YACT: Any reason NOT to buy a Mazda3?

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: Vic
Car and Driver:
"... Ford has had control of its Japanese affiliate (Mazda) since 1996."
"... the Mazda 3 is, in all essentials, a Focus?not the current model, but the new small Ford that appears in Europe as the C-Max minivan this autumn and worldwide as a five-door hatchback in 2004."
"Mazda's new plan required its small car to be an integral part of the Ford C1 family, along with the new Focus and the replacement for the Volvo S40/V40. Ford doesn't talk about platforms anymore; this is ?global shared technology,? where each company is able to pick and choose from a basket of components and systems. But look at an unclothed Mazda 3 and examine its specs, and it's clear it shares the elements that make the current Focus such a good, fun-to-drive all-around car."

A Mazda 3 is, in effect, the new Focus (the one that just went on sale in the US). The 2.3L Mazda 3 engine shares many of the same components as the Duratec 2.3L, including the block, but does have a Mazda designed head and valvetrain. The 2.0L is almost entirely Ford, but both engines were tweaked and tuned by Mazda engineers.

1) The Focus that just went on sale is still the old platform, just spiffed up. The new Focus is not on sale anywhere yet, not even Europe. The U.S. won't see the new platform for another 2 years.
2) I'm fully aware that the platform is a joint venture among Ford, Mazda, and Volvo. I asked specifically about the engines. It would be logical to assume the 2.3L is a heavily modified Focus engine, but I have been unable to find anything to confirm it.

topgear has indeed confirmed that the mazda3 is the new focus (2004) with a different styling on a mazda badge. however they did not seem to like the plastiky interior, which most american cars have anyway.

unlike most people on the C&D forum, i would not think the mazda3 is the best car, yet, since it is a new car on a new platform, and being a mazda, its resale value would go straight down.

and the fact that a friend's protege's tranny blew after a couple of thousand miles make me think twice

i'd buy a used elentra or a new corolla/matrix...

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
topgear has indeed confirmed that the mazda3 is the new focus (2004) with a different styling on a mazda badge. however they did not seem to like the plastiky interior, which most american cars have anyway.

unlike most people on the C&D forum, i would not think the mazda3 is the best car, yet, since it is a new car on a new platform, and being a mazda, its resale value would go straight down.

and the fact that a friend's protege's tranny blew after a couple of thousand miles make me think twice

i'd buy a used elentra or a new corolla/matrix...

It's common knowledge that the platform is shared with the new Focus, C-Max, and Volvo S40. What you aren't getting is that the new Focus is not available for sale anywhere yet. The redesigned 2004.5 Focus that recently went on sale in the United States is not the new platform.

Back to my original question, Edmunds seems to think the 2.3L is a Mazda design, along with the rest of their MZR family of 4-cylinders. Link

 

[43st]

I don't think the new Euro Ford Focus will ever be sold in the US. From what I've read it'll remain in Europe only, w/ the US market getting a smaller value engineered car. I think it just comes down to different markets... the US market has never really been a small car market, it's the opposite in the UK.

So when it's all done the only cars in the US to share the frame will be the Mazda and the Volvo. I'm not sure where I read this though so it could be wrong. 🙁

EDIT: The engine is a Mazda design, using Ford's money for the R&D. In return Ford gets to use the new engine in their cars.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: Thera
I don't think the new Euro Ford Focus will ever be sold in the US. From what I've read it'll remain in Europe only, w/ the US market getting a smaller value engineered car. I think it just comes down to different markets... the US market has never really been a small car market, it's the opposite in the UK.

So when it's all done the only cars in the US to share the frame will be the Mazda and the Volvo. I'm not sure where I read this though so it could be wrong. 🙁

EDIT: The engine is a Mazda design, using Ford's money for the R&D. In return Ford gets to use the new engine in their cars.

I read something similar last year, but it seems Ford will bring the new Focus eventually in 2006 as an '07 model.

Link to new Focus Concept at China autoshow

 

[BigSmooth]

Autoweek article (from August 2003) on the US Focus switching to the Mazda 3/Volvo S40/Global Focus "C1" platform in 2007 at the earliest, if ever.
Apparently, they might do a different platform entirely for this market.