Learn me: Last generation MPV?

Saw one on the road a couple days ago. Not horrible looking for a mini. I ASSumed they'd be more than a 1st gen Mazda5, but an 04-06 with 75,000 miles seems to go for around $5k, as opposed to around $10k for a 5 with that kind of mileage. I'm sure the fuel economy sucks compared to the 5, but $5k buys a lotta freakin fuel. What's not to love? Oh, and while I'd obviously love a stick, this will be mama's car, and she politely requested an autotragic for the next baby hauler.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3595083702.html

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/3561099314.html

Or this, with leather, ground effects and 55k miles for $7500:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/cto/3572618151.html

I have friends in St Louis that have two of them. They used them as junkyard haulers for years, loaded the E36 M3 out of them, traveled around the country.

They're great.

Avoid the early 2.5L ones. They are gutless and less reliable apparently. They are the last "regular sized" minivan that were sold. Clever rear bench. I would choose an MPV over an early automatic 5 anytime. They are just as nice to drive, a bit bigger inside, and the real fuel economy isn't that bad.

Friend has an 04 that he has had since new. Just the typical Mazda problem: rust, thin paint, plastic stuff breaking inside, fragile automatic transmissions, etc... His first transmission was changed under warranty, but the replacement is still going strong with over 200000km on it.

Any idea what the mode of failure/warning signs are for the auto? I'll probably try to look at that low mile one this weekend. Seems like a lot more car for the money than the 5, especially since priority 1 for this vehicle will be "Comfortable kid hauler for mommy" and not "DD for daddy."

We've had two MPVs (a 2000 that was still going strong at 280k km when we traded it on a 2005) and they've been great family vehicles. We got the first one mostly because the sliding-door windows go down, which is a lot bigger deal than you might think until you try it.

Nothing much went wrong with the 2000 until it left us, but my wife could hear the metaphorical clock ticking and wanted something newer. It did strand us with a dead alternator on a holiday weekend, but that could happen to anybody. When stuff DID go wrong (like a recall for rear heating lines, or a power window problem in the driver's door), parts could be an issue: there were delays of more than a week to source stuff from Mazda, and I live in the most populated area in Canada. I doubt that situation is better now, so long after the model was discontinued.

The size is right, the handling (for a minivan) feels good, the seats are pretty good. The headlights in the 2005 are excellent even with normal bulbs: whoever designed the cutoff optics definitely has their ducks in a row.

Google Duratec plus coil packs.

If it's going to be the mommy vehicle, be aware that it possible to buy a base model without ABS.

i would think duratec parts are easy to come by.

they're rare-ish around here. the only guy I know who has one bought it new in 2000. it's got 150k+ miles now. nothing major yet.

I don't take it as gospel, but I do factor it into the equation; Consumer Reports seems to love the 5 and hate the MPV for some reason, now that reason could be their dipE36 M3 drivers who also reported the Fit's steering as "vague" (has the most precise steering feel/response of any car I've driven.) So who knows.

I personally like the last MPV more than the mz5, due mostly to the room difference. If you take out the manual option and superior looks of SOME but not all mazda5s, i dont think it has anything left to recommend it over a last-gen MPV.

Vigo wrote: I personally like the last MPV more than the mz5, due mostly to the room difference. If you take out the manual option and superior looks of SOME but not all mazda5s, i dont think it has anything left to recommend it over a last-gen MPV.

Kind of what I'm thinking. I definitely think the Touring-equipped 5's are a better looking vehicle, but as long as mama doesn't give a E36 M3 about that, than neither do I. The leather in that last one looks beefy compared to the paper-thin stuff in the GT5 too.

I've got one. It's an awesome, reliable, capable, people mover with decent handling. Avg fuel economy for a mini van. There are something like a dozen cupholders (and we all know how important THOSE are!)

1st gens, however, are turds.

The wife drives an 05 daily, gets better mpg then my 850r.
We've put over 60K on it, pulling a small trailer, loading it up at lowes, and using it to haul my dirtbike to races on a carrier sticking out of the hitch.
Only problems we have had are the front sway bar links, and the pass side power door gets grumpy in the cold.
On road trips it gets 25-28mpg, handles better then most vans, but keep in mind its smaller then other "mini" vans.

I was looking at these recently. Anyone know of any suspension modifications that would make it more car-like? I couldn't find any aftermarket spring/strut sets or thicker swaybars from the usual sources.

Apparently the base model did not have rear AC/heat so watch out for that. I'd think the back of a minivan would be miserable without rear air.

2002maniac wrote: Anyone know of any suspension modifications that would make it more car-like?

Lower the roof?

poopshovel wrote: Any idea what the mode of failure/warning signs are for the auto? I'll probably try to look at that low mile one this weekend. Seems like a lot more car for the money than the 5, especially since priority 1 for this vehicle will be "Comfortable kid hauler for mommy" and not "DD for daddy."

I don't have the details, but for my friend, it started with some random weird stuff (hard shift out of nowhere, long time to engage drive), then one morning, it just wouldn't move in either drive or reverse. Don't know if that is computer related or something else. Don't know much about automatics and I have no interest in them.

fanfoy wrote: Don't know much about automatics and I have no interest in them.

That's fine, but quite irrelevant.

He is looking for a mini van.

Had your research led you to any conclusions? I noticed in another thread that you are looking at mazda5s as well.

2002maniac wrote: I was looking at these recently. Anyone know of any suspension modifications that would make it more car-like? I couldn't find any aftermarket spring/strut sets or thicker swaybars from the usual sources.

I was able to find that vogtland makes a spring set for these vans. should make it a bit sporty but probably not too harsh whhen paired with kyb gr2 struts.

I've used vogtland on two bmws and was pleased with the outcome.

I think i lightly lowered mpv with rx8 wheels would be a sweet ride.

2002maniac wrote: I think i lightly lowered mpv with rx8 wheels would be a sweet ride.

You are correct.