Hi and question

[Purzell]

Hi all,

I'm new here and busy planning a van purchase for the summer.
I searched around and didn't find any info on this so...

Can anyone comment on the 4WD Mazda MPV vans?

My understanding is that this is real 4WD with a locking diff. The fact that I don't see too much about these on here or elsewhere suggests that they're not great.

I am looking only at vans...specifically the AWD Astros and Safaris. Sportsmobiles are awesome but just too big and expensive. I want something I can lightly mod, take on fire roads and similar, take camping. Looks like these MPVs can be had relatively cheaply and got me thinking about whether Ford truck suspension parts could be used on them.

Thanks!

 

[ujoint]

Don't know much about them.... And as far as I know, there is no aftermarket support, so everything would have to be fabricated. I don't think any Ford parts will work, but anything is possible if you have the tools & $$$$$$!!!!!!!

 

[labbe66]

My boss had one years ago and he regularly loaded it down with 7 adults and a huge amount of equipment on the top and drove 1000 miles. I too have been looking at these. The drivetrain is mounted longitudinally like the Astro and it uses a truck style rear axle. His even had a sweet self leveling airbag system on the rear shocks so no matter how much you loaded it, it would sit level. The down side is that I think he had some reliability issues. I don't know how many miles he had on it but he had gone through several transmissions so that is one area I would look into.

Good luck!

 

[Railvan]

I have considered them but still don't know much about them. I know a boss of mine had one 15 years ago, and loved it but had a head gasket blow at fairly low miles. And I recall one of the 4x4 mags had a write up on them many years ago and gave them pretty high marks, taking into account it's a "minivan." Are they coil sprung in the rear? Torsion spring up front or coils?

From Wikipedia:
"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."

So center diff lock but no low range?

Brian Rutherford

 

[Herbie]

So center diff lock but no low range?

Correct. I checked these out during the initial phases of my own project. Lack of a 4Lo was one concern. The other is that they are a true MINI-van. They're small.

Since my project was for a family of 3 (or possibly more), they were just too small.

I settled on the Astro/Safari due to the ease of conversion to a true 2-speed transfer case and the availability of aftermarket lifts, camper tops, etc.