Dads new car!

exponential · 31 Jan 2006 at 22:16

merlin said:
I'd go for the Mazda. Can't see how Mazda being owned by Ford actually makes any difference to the cars themselves.

Its made a difference to Ford anyhow, their reliability (Warranty claims info, etc) has greatly increased since they gained access to Mazda.
I'd go for the Mazda out of that lot too but what reg was the Mondeo that he owned previously

[TW]Fox · 31 Jan 2006 at 22:21

Oracle said:
Ford dont own Mazda, they only own something like 33% of them or something like that. I'm also pretty sure that despite this, Mazda retain almost all of their own parts, engines and transmissions, and dont raid the Ford parts bin! They are smart cars, I love the interior of them.

Actually there is some quite heavy platform sharing - the most notable example is the Mazda3, which is basically a Mazda badged Ford Focus. Not a bad thing at all - the previous smallish Mazda, so dull I can't remember what it was called, ah yes 323, was a sales disaster, whereas now its doing quite well.

Koncordski · 31 Jan 2006 at 22:52

What platforms in the mazda ford range are the same, even saying that they are totally different cars. The saab = vectra and xtype = mondeo line is always used. But at the end of the day it's by people who have the vectras and mondeos that make out the car is the same box but they paid much less. Go to a mazda dealer and check out the styling and interiors on the 6 range then come back and tell me they are Ford units.

djbenjo · 31 Jan 2006 at 22:57

I think the point a lot of people are trying to make is that the 'Mondeo Crew' seem to be making motors a little predictable and a little boring.

[TW]Fox · 31 Jan 2006 at 22:57

Yea, you can tell the interior isn't Ford on the 6, the centre console looks like an Aiwa stereo, wouldn't find that on a Mk3 Mondeo

[TW]Fox · 31 Jan 2006 at 22:59

djbenjo said:
I think the point a lot of people are trying to make is that the 'Mondeo Crew' seem to be making motors a little predictable and a little boring.

So what do you want us to do, say Vectra instead?

The thing that makes the forum 'predictable and boring' to use your words is not the Mondeo recommendations but the fact so many of the threads ask fundamentally the same question, to which the answer is often quite legitimately 'have you considered a mondeo' or similar.

It would be the same with the '200SX crew' if people posted 'So, what £5k RWD Turbocharged sports car?' threads every day.

It's the same on most forums, go to a Supra forum and I reckon that every time somebody says 'So what dump valve is best' its usually the same answer, would you rather they gave completely random models instead to make it fun and interesting?

kkelly · 31 Jan 2006 at 23:02

well

he bought a.. renault laguna sport in blue

55 plate got it for under 10k with trade in he's quite happy just thought il let you know gets it tomorrow afternoon

[TW]Fox · 31 Jan 2006 at 23:04

If he thought his old Mondeo was unreliable he aint seen nothing yet - he'll be on first name terms with the secretary at the Renault dealer this time next month

Glad he's happy though, as thats all that matters

vanpeebles · 31 Jan 2006 at 23:14

haha amazed, a choice between a vw, a mazda and he goes for the dodgy french tin

Morba · 31 Jan 2006 at 23:14

tbh, blame the posters asking for recommendations.

its almost always family saloon or hatch for a small budget, which in all honesty gives you focus / mondeo and the other regular common cars.
the ones that are mentioned most, are probably the best value for the budget the person has.

kkelly · 31 Jan 2006 at 23:20

tbh, blame the posters asking for recommendations.

^^^ care to explain i asked for help my Dad went with what he wanted ?

Fr0dders · 1 Feb 2006 at 01:19

Oracle said:
Ford dont own Mazda, they only own something like 33% of them or something like that. I'm also pretty sure that despite this, Mazda retain almost all of their own parts, engines and transmissions, and dont raid the Ford parts bin! They are smart cars, I love the interior of them.

ford are the majority shareholder of the company

thus they run the company. They do effectively "own" it since like i say, they call all the shots as majority shareholder

but you do have a point, its ford that has raided the mazda 6 stuff, for its american cars. The mazda 6 is an entirely all mazda affair

So buying a mazda 6, wont get you anything raided from a ford parts bin. This would seriously be my recommendation. My dads owned 3 mazda 626s and now has a mazda 6. He loves the cars, and every single one has been bomb proof. One of the 3 626s was written off when we were hit side on at 50mph by some1 jumping red lights trying to escape the police. We all walked away unscathed so they are safe cars too.

the mazda 2 and 3 are built on ford fiesta/focus floorpans respectively thought, so they've definitely had some ford input.

Morba · 1 Feb 2006 at 01:58

kkelly said:
tbh, blame the posters asking for recommendations.

^^^ care to explain i asked for help my Dad went with what he wanted ?

sorry, my post was a generic reply to the fox mondeo bashing rather than to you :]

kkelly · 1 Feb 2006 at 02:09

MrMoon · 1 Feb 2006 at 08:07

[TW]Fox said:
Actually there is some quite heavy platform sharing - the most notable example is the Mazda3, which is basically a Mazda badged Ford Focus. Not a bad thing at all - the previous smallish Mazda, so dull I can't remember what it was called, ah yes 323, was a sales disaster, whereas now its doing quite well.

im looking at the mazda 3 its actually on the focus C-Max platform

Freefaller · 1 Feb 2006 at 08:33

Mazda engines are as reliable as they come and the 2.3 sport is pretty decent too. The handling of the mazda 6 is actually not bad - a bit softer than I like, but I don't care for my spine much anyway

It's actually got a decent spec kit wise too, futhermore I think it looks pretty smart too.

I'm currently driving (hire car) a brand new Laguna 2.2DCi estate - it's fully loaded with satnav (which is very intuitive to use and very good), and all the toys inside including climate control and all the other useful toys. It sits at 200km/h quite happily and still returns high mpg, furthmore it is noiseless at speed and comfortable. The seats are a nice swede/leather kind of material, and the boot space is imense! I don't normally like Renaults... but this one is really a nice place to be.

However my vote would be for the Mazda...

[TW]Fox · 1 Feb 2006 at 08:54

MrMoon said:
im looking at the mazda 3 its actually on the focus C-Max platform

The C-Max was the first car to use.... yes the new Focus platform. Other cars on it include the Vovlo S40 and V50.