Car "platforms" - how much is actually shared?

EssexExile

Ah the good old days. If my Corsair broke down I just swapped bits with Dad's Cortina 'til it worked again.

anotherbaldrick

EssexExile wrote: »

Ah the good old days. If my Corsair broke down I just swapped bits with Dad's Cortina 'til it worked again.

Bet you wish you still had it ! Mine was a 2000E with the V4 engine, good vibrations

almillar

If you don't like sharing - the Mazda RX-8 is one (mainstream-ish) car that didn't share a platform or engine. Hugely expensive for Mazda because of this.

AdrianC

almillar wrote: »

If you don't like sharing - the Mazda RX-8 is one (mainstream-ish) car that didn't share a platform or engine. Hugely expensive for Mazda because of this.

The RX-8 platform was used as the basis for the 2006-on MX-5...

Retrogamer

When i was looking for a Polo GTI TDi i came to realise the Fabia VRS TDi and Ibiza FR TDi were virtually the same cars when it came to the mechanical side.

Worked out better for me as the Ibiza FR had higher spec for a lower price than the Polo.

Because it uses 5 stud wheels & hubs a lot of other parts fit straight on from other cars. It's got Skoda Octavia VRS wheels (with smaller tyres) fitted now as well as Octavia VRS front brakes. All straight bolt ons.

When i had my Peugeot 106 i replaced the rear axel / beam with one off a Citroen Saxo as well. Same cars mechanical wise.

DominicH

Retrogamer wrote: »

When i had my Peugeot 106 i replaced the rear axel / beam with one of a Citroen Saxo as well. Same cars mechanical wise.

Sort of a double Axel, then? Particularly good on ice, I understand.

Retrogamer

The same as one of these.
Springs are inside the beam / axel and are prone to giving the wheels some crazy camber when the bearings and bushings start to wear.

almillar

The RX-8 platform was used as the basis for the 2006-on MX-5...

Mmmm - are you sure? Sources? It was a unique platform for a few years at least. If they based the MX-5 platform on it I'd still count that as unique.
I'd also say that going from roof to no roof would need a lot of work on a platform...

AdrianC

almillar wrote: »

Mmmm - are you sure? Sources?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_N_platform#NC

I'd also say that going from roof to no roof would need a lot of work on a platform...

Not really, not if it's basically stiff enough. A bit of reinforcing in the sills is all. Look at all the platforms which are shared between open and tin-top models.

almillar

Ha, thanks for that - OK then - I'll change my statement to 'unique at the time' - as in for about 3 yrs (from 2003) until the 2nd gen MX-5 came out. Not a patch on VW!