Mazda / Ford relationship & Mazda3 parts sharing thread

Mazda3 said:
Just to set the record straight. Only the European Focus will be built on the same chasis, the North American Focus is the same crap its always been. Although I'm sure the Ford salesman will try and tell you different.
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And why, praytell, is that. Living in Thailand, I have seen the new euro-Focus at car shows and dealerships, and it appears to be very nice. Why do NA Ford execs in particular, and U.S. auto execs in general, continue to try to force SUVs and crap cars down our throats?

End of rhetoric. Mazda 3s Touring on the way!
 
Don't have time to read, but (some of) the electricals are apparently Ford. I was tapping my sat radio power into the aux DC plug in the armrest and the harness/plug said Ford on it.
 
i have a mazdaspeed3 and when i was doing an oil change and exhaust work, on the side of the block it says FoMoCo. and also noticed it on the front two callipers (FoMoCo)just incase you dont know this it stands for Ford Motor Company.WTF!(bang)
 
Idk what everyones deal is, i dont care if it says ford or not its still a nice car and i have nothing on ford. My last car (escort zx2) is still runnign stronger than a honda (and faster hehe) at almost 250k mind that this car has had the piss beaten out of it since about 60k

And if you dont know the zx2 is also on a mazda chassis (BG seires)
 
MSpeedRacer said:
Idk what everyones deal is, i dont care if it says ford or not its still a nice car and i have nothing on ford. My last car (escort zx2) is still running stronger than a honda (and faster hehe) at almost 250k mind that this car has had the piss beaten out of it since about 60k

And if you dont know the zx2 is also on a mazda chassis (BG seires)
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+1. The MS# is a great car. Who gives a toot if it has some nice European developed parts from Ford and Volvo? (huh) Not I!
 
Volvo WHIPS-equipped seats interchangeable with MS3?

wongpres said:
Mazda3 platform sharing

- Mazda3's platform was a joint-development with Ford of Europe, Mazda, and Volvo. This platform is for the following cars: Mazda3, new Volvo S40/V50, Ford Focus C-Max (not avail. in N. America), and the flagship vehicle - the next-gen euro-Ford Focus (this vehicle will be introduced later this year and will not be coming to N. America anytime soon - the re-styled N. American '05 Focus stays with the old platform).
- Each company was the lead for their main strength. So Ford of Europe was the lead for driving dynamics (the current-gen euro-Focus is nothing short of awesome), Volvo the structurals and safety, and Mazda for the powertrains and exhaust systems (Japanese-reliability and technology).
- The individual brands could then add their own brand-specific stuff on top of the common platform (e.g. steels of different strengths for additional safety on the Volvo, and 3 additional tranny-area cross-members on the Mazda to further reduce body-flex)
- In the end, 42% of the Mazda3's parts are shared with its siblings. This means that 58% of the Mazda3 is all Mazda, with the other 42% being co-developed.
- None of the shared components can be seen, heard, or felt by the typical consumer
- So what are examples of things the Mazda3 gained from this platform sharing?
- control-blade rear-suspension is simply awesome (it performs better and is cheaper to manufacture than the one Mazda developed for the Mazda6)
- Mazda3's largest brakes are larger than those on the Mazda6
- Crash-protection will be excellent
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Hi wongpres,

I would like to buy a Mazdaspeed3. However, the IIHS has rated the Mazda3 seats as marginal. I would appreciate it if you could assist me in positively answering the following two questions:

1. Since the Mazda3 is built on the Ford C1 platform, the same platform used for the Volvo C30 / C70 / S40 & V50, are any of these Volvo WHIPS-equipped seats interchangeable with the Mazdaspeed3 front seats? Is the seat mount bolt pattern the same?
2. Per Wikipedia, "the safety and electrical components are shared" among the Ford C1 platform models. If this is correct, shouldn't the Mazda3 control module be compatible with either the Mazda3 or Volvo seat, its weight sensor, and its built-in side air bag? Is the Volvo WHIPS-equipped seat fully compatible with all safety systems in the MS3?

Thanks!!
 
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Ford, throughout this whole new deal of a successful global vehicle, has gotted WAY too cocky by stamping everything as FoMoCo, like theyre trying to convince everyone that Ford themself could possibly be responsible a reliable car with excellent driving dynamic. No one's buying it. When Ford engineers a car, it's something like the Tempo/Topaz, or the 500 (does anyone even remember that POS). Ford has known for years that any car they could possibly release as a HIT would have to be totally centered around other automakers engineering skills. Thats why the Fusion is remembered, and the 500 is not. Thats why the Explorer is still 1990 Technology, and the crown/vic grand marquis also.. Those cars are ideal examples of FORD's attempt at 100% engineering responsibility... pieces of s***. So while Mazda and Volvo may have to benefit from some funds thrown in their direction by a brain dead lawyer father, Ford's image and reputation has the most to gain from this partnership.
 
I read recently that Ford quietly sold (or planned to sell) their controlling interest of Mazda...from like 34% down to 13-15%. And this was prior to the auto bailout $hit in front of congress.
They still plan to maintain "strategic" relationships, whatever that means.
 
davens said:
I read recently that Ford quietly sold (or planned to sell) their controlling interest of Mazda...from like 34% down to 13-15%. And this was prior to the auto bailout $hit in front of congress.
They still plan to maintain "strategic" relationships, whatever that means.
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corporately, Ford is like the ***** of babylon...
 
lol. no rest for the wicked. did the engines change at all between 04 model and the 06 (mine)? i didnt think they did....
 
splitthebreak said:
lol. no rest for the wicked. did the engines change at all between 04 model and the 06 (mine)? i didnt think they did....
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No, the engines didn't change until the new model for 2010. The only difference was the introduction of the DISI turbo-charged model but even that uses the same base 2.3L block.
 
I am waking this thread from the grave i know....
I have been Googling my eyes and the web for the last 30 hours trying to find a crankshaft that will work with my mazda 3 2.3 vvt and i came up with nothing.....
I'm not looking for performance parts just OEM or reman
please help or point to the right direction to look
 
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