Wondering if we have a Getrag. Just learned that Ford has a stake in Getrag transmissions and the group is called Getrag Ford Transmissions...

 

Ford owns a controlling interest in Mazda, they are not actually involved in the manufacturing.

 

aisin.

beers

 

Thanks for the info, swoope. Always learning....

 

Aisin, same supplier that provides transmissions for S2000s and Miatas, 2 of the best transmissions available right now

 

Ummmm, do you know what it ultimately means to own a controlling interest in a company? They basically own and control the board. And, the board controls anything and everything about what Mazda does or doesn't do. It would be very, very difficult to obtain a majority shareholder vote against Ford's 33% interest, which would be necessary to shift representation of the directors.

Do you think Mazda tooled its own chassis and just gave Ford the CD2 platform for the Escape (Mazda Tribute), the CD3 platform for the Lincoln MKZ (Mazda 6), and the C1 platform for the Focus (Mazda 3)? In many cases, it was the other way around. Remember, Ford's other brands use the platforms as well. Case in point, Volvo uses the C1 for the C30/S40/V50. Whether Mazda gets the green light for a new RX7 or a next gen RX8 will probably depend upon a decision by the board: Ford.

-Eric

 

^^ Though the '8 got designed and built without Ford approval.
Mazda did it on "black" budget. It wasn't until it got to distribution that Ford had a say in the outcome.

That was sarcasm, I hope.
The Y16M-D is the weak link in all of the vehicles in which it is installed. (Though it can be a nice feeling gearbox - while it still works properly.)

 

That is not prima facie evidence of anything. I remember when I worked for Codex when it was a wholly owned subsidiary of Motorola, and Motorola didn't do anything to interfere with Codex (until late in the game when the bottom started to fall out of Codex). Just because a controlling company has the power to meddle doesn't necessarily mean that they do.

 

First things first, I think Ford's relationship with Mazda has actually been very beneficial to Mazda. So, my comments aren't a knock against the cross-pollenization of their product. For some odd reason, Ford seems to have done a relatively good job of staying hands off in its approach to directing its foreign subs and affiliates. That doesn't mean, however, that they don't have the right and power to be heavyhanded (read: as GM is to Saab). Sure, they've thrown money at some good projects (read: Aston Martin and Volvo) and some bad ones (read: Jaguar X-Type) but (so far) they haven't horrifically badge engineered every one of their products in typical GM fashion (read: No 9-2x or 9-7x).

So, in light of that, it doesn't surprise me that Mazda would have some autonomy over R&D for the RX8. And, ironically, while Mazda may have been going through some tough financial times back in the '90s when it started developing the Renesis for the RX8, Ford still blindly saw itself as #2 in the US and probably wouldn't have stood in the way of fanciful production concepts from its affiliates.

But, as far as my point on involvment in manufacturing goes, Ford's own Centennial Website includes a statement that: "Mazda's position in the Ford Motor Company's family of vehicle brands also enables the two companies to coordinate their strategies in production, manufacturing, and distribution..."

There it is from the horse's mouth!

The problem facing Ford's foreign brands (PAG and all) is that its no longer 1995 and Ford is now being forced to deal with its financial woes. Their problems are the direct result of domestic and global shortsightedness, union labor issues (pension problems, etc) and a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury product portfolio that reflected cost cutting measures more than customer demand. While Ford's acquisitions of the foreign brands may have masked their financial position, the reality is that they never could have resolved Ford's most imminent problems. Because, even at their most profitable or full potential, the combined benefits of Jaguar, Volvo, Aston Martin, Land Rover, and Mazda's profits would merely serve to temporarily veil the illness of Ford's domestic units.

Now that Ford is in a bit of a desperate position to save itself, it may not prove as lenient in approving projects with small profit margins. Then again...Mazda just released the MS3! So, who knows?

-Eric

 

MM... do you have a better tranny for these cars in mind? Looking for hints here... you never know when second gear is going on vacation.

Certainly this tranny feels good. Except if you rush the 1 to 2 shift.

And I think, for some reason, Mazda takes the same parts and turns out a better car than Ford.

When it comes to vision for their cars, Fords sucks. As I understand it Mercury was supposed to be a performance division... what happened? Would be a great place to put hot Focus type cars. They seem to be afraid to spice up the Ford offerings, cetainly not up to the MazdaSpeed level.

Ford also needs to follow GM and offer longer warranties.

Ok, I am off my soap box.

 

The 5 speed from the '7 would be a good candidate. Pretty much bullet-proof and it'll bolt right up (probably need to swap the bell housing, though).

 

MM... thanks, sounds good. 6th is pretty much a waste anyway. Use it on the highway, but would like a larger RPM drop.

Hope you folks are having a good holiday! I am 'working', but having a nice one anyway...

 

The 5-speed will be a really good choice for FI RX-8s since the ratios are wider and first isn't so deep.

 

Mercury has essentially become Ford-for-Girls, which is not a bad thing, because Mercury usually has the better looking variants of Ford cars

and Jeff, i'm gonna take the fifth on my Aisin comment, thanks for the clarification though, it is a nice feeling transmission, when it's warmed up and working nicely lol

 

yep agreement here, it seems as if ford uses mazda as their engineering dept. example is the tribute/escape, we at the mazda dealers were told it was designed by mazda and built by ford.

so while the ford takeover* of mazda initially was bad (94+ trucks, 93-02 626's; are pretty crap, and then they didnt have anything fun...), it now finally seems to have turned to mazda's favour.

so who knows? i dont.

 

how about the 5speed from the JDM/non US rx8's? prolly a little tricky to find right now, but not for long...

 

^

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._transmissions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getrag

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ZF_transmissions

there's some info in there.....

 

Same tranny, different gearing.

 

Hmm.. I don't think Ford has saying in Mazda's decisions... After all, Ford only owns less than half of Mazda (40% or so), thus making Mazda the decision making power over Mazda Products.