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Mazda 626

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Comments

  • windowphobe6windowphobe6 Member Posts: 765
    It seems like a joke, but there's something to it. I took my lowly 2000 LX in for its four-month service last week, and for the day, I borrowed a brand-spanking-new Taurus with the 155-hp V6. Going up the hill east of my office, the Taurus complained audibly about having to work so hard, and the automatic dropped out of fourth only after being given a swift kick in the bell-housing. The 626, with its teensy four, just grunts, drops to second, and scoots to the top without incident. It is no secret that Ford builds both these transmissions; however, the blue-oval crew apparently chose to tune their family car for maximum somnolence, while the Mazda guys seem to start from the assumption that you want to drive the living whee out of this thing, even if it is a four-door sedan with workaday tasks to perform, and stuff that Ford foists off on them evidently undergoes some arcane Mazdafication process before it ever gets out the door of the assembly plant.

    Or, as the slogan used to say: "It Just Feels Right".
  • moimememoimeme Member Posts: 28
    What do both these cars have in common? a soul. My Mazda reminds me of a cute little puppy, eager to play, doesn't have a lot of teeth (horsepower) or a savage bark (engine), but gosh it's fun and will put everything it's got into playing with you.

    Have you ever seen that 102 Dalmations ad where the puppy is playing around in the spots with "Bow wow wow yippee yo yippee yay" (Atomic Dog) playing in the background? That's me and my 626 in the rain.

    BTW, if you have the automatic ES-V6, the O/D button, if you rev up an instant before you turn overdrive off, can be used like a turbo button.

    Of course the local NoCal souped-up Honda's and BMW's can wail me senseless over the long haul, but it's a blast to sneak up behind one as he's doing 80 and acting as if he's mister big stuff, floor it/drop OD and scream past him at a 30 mph differential.

    Try this in a BMW...74000 miles, no LEAKS, no BREAKDOWNS, no DAYS IN THE SHOP!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Great point - soul. Character. Personality. So many cars lack it.

    Coincidence, Dave - we also own a 626 V6 ES and a Miata. Small world.

    Given you're in MN, I would drop the RWD choices. I love RWD, but you already have a Miata and need something different for when it's not sunny.

    So that leaves FWD or AWD. IMO, my main complaint about our 626 is that it feels nose heavy and understeers. FWD is also less fun.

    So I'd pick AWD. There are a bunch of fun choices for you - Audi A6 4.2, 2.7T, A4 Avant 2.8 and S4 Avant. BMW 330xi looks fun. The new baby Jag coming soon. I didn't like the XC much, personally, but try it. Don't forget the Subaru Outback VDC and LL Bean, too. Just because the price is low doesn't mean you won't like it. Benz has a 4Matic E class, too. Lots of cool choices, none boring.

    Besides the 2 Mazdas, which serve us well, we have a Subaru Forester. It's a great ride, reliable and with loads of character. When it's rainy or snowing, there is absolutely no question in our minds as to which vehicle to take. I've even had it on light trails at local orchards and on the beach in the Outer Banks.

    So my advice is to pick something that complements your fleet well. In other words, something very different than the Miata and Focus, like an AWD wagon.

    My 2 cents.

    -juice
  • number17number17 Member Posts: 69
    I used to use premium (91 or 94 only) fuel for my 00 626 LX-V6 but with the gas prices being so crazy these days, I switched to 89 (medium grade) after the first mantainence .... and don't really notice much of a performance degradation ... maybe a very slight one at higher speed but it could also be the ingredient they put in the gas in winter (I live in toronto, canada) ....

    So yeah I think I'll stick with 89.

    #17
  • dmallinderdmallinder Member Posts: 35
    When you think about it, at least here in MN, the difference between the 87 and the 91 is 15c a gallon. The 89 is somewhere in between.

    With a normal fill up from just above the E running 14 gallons that's about $2 difference in a fill up. I'll get about 300-320 miles from that and I fill up 3 or 4 times a month. Call it 4 and you have $8 a month.

    $8 a month is pocket change. I'm not sure there is any darned difference between 87 and 91 and I certainly could not explain what it is and what it does to an engine beyond the very basic theory of higher ignition temps but all I know is the very clever people who designed and built the car I paid nearly $20,000 for say it's better to pay an extra $8 a month - a couple of beers at a bar - in gas to keep it running the way they designed it.

    I think I'll follow their advice on this one. When that $8 becomes $50 I'll think about worrying about it.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The difference around me is bigger. 24 cents last time I stopped for gas.

    At 15k miles per year, with an average of about 21mpg, I use about 714 gallons of gas per year, or $171 more.

    But that's not the real reason. We used to buy premium fuel exclusively. Nothing but the best. Then, right around 60k miles, we started having problems with the fuel system. It was running like a dog.

    They cleaned the fuel injectors and that fixed it. But that also meant the supposedly "premium" fuel diet it was on didn't do squat. I ran my Escort for 107k miles on the cheapest regular gas I could find and the fuel system was fine. Never a problem.

    Warning: Conspiracy Theory Rant - could all the extra additives in the premium fuel have been the cause of my problems?

    Who knows. But I'm saving $171 and have not had any fuel system issues since.

    -juice
  • hkchanhkchan Member Posts: 420
    Extra additives? That's the problem. Chances are there're no extra additives. Oil companies were careful. To my knowledge (for whatever its worth), they never claimed any extra additives. It's always "drive your engine clean". Never "cleaner". Chances are your car's engine would've developed the same problem if it were on regular unleaded, from the same company or companies.
  • windowphobe6windowphobe6 Member Posts: 765
    The V6 listens for detonation and adjusts its timing accordingly; it is highly unlikely that using the next grade down (or even the one below that) is going to cause actual engine damage. At worst, it should lop a few HP off the top of the curve. (Still, you paid for all those ponies.)

    The four-cylinder, incidentally, doesn't have a sensor of this sort, but then it's tuned to run on the lamest grade of Sunoco swampwater.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Henry: you are probably right about most likely having the same problem with regular from the same stations. The point is the extra $171 didn't make a difference.

    Also, Amoco got smacked when they were claiming they removed "harmful impurities" in their Ultimate ads. They had to retract the ads because they were bogus.

    I can't feel a difference on our V6. When we got the fuel system serviced and started using 87 octane, it got significantly faster. Though I'm sure it's due to the former.

    -juice
  • panditjeepanditjee Member Posts: 1
    Hi Folks,
    I am the newest member of the 626 club. Bought a 626 LX V6 (4 speed Automatic)yesterday (2/28/01) for 19,700+tax and tag. It also has the LX-V6 PREMIUM PKG. I also got 0% financing for 48 months. Do u guys think that is a good deal? I am curious to know...this is my first new car.
    Thanks
  • hkchanhkchan Member Posts: 420
    That was my point exactly. If the manufacturer doesn't say the engine requires 91 octane, and it doesn't knock running on 87, and you're satisfied with the reduced power output, then I would use 87.
  • jumpmomjumpmom Member Posts: 11
    Hi all- We did get the Galaxy Blue 2001 626 LXV6 yesterday! Complete with ZOOM-ZOOM sticker but I have to decide where to put it! :) We ended up getting one with the 2LX (premium package) after all. It was here in town on another dealer's lot and the next closest one without the 2LX (in the Blue) was in Kansas! Our dealer made us a very good deal on our trade so we didn't have to move up too much from our price point for the 2LX. And just to make sure I would be very happy I had a moon roof, today was warm and sunny so I could test it out.. ZOOM ZOOM! :)

    Also the original dealer had installed something called a Tap Lock- seems to be kind of a backup key less coed entry system ($699!!) We are not sure if our dealer knew it was there- the car was delivered at 1:00 and we picked it up at 2:00. The add on was on a separate sticker from the window sticker taped facing backward on the window sitcker so we didn't notice it. They didn't mention it and didn't charge us for it and we didn't discover it until last night -when we were sitting in the car sniffing that new car smell after the kids went to sleep ;)! Seems like it could be useful in some weird circumstance but not something I would have payed for. And believe me, we re checked our buyer's order and invoice to make sure! What do you think- is it worth keeping or is it just strange that they didn't mention it? Could it cause some sort of problem?

    Anyway thanks for all of your help during this process- maybe I do not hate car shopping as much as I thought!

    To panditchee- Sounds to me like you got a great deal!! We payed $20,099 + TT for what sounds like the same car - that was S-plan plus a $500 local rebate and the 0% for 48 months. So you beat what I thought was a really great deal by almost $400! Congratulations and have fun! ZOOM-ZOOM!

    To other owners/regulars to this conference- If I am wrong and we didn't get a good deal please do not tell me until next week OK? I want to enjoy this new car/good deal feeling for a little while but then learn from any mistakes for next time! (Not for me, I plan on keeping this car for 8-10 years but my husband will probably have to shop soon!)
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I hope your 626 gives you years of enjoyment. I assume you got an automatic? :( Oh well, one more manual trans for us freaks.

    :)
  • sharon27sharon27 Member Posts: 3
    What a nice, informative forum. I just (yesterday) picked up a new 626 LX V6. I drove at least seven other cars, many of which were possibly more attractive on the outside, but I don't sit there. I didn't get the premium package, but I did get a deal I couldn't resist --in fact I was looking at the four cylinder model and bought the six because it cost me less than the best deal I had found on a four. BTW, for whoever is keeping count (was it you, maltb?), make mine a 5-speed, please. (I was shocked to find that some cars in this class size could only be bought in automatic.)
    Thank you all already for the on-going discussion about grades of gas for this nice car. I suppose I'll experiment and see if I notice a difference in performance. Does anyone have an opinion about whether it's worth watching the gas mileage to see if I get better value for the higher octane, thereby reducing the cost difference?
  • windowphobe6windowphobe6 Member Posts: 765
    I wouldn't expect the mileage to suffer greatly with the cheap stuff; the engine has lots of adjustment range and can presumably adapt to any reasonable fuel.

    I do expect, however, that the first few tanks will not necessarily be representative of the next hundred or so, as is fairly typical of new cars.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I agree with windowphobe, your new car will have significantly worse mileage than expected. With all the tight tolerances that need to be worked in the extra load usually shaves off a few MPG.

    And Congrats Ray, the V-6 M/T looks like a real sleeper, but really does a number on a few unsuspecting hot rodders. Of course the real joy is being able to keep the RPMs up around the turns and launching out into the straights. I know it's a family sedan, but when I had my V-6 M/T I just couldn't resist.

    Happy Motoring!
    :)
  • samdad1samdad1 Member Posts: 1
    We took delivery of our fourth Mazda since 1979.
    In December we bought a 2000 LX V6 from Gallo Mazda in Worcester, MA. We have been using 87 in it with no ill affects. Neither of us speeds and with 4,000 mile on the car we are getting 21mpg mixed city/highway. We still have a 1997 626 lX 4 cylinder with 96,000 miles (it is on its 3rd auto transmission, all under warranty. We bought the 2000 with some hesitation but since the engine/transmission are more robust and since we liked the car as much as a Passat we took a chance. In 1979 we bought our first 626, the 80hp sedan, which we kept until 1985 (95,000 miles) when we needed a wagon (A Colt Vista which did not measure up)And I bought a 1982 GLC Sport which we kept for 100,000 plus miles and sold to our baby sitter who used it for for more years.
    For a time we switched to Toyota (Camry Wagon, Corolla Sedan and Geo Prizm GSI, my favorite).
    Our Subaru Legacy with 146,000 miles is for our kids.But we have been satisfied with our Mazdas and in two years I'll get a Protege ES, the closed thing to my Geo now on the market
    (or a used Miata). I've almost never used premium in any of these cars, perhaps one tankful a year if he station is out or regular.
  • atomtanatomtan Member Posts: 4
    Hi all. I have two days left on the lease of a 1998 626 lx 4 cyl. I have taken great care of the car,oil change every 3k,waxed twice a year,just had new tires and front brake pads put on. The gas mileage is great being that it is a 5 speed. I average 28 mpg city and 37 hi way. The residual is 10.9k on a car which wholesale is anywhere from 8.3k to 8.9k. My lease co.will not budge on the 10.9k price. Should I take a a gamble and extend the lease for up to 6 months banking that the lease co.will negotiate since the glut of lease turnins is growing and the auto auctions may become over saturated giving lease co.'s an incentive to negotiate. Or should I become a member of this 626 club asap and purchase it wednesday?
  • moimememoimeme Member Posts: 28
    I'm in a similar situation. I adore my leased '98 626 ES-V6. I just purchased a new, loaded Audi A6 4.2 but still enjoy my Mazda a great deal. That should let you know how incredible a car the 626 is!

    I just extended for 6 months too. Keep in mind that your residual price for the car will decrease accordingly. You don't have too much to lose unless you got a bad deal on the lease...
  • mrxbromrxbro Member Posts: 2
    Has anyone heard of this car? It seems Mazda put out this 5-door hatch back in the late eighties and early nineties and then dropped it. Does anyone out there know anything about this model? Reliability? Sportiness? (I've searched around the net and have found little info available. Mazda seems to be making a nice looking new 626 hatch back for sale everywhere but in the US.)
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I know a little about it...Nice car and the 626 GT were always fun to drive. As far as a midsize hatchback in the US, the demand is just not there. Europe has always been a hot market for practical cars, but the US is too stuck on sedans. Maybe with the influx of small hatchbacks comming here we may see some midsize as well.

    :)
  • windowphobe6windowphobe6 Member Posts: 765
    This was, indeed, a 5-door version of the 626 sedan, and generally it was fitted with Mazda's hottest four-banger of the time - a turbocharged 2.2-liter SOHC 12-valve four delivering 145 hp. When the fourth-generation 626 was launched for model year 1993 (and production for North America moved to Michigan), the GTs were left back home in Japan. As partial recompense, they gave us a new V6, but I still like the looks of the 5-door, and I wish they'd bring one here to supplement the new 5-door Protegé that's due out Real Soon Now.
  • hkchanhkchan Member Posts: 420
    windowphobe6, how soon is "Real Soon"?
  • windowphobe6windowphobe6 Member Posts: 765
    Automobile magazine (4/01) says it's "an '02 model due later this spring".
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    The new Protoge is more of a wagon than a hatchback, though they won't call it either.

    I don't care - I like wagons. Should be a fine vehicle.

    -juice
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    The name of the vehicle is Protege Sport Wagon and it will be in dealers toward the end of Spring or early Summer.

    :)
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    I see some conflicting info.
    What's the official name?
    Some say the vehicle will be officially called the Protege 5.
    BTW the car is a true hatchback, not a wagon.
  • hkchanhkchan Member Posts: 420
    You're right about the conflicting information, but the last thing I heard (not necessarily correct) is no wagon in the name. I've heard Protege 5 (could be one word), 5-door Sport (that's what's on Mazda's web site right now and no Protege in the name) and Protege Sport Wagon. I'm sure I've missed a couple.
  • vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    How about that model?
    It used to be the MPS.
    What's the current designation? MP3 or Protege MP3?
    It seems they can't make their minds. :)
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    vad: the reason I consider it a wagon is because I believe the roof extends farther back then in the sedan. A 5 door hatchback is basically a sedan with a glass hatch.

    The Protoge looks like the roof extends back a bit. Not much, but enough to distinguish itself from the sedan.

    Check it out here: http://history.mazda.co.jp/Archive/Lineup/FAMILIA-SW.200004/index.html

    -juice

    PS Familia Station Wagon - doubt they'll give it that name!
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    Looks pretty sporty. I like it. They should do an MPS level Sport Wagon, with more power.

    Guess it's half way between the two. Sized like a hatchback, though it does stretch a bit further back than the sedan does.

    That's cool - more gear fits inside.

    -juice
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    That pic shows my point the best. Look at how much roof there is behind the C-pillar.

    Who cares, though. Looks pretty nice in that color and from that angle.

    -juice
  • babycat99babycat99 Member Posts: 6
    Hi,just got back into the conversation - I purchased my '00 Mazda 626ES V6 fully loaded except for fog and abs and as it is silver i did not elect for the gold package. I had that on my '98 and in 18 months it started to peel. I do have the pinstripping. I paid $19,900 after rebate and all negotiations before sales tax. I purchased my car in Rockland County, New York. Thought I got a great deal. My 1st problem so far is the drivers seat (leather) needs to be replaced as it cracked at 2500 miles. I hate leather - never again.
  • skibry1skibry1 Member Posts: 174
    I too bought a 'doubleought' Mazda.How do you say
    the new millenium? This was my First New Car and
    am throughly pleased.Our LX has a 4 banger and a
    left leg flexor.Does your 6cyl have a clutch?
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    Many dealers find it cheaper to have the factory chrome emblems painted gold which does not last. I have never seen the factory gold emblems peel. Check with your dealer to make sure that the accessories they put on the car are factory. If they are, they are covered under the factory 36/50,000 warranty.

    :)
  • jfkerriganjfkerrigan Member Posts: 2
    First the Good News - This discussion group is markedly free of complaints, so evidently most of you are satisfied with your Mazdas. And quite frankly, so I'm I - to the point of being thrilled (626 I/premium pkg). And now for the bad news. Do you know that Ford is planning on putting the 626 on the Contour platform, and the Protege on the Focus platform? Now, it may not concern most of you, but unfortunately I owned a '98 Contour V6. And yes, it was the worst car I've ever owned - in the shop for every 4-6 weeks for recalls and other malfunction, including a cracked flywheel. And when is was on the road it road like a logging truck. Now, don't take this as an exception, view the facts and how Ford operates. Look at the number of recalls on the Contour and the Focus. And notice a few things. For example, the Focus was brought over from Europe and one of the things that Ford did was put drum brakes on the rear - in Europe the car has disc all around. And what was one of the first recalls on the Focus - the rear brakes. I think the latest recall on the Contour is for engine compartment fires. Another example, the fan motor switch or relay shorted out in my Contour and filled the passenger compartment with smoke. So, I drive home in the cold with the windows open, get to the dealer, and find out the some $4 switch smoked the wires to the fan (I believe this was eventually another recall). Now, I may be incorrect, but this is what you get when you have cost accountants making automotive decisions. Yes, they save a $1 a switch, but in the end they pay via recalls and lost customers. But enough of my rant - and correct me if I'm wrong on any of this - for the sake of better informed auto buyers. And yes, I know that Ford owns 50% of Mazda - But look at the dependability of Jag - I believe it's suffering.
  • dayokayodedayokayode Member Posts: 31
    I am a 00 626v6 owner who is very satisfied with my car; this is not my first mazda or the only one in my family. This having being said, as a mazda fanatic, I am a bit concerned that upcoming mazda models will become nothing more than Ford cones (sharing the same engines, platforms etc). In so doing, I think Mazda may lose that distinctive 'quirkiness' that sets it apart from the me-too' hondas, toyotas etc. I've included some links describing the impending replacement of the 626 and the protege (I thought this model was doing very well) with newly-developed models, bearing new names. I believe this development is great and hope they get it right with the 626 this time around (in terms of hp, torque, looks, etc).

    What do other 626ers think? It would be nice to get some discussion going via this forum. It's been very quiet here lately.


    http://www.detnews.com/2001/autos/0103/21/b01-201985.htm

    http://www.latimes.com/business/20010321/t000024407.html

    http://www.usatoday.com/usatonline/20010321/3159469s.htm

  • dayokayodedayokayode Member Posts: 31
  • windowphobe6windowphobe6 Member Posts: 765
    I used to own an '84 Mercury Cougar with the dreaded 3.8 V6; it was truly a Ford Cone. :)

    A few notes on the articles proffered:

    Who finds the 626 "disappointing"? It's still the top seller in the entire US line, and if it's not moving as many units as a Ford F-series pickup, well, neither is anything else. The current 626 is, however, getting old, and Mazda has been replacing them on a five-year cycle all along, so a new car in 2003 has always been part of the plan. The biggest problem continues to be that Mazda needs a four-cylinder car to draw bargain hunters, but nothing in the company's current box of four-bangers - not even the 155, um, I mean 143-hp Miata mill - is sufficient to motivate the 2900-lb (more or less) 626 with any degree of authority, which definitely casts a pall over the entire Zoom Zoom thing. Of course, with two sixes in the model designation, it should be obvious what the engine offerings should be: a six, and another six. Not going to happen, though. The new 2.3 in the B2300 truck is good for 150 hp, which should be considered the minimum number of ponies acceptable. I like the current 2.0, but I think it will serve out the rest of its days in the Protegé.

    The Millenia looks to be dead, and it's perhaps just as well; this platform was conceived about ten years ago and nothing else is going to be built on it anyway, and with the rotary coming back, Mazda doesn't need two gee-whiz engines.

    I haven't been in any of the rebadged Ford Rangers that Mazda passes off as B-series trucks these days, but there's a decent amount of differentiation between the Escape and Tribute siblings, even with quasi-identical powertrains. And the current 626 has about 70 percent North American content, suggesting that a lot of these parts are showing up in Fords also, but hardly anyone who's driven a 626 seems to find it particularly Fordlike. (My old '93 had a mercurial temperament, but that's another issue entirely.) Even the CD4E transmission baked into these cars (and the Tribscape) seems to act like a Mazda slushbox, though I miss the old HOLD button. So I'm not that worried that the Essence of Mazda, whatever that's supposed to be, is somehow going to be diluted in a sea of Ford blue; if anything, we may actually see a Taurus learn to, um, Zoom.
  • cpearson1cpearson1 Member Posts: 30
    "Do you know that Ford is planning on putting the 626 on the Contour platform, and the Protege on the Focus platform"
    Don't believe everything you read on a forum, especially if it doesn't have references. Also make sure you have the latest Ford plan and not the previous version of it. I expect Ford to use some common platforms for Fords and Mazdas but they could use a Mazda platform for some sizes and a Ford platform for other sizes. The Tribute/Escape vehicle was developed by Mazda. The B series pickup was developed by Ford. The Ford Aspire was developed by Mazda and built by Kia. The other products sold in the U.S., at least for Model Year 2001, are still separate. There is no more Contour platform since the Contour is out of production. There is a new Mondeo platform in Europe which is supposed to be a big improvement over the previous Mondeo platorm.
  • dayokayodedayokayode Member Posts: 31
    I also took exception with the 626 being disappointing', as described by one of the articles. Just the fact that it doesn't sell as well as the big guys, doesn't make it a disappointment. I think it's a great car that has not been marketed well and needs more style, up and low-end torque to compete in the mid-size car market.

    In a way, I think windowphobe6 is right that Mazda has and probably will continue to rub(bed) off on Ford. The problem is ensuring that Mazda is influenced by the good things about Ford (and not the bad). The problem with the auto transmission in the 4-cylinder 626 (93-97), which Windowphobe6 is very knowledgeable about, is a debacle that should not be allowed to repeat itself. This problem, which hurt Mazda's reputation, has since been fixed in the ewer models.

    There's no doubt that Ford stepped in when Mazda was drowning and faced extinction; they've helped to keep the company afloat. Nonetheless, consumers who have had problems with American cars in the past tend to regard the link between Ford and Mazda as being problematic.

    Could anyone further elaborate on this platform business? Are Ford platforms inherently bad or good? What's the difference between Ford's and other platforms?
  • windowphobe6windowphobe6 Member Posts: 765
    It's a mixed blessing. It's keeping General Motors alive; on the other hand, part of GM's ongoing image problem is having done so much of it for so long. But I'll get to that later.

    On this Contour business: the Contour/Mystique was in fact built as a US version of the '93-up Ford Mondeo, a European product. (And they, too, got the CD4E tranny.) Speculation has been rampant - I know, because I've done some of it - that the next 626 would be cloned from the next Mondeo. The Contour, regrettably, has been allowed to die, and the Mystique put out of its mysery as well, so if Mazda is really going to do the sixth-generation 626 (or whatever it's called) at Flat Rock on a platform to be shared with Ford and/or Mercury, the only thing North America may get out of the next Mondeo would be the new entry-level Jaguar. (And doesn't that sound funny?)

    Come 2004 or 2005, the Protegé and Focus will likely share a platform. I don't consider this a problem, since both of these cars are worthy. (I got some seat time in two Foci last year, and they can Zoom Zoom just fine, thank you very much.) Still, I don't expect them to be identical. Consider the one thing the cars currently share - the automatic transmission design, to which both companies contributed. Ford's 4F27E and Mazda's FN4A-EL have the same case and some of the same design parameters, but you can't bolt a Focus tranny into a Protegé, or vice versa.

    The CD4E story deserves more attention than it's gotten, and we may never know all of the horrible details, but this isn't the first transmission (not even the first Ford transmission) that had teething problems, and both Mazda and Ford could have done more, I think, for the customers who got stuck with version 1.0. There is a small community of '94-'97 Ford Probe owners who have dumped the CD4E and replaced it with a stick, something which is supposed to be next to impossible, but which I find curiously gratifying. And as for current CD4Es, well, I have one, so obviously I don't think it's a time bomb. On the other hand, I don't think much of Mazda's nonadvice on tranny maintenance, and I've said so more than once, and both Ford and Mazda know it.

    What makes a platform good? To my way of thinking, it has to be designed in such a way that the buyer of the stripper version isn't made to feel like a cheapskate for not having spent the extra seven grand (or whatever) for the higher-lux edition. A tricky business, but it can be done. Right now, a 626 with the V6 will blow right past my lowly four-banger on the straightaways, but I bet I can stay with it through the twisty bits; more money buys a bigger motor and (sensibly) bigger brakes, but decent handling is baked into this chassis. GM, on the other hand, would have made suspension upgrades optional and probably would have had the option-package designation painted on a quarter-panel somewhere. Ford knows better than that; even the low-end Contour was a decent ride. The Focus with the SPI engine is slower and grumpier but no less tossable than the Zetec-equipped version. And surely no one thinks less of the Lincoln LS for not being a Jaguar S-Type.
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    First, Ford owns 33.4% of Mazda and not 50%.

    Second, when asked by the press who has the best built cars, Jac Nasser said, "the Japanese do".

    The original post mentioning all the platform sharing woes was just way off base. Don't forget that the Ford group includes: Ford, Linc-Merc, Mazda, Jaguar, Volvo, Range Rover and Aston-Martin. With Mazda and Volvo having hot beds of excellent engineering, expect some very nice platforms to emerge. Also, a platform sharing doesn't mean that the vehicles will look, handle or brake the same. It just means that that there are many shared components and it doesn't mean that Ford DNA will be in every vehicle.

    Platform sharing means that with higher volume, a maker can build better cars for less. I don't think anyone should fear the 2003 626 as I am sure it will be superior to the current version and it won't have the CD4E.

    :)
  • dayokayodedayokayode Member Posts: 31
    Thanks to all for the clarification on the platform and other related issues. It's gratifying to know that there are lot of knowledgeable people out there, who can explain some of these issues using everyday language. I guess we should not hurriedly mourn the demise of Mazdas' fun to drive factor and their overall reliability, as the relationship between Ford and Mazda deepens.

    On a side note, it would be nice to see a mx6-like coupe in the future, just in case any Mazda officials monitor this forum. Although I like the extra space in the 2000 626, I really don't need all that room. Since I like compact cars, I would have bought the protege, but since it doesn't offer a v6, I went for the 626.
  • ateixeiraateixeira Member Posts: 72,587
    This concept scares me off. For example, we own a 626 and a Miata, but I wouldn't touch a Tribute, especially will the (scary) recalls it's already had.

    Wheels falling off? C'mon, is this normal for a Mazda?

    Also, it seems like we'll have fewer choices.

    We'll trade our 626 in for a non-Mazda if the new one is basically a Ford (owning two of those in a life time is enough for me).

    -juice
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    I guess the fact that the 626/MX-6/Probe were built on common platforms didn't scare you Juice. If you can get a hold of today's Automotive News, there is an excellent article on the topic. Their article makes it sound like Ford will be using Mazda's platform and not the other way around. As I said previously, there is engineering outside of Dearborn and Ford knows that.

    :)
  • jstandeferjstandefer Member Posts: 805
    I have heard a great many speculations on the platform future of many Mazda models. First off, I have to say that the 626 platform has served both Mazda AND Ford very well. The MPV is built on a modified 626 platform, as is the Tribute/Escape. Of course, in the past, the MX-6/Probe was built on the 626 platform. But, as good as it is, they do need to be updated from time to time.

    Cross-platform sharing is something that should be done. The Jaguar S-Type and Lincoln LS are built on the same platform. The upcoming Jaguar X-Type is being built on the Ford Mondeo platform. The 1991-2000 Escorts were built on the Protege platform. The current Protege is built on the Mazda Capella platform, and the upcoming RX-8 will be built on a modified Miata platform. Cross-platform sharing reduces cost significantly. And just because two cars share the same platform, it doesn't mean they'll use the same engine.

    Although I would love to blame the Tribute/Escape woes solely on Ford, I cannot. The Tribute/Escape are built on a Mazda platform, with most of their bodies and mechanicals designed by Mazda. The current MPV has gone through more than it's fair share of recalls, again a Mazda design with a Ford powerplant. One has to realize that these vehicles are all-new built in all-new factories with all-new equipment. Mistakes are expected, but not accepted. At least Ford/Mazda are recalling the vehicles right away, unlike some other companies which sit on the problems (GM and Mitsubishi come to mind) until a government agency forces them to take action.

    From some of the more recent reports I have read, the new 626 will ride on an all-new platform and serve as a basis for the next redesign of the MPV and the upcoming Nextourer-based cross-over vehicle. Besides, even if the 626 moves to the Mondeo platform, it will be all the better for it. The current Mondeo platform is a world-class platform, as is the Focus. Mazda can still bolt-on their own engines and suspension to them.
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