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Hatchbacks Mazda3 Mazdaspeed3 vs. VW V GTI vs. Civic Si
1379 messages, Last post on Oct 01, 2009 at 10:54 AM
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Replying to: eldaino (Jun 25, 2007 7:34 am) That's an iffy one. It was designed by Mazdas German team, in Germany. The 1999-2005 Mazda Miata was designed in Irvine, California, does that make that Miata an American car? No. It was still the Japanese that built it. So, I would say that the Mazda3's suspension is Japanese.
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Jun 25, 2007 7:39 am) Mazda3's Control Blade rear suspension is not a Japanese design (the earlier Mazda-suspension TTL -- Twin Trapezoid Link -- is). It was taken directly from the European-car Focus, which was derived from the old Mondeo wagon's unique space-saving "4-link rear suspension" set up. Mazda simply retuned it w/ different firmness & understeer/oversteer balance when using the whole MkII Focus platform. Only the steering rack was Mazda's own Japanese design, while the Focus & S40/V50 share the same European steering rack. Mazda's design team in Germany mainly only contributed the drivetrain portion in this C-1 project, which consists of Mazda3, MkII Focus & S40/V50. & yes, the drivetrain in the recent Focus in the U.S. is Japanese. So was the 1.8 in the '91 Escort GT/Tracer LTS. Just like the MkI S40 has a Japanese suspension (Mitsubishi Carisma platform) while the MkII S40 has the Focus Control Blade. & no, the Focus is not an American design. The Pinto is. Saying this suspension is Japanese is like saying the MkV Rabbit/GTI's Control Blade is a version of a Japanese suspension. 
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Replying to: eldaino (Jun 25, 2007 7:34 am) I agree about VW Rabbit's ride comfort beating just about everyone else's Those of you not happy w/ Mazda3's quicker-rebound ride movement can solve the problem simply by using Gabriel or std-S40 shocks to calm it down. That way, you are still keeping the only reliable "German" car on the road.
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Replying to: creakid1 (Jun 25, 2007 5:53 pm) Not totally. The 2.0 and 2.3 Duratec is a Mazda design but built by Ford. Only the 4F27E (4 sp auto) tranny is a Mazda. The 1.8 in the Escort GT and Tracer was totally Mazda, also used in the Miata. It's a shame that we are not going to get the Mk2 Focus over here. That is one helluva vehicle...
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Jun 26, 2007 5:46 am) i didn't realize that the focus was reffered to in 'marks' like vw's are. i just thought they were generations.
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Replying to: eldaino (Jun 26, 2007 6:39 am) In Europe they are! I especially like the Focus RS... the current Focus has been rated the most reliable vehicle in its segment in Germany, outdoing all Jap and German brands....why the heck do they not give it to us!?!?! |
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Jun 26, 2007 7:23 am) That's incredible for an European car (MkII Focus)! This credit must go to Mazda, as European's MkI Focus never had a chance to run on Japanese-designed powerplant (did they?). By the way, the MkII RS was cancelled. Here's the MkIII regular Focus. Watch out, it's coming to America in the distant future, but even the MkII's overall width is so fat that the 6-ft-wide Lexus LS430 can't match. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/u/r0a9f0811324f75a7t/news/autoexpressnews/209134/ford_focus.html
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Replying to: creakid1 (Jun 26, 2007 7:45 am) |
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Replying to: creakid1 (Jun 26, 2007 7:45 am) the new focus is coming out soon and there have already been pics of it, and its nothing to write home about. and it certainly looks nothing like this. the interior still looks a bit chintzy though.
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Replying to: eldaino (Jun 27, 2007 8:28 am) |
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