Actually, Ford, at this point, is searching for a new brand identity - that's why their cars don't have the same continuity that other brands have. They're getting there, though, the polished slats for the front grill are a trend, as is complete butt-ugliness. It's got nothing to do with the platform of the vehicle. That will only define the car's proportions (and even then, not 100%), not the final design and detailing.
Actually, Ford, at this point, is searching for a new brand identity - that's why their cars don't have the same continuity that other brands have. They're getting there, though, the polished slats for the front grill are a trend, as is complete butt-ugliness. It's got nothing to do with the platform of the vehicle. That will only define the car's proportions (and even then, not 100%), not the final design and detailing.
At the moment I think Ford has a lot of his own design. A lot of people say they look a lot like peugeots, but there's an easy explanation for that: they use the same engines, those engines have a lot of trouble breathing, so they need big vents, and big vents are hard to make "different" from another brand with big vents.
Mazda 121 = Fiesta
The Mondeo was designed by the guy that designed the previous Volkswagen Passat, they look very similar, especially looking from the back, but you don't know what you're talking about because the Sharan is the only platform known to me that has ever been shared with Ford, ironic, because the Sharan is the worst Volkswagen ever made.
I know that, has it not come across I am a VAG nut? :P
The way the red grill is afixed on the car I don't like, it seems like just 2 lines top and bottom, not all the way around like the others.
To my knowledge the Mazda 121 is a licensed version of the Fiesta, used because Mazda was in deep sh!t and didn't have the money to develop a completely new car, and the Sharan/Alhambra was developed with Ford (Galaxy), and therefor share the same VAG engines: the 2.8 V6 and the TDI. But there also was a 2.3 I4 which might have been a Ford engine....I don't know.
The VW VR6 can be found in various other cars, like the Sprinter and another Mercedes. And did you know the Mitsubishi Lancer uses VW TDI engines?
Volvo also aquired licencing to produce Audi's I5 block for their own use
Now used in the Ford Focus ST. 
I didn't knew about sprinters using VAG VR6s, but I knew about VAG selling TDI engines to Chrysler and Mitsubishi....everyone is selling engines to everyone: PSA and Ford teaming up to do diesels, Fiat diesels used by Cadillac and Opel/Vauxhall...lots of other examples which I don't remember right now.
A Mk1 Land Rover Discovery uses Austin Metro side-repeaters! THE MIRTH!
jep, the VR6 is used as the top spec petrol engine in the Sprinter.
And about the Renault/Nissan relationship, can it be that the new Laguna GTs rear wheel steering is the same system used on the Skyline GTRs?
PS: The first production wankel was a co-production of NSU (now part of Audi) and Mazda. But only Mazda kept going.
And about the Renault/Nissan relationship, can it be that the new Laguna GTs rear wheel steering is the same system used on the Skyline GTRs?
PS: The first production wankel was a co-production of NSU (now part of Audi) and Mazda. But only Mazda kept going.
Don't know, but, still about the Renault/Nissan relationship: the V6 engine of the Espace is from Nissan, and is closely related to the one that powerd 350Z, Murano, and a bunch of others, such as the Infiniti G35.
HUGE Ford guy here, also love VAG. I love muscle cars and hatches alike. Right now my cars are very diverce, I think I have something to please everyone, but that wasn't the point, I realized, for the cost of 2 good new cars, I could have one of each of the cars I liked, just used, plus, it works out that two of my favorites are a '95 and a '97, so they were inexpensive, and I do virtually all the work that I can do for myself.
Anyways, I know a lot about Ford, and VAG, and I understand Fords modular designs, the two certainly don't share anything, except maybe industry knowledge, Ford really likes to reach out and learn what they can, they've had to become humble since the late 90's, when their cars were terrible, really the reason they saved face, and aren't facing chapter 11 like GM and Daimler-Chrysler. Ford has owned a number of Euro companies, most when they were doing well financially. I think they've invested the most into Jaquar, "making it one of the most reliable cars on the road, but they're not selling so hot" -This a qoute from Motor Trend, not my opinion, honestly if it's true I didn't know they were that reliable, although Ford did invest ten billion in ten years. Anyways, Ford is sharing platforms from one end of the spectrum to the other. I wouldn't be surprised to see Fords with Euro inspired power plants within ten years, they're already shaping up. Unlike GM, where they still believe a gigantic pushrod engine is the answer for everything...
So, yeah I LOVE VAG, most especially VW, I like the budget hatches(well, not very budget, but great), and Audi's more expensive sedans. My dubb is a '97, MKIII GTI VR6, it's a finished product, I can finally say, and the '95 Saab 2.0T is finished as well.
Anyways you may see Ford share more platforms/parts than any other make, it's getting more and more common place, even before all the buyouts they did it internally with Ford, Mercury and Lincoln. As of this year Ford owns Volvo, and part ownership in Mazda, & Aston Martin. Ford just sold Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors in India in 3/08. It's crazy to think they invested ten billion in ten years into Jaguar, making it supposedly one of the best cars on the road, but they just wouldn't sell... Anyways it seems Ford takes advantage of these relationships and gains a lot of knowledge, they must because the quality in their cars has doubled in less than ten years, they were terrible not too long ago, although I was still a fan of Fords, I was well aware of what cars weren't any good(Ford Taurus, late 90's) The Mustang and the F150 are what saved them IMO. Eh, just felt like posting since the topic turned to Ford and VAG, love these two makes, hope to continue collecting, I'd love a Cossy, Cossworth Escort, the MKIII model I believe...not sure, the white one, it's 299HP, turbo 4 cyl, incredible suspension and brakes.. Man oh man, for it's time, it was a beast. As far as VAG, I'd like an Audi, turbo quattro sedan, mid 90's maybe. Don't get me wrong I like new cars, a LOT, but it's inexpensive and never boring collecting older ones for great prices, and just having a good time. Drove a friends brand new Ford Flex, I really like these things, different, unexpected, great quality and unusually good performance for such a vehicle.
Anyways, I know a lot about Ford, and VAG, and I understand Fords modular designs, the two certainly don't share anything, except maybe industry knowledge, Ford really likes to reach out and learn what they can, they've had to become humble since the late 90's, when their cars were terrible, really the reason they saved face, and aren't facing chapter 11 like GM and Daimler-Chrysler. Ford has owned a number of Euro companies, most when they were doing well financially. I think they've invested the most into Jaquar, "making it one of the most reliable cars on the road, but they're not selling so hot" -This a qoute from Motor Trend, not my opinion, honestly if it's true I didn't know they were that reliable, although Ford did invest ten billion in ten years. Anyways, Ford is sharing platforms from one end of the spectrum to the other. I wouldn't be surprised to see Fords with Euro inspired power plants within ten years, they're already shaping up. Unlike GM, where they still believe a gigantic pushrod engine is the answer for everything...
So, yeah I LOVE VAG, most especially VW, I like the budget hatches(well, not very budget, but great), and Audi's more expensive sedans. My dubb is a '97, MKIII GTI VR6, it's a finished product, I can finally say, and the '95 Saab 2.0T is finished as well.
Anyways you may see Ford share more platforms/parts than any other make, it's getting more and more common place, even before all the buyouts they did it internally with Ford, Mercury and Lincoln. As of this year Ford owns Volvo, and part ownership in Mazda, & Aston Martin. Ford just sold Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors in India in 3/08. It's crazy to think they invested ten billion in ten years into Jaguar, making it supposedly one of the best cars on the road, but they just wouldn't sell... Anyways it seems Ford takes advantage of these relationships and gains a lot of knowledge, they must because the quality in their cars has doubled in less than ten years, they were terrible not too long ago, although I was still a fan of Fords, I was well aware of what cars weren't any good(Ford Taurus, late 90's) The Mustang and the F150 are what saved them IMO. Eh, just felt like posting since the topic turned to Ford and VAG, love these two makes, hope to continue collecting, I'd love a Cossy, Cossworth Escort, the MKIII model I believe...not sure, the white one, it's 299HP, turbo 4 cyl, incredible suspension and brakes.. Man oh man, for it's time, it was a beast. As far as VAG, I'd like an Audi, turbo quattro sedan, mid 90's maybe. Don't get me wrong I like new cars, a LOT, but it's inexpensive and never boring collecting older ones for great prices, and just having a good time. Drove a friends brand new Ford Flex, I really like these things, different, unexpected, great quality and unusually good performance for such a vehicle.
a GTI VR6? What does that mean? It's a GTI with a VR6 engine?
I thought Ford was just as much up shit creek as the other two big Americans. Mainly because Ford relied on knocking out hundreds of thousands of badly-made F-series pickups and huge SUVs with an agricultural design which cost virtually nothing to make but turned a tidy profit - sales of which have obviously plummeted as oil prices have risen.
Modern Jaguars are certainly very reliable and they always score highly in customer satisfaction surveys. However, Jaguar never made a profit for Ford, despite the investment. The irony is that when the shit hit the fan in Detroit, and Ford started offloading anything it could, Jaguar was on course to make a profit for Ford! Even more daft is that they got rid of Land Rover - they had to if they sold Jaguar, 'cos these days LR and Jag are inextricably linked with technology and engine sharing. But LR is hugely profitable and always has been, as footballers and pimps will always pay silly money for a Range Rover Sport.
It's a shame, and I'm quite partial to Ford mainly as a result of them being a generally good owner of various important British manufacturers (Aston, LR, Jag). Those companies would be in a much worse shape than they are now had Ford not taken them under it's wing.
But yeah, Ford being smaller than GM should (in theory) also mean it can adapt quicker and survive better. GM strikes me as a company that simply can't grasp that things are changing, much like record companies who can't grasp that most people want music electronically these days.
I presume you know that Saab cars are GM?
Well he seems to think a good enough description of a MKIII Escort is 'THE WHITE ONE' so i'm not sure :P
yes in the States the Gti top model for a while was the Vr6
it was just common place here. the GTi 2.0 turbo and the R32 are the new top VW hatches now
Less of a VAG nut, more of an unknowledgeable twat.
It seems that he doesn't have a clue about Cossie Escos. It was a mk5 Escort what had a Cossie version, based on the older Sierra Cosworth 4wd platform. It didn't have 299 bhp, it had 227bhp and it was available in many colors, not just a white one.
Already 53 pages? what are you guys talking about that much!?
E: It''s more like a request instead of a announce thread
E: It''s more like a request instead of a announce thread
yeah, about 99.99999% useless exept for time burning 
Well, at that time it was commonly referred to as a VR6, although it was really just called a VW Golf GTI, where GTI I guess referred to it being a sporty car. I love VW all around, but my favorite VR6 model was the MKIII, 12 valve.
Ford saved themselves by finally working out a good deal with it's union(s). It generally costs an american car company about $1500~ more than an import company to build your average car(This number from '06 model year), because of retiree's etc etc. GM and DaimlerChrysler are still circling the drain, which I don't mind(except for how it will affect the economy if they fail). Toyota I think is doing well though, they should be.
As for Saabs and the GM buyout, yeah I knew, I still like the new one's tho honestly, I really like Saab a lot, I've had several, I was gonna get a Viggen before I bought my '04 Cobra. But yeah, knew about that, but mine is a '95 so I guess I think of it as being a bit more pure, I dunno, regardless how much I dislike GM here in the states, I really like Saab. If GM keeps the relationship as it is, like what Ford does, I think Saab will be just fine.
As for the Cossy, admittedly I don't know much about them, not at all. They're very rare here, I've honestly seen only, ten maybe, and that was a long time ago, haven't seen anything since a car show in '99.
I thought it was a MKIII, but only because I assumed it was a third generation, but I wasn't too sure, escorts were around a long time(too long), and they'd change every other year, mostly because they were so bad. But, I looked it up, I know what's up with the car now, I'd love to have one, maybe down the road, I can't afford anything else for at least 4 years, but the Cobra has room for the cheaper goodies(Still needs aftermarket suspension and brakes, stuff like that) so that'll keep me busy, plus with the classes and all, I wanted to learn from a pro, it's been good, I've made good friends, and it's truly breath-taking, racing, love it!
this had a wonderful effect in britain at least of the mazda being available as standard with power steering but ford unable to offer it even as an option on what was basically the same car
This is more spam now lol like all talk on ford
Not enough talk on the Scirocco!
To get the thread back on topic, discuss this:
http://www.worldcarfans.com/90 ... inger-volkswagen-scirocco
To get the thread back on topic, discuss this:http://www.worldcarfans.com/90 ... inger-volkswagen-scirocco
Looks nice but verging on 'chavvy'
It's quite tasteful so I disagree with the chav theory.
This thread is closed
VW Scirocco in Live for Speed
(1608 posts, closed, started )
FGED GREDG RDFGDR GSFDG