear drum brakes on the MPV, they are actually huge. I'm not sure, but they probably come directly off of their B-series trucks. Of course, the previous MPV model used disk brakes on the rear, but I never noticed an advantage. Sorry for the long post... |
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Am trying to buy MPV LX but only one available doesn't have the 3 in 1 audio that I really want. Salesman doesn't know if it can be added, service guy isn't in.... Anybody have info? Many thanks, this forum is great. |
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