Ford may sell Mazda stake

[ReadTomPaine]

Source: The Age - Australia

Ford, after almost three decades as an investor in Japan's Mazda, is believed to be considering selling its controlling stake.

A sale of the one-third holding in Mazda isn't certain, said a source, who asked not to be identified because no decision has been made.

"We do not want to comment on speculation,'' Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford said yesterday in a statement.

Unloading the stake would end an era in which the second largest US carmaker used Mazda to help groom executives including its incoming finance chief and its current head of North American operations.

Read more: http://business.theage.com.au/business/ford-may-sell-mazda-stake-20081012-4yx4.html

[johnaries]

1. Good! I like Mazda's MUCH better than Fords!

I LOVE my rotary engine RX-8. ZOOM, ZOOM, ZOOM!

[ReadTomPaine]

2. I've had RX-7's from each generation.

Great little cars. I wondered in the GM merger thread if this move is penny wise and pound foolish for Ford. Many of their products use either Volvo or Mazda platforms, drivetrains and more. I hope this works out well for them all.

[harmonicon]

5. yeah, it sounds like a VERY bad idea on Ford's party

"hmm.... we're losing money because we make shitty cars and ran the company into the ground... how about we sell the good parts of the cars we make to get more money that we can piss away, giving us no chance what so ever to recover?"

[ContraBass Black]

14. Alternative Headline:

Ford to Kill Goose, Collect All Golden Eggs at Once

[ReadTomPaine]

15. Yes, that's how I am seeing it.

I can understand why they divested themselves of the historically unprofitable parts of PAG - Land Rover, Jaguar etc.. but Volvo and Mazda? Those have become more important for Ford than Mercury for goodness sakes.

Ford has been pretty good to it's satellite brands - much better than say - GM & Saab, but this looks like the proverbial 'slow motion car accident' in more ways than one.

[flvegan]

6. Agreed. I LOVE my Mazdaspeed 3.

Zoom-zoom, indeed!

[ReadTomPaine]

11. Great car.. arguably the best in its class...

although the new Cobalt SS is an excellent alternative.

[shotten99]

3. I'd rather see Ford and Chrysler merge honestly

I grew up in a GM town, but always had better luck with the competition.

[ReadTomPaine]

4. GM went to Ford in July to discuss a merger, but Mulally wasn't interested.

The Chrysler/GM talks may be related, but I get the impression that's more Cerberus driven. Interesting time in the automotive world.

[AlCzervik]

7. i used to have a 1990 mazda rx-7, aside from my current car that was the best and

funniest car i ever owned and i've had a fair share of vehicles over the past 22 years.

[ReadTomPaine]

8. The rotary just loves to rev forever...

It's said those engines put in their best, smoothest laps just before they die. I put over a 100K on each and every one. Other than a lack of low end torque, they are wonderfully entertaining to drive. I'm looking forward to Mazda's next iteration.

[CRF450]

9. The RX-7's are better with a v8.

I'v ridden in one that the owner did a GM LS2/T56 6 speed conversion in, and it was fuckin AWSOME!! Totally craps on the rotaries. And it easily got 30mpg HWY which is pretty damn goodd for a 400hp v8 with unmodified internals, no big camshaft or whatever, it just came strait out of a wrecked 06 Corvette.

[ReadTomPaine]

10. I don't mind V8's but prefer rotaries in 7's of all flavors....

Chevy V8's are wonderful engines and have a lot to recommend them, but they are utterly out of character for these Mazdas. And I say this even tho Chevys are probably my favorite domestic automobiles. I'd go with a three rotor conversion long before a V8 - but I know for the torque junkies, there's no other engine preference but pushrods, displacement and the hearty shove in the back they provide at every step of the pedal.

[LosinIt]

12. I just gave my 2002 Protege 5 with 200K to my daughter & really miss it!

It is reminiscent of my old Volkswagen Scirocco. I bought a Bug, nice, but not the same.

[ReadTomPaine]

13. I recall the old Scirocco - what made that car so special was power to weight..

it was around 2200 pounds so it's 122 horsepower was plenty fast for the day. You know they are making a new one...



BTW the best Proteges were those Mazdaspeed versions. Amazingly fun to drive.

[KillCapitalism]

16. I have a Mazda 3 hatch & love it.

Ford should have really based a lot of it's vehicles off Mazda models, they would be doing a lot better now if they would have done that.

[ReadTomPaine]

17. Actually they have, and those models are the ones doing well..

The platform that underpins the Mazda 3 is used for many models, including the wonderfully popular and successful European Focus (which we don't get), the Volvo S40, V50 and C30 (the latter being my favorite iteration of the platform) and the new Ford Kuga crossover, which is headed to the states soon. Ford of Europe is a pretty tight operation actually. They do quite well.

Mazda and Volvo technology underpin most of Ford's car lineup in one way or another. The Volvo S80 platform underpins the Taurus, Flex & Freestyle (Taurus X), the Mercury Montego & Sable and the Lincoln MKS

This holds true for many drivetrains as well.

[Corgigal]

18. We love our CX-9

One of the Motor Trend cars of the year and Ford wants to sell Mazda? Wow, I guess they really do need the cash.

[ReadTomPaine]

21. It also did quite well in the recent Nov '08 C&D comparison article..

among a half dozen of its unibody crossover competitors. It came in second and was considered the most sporty vehicle in the group.

I've agreed with C&D for years in their observation that what most SUV drivers really want is a minivan with all wheel drive traction and security along with excellent interior packaging for space and versatility. SUVs are good at providing the traction, but they aren't very space efficient due to ride height issues, body-on-frame platforms and similar. The stigma associated with minivans is just too much for some, however. The CX-9 skirts this nicely - it's basically a minivan with soft road abilities which is why it drives so much more sharply.

SUV's are damn handy and indispensable for those who need them for towing or rural needs (I'm fond of the Suburban in these situations), but most motorists don't need them as much as they need a good minivan.

[BraveDave]

19. You guys do know

Mazdas ARE Fords with different stickers and trim packages for the most part, rite?

[ReadTomPaine]

20. It's more the other way around. In many cases Fords are based on Mazda and Volvo technology...

and it was mentioned around 7 times in this thread already. See posts #2,5,14,15 & esp 17 as well as this one.

[PittPoliSci]

22. no complaints here about my mazda 6.

my mother loves her cx-7 too.