Alright guys, Im bringing this topic up to clarify some issues that many have brought up or falsely assumed so..

It is true that Ford Motor Co. owns Mazda Co. , however that doenst mean Mazda is equivalent to Ford.

There are only two cars in the Mazda lineup that are built by Ford Plants which are the Tribute and B Series Truck

The RX8 is NOT built by FOrd and FORD HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH IT AT ALL !!!!

Im so tired of the dumb remarks, its like saying Chryslers are Mercedes which we all know they are NOT !!!

However technically, Chrysler is OWNED by Mercedes . Come on people please, if I hear another person tell me that Mazda is Ford, Im going to shoot them seriously..

=) ok maybe not, but dont tempt me ..

Z

 

No one has said that to me yet, but I think I would want to shoot them, too if they said my 8 is a Ford!!

 

I believe Ford only owns 34% of Mazda. That said, the two do have a joint venture called AutoAlliance, which operates the manufacturing plant in Flat Rock, Michigan.

 

Correct winter. Take a look at your vent covers and then look at a Ford's vent covers... They do share some parts and technology. But they are not the same cars. They have different R&D and different plants make most of the cars. Ours is made almost exclusively in Japan.

 

I tell people mine is a Mitsubishi! Since Mazda use to be a division of Mitsu that is...

j/k

 

I recall everyone pointing out it was not a Ford when asked, and actually, since you mention it, a lot of new Chryslers are in fact Mercedes.

Crossfire and 300C are Chrysler bodies on previous generation platforms. This is a good thing, but there is as much Mercedes as Chrysler in there.

 

What really cracks me up is when a 350Z owner laughs at the Rx-8 because its a "Ford".

Anyone know why that is REALLY funny?

 

I feel you man...I hate the fact that Ford even owns a part of Mazda. The 6 is a great car, but the fact that it is using a modifed Tarus motor and who know's what else, makes me dislke it. Also the Tribute...it's crap. I hate Ford and all the other domestics.

 

Chryslers are Mercedes? What are you smoking crack ? =)

Sharing platforms do not depict that the quality and make are the same. Many auto manufacters share alot of technology including platforms with each other, but what really counts is the end product...

Ford is crappy simple as that. As for the Z owners, truth is they cant say anything else so they gotta dig deep to get an insult out at least... Nothing against the Z, i think its a great style and engine, though i think Nissan skimped out on the interior details and not to mention the over abundance of plastic..

SEriously ask any Z owner, how does it feel to drive a Z being surrounded with nothing but PLastic. They cant even make the DVD nav cover correctly, have any of you's seen a Z inside..??

 

the reason its funny that a 350Z owner calls the Rx-8 a "Ford" is that Renault owns Nissan.

Remember "Le Car" and the "Alliance"

 

LOL Oh Yeah! Le Z?

 

There are only two cars in the Mazda lineup that are built by Ford Plants which are the Tribute and B Series Truck...

also i think there are some mazda cars sharing the same platform as the ford as well? i believe it was the mazda3 sharing the ford focus. so technically underneath its a ford with a different design and mazda emblem on it...?

 

Actually that is incorrect, Renault doesn not own nissan, and Nissan does not own Renault

What they have is a alliance where each have stock shares of each others company.

They did this strategically to strengthem themselves against competitors in the market..

 

Renault saved nissan the same way ford saved mazda.

 

That can always be debated, different markets yield different factors and results...

But I have one thing to say, thank god were not Mitsu.. is that company going out of business yet?? =)

 

I've heard the same arguement, it's insulting!

 

mazda6 has the body of the jaguer x type and the ford made in europe. ford controls mazda because mazda had no money to pay there banksin the 90's . ford had and still has the most stock in mazda so when the bank took over they didn't know how to run it so they gave ford all the power to conrol it. Chrysler OWNED Mercedes.

 

My father is a Chrysler dealer (just so no one thinks I love Fords)
Have you seen the new Jaguar coupe prototype?
Looks a whole lot like the RX-8. Ford owns - or atleast some - of Jaguar. Clearly there is some sharing.
Mercedes has made the new Chryslers much better.
What about the new Ford GT?
If they say the RX-8 is a Ford, they are confused - and for the most part wrong.

 

Just because ford owns a company does not mean that it is crap. Ford owns Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover, Mazda, Aston Martin. These companies are doing much better after Ford bought them.

 

The Chrysler Crossfire uses a Mercedes chassis, engine, and transmission!

The Mazda 6 uses the a modified Duratec engine.

The Mazda 3 is a new platform to be shared with the next generation Focus (I don't think it is based off the current one).

We are going to see more and more crossing over between all manufacturers. Imagine a GT40 crossover with a 4 rotor supercharged Renesis... hmmmm RX-40?

 

I own an 04 Z and admit the interior is crap compared to the 8. But, what are you surrounded by in the 8? Errr.. plastic as well.

As for the nav door/cover, it's been changed on 04s. Gone is the weird and awkward to close door on the 03s. It's motorized for people w/nav systems now. The non-nav door now just flips up and sticks out quite a ways and is much easier to close now.

 

Yup, to add to renesis_turbo's list. The replacement for the Taurus will be the Futura which is based on the 6 platform.

http://www.edmunds.com/news/autoshow...9/page004.html

 

The Crossfire is a hardtop SLK for $10k less. It is built in Germany. How Mercedes can you get? This is a good thing. The new SLK on a newer platform will be out soon.

The 300C uses tranny, steering, seat structure, electronics, suspension components, and basic design all from the E Class. This is a really cool car coming out. Sad it took the Germans to build a proper American sedan.

The RX-8 and Miata, the cars that matter, are all Mazda.

The new Mazda 3 is definitely the next generation Focus platform to be used on the next Volvo S40 as well.

Ford generally only provides money and parts to its different divisions. They still get to control their own fate. Mazda has done a great job of asserting itself as driver focused.

Ever notice how every company Ford owns makes great cars except Ford itself?

 

there are angles in RX8 similar to the 99-2004 mustangs

 

"there are angles in RX8 similar to the 99-2004 mustangs"

hehe... i thought it was just me!!! I noticed that too - though I really dislike all mustang designs (much prefer the classic camero style) though I really dig the RX8.... most similar lines on the RX8 are the better ones