What do you think of Ford taking over companys?

thevolvoguy · 07-30-02, 01:03

Ford now owns 9 companys...

Ford
Mercury
Lincoln
Volvo
Jaguar
Aston-Martin
Mazda
Land Rover
1/4 of BMW

Many of these companys are comming out with new designs. I know Volvo, Aston, and Jaguar are already having some design flaws and ive seen bad reviews lately. What do yall think?

BW · 07-30-02, 01:43

Quote:

Originally posted by thevolvoguy
1/4 of BMW

What?! Really... where did you find that? The only connection I could think was when BMW bought Rover in 1994 and sold it off to Ford. That explains why the BMW 4.4L V8 is in a 2003 Range Rover.

Does anyone know if BMW "owns" MINI, or just designs and creates them? I know that they will own Rolls-Royce (currently owned by VW.)

medic · 07-30-02, 01:56

when did Ford take over Mazda?

I think BMW owns Mini, bought the company a long time ago from what I remember.

thevolvoguy · 07-30-02, 02:12

I got the 1/4 of BMW thing from somewhere... I sware! lol I think when the bought out Land Rover, and since BMW was having affairs with Land Rover... maybe they got a portion of the company(BMW)?

thevolvoguy · 07-30-02, 02:14

medic~ ford has had Mazda for a while now, I think they got started with them when the "Navajo" came out to replicate the explorer. Now they have the Tribute (Escape), and a few more cars that are basically fords. Check out www.ford.com for more info.

MrGrinch · 07-30-02, 03:25

Would you part with over $100,000 for an Astin V-12, which is really just two Taurus V-6s stuck together? NOT! I know that Jag, Lincoln, and Ford are sharing a platform (for the Thunderbird). Hey, wouldn't it be cool if Jaguar introduced a pickup? "Introducing the all new Jaguar F-150." Now that's something I might buy. However, if Ford really owns a part of BMW now, I will have to reconsider that M3 purchase.

HellrotCi · 07-30-02, 03:32

Ford has nothing to do with BMW.

Unless you want to count the engine in the new Range Rover.

Some how the Rover Group, which included MG, Land Rover, Rover and the MINI, damn near drained BMW of $$$$$$$$$$. They sold Land Rover to Ford, gave Rover with MG away(literally) and kept the MINI.

Ford first bought 25% of Mazda in 1979
Ford bought Aston-Martin in 1987
Ford bought Jaguar in 1990
Ford bought Volvo cars in 1999
Ford bought Land Rover in 2000

The Ford Escape is made in a Mazda factory. I think in the Flat Rock, MI plant.

thevolvoguy · 07-30-02, 05:07

Quote:

Originally posted by HellrotCi
Ford has nothing to do with BMW.

GOOD

sorry for any confusion, thanks Ci

BW · 07-30-02, 05:35

Oooooooooooooh, okay. Thanks Hellrot!

What about rebranded cars like the Nissan Quest and Mercury Villager? I know Ford (Mercury) has some interest or connection with Nissan, but how? Does that mean they own Nissan a certain percentage... or just share?

Thanks!

Len_A · 07-30-02, 06:32

Quote:

Originally posted by HellrotCi
Ford has nothing to do with BMW. Unless you want to count the engine in the new Range Rover. Some how the Rover Group, which included MG, Land Rover, Rover and the MINI, damn near drained BMW of $$$$$$$$$$. They sold Land Rover to Ford, gave Rover with MG away(literally) and kept the MINI.

Ford first bought 25% of Mazda in 1979
Ford bought Aston-Martin in 1987
Ford bought Jaguar in 1990
Ford bought Volvo cars in 1999
Ford bought Land Rover in 2000

The Ford Escape is made in a Mazda factory. I think in the Flat Rock, MI plant.

The Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute are made at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant. The powertrains, save for the 4 wheel drive transfer case which is a Mazda product, are pure Ford. The 2.0 Litre Zetec I-4 is from the Ford Focus (a pure Ford design), with the 3.0 Litre Duratec V-6 and the automatic transmission is from the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable. Aside from the 4 wheel drive transfer case, the only thing Mazda contributed to this was the floor pan (passenger compartment only at that) from the 626.

Speaking of the Taurus/Sable, the front suspension is from the discontinued police version of the Taurus and Sable sedans, and the rear suspension was derived from the Taurus/Sable station wagons. The lighting in the two SUV's are made by Visteon (a former Ford subsidiary), as is most of the electronics and electrical system.

And in case anyone wants to know how I know this, it's because A) the contractor the does most of the prototype building for Ford used to be a customer of mine, B) three Ford engineers live in my subdivision, C) I'm a stockholder who is interested enough to find out something about what these idiots are doing with my money (LOL), and D) my brother is a manager at Ford.

HellrotCi · 07-30-02, 07:04

Quote:

The Ford Escape and Mazda Tribute are made at Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant.

I stand corrected.

Quote:

What about rebranded cars like the Nissan Quest and Mercury Villager? I know Ford (Mercury) has some interest or connection with Nissan, but how? Does that mean they own Nissan a certain percentage... or just share?

The last I read on this is Nissan and Mercury have ended this relationship and production ended in June. The Ohio plant where these two van were made will switch to beef up production of the Escape and it looks like a similar cute-ute will be built for Mercury.

Len_A · 07-30-02, 08:12

Quote:

Originally posted by HellrotCi

I stand corrected.

The last I read on this is Nissan and Mercury have ended this relationship and production ended in June. The Ohio plant where these two van were made will switch to beef up production of the Escape and it looks like a similar cute-ute will be built for Mercury.

You read correctly. Mercury will get a version of the next gen Windstar (which, IMHO, should have been the case all along), and the Villager name will not be used.