# Car Platforms **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 25, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847 "2002-05-25T23:05:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/1 "2002-05-25T23:05:09Z")
I’m trying to get a handle on cars which are built on the same platform, for example, the Neon and PT Cruiser. In this day and age, it seems no manufacturer has any platform that is used for only one model, the economics don’t work. But they don’t always advertise which is which. Some that I know of (or think that I know of): Chrysler, Dodge - Neon and PT Cruiser - Concorde, 300M, Intrepid - Cirrus, Breeze, Stratus - Dakota, Durango Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar - Mazda Protege, Ford Focus (is this one true?) - Mazda Tribute, Ford Escape, Mazda 626 - Crown Vic, Grand Marquis, Town Car, new Marauder - Taurus, Sable, Continental (used to be) - Expedition, Navigator - Explorer, Mountaineer, Aviator - Mondeo, Cougar, new baby Jaguar, Lincoln LS (?) GM, Opel, Saab - Pontiac Sunbird, Chevy Caviler, soon to be Saturn Ion - Chevy Malibu, Pontiac Grand Am - Chevy Camaro, Pontiac Firebird - Buick Century, Regal, Pontiac Grand Prix, Chevy Monte Carlo, Impala - Buick Park Avenue, LeSabre, Pontiac Bonneville - Buick Rendevous, Pontiac Aztek, Chevy Venture, Pontiac Montana - Chevy Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Olds Bravada - Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, pickups, Avalanche, Cadillac Escalade Suburban, Hummer H2 - Caddy Seville, DeVille, Eldorado - Saturn L-series, Opel ? - Opel Vectra, Cadillac Catera, Saab 93 - Corvette, new Cadillac roadster Toyota - Corolla, Matrix, Pontiac Vibe, RAV4(?) - Camry, Avalon, Sienna, Highlander (?), Lexus ES300, RX300 (?) - T-100, Sequoia - Tacoma, 4Runner Not sure about all of these, and really haven’t gotten into the models shared with European makes. So, which have I missed or gotten wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/2 "2002-05-25T23:13:13Z")
VW/Audi: Jetta, Golf, New Beetle, TT coupe, SEAT Toledo Passat, A6 (you could a loaded Passat for a lot less than the equivilant A6) I think the Protege/Focus may be wrong. Ford used to share the Protege platform with the third generation Escort (like the wagon I have). IIRC, they broke away with the fourth (and last) generation Escort. IIRC, the Saturn L shares the Opel Astra platform. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/3 "2002-05-25T23:17:29Z")
I ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/4 "2002-05-25T23:19:23Z")
Geez… I lost my train of thought…🙂 The Ford Mustang was built on the Ford Falcon drive train. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/5 "2002-05-25T23:23:20Z")
I think the Passat is actually a stretched A4, not a shrunk A6. Some more Honda Accord, Odessey, Acura ? Civic, CRV, new small Acura? ---
**Author:** ![WSLer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@WSLer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WSLer)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2002, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/6 "2002-05-25T23:31:40Z")
Ford/Lincoln/Mercury New Thunderbird/Lincoln LS–which explains why the Thunderbird “looks” wrong Explorer/Ranger Pickup Expedition/F-150 series pickup Excursion/F-350 pickup ---
**Author:** ![Swede\_Hollow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Swede\_Hollow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swede_Hollow)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/7 "2002-05-26T01:11:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*VW/Audi: > > Passat, A6 (you could a loaded Passat for a lot less than the equivilant A6)\*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Telemark \* > **I think the Passat is actually a stretched A4, not a shrunk A6.** Actually the Passat is classified as an A5 platform. It shares parts with the A4 AND the A6. It is close to the A6, is much cheaper, and is more reliable. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/8 "2002-05-26T03:26:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by WSLer \* > \*\* > Explorer/Ranger Pickup > \*\* Plus the Mazda B Series pickup The Chevy S10, GMC, and Izusu Hombre ---
**Author:** ![simple\_homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@simple\_homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simple_homer)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/9 "2002-05-26T04:51:31Z")
Isuzu Rodeo = Honda Passport Don’t forget the Chrysler K-cars Aries= Caravan=Daytona=Lebaron, and many more ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/10 "2002-05-26T05:03:17Z")
Car makers have been doing this for decades as one poster has pointed out. Also, it depends upon how you define “platform” as the Saturn LS has almost as many SAAB parts in it as Opel, and the engine in the PT Cruiser is the same as in the Chrysler mini-vans. There’s also the Porsche Cayenne and whatever VW’s calling its SUV. ---
**Author:** ![dead0man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/edb3f5/32.png) [@dead0man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dead0man)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/11 "2002-05-26T05:15:39Z")
If you look to the past there have been hundreds and you could probably never get a complete list. GM was really bad about this in the 80’s and barely tried to hide it. I really can’t think of anymore to add. **Mr. Blue Sky** are you sure the TT shares much with the Golf/GTI/Jetta/Beattle? My Golf has Audi rings everywhere under the hood, but I always thought the A4 was my car’s upclass brother. I always grin when I pass a base A4, Passat or TT because I know we all share the same motor(the great 1.8T). dead0man ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/12 "2002-05-26T06:33:16Z")
I know that manufacturers have been doing this for decades. GM in the 70’s and 80’s were particularly bad, as were Ford/Mercury. The rebadging is pretty boring, they look similar enough to be mistaken for each other. The odd stuff, like the Neon/PT Cruiser, I find interesting. What I’m most interested now in are the new Caddies, which crossover/SUVs are based on which cars, and what global platforms are going to be used by GM/Opel/Vauxhaul/Saab and Ford/Lincoln/Jaguar/Volvo. GM now has the Sigma, Epsilon, Delta, etc, replacing the old letter scheme (F-body, etc). How many are they planning? I believe the Volvo S/V40 and the Mitsubishi Lancer (?) share a platform. The new Pontiac GTO will be based on the Holden Monaro. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/13 "2002-05-26T14:43:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dead0man \* > \*\*… are you sure the TT shares much with the Golf/GTI/Jetta/Beattle? My Golf has Audi rings everywhere under the hood, but I always thought the A4 was my car’s upclass brother. I always grin when I pass a base A4, Passat or TT because I know we all share the same motor(the great 1.8T). > dead0man \*\* Yep. I read in the British **car** magazine how the writers were amazed that VW could build such a great car on the Golf platform. Of course, the body and interior are vastly different, but the essence of the car is a Golf. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/14 "2002-05-26T15:00:26Z")
> [@](#): > > are you sure the TT shares much with the Golf/GTI/Jetta/Beattle? My Golf has Audi rings everywhere under the hood I read a couple of years ago that the TT shares the same platform as the VW Golf/GTI/Jetta/Beattle. I just want to be clear on the terminology here. “Platform” means “chassis”, right? “Frame”? (It seems to me that “platform” started being used when unibody construction became virtually the only way of making cars.) So the “Audi rings everywhere” don’t really mean anything. It’s like three people buy identical tables from Ikea, and then set them diffferently. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/15 "2002-05-26T16:38:08Z")
I thought the Neon/PT cruiser thing had been debunked, off to do some research! ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/16 "2002-05-26T16:40:16Z")
Looks like the PT only has Neon engine, gearbox and front suspenson, not same chassis. ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2002, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/17 "2002-05-26T17:26:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Telemark \* > **I know that manufacturers have been doing this for decades. GM in the 70’s and 80’s were particularly bad, as were Ford/Mercury. The rebadging is pretty boring, they look similar enough to be mistaken for each other.** It used to be rife in the UK. The original Mini used to have a Morris and Austin model that looked identical but were apparantly form different firms just by looking at the badges. Other cars in the parent company BMC/BL did the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2002, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-platforms/110847/18 "2002-05-27T01:03:57Z")
Suzuki Vitara = Chevy Tracker