it's just a mazda 'focus'....

[squidmotion]

that is what i heard the other day, talking to some guys i play music with...


'hmmmm... not really', i said. (and correct me if i'm mislead in my research)

'yeah it is, it's the same platform as the focus...'


'sure, so is the volvo S40, i believe... and this car has very little in common with the focus... actually more in common with the volvo, as it uses the same brakes. and last i checked, you couldn't get a 260 horse turbocharged, torque monster engine in a focus, well at least here in the US' i said...


'do what???? pop the hood on this thing!'.....


what was more fun was the look on his face after i took him for a quick ride in the mazda 'focus'.... heheheheheee

 

[TheMAN]

there are a lot of fomoco parts under all that sheet metal you know

 

[happy and angry]

It's not even the same platform in North America.

 

[squidmotion]

oh sure, and the focus is a fine car, one of my best buds has one and i love it... but i don't think comparing this car to a focus is really fair... i might have looked hard at a focus if they made one that was as a kick in the ass to drive as the MS3 is.

i did think long and hard about that black GT mustang that was parked over in the neighboring lot.... man that thing was pretty.

 

[oaklandopen]

soo....what does that person drive?

 

[DarkSergeant]

I wish they sold the Focus ST here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeXr50LNJfM

MS3 is pretty close though. Volvo C30 is closer I believe, but kinda *yawn*.

 

[60181]

that is what i heard the other day, talking to some guys i play music with...

I believe the story goes, that the the C1 platform has the Safety of Volvo, Body Rigidity of Mazda and the Handling of Ford.

Add that together with the power of the 2.3l Turbo and you have a class leading pocket rocket for several years with even the latest little editions and updates on the market barely holding ground with it.

I had someone at the office make a comment about their C32 AMG being a mid 13 second car. Nice little blown 6 Benz.....real nice in fact. Too bad from a 30mph roll he couldn't pull on me. In fact by 75mph he was still at my rear door. No bulls***......the little MS3 pulls like a ***** ape. The only split second I thought anything was going to go his way was when I shifted from 2nd to 3rd. After that he was not a happy camper.

 

[bscott2275]

had a 2000 focus zx3 before i got the mazdaspeed 3

nothing is the same about the two cars and i drove that focus for about 5 years...i mean i put some verde black ice 18's on that and fried all the breaks cuz of the weight of wheels! shoulda seen the lips on the front rotors...rear drums were stuck on...but it was all fun!

 

[funksilver07]

Ford made the SVT Focus for 2 years here and once I supercharged it it was a blast to drive. Granted it's not as fun as my current MS3 but at 2700lbs. with the engine/suspension mods I had it handled like it was on rails. Yet another Ford failure to keep a really good car in our market. They certainly don't have a problem selling the ST/RS versions in Europe... Ford needs a good (spank)

 

[Sport6]

I had a 2003 zx3 before I bought my mazda6 and then the speed3. The focus is what made be want to go back to the hatchback platform. The 6 was a blast and really nice but needed the handling of the hatch.

 

[m5rMS3]

The car is similar to the European Focus which is nothing like the American Focus. Personally, I would rather have a new Focus RS than my speed.

Comparing a speed to a US spec focus is like comparing a 2000 dodge neon to a 2000 mercedes c230. Just because they are made by the same company doesn't mean they are the same car.

 

[KDiz]

Ford made the SVT Focus for 2 years here and once I supercharged it it was a blast to drive. Granted it's not as fun as my current MS3 but at 2700lbs. with the engine/suspension mods I had it handled like it was on rails. Yet another Ford failure to keep a really good car in our market. They certainly don't have a problem selling the ST/RS versions in Europe... Ford needs a good (spank)

3 years 2002-2004

i also had an SVTF before I bought the Speed3. a lot of my friends and co workers gave me crap for having 'just a focus'. after they took a ride in it though, they changed their minds. the one thing i do miss is the handling of the SVTF. if it had a turbo or a SC, i'd probably still be driving it.

 

[kendon]

3 years 2002-2004

i also had an SVTF before I bought the Speed3. a lot of my friends and co workers gave me crap for having 'just a focus'. after they took a ride in it though, they changed their minds. the one thing i do miss is the handling of the SVTF. if it had a turbo or a SC, i'd probably still be driving it.

same here! black 02 SVTF and ford dropped the ball w/ keeping it going. handled like a champ and i loved the gearing.

 

[GoFast]

same here! black 02 SVTF and ford dropped the ball w/ keeping it going. handled like a champ and i loved the gearing.

+5? i had an 02 svtf before the speed

 

[Moultese]

I think many MS3 owners are ex Focus owners. I still have my 2003 ZX3 that my dad drives around. I think the MS3 is as close to the 1st gen RS that we can get.

 

[eg6motion]

Yet another Ford failure to keep a really good car in our market. They certainly don't have a problem selling the ST/RS versions in Europe... Ford needs a good (spank)

pssshhhh....whatever....we need more TRUCKS and SUV's!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Nliiitend1]

I owned two 2001 Ford Focuses before the MS3.

The North American-Spec Ford Focus is built on the same platform (currently, and in the past) as the MkI Euro-market Ford Focus (the C170 Platform).

The MS3 (and all other Mazda 3s) are built upon the C1 platform, which is simply an evolution of the C170 platform (same basic suspension design, slightly larger dimensions). As has been mentioned, the MkII Euro Focus (available just about everywhere in the world except the US and Canada since 2005) and the Volvo S40/C30 are built upon the C1 platform as well.

In my opinion, the C170 Focus is more tossable than the MS3 and has a slightly better dynamic feel. That being said, there's no comparing the power of the MS3 to even an SVT Focus, let alone a regular run-of-the-mill variety.

 

[Fenrir]

I really like the new Focus RS, but it's a shame they're not selling it in the US. Sadface.

 

[bluelion]

I had someone at the office make a comment about their C32 AMG being a mid 13 second car. Nice little blown 6 Benz.....real nice in fact. Too bad from a 30mph roll he couldn't pull on me. In fact by 75mph he was still at my rear door. No bulls***......the little MS3 pulls like a ***** ape. The only split second I thought anything was going to go his way was when I shifted from 2nd to 3rd. After that he was not a happy camper.

i too pulled on a c32amg from a roll...he didn't catch up til i was over 100mph...then i admit he walked me....but needless to say, he made a rather quick turn after that.....