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Midsize Sedans 2.0

18228 messages,  Last post on May 25, 2013 at 7:54 PM

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What is this discussion about? Hyundai Sonata, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Volkswagen Passat, Mazda MAZDA6, Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Kia Optima, Car Comparisons, Sedan

Messages Page 1539 of 1823

#15378 of 18228 Re: 2011 Mazda6 [aviboy97] by baggs32

Aug 09, 2010 (9:48 am)

Replying to: aviboy97 (Aug 06, 2010 7:17 pm)
First off, I never said they ruled them completely. For their North American Operations, Ford had a HUGE say in how they conducted business. Second, Ford had a lot of their brass in Mazda North American Operations. That is a FACT. Coming from someone who is associated with Mazda, I would know more then you.
 
Right. That's why I told you Ford did not control them completely. Yeah, I Googled it and learned all of it from other forums. It's public knowledge and I don't need to work for Mazda to know that.
 
I'm pretty sure you're wrong about the 3 too. The last gen 3 was a joint effort between Ford, Mazda and Volvo where each contributed their own expertise. IIRC Ford provided the chassis engineering and balance, Mazda developed the platform and provided the powertrain, and Volvo obviously worked on the safety. Maybe the new one has morphed away from that formula but that's how I remember the original being born. So in a nutshell, the last gen 3 was very much a Euro Focus and Volvo S40 too.
 
Mazda had "free reign"to develop the Mazda6 because Ford at the time did not have a mid-sized vehicle. They had a corporate fleet Ford Taurus. Ford used the Mazda6 platform, electronic design, suspension architecture, I4 engine to build the Fusion. They even have the same ECU! Ford saved $10 billion in development costs when building the 1st gen Fusion.
 
Right answer. That's why Ford bought the controlling interest. Another example is with Volvo where Ford bought them simply because they were so impressed with the S80 platform which now underpins several Ford and Lincoln models. Aside from some trucks there really are very few Ford cars that who's platforms were actually developed by Ford.
 
Fact of the matter is, Ford had much more say in the daily operations of Mazda then you think they did. Even tough they were "business partners", Ford had a little leverage.
 
No, I'm well aware of how the arrangement worked. Google is more powerful than you are giving it credit for. I probably read your statement differently than you intended it to read so I understand your point more now. lf nothing else it looks like others have learned something from this conversation because there seems to be a lot of questions about Mazda and Ford cars/motors all of a sudden!
 
This was always something that bugged Mazda. For the first time since the early 90's, Mazda can do what they want, when they want, without Ford having to approve.
 
Well, let's wait and see how that goes before saying it's good or bad for Mazda. I took my two boys out to the lots yesterday morning to check out the new models. We first stopped at one of the top 3 Ford dealers (in sales) in the area and there were zero new Fusions on their lot, which is what I really went there to see, and not much more there other than F-150s and Focii. I'm guessing they are waiting to sell off the '10 models before they build up the '11 MY inventory so that could explain the emptiness of that lot over how it usually is. Higher sales than normal could explain it too though.
 
Next we drove a few miles up the road to the VW/Mazda dealer. The Mazda dealer's lot was packed to the gills with '10 models most sporting bright neon colored paint on the windshields advertising 0% interest + cash back. Sure it's only one dealer in a medium sized city but when the Ford lot up the road, and the Honda lot we drove past, are nearly empty at model year end time, you have to wonder.
 
I also had the unfortunate opportunity to see a Mazda2 in person there. After seeing a Fiesta down the road I have to say that Mazda really messed that one up. The Fiesta looked sporty and sleek whereas the 2 looked like a cheap little blob. Maybe it was the white color or the base wheel/tire package. Either way I did not like it at all.

#15379 of 18228 Re: 2011 Mazda6 [baggs32] by aviboy97

Aug 09, 2010 (10:45 am)

Replying to: baggs32 (Aug 09, 2010 9:48 am)
I also had the unfortunate opportunity to see a Mazda2 in person there. After seeing a Fiesta down the road I have to say that Mazda really messed that one up.
 
Ford definitely put a little more effort into the Fiesta, no doubt. The Mazda2 we see is virtually the same as it has been for the past couple years, outside of a few different styling cues. I will say, when sitting inside the Mazda2, it is not as cheap as it seems. It is put together very well. It could be better, though, especially with the quality of all their other vehicles.
 
From what I hear in Mazda world, and this is nothing official, it that Mazda released the Mazda2 as-is with the intention of adding their soon to be SKY drivetrains in the next year or so. Since a new model usually generates buzz, they figure to ride the initial wave of success and then come out with the new drivetrains. Kinda like what Ford did with the 2010-2011 Mustang. Again, this is nothing official, but, that is the plan from what I have been hearing.

#15383 of 18228 Re: POST #20 [israel2] by csandste

Aug 10, 2010 (3:24 pm)

Moderators-- This has been posted all over Edmunds today. Virus?

#15384 of 18228 Re: POST #20 [csandste] by kirstie_h HOST

Aug 11, 2010 (7:35 am)

Replying to: csandste (Aug 10, 2010 3:24 pm)
Nope, just your run-of-the-mill pesky spammer.

#15385 of 18228 Re: 2011 Mazda6 [aviboy97] by cobraboy1

Aug 11, 2010 (11:36 pm)

Replying to: aviboy97 (Aug 09, 2010 10:45 am)
Ford definitely put a little more effort into the Fiesta, no doubt. The Mazda2 we see is virtually the same as it has been for the past couple years, outside of a few different styling cues. I will say, when sitting inside the Mazda2, it is not as cheap as it seems. It is put together very well. It could be better, though, especially with the quality of all their other vehicles.
 
Actually even though they both came out at roughly the same time, they really don't share all that much in common with one another. I don't know all of the specifics about what each car shares with the other but I believe its very little if anything at all. The Fiesta is a european car that Ford pretty much brought straight over from europe and only changed what they needed to do to make the car legal for U.S. roads and laws. The Mazda2 is a vehicle brought from Japan.
 
That said I've driven both of these vehicles (w/ the manual tranny) and they are very different cars. I drive about 60k per year (I currently have a 2010 fusion sport with 46k miles), looking for a car with better mpg. The Mazda2 is a great city car that is a lot of fun to drive as long as your drive is no longer than an hour or two. And the performance in the straight line is really really really sluggish.
 
The ford on the other hand is a lot more solid feeling and seems like a much larger car. It handles very well and in the straight line if feels very eager and fun to go through the gears. The styling is better and not as weird to look at, not to mention that the mazda is a much simpler car than the Fiesta. These two cars are great because they are both designed to do two very different missions in life.
 
BTW. FYI, Mazda is still owned in part by Ford, only 13% currently, but hey still part.

#15386 of 18228 Fiesta Vs. Mazda 2 by sandman_6472

Aug 13, 2010 (11:26 am)

Personally like the looks of the Fiesta better than the Mazda2...outside looks sportier and a much better dash layout. But out current Mazda 3s has been great up to a month ago, so think the wife would prefer the Mazda. We've had a Ford and a couple of Lincoln Continentals growing up & all 3 were crap compared to our Cadillacs, so not sure if I could ever purchase another Ford. The Fiesta would have to be an exceptional car to even be considered. But if the wife got such a small car, she'd need the one with the most powerful auto tranny. But coming from a 2.3 to a 1.6 will probably not work for her.
 
Wish I could find a small car with a 2.0 engine that would make her happy. She won't go any larger than her current M3s and would be happy dropping down a size. We don't need a large car anymore as we already have 4 cars for us and the girls and anticipate having to purchace a fifth for our just graduated boy to start his new job. Not sure what we're gonna do!
 
  
 
The Sandman

#15387 of 18228 Re: Fiesta Vs. Mazda 2 [sandman_6472] by backy

Aug 13, 2010 (1:02 pm)

Replying to: sandman_6472 (Aug 13, 2010 11:26 am)
If wife needs a small car about the size of the Mazda3, you should show her the 2011 Elantra when it's out. It will likely continue its heritage of having a mid-sized interior and compact exterior, but will have a new DI I4 (might actually be smaller than the current 2.0 Beta II, but with at least as much power if not more), 6AT, high fuel economy, and the looks of a mini-Sonata (some think it actually looks better than the Sonata). Another nice midsize-inside/compact-outside car is the Sentra. I am leasing one now and I find it's a smooth and comfortable car, with plenty of room and excellent FE with its 2.0L CVT. Best car I could find for $179/mo. with 0 out of pocket.

Messages Page 1539 of 1823

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