mazprotojoke

yeppers, dont buy a maz3 !,anyone,dont embrace that car at all, its about as mazda as a tribute, its completely ford, absolute junk , themore people embrace that car the worse its going to get, mazda has gone byebye, and the miata, soon ford will abolish that car, make it front wheel drive and put a zetec engine under the hood

Redfyre

Well thanks for the tips. Is your information based on personal experience, fact, or something you heard from a devine power? Why would you post something like this?

eltonr

from the sounds of it, he's basing this off hard scientific data

I'm not a fan of ford having input on mazda's engineering work but the truth is if Ford wasn't involved with Mazda, then mazda would have went under long ago......time will tell if fords engineering work helped or hindered mazda on the 6 and the 3.

jaredspangler

Mazprotojoke, hard data only please. The Tribute is more Ford than the 3 is or ever will be. The Tribute was built over here, and is American. It was built off an American platform, and despite the driving passion that Mazda attempted to inject into it with steering ratios and suspension and brake tuning, it was a glorified Escape. It had and still has exactly the same engine and transmission, and had no special modifications or optimizations by Mazda.
This new platform is quite different. This platform that the 3 is built off of will not even be used in the US (maybe it is too advanced for Ford USA!). The platform and steering column are only shared. The Europe only verson of the Ford Focus will be built in the UK and will have its own engines and transmissions. 1.6 and 1.8 liter 4 cyl and 1.6 and 2.0 diesels
The new Volvo S40 will be built in Ghent, Belgium and will have a 2.5L 5 cyl 20 valve turbo with 218hp and 236 lb-ft of torque with a 6 speed manual or 5 speed auto.



The new 3 is built in Hiroshima, Japan, has its own rear suspension design, and its own engines which will not appear in its other platform mates.
Ford has just now figured out that they do not know how to design platforms. Now they are allowing the knowledge of their other foreign subsidiaries to design the platforms. Ford is planning to use the Atenza (6) platform to make its cars. Last I heard, they were planning to launch over 10 new vehicles off that platform. Ford has realized they can make trucks, but they suck at cars.

ProteSpazim

I was speaking with someone who claimed to be a Mazda factory executive. He had no idea that I drive a Protege at all, until later in the conversation.

I asked him about the 3 and if it was going to be a Ford with a Mazda badge. He said all Z serial numbered cars are going to be Japanese. He said Ford is borrowing Mazda tech, not the other way around.

As my Protege has been bullet-proof I'm hoping the 3 will be the same way. Going to wait at least 1 model year before I make the switch though - just in case.

ProteSpazim

Roddimus Prime

From what I hear the only thing similar between the models (M3, S40 and Focus) is the frame and some small suspension componants. this is only used to cut costs and ultimatly make you a better vehicle cheaper....why would you not want that. Also, ford is using mazdas design on the engines. Eevr see a mazda pickup?? You think the ranger is a mazda and ford just stole it? They have a content-sharing arrangement between them.

Personally, getting on here and bashing the new 3 isn't smart considering several people here already own them and those that have them and have driven them love them. Maybe you should keep your misinformed facts to yourself.

macdaddyslomo

oh geez, thats it!! this has already been discussed to death and documentation has already been provided showing the 3 is all mazda!!! some moderator please, PLEASE ban this guy.....his posts are crap!! i swear i think its someone using a made up name from ANOTHER board just trying to spread dissent and anti mazda rederick(sp?).....BAN HIM PLEASE!!!!!!

velocity3

based on about 160 miles so far put on my 3 S 4 door it is great and i dont find a flaw in it except that my carpets are dirty, damnit. I love my 3 and for the price i got it at nothing comes close.....so suck a fat one if dont like it.

PA2004 M3

For what it's worth I love my M3 hatchback. The exterior styling is cutting edge, the workmanship excellent, and the materials within the interior are of the highest quality. As with any vehicle time will tell but I knew when I purchased this vehicle that I had a company and product that would stand behind me. I have been down the road before in Detroit iron, some were good experiences some completely horrible. My expectations have always been completely satisfied with foreign vehicles and I chose to go that route again with my M3. I am just one voice in a world of many.

Roddimus Prime

good to hear guys. I can't wait to see how the aftermarket supports this car since it's receiving such worldwide praise.

PA2004 M3

I am interested as well to see what comes in the future for modifications but honestly the car really needs nothing. I wouldn't mind personalizing the car a little more and I love to tinker.

I would love to see an easy to install and reliable turbo system become available, that might get my interest. I'm also a fan of a great handling car but sometimes the aftermarket is a give and take on that issue and this M3 corners really flat as it comes, something I will have to think about.

premdrumusr

I just saw something interesting on the Ford website.. It looks to me as the Mazda 3 is built off of the new platform which is the same one the new S40 AND US BOUND FOCUS is built on.. the Foci also has the same 2.3L engine just detuned... so whoever said they are totally different is not speaking 100% truth.. and the new Ranger was out before the Mazda B-series was... My girlfriend has an 02 and she confirmed it.. The Mazda 6 is also just a ford taurus gussied up.. but its not such a bad thing.. I love my mom's 6 and I used to love my Protege

Roddimus Prime

umm....dude you're wrong.

The 2.3L in the new focus is not a mazda engine. It's the same 2.3L engine that is in the focus station wagon now. It's a ZETEC family motor. The 2.3L in the Mazda3 is the same engine from the Mazda6i. Also the 6 is NOT a dressed up taurus. The two share almost nothing. The Mazda6 is a 100% brand new vehicle designed and built by mazda. The only common bond beween mazda and ford on that car is the engine BLOCK....it's the same 3.0L block as the taurus but EVERYTHING else is mazda exclusive.

Gotta get those facts straight first.

jaredspangler

And to follow up, the EUROPEAN Focus shares the C1 Platform. The latest Focus here in the US received a mild freshening (front and rear bumpers and dashboard). Check any website that has Los Angeles Auto Show coverage, and they will confirm that.
2005 Ford Focus at Los Angeles Auto Show
If you want to see the Focus that shares the C1 platform, go to the UK Ford website and Look at the aptly named Ford Focus Cmax. It looks nothing like the one here.
Ford Focus CMax (UK)

The point... Check your facts first.

2001ProtegeLX

UNLESS I MISUNDERSTOOD THE JOKE....

What a stupid post by a total moron !!! (I am referring to the first one.) I have seen some stupid posts like this in Toyota, Subaru clubs, etc.

Just someone who would say anything because his IQ is so low that only words as stupid as these shown on his posts can be used.

You ask him hard fact, his stupidity will make a BIG HOLE out of his stupid mouth.

And when you look at a moron like this, his head looks like an ***....!!!!