Quote:
Originally Posted by vztrt
I don't remember Ford offering fixes on the 10 speed auto changes on the previous ranger. I know that was constantly bagged by the reviewers.
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Correct.
My comments were in line with shared development costs between Mazda and Ford. While Mazda is big in Australia, the brand doesn't have the same presence in other markets, the USA in particular. Being a relatively small brand means they have less resources to play with.
This is where the Ford partnership allowed Mazda to share the expensive items like platforms and powertrains, in turn allowing Mazda to spend money on the finer details like chassis prowess and feel, engine tuning and sound, flamboyant styling, quality interiors ect. Without Ford co-development, Mazda have to spend money differently in developing models from scratch.
I'm not saying new Mazda's are crap, their interiors are simply brilliant for the price, and I love that they decided to pursue RWD platforms and inline 6 engines. However, in certain respects Mazda have moved in a different direction or even backwards. Things like chassis and steering tuning, which had previously been their hallmark. The budget constraints and customers wanting less road noise and ride harshness have led Mazda to chase a wider audience, while compromising what made them great.