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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 223 of 823

#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!

#2221 of 8223 by drew_

Oct 13, 2001 (9:10 pm)

Please check the owner's manual. Generally speaking though, aftermarket leather or seat covers are strongly not recommended, despite what the leather or seat cover installer/manufacturer may say about being airbag compatible.
 

Drew
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#2222 of 8223 Two Month Evaluation !!!! by jacksonian

Oct 16, 2001 (3:30 pm)

Well I just made out the check for the second payment on our 01 LX Sandmica so I thought it was time to let everyone know my opinions after two months.
 
 The van know has almost 3,300 miles and I must say first off that very few of those miles was with me behind the wheel. My wife has relegated me to passanger status, something that I'm not used to in our 17 years of married bliss. So that should let you know how my wife feels about the van, but this is MY Opinions so here I go.
 
 Likes:
1)Great looks
2)Great Handling
3)Easy to park
4)plenty of room
5)love the fold down 3rd row seat
6)good headroom (Im 6'3" and thats important)
7)Gas Mileage (averaging 22.5 in mixed driving, can't wait to see what we can squeeze out on a long highway trip)
8)MUSIC SYSTEM ROCKS!
9)Rear Air cools van really fast
10)Head Lights (we had a Dodge Caravan need I say more)
11)Van warms up fast (again we had a Dodge)
12)Middle row power windows (you would never realize how convienant they can be until you have them)
  
  Dislikes:
 
1)Seats are very hard and I cant seem to stay comfortable for very long (My wife and Kids think there just fine)
2)Road and wind noise (louder on passanger side than drivers)
3)3% of the time POWER (97 % of time power is just fine)
4)cheap drawer under drivers seat (cant store anything of value in it)
 
  Thats my two month likes and dislikes. as you can see I have no real problems with the van (besides my wife not leting me drive more)there are no sqeeks or rattles very solid van so far.
  
I'll check back in a few months with more opinions and mpg's (maybe by then Ill have more opinion from the left side of the van).

#2223 of 8223 3 month review by rutger3

Oct 17, 2001 (7:05 am)

We have owned our 01 Sand Mica LX for 3 months and 5000 miles,here is a brief review:
 
Positives:
-Ride
-handling
-looks
-interior design and layout
-initial dependability,no problems
-convienence (3rd seat, rear windows)
-sound system very good
-comfort
-availability of side air bags
-availability of ABS
-pricing and incentives
 
Negatives:
-engine power(about 10% of the time)
-engine noise (about 10% of the time)
-Trans shifter blocks some radio controls
-no rear (3rd row)power windows; we had this on our 94 Villager for crying out loud.
-no 3rd row middle head rest or 3 point seat belt;no seat belt pretensioners which are available on most cars and all of competitions vans now.This was a real miss for Mazda on fairly inexpensive items.
Overall,I am happy with our MPV. My wife the primary driver is very happy and that is very important.(I probably would have gone with the Sienna for its better resale,but the MPV is a fine choice).
The only real complaint quite frankly is Mazda's choice of engine when compared with the competition. It is okay most of the time and I do not agree with what has been written by critics like Car & Driver.The engine seems to have to work pretty hard when going up hills with four passengers. However,with all the other options available to Mazda (and Ford) they should have done better, even if they just 'tuned' the existing engine some to get more torque and hp which could have been done easily. At least this will be corrected with the 2002 model. I just hope it doesn't hurt us owners of 2000/2001 models come resale time. I think I know the answer to that one.
P.S. For those new to this board,please keep in mind that I generally fall on the critical side of issues and that this is only one persons opinion.

#2224 of 8223 Engine noise by billmckinley

Oct 17, 2001 (4:26 pm)

Rutger3, don't worry, nobody's going to jump down your throat for expressing your opinion [he said as he prepared to jump down your throat ].
First of all, I'm pretty much in agreement with everything you and Jacksonian wrote. I thought you were even a little nice not mentioning out quirky #$%#$#&^%xx transmission. You guys must live in the flatlands.
The one place I disagree with you is about the engine noise. The more I hear that sexy little growl on acceleration, the more I'm falling in love with it. Sort of reminds me of a very contented cat. [Have I ever mentioned that I have no real life?]
Anyway, glad you both have more likes than dislikes. Pretty well sums up my feelings about the President McKinley.
 
RJ

#2225 of 8223 Bill by tboner1965

Oct 17, 2001 (6:39 pm)

I'll have to take you for a ride in my SVT Contour if you like the faint growl of the MPV, I'll bet you love what the Contour does. Especially now that I've replaced the exhaust with an aftermarket Borla.
 
The acceleration of the SVT is a bit different as well 8^)
 
TB

Messages Page 223 of 823

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