Owned it from new, never let go till now. Kids grew up in this van, and wife and I grew old in it as well. It has been an amazing minivan for a quarter century. From San Diego to Redwood National Park; from Cape Cod to Disney World; from Adirondacks to Montreal and Toronto, it has been super reliable. 3rd row seat folds and disappears into floor, 2nd row seats can be easily removed, with that, there's an amazing amount of cargo room that many today's new vans can't even match. Original engine/transmission. Love that littlest 2.5L v6 from Ford. It still runs and drives, passes inspections. After 25 years, New York State no longer requires emissions inspection. We welcomed a 2026 Lexus RX350h Premium in the MPV's place.
Goodbye to my 2000 Mazda MPV
- Thread starter windeye
- Start date
Owned it from new, never let go till now. Kids grew up in this van, and wife and I grew old in it as well. It has been an amazing minivan for a quarter century. From San Diego to Redwood National Park; from Cape Cod to Disney World; from Adirondacks to Montreal and Toronto, it has been super reliable. 3rd row seat folds and disappears into floor, 2nd row seats can be easily removed, with that, there's an amazing amount of cargo room that many today's new vans can't even match. Original engine/transmission. Love that littlest 2.5L v6 from Ford. It still runs and drives, passes inspections. After 25 years, New York State no longer requires emissions inspection. We welcomed a 2026 Lexus RX350h Premium in the MPV's place.
26 years, can't ask for better service than that from a daily driven family vehicle. Also a tribute to good maintenance I'm sure.
Looks rust free. Did you do any rust proofing on it over the years?
Nice! We have an 09 Mazda 5 with a 5 speed MT. My kids grew up in the thing, my oldest learned to drive stick in it, and is now at college with it. 170K on the clock. Many, many road trips in it when the kids were smaller. I don’t know if I can ever part with it. It is such an amazing car that flies under the radar. I’m also a sentimental bastard.
Tough luck! I just found a 2003 MPV in a surprisingly similar color with only 72,449 miles on it. Now go return the Lexus!
I must say! No, I must insist that you drive right back up to that Lexus dealer.
Demand that he undo this deal primo facto, and lecture him endlessly about the lost opportunity he has subjected himself to by not dedictating his copious resources towards retailing the world's greatest minivan. The Mazda MPV... second generation. Not the first! Make sure he knows to avoid the first gen. Weak transmissions.
Once you recover your vehicle in its crustian core, I will gladly arrange terms so that you can go ahead and drive this cherished chariot. Your other one will make a nice parts car. However due to your momentary lapse of reason, I must insist that you pay a bogus dealer fee named after a dead dog.
I call it the FIDO fee. Not to be convinced with the FAAFO fee.
I must say! No, I must insist that you drive right back up to that Lexus dealer.
Demand that he undo this deal primo facto, and lecture him endlessly about the lost opportunity he has subjected himself to by not dedictating his copious resources towards retailing the world's greatest minivan. The Mazda MPV... second generation. Not the first! Make sure he knows to avoid the first gen. Weak transmissions.
Once you recover your vehicle in its crustian core, I will gladly arrange terms so that you can go ahead and drive this cherished chariot. Your other one will make a nice parts car. However due to your momentary lapse of reason, I must insist that you pay a bogus dealer fee named after a dead dog.
I call it the FIDO fee. Not to be convinced with the FAAFO fee.
I have the same! For now… rust is making it pretty rough looking. 198k on it, its a very fun and unique vehicle.
Thanks for all your comments. rust-proofing: not professionally done, just surface shield spray cans.
Those are some fantastic rigs! It sounds as if the MPV served your family well. Now it's time for you and your wife to enjoy a little luxury with the Lexus RX350! I dare say, you've earned it.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2026
Why sell it? I could not after so many years.
Car is going to national kidney foundation.
What's sad is that people "like us" could use that vehicle as you did.
I believe an organization will just auction it off.
It might fetch a couple of hundred dollars.
Would you sell it privately?
You'd get a lot more and could make a larger donation to your organization.
Several times I combed about seeking such a van with zero success.
I believe an organization will just auction it off.
It might fetch a couple of hundred dollars.
Would you sell it privately?
You'd get a lot more and could make a larger donation to your organization.
Several times I combed about seeking such a van with zero success.
Same 09 M5 here, Daughter has it at college now. Owned since new with the 2.3 but it is the auto.
Cool! Glad to meet someone with another. We are in central TX, so no rust. But ours does have a bunch of dings and scrapes, along with failing clear coat on the top surfaces from being an outside car. These are unicorns for sure with the manual. Ironically, we purchased this new for only $16K thinking it was a cheap car that would last us only a few years. But it was so perfect in many ways - great utility combined with great handling. If there was a modern one, I would likely buy it. I recall when shopping this, driving the CR-V and the Nissan Rogue and not liking the top heavy feel. Anyone that knows these loves them.
I had a 2002, got it just past 100,000 miles... the 5-speed Jatco transmission started slipping at around 150,000 miles. There was a post on mpvclub.com about the problem - one of the pistons in the transmission cracked and you could get a kit to replace it.
I was able to eventually repair the transmission on mine and it made it to about 180,000 miles when I sold it and got my first Odyssey. My engine was starting to have a little timing chain rattle at startup, and it leaked a lot of oil around the timing chain cover.
Other problems with the 3.0 were a plastic PCV elbow on the back of the engine that failed and caused rough running (replaced with a copper pipe bodge from the forums) and a couple of coils that failed. Also, my throttle plate would get gummy and stick closed, making it hard to drive smoothly. Not bad overall.
I thought the Odyssey was a solid upgrade though. Quite a bit bigger and about the same fuel economy.
I was able to eventually repair the transmission on mine and it made it to about 180,000 miles when I sold it and got my first Odyssey. My engine was starting to have a little timing chain rattle at startup, and it leaked a lot of oil around the timing chain cover.
Other problems with the 3.0 were a plastic PCV elbow on the back of the engine that failed and caused rough running (replaced with a copper pipe bodge from the forums) and a couple of coils that failed. Also, my throttle plate would get gummy and stick closed, making it hard to drive smoothly. Not bad overall.
I thought the Odyssey was a solid upgrade though. Quite a bit bigger and about the same fuel economy.
the deal is done, paperwork signed. they are picking up soon. I understand they would auction off the car.
Excellent value out of that van. Congratulations! Especially for your area (rust). Onto the Lexus...