[font=californainfb]Oops! Sorry SS. I say that though because I have seen similar looking cans on several other Ford models, including the Taurus and Focus and some aren't even hidden underneath as well as the Mazda3 muffler is.

I do applaud Ford for trying many new things over the years though. But again, they've had as many failures as winners among them, maybe more.
One of my favorites was the electric front windshield defroster, which I thought a goodidea at the time. What happened to that? Also, the double laminated windscreen?
Then there are the real bombs, starting with: The Pinto/Bobcat; the Festiva; the early Escort 1.6L. Mazda bailed them out of that one; The twin I-Beam suspension and it's 30 rubber bushings; the Tempo;sealed (ungreasable) ball joints and tie rod ends. Those things needed changing nearly as often as the oil did.
My sister owned a Sable 3.8L, alum oil pan that corroded away in about 4 years. Ford didn't cover that, and before you ask yes she did have the car serviced and the oil changed regularly. That cost her some bucks to have replaced.
I worked in the business back in the '80's and all the techs (mechanics back then) would run if a Ford showed up for service or repairs. "Oh! Must be time for lunch! I gotta' go home. My wife called and ...." As a parts guy, I always got a chuckle out of that.

 

[font=californainfb]
And, if what you say is true about Mazdas exported to America from Japan, why do so many of the parts on the car specifically say "FoMoCo" on them?

 

ok, i have an '07 (sedan) i have (in order)
-cat (headers)
-flex pipe
-cat
-resonator
-muffler.....

so i guess it's different on the hatchbacks, or maybe its just for where you live.. i dunno

 

It's called economies of scale.Because of stiff competition from overseas, we now have to make some parts overseas for our cars, so there are FoMoCo parts plants located all over the world. Mazda takes advantage of some of those facilities to help lower their manufacturing costs rather than setting upfacilities of their own(thus providing a better value to the consumer). We all use the same product development systems, and all use the same quality methods (as do all Automotive OEM's)

I readily admit we (the entire US auto ind) had serious issues with our cars 20 years ago. It's now 2007, not 1984.

 

lol
so far, ive spotted the FoMoCo on the brakes, dipstick, struts, and i believe a couple other places....

oh, sstlaure, and virgin1!!
go post some pics of your ride on the ROTM section!!
we need more participants!! so far this thread isnt going anywhere... ugh