Is the Mazda 3 and new S40?

Is it?

The look the same and Mazda and Ford do some label swapping - MX6 and
Ford Probe.

I was told both use a Ford Focus chasis? Is this true as well?

If so, why would one purchase a Volvo S40 over Mazda 3? Price on a
Mazda 3 must be lower.

And has the quality in Volvo declined/improved/stayed the same since
Ford came on board?

?

Tmuld.

 

The Volvo V50, and S40 (2004.5) are Volvo's first P1 cars, and share a
common platform with the Mazda 3 and Ford Focus. Volvo played a
significant role in designing that platform.

Different engines, transmissions, and presumably different handling (if
Car & Driver is to be believed -- I've never driven a Mazda 3. The V50
handles beautifully, and will be my next car.)

I don't think it has changed. It may have improved. Jaguar's styling
and quality has been better after Ford took over, and I think the Ford
Volvo's (S40 2004.5 and V50) are very good cars in terms of design and
performance.

Beverly

 

Yes, but the similarity ends there. The engines are different.
Everything else is different. Many models share chassis but that is
where their similarity ends. The chassis is just the metal structure
that holds the sheet metal and running gear. The interior and running
gear can vary greatly. For example:

The Mazda 3: Base sedans use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated to
produce 148 horsepower (144 in Calif.), while the upgraded "s" models
use a 2.3-liter four-cylinder that bumps the horsepower number to 160.
Both engines can be equipped with either a five-speed manual or a
four-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift capability.
Length: 178.7 in.
Width: 69.1 in.
Height: 57.7 in.
Wheel Base: 103.9 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.7 in.
Curb Weight: 2762 lbs.

The Volvo S40: Base and LSE models come with a turbocharged 1.9-liter
four-cylinder good for 170 horsepower; a five-speed automatic
transmission is standard. The 2.4i comes with a naturally aspirated
2.4-liter inline five-cylinder rated for 168 hp. Buyers can choose
either a five-speed manual or five-speed automatic to go with it. The T5
gets a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline five that makes 218 hp and 236
pound-feet of torque. In addition to the automatic, the T5 is eligible
for a six-speed manual gearbox. T5 versions are also available with
all-wheel drive, so long as you select the automatic transmission.
Length: 175.9 in.
Width: 69.7 in.
Height: 57.2 in.
Wheel Base: 103.9 in.
Ground Clearance: 5.3 in.
Curb Weight: 3082 lbs.

The Ford Focus:
The standard drivetrain in hatchbacks, wagons and all sedans except the
ST is a refined 2.0-liter four-cylinder rated for 136 hp (130 in
California emissions states). The ST sedan features a 2.3-liter four
good for 151 hp. A five-speed manual transmission is standard across the
line, and a four-speed automatic is optional on all but the base S ZX3
hatchback and the ST sedan. Fuel economy is average for this class, as
both engines have EPA mileage ratings in the mid-to-upper 20s for city
driving and mid-30s for highway travel.
Length: 175.2 in.
Width: 66.7 in.
Height: 56.8 in.
Wheel Base: 103 in.
Ground Clearance: 6.2 in.
Curb Weight: 2677 lbs

 

Ford owns controlling interest in Mazda and Volvo, the only 2 things they
have going for them, imho, sorry to the rule Britannia guys, the rovers and
jags are a money pit!

The 3 cars you cite all have the same platform with differing tuning. The
focus is set up as a cheep car, the Mazda 3 is a premium small car with zoom
zoom zoom, and the Volvo seems from looking at it and reading reviews to be
quite Volvo-like.

Test the 3 and the s40/v50 and if the Mazda is fine save some bucks, if not
ya gotta go for the Volvo.

 

If I read it correcty (for the newsgroup US audience): the US will not be
getting a P1 platform Focus any time soon.
http://demo.autoweek.com/news.cms?newsId=100611

PS

 

That is correct. The only vehicles on that platform in the US are the
Mazda 3 / Volvo S40 (2004.5) and Volvo V50. The US and European Focus'
will not share a platform, engine or transmission.

 

Both use the european Ford Focus chassis, not the one we get here in NA...
Volvo implemented their own safety systems, braking systems, interiors,
pretty sure the suspension, volvo engine, tranny etc etc... Mazda has mazda
engines, mazda interiors, multilink rear susp, "triple H" safety cage, not
the same as Volvo's. I drove the Mazda 3 a few months ago, it was a nice
car... apparantly the Volvo drives even better.

 

The Aston Martin division seems to doing ok.

 

Well, not exactly. The Mazda 3, Volvo S40 / V50, and European Focus
share the C1 platform, which is the second generation Focus platform.
The North American Focus still uses the C170 platform shared with the
first generation (1999-2004) European Focus.

Yes, Ford has done a reasonable job at differentiating the C1 platform
cars, rather than allowing the different brands to be just different
badges on the same car.

 

OK point granted, however how many units do they move and how much total
profit, not profit per unit do they generate?

All that said I like Astons a lot, although at $150k us and up it will be a
while before I put my $40k down

 

OK I was wrong about the Focus being on the same platform, sorry. Ford must
be getting smart, why have Ford and Mazda dealers fight for the same market?
That said, Ford will never be able to out cheep Kia and Hyundai, so perhaps
going a little upmarket with the Focus is a good idea.

I guess they Focus grouped the focus (ha ha) and the focus buyer wants
reliability comfort and safety, Mazda-like driving dynamics are not high on
a Ford focus buyers list, or, at lease Ford seems to think so from their
actions.

 

I'm not sure if it was a joke or not, but I read that last year was the
first time in a very long time Aston has been in the black in a very long
time (the joke alluded to them having never made a profit since their
initial creation).

 

The Focus gets good marks for handling and ride in every review that
comes out on it. So Focus buyers aren't missing out on the driving
dynamics, though the feature content and look and feel aspects of the
Focus may not be up to that of the Mazda 3 (not surprising, since the
Focus competes in the "cheap" small car market much more than the Mazda
3 does). Also, the Mazda 3 engines are tuned for more power than those
in the Focus.

 

But it is on the same platform, just not in the USA.