Mazda 121/MK4 Fiesta, why was it sold here?

[MGZRod]

Now, I understand badge engineering where cars are rehashed and sold in countries where the car is not available by the main maker.

What I don't understand is why these were sold in the UK at the same time? There will probably be a simple answer and someone will slap me with a salmon for being a fool but I don't get it.

The thought popped into my head after seeing two parked beside eachother today in tesco, both bare steelies and maroon.

[xr287]

I was going to say I suppose the same reason you can buy a C1, Aygo or 107 at the same time but then I googled the 121 and realised they didn't even bother to restyle it in the slightest.

I expect though there are still some people who would buy a Mazda but not a Ford and vice versa.

[sherman]

Because they could.

There have been quite a few cars for sale that have been virtually identical to each other. For instance the Izuzu trooper and the Vauxhall Monterey.


Izuzu Trooper



Vauxhall Monterey

[Alx323]

sherman said:

Because they could.

There have been quite a few cars for sale that have been virtually identical to each other. For instance the Izuzu trooper and the Vauxhall Monterey.


Izuzu Trooper



Vauxhall Monterey

There was a Honda version too IIRC.

[davepoth]

xr287 said:

I was going to say I suppose the same reason you can buy a C1, Aygo or 107 at the same time but then I googled the 121 and realised they didn't even bother to restyle it in the slightest.

I expect though there are still some people who would buy a Mazda but not a Ford and vice versa.

Interestingly despite being made in the same factory, the Mazda rated much higher in the JD Power survey.

But the bit I can't understand is that the "other" 121 of that period (Mazda Demio) was sold in Europe, just not the UK.

[sherman]

Alx323 said:

There was a Honda version too IIRC.

According to Wiki there were quite a few different versions but I just used those two to illustrate the point.

WIKI said:

The Isuzu Trooper was a mid-size SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Isuzu between 1981 and 2005. It was exported worldwide as the Isuzu Bighorn, Isuzu Trooper, Isuzu Trooper II , Caribe 442, Acura SLX, Chevrolet Trooper, Subaru Bighorn, Honda Horizon, Opel/Vauxhall Monterey, Holden Jackaroo, and Holden Monterey.

[Alx323]

sherman said:

Alx323 said:

There was a Honda version too IIRC.

According to Wiki there were quite a few different versions but I just used those two to illustrate the point.

WIKI said:

The Isuzu Trooper was a mid-size SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Isuzu between 1981 and 2005. It was exported worldwide as the Isuzu Bighorn, Isuzu Trooper, Isuzu Trooper II , Caribe 442, Acura SLX, Chevrolet Trooper, Subaru Bighorn, Honda Horizon, Opel/Vauxhall Monterey, Holden Jackaroo, and Holden Monterey.

Haha I had no idea about all the others to be honest! Wasn't trying to be a pedant...

[abbotsmike]

xr287 said:

I was going to say I suppose the same reason you can buy a C1, Aygo or 107 at the same time but then I googled the 121 and realised they didn't even bother to restyle it in the slightest.

I expect though there are still some people who would buy a Mazda but not a Ford and vice versa.

The C1 and 107 are 99% the same, inside and out! The Aygo is the only one with a slight remodelling!

I would agree on the second point though, they would have mostly been sold on brand loyalty, that and the fact that most people probably wouldn't notice the likeness until it was pointed out to them.

[neilbauer]

The fiesta and Mazda were made in partnership to cut costs. Both companys would have to sell the cars they made and as Ford and Mazda both have a big market share in the UK why wouldn't they sell their cars here!

[Captain Muppet]

MGZRod said:

Now, I understand badge engineering where cars are rehashed and sold in countries where the car is not available by the main maker.

What I don't understand is why these were sold in the UK at the same time? There will probably be a simple answer and someone will slap me with a salmon for being a fool but I don't get it.

The thought popped into my head after seeing two parked beside eachother today in tesco, both bare steelies and maroon.

Have a read of the "I will never buy" thread - some people won't ever buy a "Ford" but will by a "Japanese" car. It's because people are idiots, and companies can use this to make money.

Also a huge proportion of the MX5OC have another Mazda as their other car, just because they like their MX5 so much. Makes very little sense.

[98elise]

Rover and honda used to to the same with the 214 etc. The funny thing was they had different service intervals for the same engines.

As others have said, its brand loyalty/image, and costs the manufacturers very little.

[MJK 24]

Mazda and Ford were financially involved at the time. Gave UK Mazda dealers access to a competitive small car they could sell. Problem was the Mazda was a bit dearer to buy and a lot dearer to insure despite it being 99.9% the same car hence very limited sales.

I don't think I've seen more than a handful.

[Chris993C4]

MGZRod said:

There will probably be a simple answer and someone will slap me with a salmon for being a fool but I don't get it.

One of them came with 3x the warranty, and nicer dealers...

[RizzoTheRat]

I remember something about this on TV years ago, one woman interviewd said she bought the Mazda 121 rather than the Fiesta as a Mazda would be more reliable :rollseyes: As said above, people are idiots.

[Mr Gear]

It's so someone can walk into their local Mazda dealer, and ask the nice salesman for a small hatchback. Instead of the salesman having to say "Sorry love, you need a Fiesta. Try the Ford dealer 10/20/50 (delete as applicable) miles away." he can say "We have what you want right here. It's called a Mazda 121... and it has all the Japanese reliability you'd expect..."

[Chris993C4]

Mr Gear said:

It's called a Mazda 121... and it has all the Japanese reliability you'd expect..."

From its Yamaha engine

[Mr Gear]

Chris993C4 said:

Mr Gear said:

It's called a Mazda 121... and it has all the Japanese reliability you'd expect..."

From its Yamaha engine

Indeed! I had a Mk4 Fiesta and the engine was superb. But some people will tell you that the Mazda is more reliable than the Ford "because it's Japanese"... when in fact they are both Japanese and both European in equal measure.

[smileymikey]

Mercedes Sprinter VW Crafter same van. It happens all the time in the industry

[excel monkey]

Chris993C4 said:

MGZRod said:

There will probably be a simple answer and someone will slap me with a salmon for being a fool but I don't get it.

One of them came with 3x the warranty, and nicer dealers...

The dealer experience is a big deal for some people, particularly the older folk who bought 121s.

[Captain Muppet]

Mr Gear said:

Chris993C4 said:

Mr Gear said:

It's called a Mazda 121... and it has all the Japanese reliability you'd expect..."

From its Yamaha engine

Indeed! I had a Mk4 Fiesta and the engine was superb. But some people will tell you that the Mazda is more reliable than the Ford "because it's Japanese"... when in fact they are both Japanese and both European in equal measure.

And American, lets not forget where Ford head office is.