Mazda & Ford

[TexP5]

This just came out in Autoweek Magazine. The Focus and Protege/323 replacement to share the same platform at some point down the road.

How do y'all think this will work out? Will we see a Mazda3/Protege with an SVT engine? or will the Protege become the poor step cousin of the Ford? I tend to think Ford will kill the uniqueness of the Protege...I hope I'm wrong.

http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content...=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=02975761

 

[LambOfSilence]

actually, i don't think our p5s are that unique when comparing to ford. I mean the interior, the center console, door handles, how those bottons are placed, strongly represent a ford, don't even get me started on tributes. Actually, i think in some countries, something looks like p5s with smaller engine, different bumpers are sold with a ford mark. I guess ford can do anything they want, but they can't touch my p5.... hahaha

 

[Sir Nuke]

This just came out in Autoweek Magazine. The Focus and Protege/323 replacement to share the same platform at some point down the road.

How do y'all think this will work out? Will we see a Mazda3/Protege with an SVT engine? or will the Protege become the poor step cousin of the Ford? I tend to think Ford will kill the uniqueness of the Protege...I hope I'm wrong.

I hate to say it...but I have seen ford do exactly that before....back in the 70's Mercury imported a little car from Germany that was hell for stout, if equiped with the V-6 option and the 5 speed....they only brought them in for a few years...it was the CAPRI....then ford stuck their fingers in it and presto chango there was a bastard little sister to the mustang....they were in fact the same car, for all practicle purposes....but then again they weren't....same body and all....and after a while....they killed it. I would seriously hate to think that is what is in store for us....

 

[oliver2000]

Well if true, my MP3 and my soon to be Mazdaspeed will be my last mazda vehicles

 

[falkofire]

isn't the new ford focus zx5 a copy of the protege 5 anywayz
?

 

[Sir Nuke]

isn't the new ford focus zx5 a copy of the protege 5 anywayz
?

NO, not even close.

 

[mazdanle]

Hey Guy.
Don't worry about Mazda & Ford, because they all same production from begining ( 1970 some thing like that)
If your car VIN # with "J " that mean JAPAN.
If your car VIN # with "1" or "4" ( hey four not ford) mean FORD production.Look at Tribute and Escape same platform ( may be same engine and transmision and electrical system ) but the body, the look and the service is different. Mazda has longer warranty than Ford ( 3 year 50,000 miles compare to 3 year 30,000 miles) If your guy have any question about Mazda and Ford , I may have the ansser ( may be not right).

 

[APEXistud]

The only thing I want from the SVT would be the transmission. 6sp Getrag tranny. You'd never have to worry about your tranny giving. I've been wondering for a while now if our motors would botl on to the trannies.

 

[TexP5]

Mazdanle...

For me that "only difference" being the "J" in the VIN number is the most significant difference between our cars and a Ford Product. There's a HUGE difference between our cars designed and built in Japan, with some Ford looking switches and parts. And a shared platform car that would almost inevitably be built in Michigan. Do you wonder why Mazda offers a better warranty?? Do you think they'd offer the same warranty on a car built by the good old UAW??

Why would the Tribute/Explorer situation ease my concerns??? It reeks of Sirnuke's Capri story...the Tribute and the Explorer are now essentially the same car. How long will it be before they say "Why waste money on tooling for two such similar vehicles? Let's eliminate one of them!" It won't be the Ford that gets elminated I guarantee ya!

 

[Baltopro5]

I am not a Ford fan. The only thing I do not like about my pro5 is the fact that Mazda is associated with Ford. Our Pro5's are built better and are more dependable so far than any product I have ever seen ford make.
When the platforms combine in the near future I belive ford will benefit. Then I am sure shortly there after P5's will suffer and Mazda will be back working hard on another vehicle that eventully ford will STEAL again.

 

[Nikolas]

That is true, the new car will be called the Mazda3.... following the naming convention of the Mazda6. It will come equipped with the new Mazda/Ford Duratec engine, most likely in a 2.0L format.

The Mazda6 is getting the 2.3L Duratec 4 cylinder in it as the base option for an engine. Expect great things out of these new all aluminum DOHC engines. My company will be the best place to buy performance modifications for these engines as they come out. We are starting R&D on the 2.3L engine now, and by the end of the year we will have heads, cams, and possibly even a turbo ready for the Mazda6 2.3L.......

www.DuratecPerformance.com



Nikolas

 

[gmgdn45]

What I want out of that SVT is the 40hp it has over ours, or is it 30, I don't remember, doesn't matter I want it. I have a feeling that the P5 to the Focus is like the MX6 to the Probe. I traded my 6 for the P5. I know one thing for sure that is the same from the 6 to the P5 is the bolt pattern on the rims. Anyway, If I can prove this, which I am going off the info given to me at the Ford dealer when I was test driving both cars to keep my options open. They started telling me about the similarities between Ford vehicles and Mazda's. I popped the hood on the Focus, by looks alone, it seems the same. I read the minimum specs between the two, and they matched. I am going to get that extra HP!! Don't know how without a NOS or a Turbo, but I will. I just remembered, on mazdamotorsports.com they sell cams for the P5's that, on the site say you will get about 12hp gain. I called and they told me its more than 12 but thats all they guarantee. And thats just on the intake side. They don't detail the other. I bet thats my 40hp I want.

Done ranting,

G

 

[gmgdn45]

Some more digging

Unless I am off my rocker, check this link

2nd gen MX6 post

Our engine is the FSZE, right. From what I find on here

Mazda Motor Sports Part Search

Just do a search for the P5 and it calls it. I am new to this site, just found it tonight by chance. Because I just moved in to this new house, my DSL is not installed yet, I am so deprived. I haven't had the chance to search here for what everyone has discussed.

If what I put up here is true, here's a place with a turbo kit,


Knight Turbos

G

 

[HS8]

when is the mazda 3 coming out, 2004? cause i would want my car to be built in japan. So that the 2003 protege would be my choice.

 

[ChrisJ]

gmgdn45, our cars use the FS-DE engine. The FS-ZE engine, as the post on the MX-6 forum said, is a J-spec engine.

HS8, the Mazda 3 comes out in 2004. It will ride on a platform shared with Ford, but it will still be built in Japan.

Here's an article about the new Duratec engines that will be used. Although the design is shared with Ford, Mazda did most of the engineering.

 

[NegatiZE]

actually, i don't think our p5s are that unique when comparing to ford. I mean the interior, the center console, door handles, how those bottons are placed, strongly represent a ford, don't even get me started on tributes. Actually, i think in some countries, something looks like p5s with smaller engine, different bumpers are sold with a ford mark. I guess ford can do anything they want, but they can't touch my p5.... hahaha

I agree that the Tributes share a lot with Ford, especially the switchgear and everything, but the Protege???

Everything inside feels totally Japanese to me. The way everything clicks is the usual Japanese tactile feeling, even the power window buttons are the typical "put your finger under the switch and pull up" to roll up the window. The fit and finish is excellent, and the doors slam with a solid thunk.

The Tribute on the other hand is crap, IMO. Doors slam cheaply, and the interior looks like it came 100% from Ford.

 

[HS8]

2003 or 2004

hmmm, with this new discussion, should i get a 2003 protege5 or wait for 2004. hmmmmm......But how is the quality of the engine? Like will it be reliable?

 

[Equinox]

eitherway, I would really like to have a little 323 hatchback - if they made it sporty SVT style. I love little hatchbacks, but there are no new good ones out - just wagons and such

 

[gmgdn45]

gmgdn45, our cars use the FS-DE engine. The FS-ZE engine, as the post on the MX-6 forum said, is a J-spec engine.

Thanks for the intel. Do you know the difference between the -DE and the -ZE, besides the fact that the -ZE is J-Spec?

The info I got that our motors are the -ZE was from the Mazda Speed site. Then I remembered that the 2nd gen MX6's used the same type.

G

 

[banned bandit]

Thanks for the intel. Do you know the difference between the -DE and the -ZE, besides the fact that the -ZE is J-Spec?

The info I got that our motors are the -ZE was from the Mazda Speed site. Then I remembered that the 2nd gen MX6's used the same type.

G

the cams are different and the engine uses a tuned ECU...thats the bigest bottle neck right now...the damn ECU!!!!!!