Mazda built by Ford motor company?

Status
Not open for further replies.
TheMirror said:
Having just traded in my WRX a few hours ago for a new 3 hatch, I can honestly say the only two places the WRX beats the 3 is in sheer grunt and 4 wheel drive. That aside, the 3 has:

More grip
Much quicker steering, especially off center.
More steering feel
Less body roll
Better transitional response
Better brakes
Better throttle response
FAR better torque below 2500rpm
Better gearing
Better shift action
Better mileage
Far better interior build quality
Better ride
More features
Lower cost
Etc.

I'm a huge high-performance guy. My automotive past is littered with Corvettes, Musclecars, the WRX, hot Acuras and Z's, etc. It would take one helluva good car to satisfy me with 160hp. This car did it.
-Mirror

Second choice? Definitely the RSX.


Huge high-performance guy~
sounds like you r gonnna crazily mod ur 3 eh~?? (headbang)
if so~how r u gonna mod it~? i am just interested cus i am gonna mod mine after i got it too~~~~
 
Problem with this thread is there is already WAY too much misinformation posted about Mazda, Ford and WRX's being so great.

First of all Ford owns 40% of Mazda. This is enough of a share for them to be able to influence Mazda's actions and BOY does ford do this.

Why do you think the 91-present Ford Escort uses a Mazda chassis and some models used mazda transmissions and Engines? Why was the Ford Festiva basically a Mazda 121? Why did mazda NOT sell their awesome turbo motors that would have easily passed emissions with minimal cost? Because ford INFLUENCES what mazda does. Ford doesn't want mazda's cars to directly compete with their cars. Thats why you see so many dummied down Mazda models that have awesomer motors overseas. Like the KLZE engine came in MX6's overseas and would've easily passed out emission laws. Why didn't it come out here? The examples go on and on.

The good thing is, the fact that Ford influences mazda doesn't mean that Mazdas are using more and more of Ford's lackluster quality parts.ALthough many parts of the new Mazda3 was co-designed by ford/volvo and mazda alike, I'd understand if some people here were weary about the reliability BUT the previous Protege models were all built completely in Hiroshima, Japan and contain almost all japanese parts (some interior fabrics might be outsourced from other countries).

On another note, Why do so many of you think the WRX is so amazing? Did you know that GM owns 20% of subaru? they have an influence in that company as well. Have you read about the new Saab 9-2 model? It is basically a re-styled WRX sold under the Saab name (saab is owned by GM). This isn't necessarily a bad thing, just showing you an example that domestic companies DO influence japanese and other foreign automakers.

On another note, its funny seeing ignorant people who buy Chryslers think they are actually helping the american economy by buying "american". When in fact cars like the PT cruiser, and 300m are designed mostly in Germany and help pay German salaries.

And If I'm not mistaken, I get a huge vibe from this forum that lots of new P5/MSP/3 owners are previous honda/acura owners and still very loyal to that company. Lots of people here seem to bash Ford, GM, Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia, etc. b/c of their reuptation for being crap quality.

Funny thing is, the latest "annual auto issue" of consumer reports shows that Hyundai has come up to almost Honda/Toyota/Nissan quality. According to the last JD power associates survey of inital qualty, Hyundai TIED with Honda for second (toyota of course being first). The latest consumer reports also mentions how Domestic cars are becoming higher quality and are closing the gap between japanese automakers.
 
Dude, Ford has been with Mazda for DECADES. Ford wants Mazda because Mazda can build good small cars. They don't want to own Mazda because they want to tell them how to build Mazdas. The exception is the SUV and TRUCK, as those aren't really genuine mazdas. The Protege since it's inception has been platform shared and copied by Ford, yet I don't hear anybody crying about their reliability. So NO!. Mazda is not built by Ford (except the trucks).
 
bigo711 said:
Huge high-performance guy~
sounds like you r gonnna crazily mod ur 3 eh~?? (headbang)
if so~how r u gonna mod it~? i am just interested cus i am gonna mod mine after i got it too~~~~

Heh heh, I got it bad. That's true. Not only do I have this expensive habit, but I'm a wine collector too. I'll probably die broke living in a race car with an interior full of Bordeaux. (cool)

As far as modding the 3, it seems like a short shifter will be the first order of business, along with an exhaust. The way this engine seems to be configured, the only real route to bigger horsepower will be forced induction. No way I'll put a turbo on it, it'll be a supercharger or nothing at all. A good low pressure roots supercharger (like the twin screw autorotor Kenne Bell uses on the Miata) would be the way to go, but would also probably necessitate a capable limited slip differential.
Ride height also seems high, but the car is just so darn good out of the box that I'll leave it stock until stuff starts to wear out (shocks, tires). Then I'll start upgrading.
Cheers,
-Mirror
 
Gro Harlem said:
Problem with this thread is there is already WAY too much misinformation posted about Mazda, Ford and WRX's being so great.

First of all Ford owns 40% of Mazda. This is enough of a share for them to be able to influence Mazda's actions and BOY does ford do this.

Why do you think the 91-present Ford Escort uses a Mazda chassis and some models used mazda transmissions and Engines? Why was the Ford Festiva basically a Mazda 121? Why did mazda NOT sell their awesome turbo motors that would have easily passed emissions with minimal cost? Because ford INFLUENCES what mazda does. Ford doesn't want mazda's cars to directly compete with their cars. Thats why you see so many dummied down Mazda models that have awesomer motors overseas. Like the KLZE engine came in MX6's overseas and would've easily passed out emission laws. Why didn't it come out here? The examples go on and on.

The good thing is, the fact that Ford influences mazda doesn't mean that Mazdas are using more and more of Ford's lackluster quality parts.ALthough many parts of the new Mazda3 was co-designed by ford/volvo and mazda alike, I'd understand if some people here were weary about the reliability BUT the previous Protege models were all built completely in Hiroshima, Japan and contain almost all japanese parts (some interior fabrics might be outsourced from other countries).

On another note, Why do so many of you think the WRX is so amazing? Did you know that GM owns 20% of subaru? they have an influence in that company as well. Have you read about the new Saab 9-2 model? It is basically a re-styled WRX sold under the Saab name (saab is owned by GM). This isn't necessarily a bad thing, just showing you an example that domestic companies DO influence japanese and other foreign automakers.

On another note, its funny seeing ignorant people who buy Chryslers think they are actually helping the american economy by buying "american". When in fact cars like the PT cruiser, and 300m are designed mostly in Germany and help pay German salaries.

And If I'm not mistaken, I get a huge vibe from this forum that lots of new P5/MSP/3 owners are previous honda/acura owners and still very loyal to that company. Lots of people here seem to bash Ford, GM, Chrysler, Hyundai, Kia, etc. b/c of their reuptation for being crap quality.

Funny thing is, the latest "annual auto issue" of consumer reports shows that Hyundai has come up to almost Honda/Toyota/Nissan quality. According to the last JD power associates survey of inital qualty, Hyundai TIED with Honda for second (toyota of course being first). The latest consumer reports also mentions how Domestic cars are becoming higher quality and are closing the gap between japanese automakers.
Kinda on teh same lines when the grand national was buitl buy GM.......they only made them for a few years then stopped because the car would out perform the vette at the time for half the cost so the canned it.......
 
That says enough to satisfy me. It's no wonder why many people are holding the Focus to a higher point than other Fords. I am not a fan of domestic cars. By that I mean Ford, Chevy, GM...I don't think anyone is dumb for buying one, but I am just an import guy, Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Mazda, Nissan...Anyway, you've all cleared my mind about Mazdas. Thanks.
 
TheMirror said:
Heh heh, I got it bad. That's true. Not only do I have this expensive habit, but I'm a wine collector too. I'll probably die broke living in a race car with an interior full of Bordeaux. (cool)

As far as modding the 3, it seems like a short shifter will be the first order of business, along with an exhaust. The way this engine seems to be configured, the only real route to bigger horsepower will be forced induction. No way I'll put a turbo on it, it'll be a supercharger or nothing at all. A good low pressure roots supercharger (like the twin screw autorotor Kenne Bell uses on the Miata) would be the way to go, but would also probably necessitate a capable limited slip differential.
Ride height also seems high, but the car is just so darn good out of the box that I'll leave it stock until stuff starts to wear out (shocks, tires). Then I'll start upgrading.
Cheers,
-Mirror

Why not a small turbo~?
dun u like the feeling of a sudden pull~ hehe~(hump)
 
jebus said:
so why doesn't mazda just say **** you ford and branch off?
i'm sure they can cover that 33.3%

because its nice to have the support.


there are just as many junk foreign cars as there are domestic cars.
 
jebus said:
so why doesn't mazda just say **** you ford and branch off?
i'm sure they can cover that 33.3%
Because when mazda was in financial trouble in the 70s or 80s thats when ford bought a percentage of thier stock. Mazda considers them a safety blanket i guess - Mazda cant just buy out their stock they would have to offer ford a premium price for the sale. Personally i dont like the fact their now sharing more platforms except more Mazda jobs in America.
 
bigo711 said:
Why not a small turbo~?
dun u like the feeling of a sudden pull~ hehe~(hump)

Heh, I just got off the turbo bandwagon with the WRX. I'm not a good customer for turbo cars, I don't like the vague throttle response and lack of low end torque. Roots superchargers don't have those characteristics.

The engine in this car will probably remain largely stock, although its so damn quiet it needs an exhaust.
 
jebus said:
so why doesn't mazda just say **** you ford and branch off?
i'm sure they can cover that 33.3%

I'm pretty sure Ford bankrolls a good chunk of Mazda engineering projects.
 
jflo said:
FORD 0WNS MAZDA. but mazda makes all of their own cars. Ford is now employing platform sharing across their brands
The 3 is a Ford platform (euro fOCUS), and the new 3 engines plus the 6 engines are Ford designed with some input from Mazda and Cosworth (the 4 cyls). You guys don't be dissing Ford. They build great cars, and dispite 1st year recall (they were minor in comparison to what some other manufactures never recall for) the fOCUS hads been rated the top car in its class every year, and beat out all others for quality this year. The SVT also won best small "sports" car. This is JD Power, Consumer Reports, Car and Driver, etc. stuff.

Ford is going to use the 6 (a Mazda platform) on other cars in its brads (it is a fantastic platform as well).
 
PR5Matt said:
The 3 is a Ford platform (euro fOCUS), and the new 3 engines plus the 6 engines are Ford designed with some input from Mazda and Cosworth (the 4 cyls). You guys don't be dissing Ford. They build great cars, and dispite 1st year recall (they were minor in comparison to what some other manufactures never recall for) the fOCUS hads been rated the top car in its class every year, and beat out all others for quality this year. The SVT also won best small "sports" car. This is JD Power, Consumer Reports, Car and Driver, etc. stuff.

Ford is going to use the 6 (a Mazda platform) on other cars in its brads (it is a fantastic platform as well).
Why do people speak when they have know idea what the facts are?

The Mazda3 platform was co-designed by Mazda and Volvo. It will be used to build the Euro-Focus. The Mazda3 2.0L and 2.3L are 100% Mazda design. The 2.3L in the 2004 Focus is a completely different engine. Please refrain from adding to the BS on this and other car boards, thank you.(no)
 
Mazda3 said:
Why do people speak when they have know idea what the facts are?

The Mazda3 platform was co-designed by Mazda and Volvo. It will be used to build the Euro-Focus. The Mazda3 2.0L and 2.3L are 100% Mazda design. The 2.3L in the 2004 Focus is a completely different engine. Please refrain from adding to the BS on this and other car boards, thank you.(no)

(blah) (blah) (blah) All BS here.....Get your facts straight!

---Herb---
 
AzMz3 said:
(blah) (blah) (blah) All BS here.....Get your facts straight!

---Herb---
Another intelligent post(cool)

My facts are straight cool guy.
 
Mazda3 said:
Another intelligent post(cool)

My facts are straight cool guy.


Then as stated in the other thread post your facts, prove me wrong!
It is really sad to see someone that does not know a thing about their car yet thinks they do.

---Herb---
 
Some research revealed the following:

The 2.0 and 2.3L Inline 4s in the Mazda 3 are part of Mazda's MZR engine family, which is offered worldwide in displacements of 1.4, 1.6, 2.0, and 2.3L for the gasoline engines. Also offered from this line are 1.4, 1.6, and 2.0L common rail diesel engines. I believe the diesel versions are SOHC. The 2.0L 4cyl. in the current Focus is from Ford's Zetec line, and the 2.3L offered in 2004 for the ZTS and ZTW is a reworked Mazda MZR engine. Its subsequently been renamed the Duratec 23E.


The V-6 in the Mazda 6 is based on the Ford Duratec V-6, and modified for use in the 6 by Mazda.

Cheers,
-Mirror
 
Last edited:
bigo711 said:
Why not a small turbo~?
dun u like the feeling of a sudden pull~ hehe~(hump)
Small turbo?? (bang) That's great if you don't want any power in the upper rev range.

Oh yeah, the focus 2.3PZEVs are modified Mazda MZR motors. End of story.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back