Not that it's important - but what about the Mazda MPV?

impalator · Post by **impalator** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 6:09 pm

Just a thought that I had pop up a few times without ever taking it any further - but I just did a search on the forum for "Mazda MPV" since it is - after all - the only Japanese built 4WD Minivan that ever made it officially into Canada / the USA.

Guess what... not one single mention that I could locate on this forum despite attempting to fine-tune my search criteria...

I find this interesting in that this forum frequently sports posts about various 4WD mini Vans and micro Vans from Suzuki, Toyota, Subaru - over to SUV's like Pajero's, Safari's, Landcruiser's - even Pinzgauer's etc.

But here we have a "proper" left hand drive Japanese built Mini-Van with selectable 4WD (at least from 1989 until 2000) and suprisingly little feedback at all. I would assume that these things should be somewhat popular since they were available without any red-tape from importing authorities at local dealers, and spare- and replacement parts should be widely available from any Mazda dealer, Car parts shop etc...

Were they such an abhorrent terrible unit? Would they be a viable alternative to a Delica, given that they are LHD and considerably more powerful (2.6 V6 Gasoline)?

Wikipedia states that: "differing considerably from the Toyota Town Ace, Mitsubishi and other Japanese Cargo Van's that were 'refitted' for the North American Market the 1989 MPV was designed from the ground-up as a minivan specifically for the American market. It was based on the large rear wheel drive 929's HC. It would be called the LV platform, and equipped the MPV with a V6 engine and optional four-wheel drive. Its selectable 4WD system is not to be confused with permanent "all wheel drive" systems; the MPV can be switched into 4WD with a switch mounted on the column gear selector. A dash mounted switch also allowed the driver to lock the center differential, splitting power equally between the front and rear axles. The 4WD can be engaged and disengaged while moving.... etc. etc..."

This doesn't sound too bad... and I would assume that a model considerably younger than our 1990 to 1996 Delica's could be had for dirt cheap locally at many used car dealers and even for parts at car wreckers...

No worries - I won't trade my Delica - just finally got my dual side exhaust mounted... and she sounds so nice now, I have to keep on driving... But I just thought it's interesting that nobody in this community seems to care at all about the Mazda MPV...

Anyway... it'll be interesting to see if anybody will feel compelled to comment here on this post...

Cheers,
Chris

Post by **nxski** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 6:22 pm

I find it odd that mpv doesn't come up on your search. I commented on William's post about his Bongo Friendee (is it's very similar to the mpv) asking if parts were interchangeable. I think another reason for lack of interest is that most people here are wanting a diesel 4x4. The reason kei trucks/vans get attention is, well, because their interesting. That's my hypothesis...it has some holes but then again who / what doesn't!?

mararmeisto · Post by **mararmeisto** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 6:27 pm

We had one and they're boring, kooky, and undersized/powered. "4WD" meant AWD and that was about it. They filled the niche market of crossover before crossover was even a style of vehicle, but they didn't really do it well.

But that was just my experience. It was a car that we used for a time. It served a purpose as a "multi-person vehicle" just like the sticker on the side said.

thedjjack · Post by **thedjjack** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 6:36 pm

There was someone on here going to put a L300 diesel into one.....not sure what happened with it.

Toyota also sold the LeVan 4x4 here it even came with manual hubs up front.

Lots of options if you want to build a 4x4 mini-van the only tough one is if you want a 4x4 mini-van with a diesel.

Astro/Safari is probably the best 4x4 Minivan to start with if you want something with some ability. The 4.3L Vortex is a good motor, strong chassis and you can swap a "real' transfer case in.

Rear wheel drive mini-vans offered in NA as AWD: LeVan, Astro/Safari, Aerostar, and MPV.

impalator · Post by **impalator** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 6:52 pm

Good point with the Safari/Astro's... My father in law had a mid nineties GMC 1500 Pick-Up Truck with that exact 4.3L V6... it was surprisingly frugal in fuel consumption (particularly considering that it was a full size 4x4 Pick-Up of the mid nineties) and it went virtually like a V8... I couldn't tell much of a difference... it had well over 230'000 km's when it found it's end in an accident... and it certainly accelerated much better and went faster than my 1983 Ford F250 with the 351ci V8... I bet this would not be a bad motor in a 4x4 Van...

But in fairness to the MPV or Delica's... the Safari's/Astro's are just a tiny bit smaller than full size vans and considerably bigger and wider than a Delica.

Feds · Post by **Feds** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:18 pm

I was looking at putting an l300 diesel in an mpv. Plans changed a little as I just ended up buying an l400... AFTER I bought my mpv.

Long story, but i came across a 93 2wd mpv that was too nice/cheap to pass up. It's fairly basic, but it has the v6/auto. After having driven it for 3 weeks, I love it. It's quiet, airy, drives nice, and has 3 comfortable rows in a compact footprint. I had intended to sell it once my deli was on the road, but I'm now leaning toward keeping it and selling my protege5.

The key is to find a not rusty one. After that, they're pretty simple/durable in the '90's over-built, easy to service japanese vein. Mine is obd 1, so codes are read with a jumper wire, and parts are ridiculously cheap.

As for Delicatization: it'll never be a monster off road, as the front struts will limit flex, but there are versions that came with a low range x-fer case, and you could build your own with b-truck parts if you really wanted to. Stock, they will fit a 235/75/15, which is as much tire as a stock l300. Engine wise: your pick of mazda powertrains, and with the right bellhousing, mitsubishi and nissan engines as well. I wanted to do the 4d56t, there is a 300zxtt swapped one (built by a teenager). You could do a 12 valve turbo, a dohc swap on the stock engine... Whatever.

Mpvclub.com is reasonably active, and people seem to either love the mpv, and never buy anything else, or not. I have started to keep an eye on the auctions to get an idea of what a nice rhd, 4-door diesel will cost.

William · Post by **William** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 9:43 pm

The Bongo Friendee is VERY similar to the MPV van offered here. I have found a lot of interchangeable parts here for mine already. I wish more people would import them. I think they're starting to catch on though

Blackberry · Post by **Blackberry** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 3:44 pm

impalator wrote:...I just did a search on the forum for "Mazda MPV" since it is - after all - the only Japanese built 4WD Minivan that ever made it officially into Canada / the USA.
Guess what... not one single mention that I could locate on this forum despite attempting to fine-tune my search criteria...

Last I tried the site's search tool didn't support a search string under 4 letters long. Just use google, eg:
http://www.google.ca/search?q=mpv+site:delica.ca
http://www.google.ca/search?q="Mazda%20 ... :delica.ca

jessef · Post by **jessef** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 4:50 pm

Chevy astro van's make a great expo/4x4 platform.

Considering you can buy one with a poptop and do up the kitchen, lift, etc.. for under 10k is nothing to sneeze at.

cheap, reliable and fun.

Offroad up in Chilliwack Vedder mtn where we ventured with the L300's 2 years ago.

http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/t ... trip-in-BC