zoom44

wow. so in order for one company to buy another, the one has to have shares just "lying around"? the shares didn't magically appear the were owned by other share holders who sold them to Ford. and yes Ford did come in at the right time. when the price was really low. they said "hey your company is bleeding money, convince your controlloing shareholders that if they don't want to lose all of their investment they should sell to us. we'll buy enough to have controlling interest and stop the bleeding and get you back on your feet." it's not luck it's business.

zoom44

you'd be surprised at the level of access some of us have even though we have never worked at a dealer or for mazda. don't even start on the "inside info" line. i have not met one single dealer employee yet, well except for budaman and ibfubar2000, who posted something like that here that had any info that we had not already seen or had access to in some other fashion. 99% of them had less info than the newest member here.

now your last statement is most definitly true and i agree 100%.

you have a good one too.

Red Devil

Since some people have asked for primary sources, or direct links to Ford, I listed the below about 1.5 years ago on the forum.

"I think Toadman very aptly summed up the Ford/Mazda relationship.

When working a year ago I met a few of Nasser's boys, the view of Mazda, at least while Nasser was in charge of Ford, was not only to restore Mazda to profitability. But also to try and convert Mazda into a a brandaname similar to Lexus or BMW. The rotary was seen as Mazda's unique advantage into capturing a part of the more expensive, upscale market. Thus the renewed interest in the rotary and push for the RX-8.

I wish I could give a more up-to-date inside view from Ford, but all my bridges were burned when Nasser left."

Does this still stand as far as Ford's direction? I believe so because I have seen from time to time many journalists mentioning Mazda's wish to be seen a the Japanese BMW. Mazda probably would like to have that market appeal regardless of Ford's intervention, however, it doesn't disagree with what the Ford execs had told me at the time.

My personal assessment, based on said connections: The RX-8 is not a Ford and is a pure Mazda innovation, however, Ford would have killed the project and the engine in a second if they could not forecast a profitable return.

Murray16

I know I'm getting back to the beginning of the thread but...
I'm amazed nobody has brought up the Toyota/General Motors relationship (Toyota actually just surpassed Ford for the second larget car manufacturer). Niether have any control over the other, yet they do have a joint plant in California (I believe) where the Matrix/Vibe was created produced. The Vibe has toyota engines and transmissions and the only part of the Vibe that was acutally engineered by GM was the suspension ( I don't know why though.. the toyota has a better suspension).

Toyota was makign engines for GM since the 70's. I believe it was the inline 6 chevelle that had TOYOTA written across the valve cover. (Again, I'm young and dont know too much about older cars... but I stand behind this info)

I don't know what this proves actually... just information for you
(please dont rip on me for wasting your time)

RX8Z

Like Ive stated before, its pretty pointless to talk about who works with who.. because the reality is that almost all car manufacteres have worked with each other someway or another..

Its just business.. btw zoom44, I just got a notice from Mazda about talks of a new revamped engine for the Rx8, but of course you had access to that too.

Sorry I cant copy and paste the information because thats just confidential =)

Wish some of you guys were down here, maybe we can stop talking and get a Rx8 sprint on the highway.. take it easy

zoom44

you might as well post it because we will have it in a day or so anyway. unless of course this notice you have is about them increasing rotor size to increase displacement. then that would be the motor that has been talked about for months. 1.5 litre instead of 1.3. it would be for the mazdaspeed rx-8 that might eventually hit these shores(not to be confused with the one out in japan) and for the ever elusive new rx-7. or perhaps you are talking about the hybrid/duel fuel engine capable of using hydrogen or gasoline.

RX8Z

Close but no cigar, sorry confidential report.. but nice try =)

Dont worry, im sure it will leak sooner or later..

Z

realdeal

There are no american parts in this car. I think there is a law in japan that says all cars assembled in japan must use domestically produced parts or something. So 100% mazda, or at least 100% japanese parts.

renesis_turbo

The window sticker should tell you if it is 100% Japanese or not... anyone?

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

97%...I know for a fact the keyless entry remotes and horn are Ford American parts.....

zoom44

actually, visteon who makes the keyless entry was spun off from ford in 2000. so they are their own company now.

www.visteon.com/about/fast_facts/index.shtml

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

You are right...it is still a Ford part in my eyes though. And it does count in the domestic parts total. Anyway...no need to split hairs...

Knerk

Well with the Ford GT-40 comming out - I dont mind if anybody tells me RX-8 is a Ford. Thats good company to be in IMHO. Nothing wrong with a Ford

RX8Z

Guys, theres nothing wrong with a Ford and thats not the basis of me creatnig this topic that an Rx8 is not a ford

My basis is that Rx8 was designed and developed and manufactererd in Mazda original factories.. thats all

Those that are thinking that Im implying that Ford sucks , wells. perhapst thats your own view.. not mine

NAVILESRX8

iTrader: (1)

Fords are very subpar automobiles...reliability-wise, and overall quality-wise. Ford GT or not they are still crappy cars. So yes, it bothers me that they have anything to do with it.

Boozehound

So much domestic hate going on in here right now... What's wrong with you people? Ford / GM / DCX all make at least one or two quality automobiles. Ford F-150 is pretty damn good (where are your imports now?), GM has the Z06 Corvette, the Caddy CTS & SLR, and Chrysler brought us the Viper. Thank you and good night. Just a pointer when talking about the new Ford supercar, it's call the GT - not GT40 (the rights to that name are owned by someone else and the car would've been rightly called a GT44 if Ford wanted to use a similar designation).

As for the whole freaking point of the thread - it's pretty obvious that Ford can and does control Mazda's destiny (now when was it that the FD died?) It's a bit fishy that the 6 shares / is going to share much of it's platform with other marques across the Ford 7 brand lineup. Ford's been pretty good with Mazda - letting them generally operate on their own much as Volvo and Aston Martin are getting along. So yes, the RX-8 is clearly born and bred in Japan, but without a decision in Dearborn, the car would have been DEAD. And I wouldn't be surprised to see the RX-8 platform / engineering venture out of the marque if Ford saw a good opportunity to utilize their investment.

For bonus points - can anyone tell me where and why Mazda's display was set up at the North American International Auto Show?

Now I can stick my fingers in my ears and go "la la la la la la" and pretend that Ford and Mazda are totally seperate entities, but how hard will it be to look for shared components in current and future vehicles?

RX8Z

Alright, this is getting out of hand and out of the pt of the topic

Ford has some shitty cars, so does Mazda and so does every other car manufacter. .some way are or another, there is good and bad. Thats the environment of the car market..

so please, can we all stop this bashing and move on .. =)

Thanks !

MEGAREDS

For some people, Mazda is Ford...

Boycott Ad (note the footnote)

Alternative Site

Japan8

I really love lobbyist ads... they are just as bad as they people they campaign against. How information are they NOT telling you?

Squidward

agreed... But if you count all the people out there not capable of thinking for themselves, you'll that see campaign ads
have a significant audience to make a difference

GiN

The FD "died" in 2002 with the Mazda RX-7 Spirit R limited. They just stopped selling them in the United States several years earlier.

bubble

Here's what my "SVT Enthusiast" magazine says, "The Mazda6 Sport Wagon and Mazda6 5-Door offer versality and style with the Zoom-Zoom soul of a sports car. (Note that since Ford owns Mazda, this competent platform will be appearing in other Blue Oval vehicles.)" Page 13. Mar/Apr 04

ArvinC

...that Mazda is associated/partnered with Ford. As I stated in the General Automotive forum in regards to the Ford GT, of all the American marques, Ford has the most international recognition when taken in the context of motorsport.

As examples, Ford as a manufacturer has won the FIA F1 Championship, the FIA World Rally Championship, the 24 Hours of LeMans, Rolex 24 at Daytona, 12 Hours of Sebring, the World Sports Car Championship and countless other series and events. Ford has powered the likes of Ickyx, Rodriguez, Gurney, Foyt, Shelby, Stewert, Schumacher, Piquet, Mansell, McRae, Saintz and many others to driver's titles. Notice I haven't even mentioned the domestic racing series like CART or NASCAR.

As a driving and motorsport enthusiast I value a manufacturer's commitment to racing. As it's been said, "Racing improves the breed." Ford has clearly embraced this idea and has done more than ANY other car company to race whatever and where ever it could. And they have won.

If you choose to de-value the relationship with Ford due to the perceived quality of the vehicles they make, that is entirely your call. But, the amazing resources, engineering and capital Ford brings to the table cannot be turned down by anyone...not Mazda, Volvo, Land Rover, Jaguar or even Aston Martin. Cars like our 8's, the Vanquish, the XJR not to mention Ford's own GT and Shelby Cobra concept (please build it!)...they all exist in some way because Ford allowed them to. That they are all performance-driven, driver's cars shows that the racing-fuel still flows through Ford's veins.

Just my 0.02 worth...

Arvin

Gord96BRG

Minor nit-picky points:
Mansell - won the 92 F1 title with a Renault in the back of his Williams. He did win the CART title in 93 with Ford power.

McRae - Colin's WRC drivers title was in a Subaru - he didn't win the title while he drove for Ford.

Regards,
Gordon

zoom44

hehehehe they forgot Aston Martin. or did they leave it out on PURPOSE!!??