Ford Focus
- Thread starter Cobster
- Start date
I guess that all depends..
...I have a friend who has a 2005 Focus ZX5. It's the 4 door hatchback version. It's got a slightly more powerful motor than the std. Focus, 16" rims, heated seats, heated mirrors, sunroof. For the money, about 23000 bucks for new, not a bad car.Thre's also a upgraded sedan version,called ZX4, goes around 21,000 new If you talking 2nd hand, these can be found for about the 15-17000 range for a 2005. I think the Civic is a little more money, especially on the 2nd hand market.The Civic will hold value much better,but will cost you more initially.The Civic also has a better track record. But I think the Focus gives decent value for the buck, if you're willing to spend the extra, you are getting more car with the Civic. But the Focus will do the trick, in my opinion..
N2G
...I have a friend who has a 2005 Focus ZX5. It's the 4 door hatchback version. It's got a slightly more powerful motor than the std. Focus, 16" rims, heated seats, heated mirrors, sunroof. For the money, about 23000 bucks for new, not a bad car.Thre's also a upgraded sedan version,called ZX4, goes around 21,000 new If you talking 2nd hand, these can be found for about the 15-17000 range for a 2005. I think the Civic is a little more money, especially on the 2nd hand market.The Civic will hold value much better,but will cost you more initially.The Civic also has a better track record. But I think the Focus gives decent value for the buck, if you're willing to spend the extra, you are getting more car with the Civic. But the Focus will do the trick, in my opinion..
N2G
Honda all the way.....it'll hold its value ALOT more. I've been driving Honda's for over 25 years(maybe they should give me a stake in the company).
The Bandit said:Honda all the way.....it'll hold its value ALOT more. I've been driving Honda's for over 25 years(maybe they should give me a stake in the company).
Honda's for 25 years eh? What kind of KM do you average a year?
Sched, Maintenance: How much per year.
I had a friend with an Acura. Recommended service of the Calipers every 12000kms@ 300 bucks each. Crap I'd have to do that every 7 weeks!!!!
I have no "thing" against imports. But I think in the long run they cost more to own and operate.
C Dick said:
I don't believe that the Civic is an "import".. is it not made in Ontario?
Go with the Honda Civic.
It will have a better resale value
Buy the one you like to sit in and drive the most. It's a car that you have to use and live with, not an investment. It depreciates, it's consumable, so buy the one you enjoy.
The rest is bullshit!
The rest is bullshit!
Diode said:
I average about 25,000 per year, and all I do is oil changes. I have 160,000 on my current made in Canada 2000 Civic, and all I've done is 1 tune-up, regular oil changes, 1-transmission oil change, and the front brakes once.
In the 4 Honda's that I've had, other than the regular wear of brakes, exhaust, tires, the only other thing I've had to change is the water pump on 2 of them.
As for being more expensive to repair, that's a myth. Most garages charge about $72-75/hr for labour, and the parts on Japanese are not that much more expensive than N. American, and in some cases less expensive. My father has a GMC pickup, and parts for that are expensive also, so it has nothing to do with being more expensive to fix imports.
You might call them imports, but my 87 Accord, my 96 Civic(written off after being hit by a drunk driver), and my current 2000 Civic were all made in Alliston.
The Bandit said:
Not true. We have a fleet of about 35 cars/trucks. We all do more than 50,000 per year...and some around 90,000. We have a mix of makes.
Easily the Japanese cars cost the most to fix...by about 3 times.
( Don't even ask about the German cars...the dealers cry like babies if you lease a car and drive more than 20,000 a year.
I encourage my people to do as many of there own repairs as possible.
As money saved is more available for salarys.
C Dick said:
My Civic is 9 years old, 180,000+ kms.
Only thing major that was done to it was the timing belt, water pump, when it was recommended to be done by Honda 3 years ago. I didn't have to, but I figured I get parts at cost, my buddy is a mechanic and doesn't charge me labour ANNND I can trust his work.
Other than that, oil changes only.
Can't say they're NOT reliable, because they sure seem to be.
I only asked about Ford, because I can get a great price for a new one.
But as one of my buddies said, "I have this Ford phobia".
Something about American cars in general make me second guess them, that's all.
Also makes you wonder why domestic sales lost a HUGE chunk of their sales to imports -namely Japanese imports.
Toyota isn't the strongest and most profitable car company because their quality is crap.
Ford what? Did someone say the 11 recalls and counting Focus?
How many plants being closed? How many people being layed off. Now would this be because there's a lack to demand? I wonder why?
Civic and Corolla are made in Ontario.
Can't use fowl language here but I wouldn't buy a Ford, GM or Chrysler period. Life already has to many head aches.
How many plants being closed? How many people being layed off. Now would this be because there's a lack to demand? I wonder why?
Civic and Corolla are made in Ontario.
Can't use fowl language here but I wouldn't buy a Ford, GM or Chrysler period. Life already has to many head aches.
If your Civic is 9 years old, you might find that the newer Civics aren't for you anymore. In this decade, Honda has steadily dumbed down the Civic's handling and feedback. Some old school Civic fans think the model has been pushed in the direction of becoming a Mom-car.
The fit and finish is even better now, especially on the inside, and the ride is more comfortable, generally it's a delightful car to spend time in. However, Focus is a better handling car and more fun to drive than the Civic my sister bought last spring (owing in part to Honda's unforgivable decision to equip the car with atrocious tires).
It's generally a good idea to be weary of Ford. I know a guy at a parts factory who says Ford almost always takes the cheapest assembly options and waives the quality control inspections. I've seen some of their cover-ups first hand working in the consumer affairs dept in the 90's.
On the other hand, the Focus is currently a good deal. Early model years had glitches - though none were of a mechanical nature. Like all models that have been around 5+ years without a major redesign, the bugs have been worked out and now is the right time to buy one. It is available in various body styles, and like most Fords, it handles well and copes extremely well with bad roads like we have in Toronto. Both 2003 Focus owners I know have been extremely happy with the car.
If you are taking re-sale value into consideration, Honda always comes out on top in that department, and is still the more proven commodity in the long run. But keep in mind that when you drive a Civic, you are going to be a Police magnet. Every day I drive down the DVP at 125km/h in my GM compact and watch guys in Civics get pulled over for doing 96.
Also consider the Hyundai Elantra, the roomiest and most powerful car in the segment.
The fit and finish is even better now, especially on the inside, and the ride is more comfortable, generally it's a delightful car to spend time in. However, Focus is a better handling car and more fun to drive than the Civic my sister bought last spring (owing in part to Honda's unforgivable decision to equip the car with atrocious tires).
It's generally a good idea to be weary of Ford. I know a guy at a parts factory who says Ford almost always takes the cheapest assembly options and waives the quality control inspections. I've seen some of their cover-ups first hand working in the consumer affairs dept in the 90's.
On the other hand, the Focus is currently a good deal. Early model years had glitches - though none were of a mechanical nature. Like all models that have been around 5+ years without a major redesign, the bugs have been worked out and now is the right time to buy one. It is available in various body styles, and like most Fords, it handles well and copes extremely well with bad roads like we have in Toronto. Both 2003 Focus owners I know have been extremely happy with the car.
If you are taking re-sale value into consideration, Honda always comes out on top in that department, and is still the more proven commodity in the long run. But keep in mind that when you drive a Civic, you are going to be a Police magnet. Every day I drive down the DVP at 125km/h in my GM compact and watch guys in Civics get pulled over for doing 96.
Also consider the Hyundai Elantra, the roomiest and most powerful car in the segment.
If i were to get a Civic it would be either 2004 or 2005's sedans.Hard Idle said:
The 2006/2007 are downright ugly as hell.
Way too poddish looking and the windshield inside is also a bit far for my liking (from the driver that is). There is a huge comfort factor as you just stated below here, I agree. But the outside, wtf were they thinking? or were they?
As for the rest about Ford. I don't know, I mean I'm tempted to check it out, but the front label with that blue/white logo that says "Ford" MAY bother me a bit. But I heard it's a Mazda engine inside the Focus, a Japanese design?
Hmmm....
My last 2 cars have both been Fords...never again......never got more than 5 yrs outta them b4 major repairs...power steering rack..ball joints..strut towers. In the last month I have wasted over 3000 in repairs....oh yes...lets not forget the abs
I can give you testimonials
....of GM/Ford cars going long after many of their import counterparts have died. I have a distant cousin who doesn't believe in maintenence..never changes the oil, and only fixes something when it breaks. He does about 50k a year on his vehicles. He currently is driving a 98 Taurus. In over 350ks worht of driving, he's only put brakes and tires on the car...says he adds about a litre of oil every 5000 kms since about 150,000(his reason for not beliveing in oil changes)
I have a buddy tht's got a 96 Caravan...over 450 k with no engine or tranny work done...pretty much the same...tires and brakes..and A/C work..nothing else..
I think a lot of this is the luck of the draw,..athough there is a lot of evidence that the imports have a better track record,the quality and reliability gap for the most part has closed over the last few years..
Many of you are too young to rememebr the crap that the imports used to dump over here..the early Civics and Corollas were some of the biggest pieces of rust bucket junk ever assembled...but they sure turned those vehicles around..now everyone extoles their virtues... and to recommend a Hyundai....for me, I'll never forget thier first foray into our market ...the Pony..pure garbage in it's finest form ...BTW, I always find the Hyundais, athough much improved, are always a 1/2 step behind on some of the technology...thus their cheap rpicing n the marketplace...
OK..enough motorhead ramblings for now...
N2G
nip said:
....of GM/Ford cars going long after many of their import counterparts have died. I have a distant cousin who doesn't believe in maintenence..never changes the oil, and only fixes something when it breaks. He does about 50k a year on his vehicles. He currently is driving a 98 Taurus. In over 350ks worht of driving, he's only put brakes and tires on the car...says he adds about a litre of oil every 5000 kms since about 150,000(his reason for not beliveing in oil changes)
I have a buddy tht's got a 96 Caravan...over 450 k with no engine or tranny work done...pretty much the same...tires and brakes..and A/C work..nothing else..
I think a lot of this is the luck of the draw,..athough there is a lot of evidence that the imports have a better track record,the quality and reliability gap for the most part has closed over the last few years..
Many of you are too young to rememebr the crap that the imports used to dump over here..the early Civics and Corollas were some of the biggest pieces of rust bucket junk ever assembled...but they sure turned those vehicles around..now everyone extoles their virtues... and to recommend a Hyundai....for me, I'll never forget thier first foray into our market ...the Pony..pure garbage in it's finest form ...BTW, I always find the Hyundais, athough much improved, are always a 1/2 step behind on some of the technology...thus their cheap rpicing n the marketplace...
OK..enough motorhead ramblings for now...
N2G
