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Ford's U.S. Sales Plummet 21 Percent
Associated Press ^ | October 02, 2007 | DEE-ANN DURBIN

Posted on 10/02/2007 9:58:30 AM PDT by decimon

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To: eraser2005

Really? Which service advisor did you speak to?


261 posted on 10/04/2007 9:37:28 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: RavenATB

Have you had your truck in for the “sets itself and your house on fire” recall yet?


262 posted on 10/04/2007 9:38:01 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: eraser2005
Also uses the same basic engine as used in the Ford Focus.

Nope.

The only engine available in the Focus now is a 2 liter. My Mazda has a 2.3 with variable valve timing, variable tuned intake, and a host of other differences. It has more power, and a very broad power band.

I replaced a Focus (with a 2.3 liter) with this car. It is most definitely not the same engine.

263 posted on 10/04/2007 6:03:16 PM PDT by Nik Naym (If Republicans are your problem, Democrats aren't the answer!)
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To: Slapshot68
“The point, though, is there are many people who will come out and trash the Focus on reliability, but praise the Mazda3.... you couldn’t separate Mazda and Ford engineering if you tried anymore...”

This is undeniably true. Heck, if I am not mistaken, the Mazda 6 comes off the same line as a Mustang. I think it may even use the Duratec 6 engine. (Correct me if I am wrong)

264 posted on 10/04/2007 6:08:29 PM PDT by Nik Naym (If Republicans are your problem, Democrats aren't the answer!)
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To: eraser2005
...but the miserly side of me thinks of the thousands in savings that the Focus offers for just a slightly older chassis....

I had a 2004 Focus with the then available 2.3. (And yes, I bought it from Hertz, for a song) The dang thing was absolutely flawless. I didn't spend one nickel on repairs the whole time I owned it, and it was actually fun to drive around.

I had planned to give it to my daughter in 2008 for her first car and buy myself something nice. A suicidal deer changed that but my point is:

The Mazda3 is SO much nicer, and SO much more fun to drive, and SO much faster, and I could go on and on.

Lets just say I didn't get this one for a song, but it was worth every penny.

Anyone who is deciding between just these two vehicles..get a 3. You only live once and its only money. LOL

265 posted on 10/04/2007 6:17:50 PM PDT by Nik Naym (If Republicans are your problem, Democrats aren't the answer!)
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To: Nik Naym

“This is undeniably true. Heck, if I am not mistaken, the Mazda 6 comes off the same line as a Mustang. I think it may even use the Duratec 6 engine. (Correct me if I am wrong)”

I’m not sure if it comes off the same line, but the Mazda 6 is made in the U.S. My car is the Mazda 3, which is made in Japan. No doubt that the engineering of these cars is shared by Ford, Mazda, Volvo, etc...however if you look at the reliability stats in terms of build quality, the 3 has less complaints than the 6. I still attribute that to WHERE it’s built.

By the way, the Durotec engine, developed by Ford, is very highly regarded.


266 posted on 10/05/2007 4:53:19 AM PDT by Slapshot68
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To: Nik Naym

I love my 3. The hatchback (not very popular in the US for some reason) is very versatile. At 160HP, it’s quite zippy when I need it to be. I got mine in an end of season sale so I made out on the price....all in all very satisfied so far. I’m one who get the new car bug really often but 2 year into this car I can’t imagine driving anything else right now.


267 posted on 10/05/2007 4:55:30 AM PDT by Slapshot68
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To: Nik Naym

The 2.3L Duratec IS the 2.3L MZR, just with different tuning... a different cam does not make it a different engine...

the MZR ranges from 1.4 to 2.3L -> some tuning may be different, but the architecture is the same.


268 posted on 10/05/2007 5:59:18 AM PDT by eraser2005
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To: Nik Naym

Depends on which Mazda6... the 4-cylinder Mazda6 and MazdaSpeed6 both use the 2.3L MZR (or Duratec 23 as it is called in the Fusion).

The 6 cylinder uses the “MZI”, which is better known as the Duratec 30 (although it is even more similar to the Jaguar AJ30 derivative of the Duratec 30). This engine is the same basic engine as has been used in the old Ford Taurus, Mercury Sable, Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego, Ford Freestyle, Ford Escape, Mercury Mariner, Mazda Tribute, Lincoln LS, and Jaguar S-Type...

I think Ford is finally getting the clue that you don’t need to design dozens of different four cylinders and 6 cylinders - you’re better off designing one or two REALLY good ones that you can easily modify.

BTW, the Duratec 30 family is probably seen its best days and is likely on the way out, with the new Duratec 35 family....


269 posted on 10/05/2007 6:06:23 AM PDT by eraser2005
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To: Nik Naym

Yeah, you try to pry that penny from my hands... :P


270 posted on 10/05/2007 6:07:38 AM PDT by eraser2005
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To: Slapshot68

The Mazda6 is built on the same line as the Mustang in Flat Rock, MI. The V6s they use are very different, though - the Mazda6 uses the Duratec 30, aka MZI. The Mustang uses the 4.0L SOHC Cologne. The Mustang’s V6 is based on a positively ancient engine that has slowly been upgraded piece by piece over the years. You can trace it back all the way to 1964...

The Duratec 30 has a decent reputation, though it has been eclipsed in recent years. The Duratec 35 (different family than the 30) is one of Ward’s Ten Best engines for 2007 - that’s the one in the new Taurus, Sable, Edge, MKZ, and CX-9.

The 2.3L MZI is also one of Ward’s Ten Best, BTW...

As is the old standby 4.6L SOHC V-8...


271 posted on 10/05/2007 6:18:06 AM PDT by eraser2005
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