Anybody own an MPV?

The wife and I are looking for a family hauler. Last night I was looking around the local CL and came across this.

So, I looked around the surrounding CLs and it looks like you can easily find a 2002-2003 MPV for the $5000-6000 range. This is of interest to me since it meets several of our requirements (age, mileage, passenger room, etc.)

So, I want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly on these. Does anybody own one? Love it, hate it?

My sister and her husband love theirs...except it seems to be rusting faster then other brands of that era.
YMMV.

njansenv wrote: My sister and her husband love theirs...except it seems to be rusting faster then other brands of that era. YMMV.

Where do they live? I live in Alabama so rust is probably not a concern for me.

It's a protege with a van shell on it. Same rules apply.

mndsm wrote: It's a protege with a van shell on it. Same rules apply.

I don't know anything about the Protege's either. Do share.

teamdixonracing wrote:

mndsm wrote: It's a protege with a van shell on it. Same rules apply.

I don't know anything about the Protege's either. Do share.

They like massive boost and apparently can do quite well in FSP.

Sooo... do that!

Ours is a 2000 (so a half-generation older than the one in question in AL) with almost 300,000 km. It gets the standard DD abuse but has given excellent service. The transmission is now getting a bit tired. Visible rust at the bottom of one door has just started, and that's from a life in Toronto & area (i.e., a decade of real winters where they use salt.)

Mazda dealer parts can be an issue; I was told by a tech that the Head Office geniuses periodically change a bunch of part numbers but (!!) keep this information to themselves, so that you try to order something that exists but nobody can find it. He may have been stringing me along & trying to distribute blame for delays, but it sounded sincere at the time.

Bottom line: we've been very happy. Working sliding-door windows rock, and the disappearing rear seat is outstanding (although you do have to remove the headrests first – but so what.) Unscientific tests indicate it's quieter in the back seat than a late-model Odyssey.

We'll probably get another one to see us through the end of the minivan period of our driving lives.

mndsm wrote: It's a protege with a van shell on it. Same rules apply.

It is a 626 with a van shell on it. Except with a Ford Duratec V6 instead of the Mazda KLG4.

Or that.

m4ff3w wrote:

mndsm wrote: It's a protege with a van shell on it. Same rules apply.

It is a 626 with a van shell on it. Except with a Ford Duratec V6 instead of the Mazda KLG4.

What all does Ford put that engine in?

Just talked to the Mazda dealer. Was told that the timing belt needs to be done every 60K. That seems often to me. The ones I looked at were all in the 105-110K miles range which means I would be due for a timing belt change in less than a year of buying one.

The average driver sees a timing belt as a waste of money after the first time its done, so that goes for pretty much any cheaper car.

I have an '05 3.0L. Bought for $16k new when Mazda discontinued them and offered a big discount on them to move 'em out.

I think it is a great vehicle. Quite sporty for a van. It is essentually a short wheelbase version of the Ford van. I have 40k miles on it now.

I recommend getting the later van with the 3.0 engine. The van with the 2.5 is really underpowered.

The only issue I have is the 5 speed auto trans likes to hunt for gears and often ends up in between gears. I fully expect the trans to self destruct at some point. Take for a test drive and using part throttle inputs try and get the gears to shift. If it hunts for a gear or lands between gears find another van to look at.

I just had a dealer offer me $6k for a trade in so $6k for a 02/03 might be paying too much.

Just to prove there is a forum for everything. http://www.mpvclub.com/

My brother had the early version with the 2.5L V-6. He liked it until he had to replace the head gaskets for the second time. Then dumped it. Maybe he got a lemon? I've heard good things about them, though. But he wanted to burn it after replacing the head gaskets for the second time. Not cheapies, OEM Mazda parts.

I've got a 2005 MPV-ES bought new. It's got what I think was called the "all seasons package" which includes a transmission fluid cooler. I've been extremely happy with it. No issues with the trans. I think it does a very good job. Also, the 3.0 Duratec has a timing chain, so no t-belt worries with the '05.

It now has something like 62000 miles on it. I just did the brakes, thinking they needed attention, but the OEM pads still had a fair amount of life left. The rotors had developed a very slight warp, so I replaced those. Once I got the dealer to replace the OEM Dunlop eggs (the worst damn tires in the world) with Michelins, the MPV has been a joy to drive. Just replaced the Michelins a while back with General Altimax HP's.

So five years and 60k miles with just tires and brakes, and regular oil changes. No issues. Gets 25 mpg highway, 22 around town. Great minivan.

RandyS wrote: The only issue I have is the 5 speed auto trans likes to hunt for gears and often ends up in between gears. I fully expect the trans to self destruct at some point. Take for a test drive and using part throttle inputs try and get the gears to shift. If it hunts for a gear or lands between gears find another van to look at. I just had a dealer offer me $6k for a trade in so $6k for a 02/03 might be paying too much.

Has it always hunted for gears like that or is that a recent development? We own a Toyota Echo and the trans has had odd shifting habits since it was new. Just the way that trans shifts from what I've been able to find out. Just wondering if it's that kind of a case or not.

Blue Book for private party on an 03 is right at $6200.

(Depending on the trans) I may be interested in giving you the $6000 the dealer offered you if you're wanting to part with it. Send me a PM before you give it to a dealer.

teamdixonracing wrote:

m4ff3w wrote:

mndsm wrote: It's a protege with a van shell on it. Same rules apply.

It is a 626 with a van shell on it. Except with a Ford Duratec V6 instead of the Mazda KLG4.

What all does Ford put that engine in?

I think only the MPV and Contour/Mystique got the 2.5. The 02-and newer got the 3.0 Durtec that was available in almost everything FWD with a V6.

I remember years ago driving the MPV at the original Rev It Up tours. There was never anyone in line for the MPV so I kept going repeatedly. Great minivan and handled well for one.

We have an '04, now with 90k on it and no major problems. We did have the coil pack replaced, one coil had gone bad so we had them replace the rest. There was a tsm on this. It's pretty sporty for a van, gets decent city mileage and carries all 5 of us plus gear without any problems.

I'd buy another as long as it had been maintained. I plus sized the wheels and tires(from all seasons to summer) and it handles well, kind of like "zoom zoom". I think it's a much better vehicle than the crap that replaced it. Paint still looks good, normal wear and tear, nothing excessive.

I guess the highest praise I can give is that we really would buy another. I think they're asking too much for the 02/03, imo. I've been scouting the last years models to trade up... rather, sell ours private party, then buy a newer version. Definitely go for the rear air option.

Peas us Riced, Mark

That's two votes for $5500 being too high for an 03. What's a fair price on one of these?

teamdixonracing wrote: Just talked to the Mazda dealer. Was told that the timing belt needs to be done every 60K. That seems often to me. The ones I looked at were all in the 105-110K miles range which means I would be due for a timing belt change in less than a year of buying one.

Really? I think I'd stay away from that dealer. The MPV has a chain and not a belt!!

My wife owned an '02 for 7 years. No real problems with it except for changing the rear coils (fun). Even though the tranny is supposed to be maintenance free, you really need to flush the system and refill. Also, the fan controller had several recalls. Ours got around 28 mpg on the highway on extended trips.