Just Curious

[escort357]

What the hell is a Ford Laser? I always thought a laser was some weak little mopar with a mitsubishi powertrain.

[Loekee75]

I looked up "Ford Laser" in Google. It looks like a compact car to me. Maybe the next Escort?

[vanman215]

Ya man, It looks like it is suppost to be a Toyota or something from Japan.

[bj2099]

wow you dont know what a laser is? dude they are like flys over here in Aus in fact i have one. its a 1989 Laser TX3 turbo 4WD its a champion little car as well. they came stock with the mazda BPT engines. the lasers you saw are the newer ones id say gives you an idea of how popular a car they are. the laser was the basis of the american escort and was actualy designed around a mazda 323. they were built from 1980 till 2003 when the focus was released which was based around the mazda 3. shit... sorry about the rant iv sorta grown up around fords so im a virtual libary of ford facts
well thats my 2 cents

[Sandman79]

i actually think you Aussies have a better, more fun auto market than here in the states. Holden...what Ford has over there. i just like the styling and options offered in the stuff overseas.

oh well.

[MarkAussie]

Hi from Australia,

Ford Laser/s in their many variants. Ford Australia and Mazda entered into a cross marketing "badge engineering" arrangement in the 1980's. I think Ford Australia received the better deal on this with access to the Mazda 323 engineering. The Mazda 323 with a Ford badge in Australia is/was not just a blue oval stuck on a a Mazda of the time. The Laser body was substantially different and very easily identified as a Ford. I am concentrating mainly on the 1989 to 1992 Laser KF Series as sold in Australia.

Usually three grades of trim and three sets of mechanical specification.
The Laser GL - base model with either the Mazda B6 1.6 litre SOHC engine. Carburettor only - four speed manual trans or the Mazda/Jatco three speed auto.

The Laser GLi - 1.8 litre DOHC with electronic fuel injection. Four and five speed manual trans and (I think) the Mazda/Jatco four speed auto instead of the three speed.

Airconditioning available across the range.

The Laser GLi Ghia - all the Ghia trim and equipment options.

And, the Laser TX3 - the thinly disguised road/track rocket.

Body wise the five door hatch is the most popular.

These days a 1991 or so Laser sells from scrap value to about $3,000 depending on condition. Usually 250,000 to 300,000 plus kilometers on the clock and a bit tired.

But, occasionally a gem comes by. My 1991 Laser GL auto had 117,334 km when I bought it a year ago. (72,907 miles in 23 years). Original log books, everything. And, all brand new components forward of the firewall. And I mean everything.

Over time I will bore forum members with details recorded almost on a daily basis as to what I have done with my Laser and how it performs and any little niggles or failures. Actually no failures at all. So a Rolls Royce may, "fail to proceed". A Laser just sits up and almost says, "where to today and gently or spirited as we go" Sir".

Regards,

Mark Aussie.