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Mazda MPV

8223 messages,  Last post on Dec 14, 2011 at 1:46 PM

You are in the Mazda MPV Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda MPV, Van

Messages Page 222 of 823

#2211 of 8223 Get Rear A/C...., I messed up by ezulueta

Oct 09, 2001 (1:11 pm)

I bought a 2001 MPV LX about 3 months ago, and I didn't get rear A/C. I thought I didn't need it. Well turns out I need it. I have 2 kids, 2yrs and 2 months respectively. The A/C in the front is more than adequate for the front passengers and to an extent the second row. The third row is another story. It can get quite hot there. I have to set the A/C to 4 for quite awhile to get the Van cool on really hot days. I tried to see if I could get rear A/C installed at the dealer as an after thought but it's a no go. Mazda does not provide them with a kit. =( So I have to live with it. The Van is great except this one thing that I overlooked. The next time I'll make it the number one requirement.

#2212 of 8223 Ezulueta........... by pjd58

Oct 09, 2001 (3:09 pm)

Mazda, as well as all car manufacturers, should make rear air stardard and not an option. I have never heard a Van owner say they wish they didn't have rear air.
 
I see your in Orange county, CA. Hard to believe Mazda would sell no rear air MPV's in your area.
 
To all prospective MPV owners, DON'T BUY YOUR MPV WITHOUT REAR A/C! Remember, price is soon forgotten, your comfort is more important. JMO!
Pjd58

#2213 of 8223 2000 Used ES vs 2001 New LX or wait for 2002 by hiyadave

Oct 09, 2001 (4:04 pm)

I've been hoping to hold out for the new 3.0L/5 speed 2002 model but my current 1990 Accura Integra with 167,000 miles is showing serious signs of not planning on living to see 168,000.
 
I took a 2001 LX for a test drive today. Nice van, a little stiff in the ride compared with Toyota Sienna and Dodge Caravan (I've never driven the Honda) but I can live with that. I did notice the motor whine and slightly jerky transmission that has been mentioned previously on these boards.
 
The salesman told me they expect to start seeing 2002's in January. I also noticed a 2000 ES in the used lot as I was leaving. So here's my dilemma:
 
Do I go for the new 2001 (listing about $25k, didn't get down to hard numbers but I figure they should come down about 3k), go for the used ES, about 25k miles on it, listing for about $21k, figure they should come down to about $18k, maybe even a tad lower considering the somewhat high miles for a one year old vehicle, or try to hold out for the new models with the usual potential pratfalls of a newly reconfigured model and likely fewer price incentives?
 
Oh geez I hate these kind of decisions.

#2214 of 8223 Dave.............. by pjd58

Oct 09, 2001 (4:36 pm)

so many choices. If you can wait til Jan, I would go for the 02 MPV. The new 3.0 and 5 speed tranny will make this great van even better. I still believe you will be able to do well on the price of an 02.
 
Although, if you go for a 01 LX, I believe there is 0% for 48 months. We have an 01 LX and love our van. My Wife drives the MPV most of the time and finds the power adequate. When I drive it I mash down on the gas pedal harder and notice the lack of power during the lower gears. Once up to crusing speed it's zoom zoom.
 
I would stay away from a used MPV with 25k, especially a 2000.I seriously doubt the dealer will sell the 00 for 18k. Not to upset our 2000 owner's, but the 2000 had some issues with vibration and pulling at highway speeds. I believe everyone here will agree the 01 had fewer issues. Mazda worked out some of the kinks with a first year model. Just my opinion!
 
Good luck:)
Pete

#2215 of 8223 pjd has some good points Dave, by javadoc

Oct 09, 2001 (11:11 pm)

As much as I think my very well optioned 2000 LX is a peach, and have had very few of the first year issues some have had, I'd sell you mine for $18K. It's in the meat of its depreciation, and since I only paid $23K for it two years ago, losing $5k would be a dream come true. If you go for the 2000, the price should be lower, just to be fair.
 
On the side of the 2000/2001 models, the power in the 2.5 equipped vans is, imho, fine and most folks would agree/some disagree. I rarely want for more, but who really ever has enough hp, right? I think our van's holding up very well after 2yrs/20k miles.
 
But, if you can wait a quarter, till Q1-2002, I'd go for the 2002 model. It'll prolly cost a tad more than the 2001s are going for, but it'll be much improved over an already really good (imho) van.
 
If you just don't want to wait, get yourself a great 2001 van, and take advantage of some super financing deals if you want to in the process!
 
my 2.6cents,
 
/Java (did I say "imho" enough times?) doc

#2216 of 8223 Mazda should have done better by rutger3

Oct 10, 2001 (6:47 am)

Okay,I will say up front that I am a stickler when it comes to safety issues in a vehicle. Plus I am always comparing my 2001 MPV with comparable vans. My gripe with Mazda is that they missed the boat when it comes to certain safety equipment.Every other van out there has front seat belt pre tensioners.This includes some clearly inferior vans by GM and Ford.In fact,this is a standard item on most vehicles made today. Most other vans have a 3 point seat belt for the middle back seat. Heck,even a headrest for the middle rear seat should be standard. Why Mazda would sacrifice very common safety items which would not have changed the cost very much is beyond me,particularly when their direct competition has them.
 THis is not to say the MPV is unsafe,in fact it did rather well in crash tests,and it makes side air bags fairly easy to get. I am also quite happy with our van as it has many pluses; but Mazda should have done a little better in this area.
 Kind of related: Has anyone else noticed how lightweight the doors are in the MPV? This became apparent to me when I rode in a Windstar where the doors were much heavier.

#2217 of 8223 ES vs. LX by cinka1

Oct 10, 2001 (1:37 pm)

Sorry for joining in so late, but I finally got back on the net with a new computer. These things take time.
I had to have the leather seats, period. I had waited a long time for a brand new car and I was finally able to finance all by my lonesome. Quite a feat for some of us women working/fighting our way up. By golly, I was gonna have leather seats. I don't care how cold they are in the winter, I don't wear shorts in the winter anyway. (I did vote for a wish list that included heated seats.) Didn't I hear that the '02 was going to have power seats? How tricking would it be to swap them for the manual seats? Of coarse, since I am the only one who drives the van, I don't need to adjust the seat much if at all. I do find that the windows fog up on the inside pretty easily. Anyone else notice this? I tried using that anti fog stuff, so now I can see all the spots I missed when it starts to fog up in the mornings. I have used the A/C along with the heater and this does seem to help. Can't figure out how it works, just that it does. What tires are being used for replacement. I know ya'll have talked this one before, but I'm too lazy to find the tread... I mean thread.

#2218 of 8223 Cinka by maltb

Oct 10, 2001 (2:16 pm)

the A/C removes moisture from the air and the heat gives the air a greater capicty to hold water. The dry warm air combo removes the condensation the fastest.
 

#2219 of 8223 Dave by billmckinley

Oct 10, 2001 (3:50 pm)

No new ideas about your dilemma, just a hearty endorsement of what pjd and javadoc have to say. They speak with straight tongues. If your current mobile is thrreatening not to be, go for the 2001 and its great financing. The "high" mileage 2000 should be strictly a last choice. it's probably a safe enough purchase, but why spend that kind of money on a nearly two-year-old van with 25k on it already?
 
Gee, I love these kinds of questions. I get to give out advice, and its even been asked for!
 

 
RJ

#2220 of 8223 After-market leather by mainsail2

Oct 12, 2001 (7:11 am)

Has anyone had after-market leather installed on an MPV with front SIDE airbags? I have read where doing such may cause the side airbags not to work in a collision. What have you been told about this by the installers? I would love to go to leather, but I want my airbags to still function!

Messages Page 222 of 823

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