Another thing is Hyundai's long-term reliability rating isn't all that great and there have been many complaints about their bait and switch tactics they use with their 100,000 mile warranty. The warranty isn't transferable to the second owner and many who own hyundai's have complained on Edmunds and many other car sites about how even though their vehicles were under warranty, hyundai wouldn't cover them claiming it was user error or normal wear, and that their customer service down right sucks. Doesn't seem odd that they are the only car manufacturer that supposedly offers a 100,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. If it was economically viable to really offer a warranty like that wouldn't many other manufacturers offer them. It seems hyundai used this as a selling point to attract a lot more customers who normally wouldn't consider them, than put all kinds of loop-holes in the contract to not actually fulfill the warranty. To me this is shameless business, and now that we find out that they purposely lied about their e.p.a. ratings, it seems they are more concerned with the bottom line than actually building a quality product.
Ford Focus vs Mazda3 GS Skyactiv
- Thread starter projectmx
- Start date
so what about the focus? i keep hearing a lot of bad about hyundai (which i wasn't really considering anyway) but what about the ford focus, the only thing bad i've really heard so far is about their auto trans (which i wouldn't consider anyway i don't like autos only manuals) and that consumer report lists them low on reliability but also lists all 3 toyota brands high which is b.s. cause they have had a ton of issues
Focus is fine, its ecoboost engine is a turbo charged MZR motor. It's handling is only second to the 3. Personally I would take the Mazda, but the focus isn't a bad pick either. I just prefer the simplicity of the 3's interior better than the clustered array of the focus, it is personal preference. The 3 does have the edge in back seat leg room and i think in trunk space. Then, why settle on second best when it comes to handling, when you can get best in class from the Mazda 3.
the focus has a larger hatch both with seats up and seats down, i didn't really notice a big difference in leg room, and with the 201A package you get a stiffer suspension which honestly felt no different to me than the 3. although if i'm honest neither car will be my race car that is why i'm building the AWD 4cyl 2.0L turbo MX-3. And I don't find the focus dash cluttered, honestly when you put the my ford touch in its far simpler than the 3 and even has dual climate control like the US spec mazda3. Honestly if i wasn't unsure of the Focus's long term reliability compared to the 3 i'd have already bought the focus last week. My wife is hands down asking me to get the 3 and I will likely get the 3 but part of me feels like i'm missing the chance to get more bang for my buck with the focus. plus with the 2-3 thousand dollars i would save on the focus (plus the cheaper insurance) I could spend a $500-$1000 on upgrading the suspension even more and have a car that far outhandles the mazda3 and still cost $1000-$2000 less
Sounds like the Focus is the right car for you if you want to save some money. I still have a bad feeling with any Ford products due to my past bad experiences with a Ford my dad owned and a 1997 Ford Probe I owned. I've owned many makes of vehicles in the past 24 years, and I am still convinced that the experiences that I had with the Ford products are the worst. But it's been 15 years since I owned one, so they may have gotten better. This is my first Mazda, and so far I've had over 15,000 trouble free miles in about 8 months. I've been driving the wheels off of it and loving it. Still feels as tight and screwed together as day one.
Fiji Mazda3
Member
- :
- 2014 Ford Focus ST
I've driven both vehicles (and I sell Focuses, so you'll probably think I'm bias (lol2)), but here's my quick take on both vehicles in a nutshell.
I think the Focus looks better inside and out, hands down. I've never liked the new front ends on the 3, nor the interior layout. The seats in the Focus are also a bit more comfortable overall, but the 3 offers more front seat leg room as the Focus has a wide center console. Rear seat room is about the same, which is okay. Build quality is equal, with maybe a slight nod to the Mazda.
Technology wise goes to the Focus as well. MyFordTouch does have a learning curve, but it's like anything new; It takes time to learn. Plus Sync is a better overall system for Bluetooth as your phone book is incorporated into the car a lot easier than Mazdas. Plus having a USB port is always a plus of you have an iPod/iPhone.
Finally, driving. I give the nod to the 3 on this. The Focus is surprisingly good, but the 3 is that much better. The steering is the best in it's class and it feels a bit more solid on the road. The Focus is a little more reserved, but can still be fun to drive. Both engines are peppy enough and run very smoothly for a four banger. I do wish the Ford had a sixth gear like the Mazda though. They offer it in Europe, but not here?
That's my .02. Hope I helped. If you have any questions about the Focus, send me a PM.
Rockin03mp5
Member
- :
- '13 Mazda3 / '13 Edge / Your Mom
it really sounds like the focus is for you.
if there was a 2k difference, i would think hard as well, but it was a difference the other way for me. funny that the 2 cars i was looking at was a focus st and a skyactiv 3. i chose the 3 to save money as a regular focus did not appeal to me at all. if the speed3 got better mileage i would probably be in that.
also, there is a significant difference in rear seat room. 2 inches is a lot when dealing with baby seats. just check the ford specs vs the mazda specs.
i like the symplicity of the mazda, and the smile grew on me.
however, like i said, the focus might be better for you. parts should be easier to find down the road, and i really dont think their reliability is sub par to the other domestic brands. heck, the skyactiv engines in the 3 have the same compression ratio as the focus. i think they share some things in common, if it is just some design ideas even.
and for the price point, for you, it seems like a better choice. i guess the only other option would be if there are any other mazda dealers nearby to try and see what they can do for you... or see if exporting one from the US is possible for you. you would have to deal with mph instead of kph.
i mean, this is a mazda forum, so we are going to be biased. i sat in a focus and wasnt impressed with the cloth or the room inside. the 3 just felt better, and drove great. (i dont think there were any manual foci to drive either.) plus the manual focus only gets 36mpg.
if there was a 2k difference, i would think hard as well, but it was a difference the other way for me. funny that the 2 cars i was looking at was a focus st and a skyactiv 3. i chose the 3 to save money as a regular focus did not appeal to me at all. if the speed3 got better mileage i would probably be in that.
also, there is a significant difference in rear seat room. 2 inches is a lot when dealing with baby seats. just check the ford specs vs the mazda specs.
i like the symplicity of the mazda, and the smile grew on me.
however, like i said, the focus might be better for you. parts should be easier to find down the road, and i really dont think their reliability is sub par to the other domestic brands. heck, the skyactiv engines in the 3 have the same compression ratio as the focus. i think they share some things in common, if it is just some design ideas even.
and for the price point, for you, it seems like a better choice. i guess the only other option would be if there are any other mazda dealers nearby to try and see what they can do for you... or see if exporting one from the US is possible for you. you would have to deal with mph instead of kph.
i mean, this is a mazda forum, so we are going to be biased. i sat in a focus and wasnt impressed with the cloth or the room inside. the 3 just felt better, and drove great. (i dont think there were any manual foci to drive either.) plus the manual focus only gets 36mpg.
it's a good young person car but my two year old had no legroom behind me.maybe i have short legs or something but honestly it was comfy in the focus back seasts.... that being said i bit the bullet and bought the 2012 graphite micah mazda3 hatch gs-skyactive with luxery package. It also has tint and cargo tray and after my p5 trade in it came to just a few dollars under $26,000 i'm hoping it was a good deal. honestly i think they really maybe gave me a couple hundred off tops.
Rockin03mp5
Member
- :
- '13 Mazda3 / '13 Edge / Your Mom
I'm 6' even and I was hitting my knees in the rear of the focus.
I think you made a good choice.
I think you made a good choice.
