Ford Futura (Mazda 6)
April-21st-2003 | 08:15 AM
#16
Protege Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 160
I don't think we'll get anywhere.
Rear suspension (a heart of fwd car) in Mazda6, Mondeo, Focus, Mazda3 is the same set-up as is in curent Focus!
Mazda design team worked on next gen Focus/M3/VOLVO40 and it simply stiffened, lenghtend and widened current Focus set up so why would I give them a credit for designing new platform?
Mazda calls it diferently on M6 than Ford does but it is the same thing!
Focus suspension in N.America is much much softened and steering is not as quick as is in Europe so P5 feels a lot tighter than stock ZX3.
Ford N.America really cheapened this great little car, I will definitely not trust them with next gen. Focus I'll stick with Mazda3.
Friend of mine did reworked his Focus (firmer springs and shocks and little stifer sway bars in the front and rear, oh man! it really handles like nothing else, it's stability (mostly due to rear set-up) is fenomenal taking long turns at 70mph feels like in no other car I've driven, just point your steering wheel while in turn and the car follows the path with amazing precision.
I did drive my P5 over the same roads/turns, firm-wise stock suspension on P5(shocks/springs) is very similiar to Modified Focus i did mention above and I have to say P5 does very good job at it but it can't hold it's overall stability in turns the way multi-link in Focus did.
It makes me so excited about Mazda3 where the same set-up will be used along with more sporty shocks/springs/swaybars.
Rear suspension (a heart of fwd car) in Mazda6, Mondeo, Focus, Mazda3 is the same set-up as is in curent Focus!
Mazda design team worked on next gen Focus/M3/VOLVO40 and it simply stiffened, lenghtend and widened current Focus set up so why would I give them a credit for designing new platform?
Mazda calls it diferently on M6 than Ford does but it is the same thing!
Focus suspension in N.America is much much softened and steering is not as quick as is in Europe so P5 feels a lot tighter than stock ZX3.
Ford N.America really cheapened this great little car, I will definitely not trust them with next gen. Focus I'll stick with Mazda3.
Friend of mine did reworked his Focus (firmer springs and shocks and little stifer sway bars in the front and rear, oh man! it really handles like nothing else, it's stability (mostly due to rear set-up) is fenomenal taking long turns at 70mph feels like in no other car I've driven, just point your steering wheel while in turn and the car follows the path with amazing precision.
I did drive my P5 over the same roads/turns, firm-wise stock suspension on P5(shocks/springs) is very similiar to Modified Focus i did mention above and I have to say P5 does very good job at it but it can't hold it's overall stability in turns the way multi-link in Focus did.
It makes me so excited about Mazda3 where the same set-up will be used along with more sporty shocks/springs/swaybars.
April-26th-2003 | 05:47 PM
#18
Protege Anarchist
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 708
From: Dallas, TX
Originally posted by P5er
OK Mazda had it 10 years ago and stopped using it until now many years later when it started to use it again? Why wasn't it used in 626, Millenia, Protege earlier if it is by far the best rear suspension set up for a front drive car out there?
Ford Europe did design Focus suspension and it did not copy Mazda's design from 929!
Mazda got back to this set up after great success of Focus in Europe (where handling is everthing). And Mazda6 rear susp. set-up is almost identical to Focus!!!
I think you are forcing Mazda to get credit for it, while it should not get it. Mazda calls it different than Ford, why?
Mazda6 is more european than any Mazda ever was and mostly due to it's alliance with Ford Europe (suspension-handling) and it's not a coincidence that it was build on Ford Focus great success.
I really like Mazda and it's overall approach to cars lately, I will buy new Mazda3 soon and I already own P5 that I'm very happy with but I don't want many people on this forum to bash Ford (Ford Europe) and not give it a full credit for it's latest work; new-Mondeo, Focus, new-Fiesta( that Mazda2 took it's suspension from)
I've been on Focaljet for a while and I'm still checking it from time to time, one thing I have to say it is very very objective and it's first to critisize Ford where needed.
Let's be a little more objective here as well, it only makes it more credible and brings in more respect to it.
OK Mazda had it 10 years ago and stopped using it until now many years later when it started to use it again? Why wasn't it used in 626, Millenia, Protege earlier if it is by far the best rear suspension set up for a front drive car out there?
Ford Europe did design Focus suspension and it did not copy Mazda's design from 929!
Mazda got back to this set up after great success of Focus in Europe (where handling is everthing). And Mazda6 rear susp. set-up is almost identical to Focus!!!
I think you are forcing Mazda to get credit for it, while it should not get it. Mazda calls it different than Ford, why?
Mazda6 is more european than any Mazda ever was and mostly due to it's alliance with Ford Europe (suspension-handling) and it's not a coincidence that it was build on Ford Focus great success.
I really like Mazda and it's overall approach to cars lately, I will buy new Mazda3 soon and I already own P5 that I'm very happy with but I don't want many people on this forum to bash Ford (Ford Europe) and not give it a full credit for it's latest work; new-Mondeo, Focus, new-Fiesta( that Mazda2 took it's suspension from)
I've been on Focaljet for a while and I'm still checking it from time to time, one thing I have to say it is very very objective and it's first to critisize Ford where needed.
Let's be a little more objective here as well, it only makes it more credible and brings in more respect to it.
http://edmunds.nytimes.com/reviews/p...0/article.html
Ditto for the rear underpinnings, which use something Mazda calls an e-type Multi-Link design. A double wishbone system, but with its coil spring inside the suspension arm rather than on top, the e-type's major claim to fame is its low, compact profile, which allows for a smaller wheelwell. Originally used on the 929 pseudo-luxury sedan, the system was resurrected to give the new 6 more usable trunk space.
April-26th-2003 | 10:43 PM
#19
Protege Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 160
very nice "mr mazda", I will never be mr ford though.
I had a lemoned Focus with a lot of problems and despite all of that I can say a lot of good things about Ford Europe latest designs (multi link on Focus is one of them)
I'm not blinded mr Ford like you are sugesting I simply can be objective and not blind Mazda fanatic that can't sleep overnight because there is some credit to give to a "lowly" Ford.
Wheather you like it or not Ford Europe takes full credit for multi link design on Focus and many new cars to come in the nearest future from Mazda/Ford/Volvo trio. Ford Europe did design it.
There is no credibility in opinion claiming that the reason for using a Multi link set up on a sport sedan like Mazda6 is to boost it's trunk space!!! it is there to boost it's stability and handling!!!
Research through earlier posts on this forum to read the discussion from about a year ago where with help from biker16 from focal-jet you will see that Ford Europe did not copy Mazda 929 design like some of Mazda blind loyals are suggesting here.
I had a lemoned Focus with a lot of problems and despite all of that I can say a lot of good things about Ford Europe latest designs (multi link on Focus is one of them)
I'm not blinded mr Ford like you are sugesting I simply can be objective and not blind Mazda fanatic that can't sleep overnight because there is some credit to give to a "lowly" Ford.
Wheather you like it or not Ford Europe takes full credit for multi link design on Focus and many new cars to come in the nearest future from Mazda/Ford/Volvo trio. Ford Europe did design it.
There is no credibility in opinion claiming that the reason for using a Multi link set up on a sport sedan like Mazda6 is to boost it's trunk space!!! it is there to boost it's stability and handling!!!
Research through earlier posts on this forum to read the discussion from about a year ago where with help from biker16 from focal-jet you will see that Ford Europe did not copy Mazda 929 design like some of Mazda blind loyals are suggesting here.
April-27th-2003 | 04:08 PM
#20
Protege Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 160
.....he is a "top news guy" on Ford oriented forum, so that's the reason why you can read all of his reports and quotes turning around Ford (Mazda/Volvo)
Read more and you'll know how many times he was critical about Ford N.America.
There is a lot of frustration and disapointment on Focaljet revolving around Ford North America recent decisions and strategy, biker16 is one of the most active speakers in that regard, but how many times can you repeat your point of view.
don't get me wrong here, Ford Europe is a design leader in small and mid-sized cars in Europe lately, where the battle on the world's toughest car market takes place for years.
Designer who did design current suspension in Focus is now hired by VW to design new GolfV/Jetta/Gti suspension, and guess what he is using? it's almost identical rear suspension setup that he have used on Focus in 1998!!!
Next GolfV will finaly handle like other leaders in it's class, the steering feel will be the biggest concern in that very good car.
Give respect and critisize where and when needed.
Read more and you'll know how many times he was critical about Ford N.America.
There is a lot of frustration and disapointment on Focaljet revolving around Ford North America recent decisions and strategy, biker16 is one of the most active speakers in that regard, but how many times can you repeat your point of view.
don't get me wrong here, Ford Europe is a design leader in small and mid-sized cars in Europe lately, where the battle on the world's toughest car market takes place for years.
Designer who did design current suspension in Focus is now hired by VW to design new GolfV/Jetta/Gti suspension, and guess what he is using? it's almost identical rear suspension setup that he have used on Focus in 1998!!!
Next GolfV will finaly handle like other leaders in it's class, the steering feel will be the biggest concern in that very good car.
Give respect and critisize where and when needed.
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