[Tsunami]

I came to a point of my life where I have to decide again what vehicle I need.
Focus is one of my options, beside Proteje, Civic, Sentra, Corolla and Esteem.

Gimmie some reasons to buy a Focus.
How much should I expect to pay for something 2003 or newer with about 60k's on the dash.
zts, zx5 or wagon

thanks guys


soonamie

[NikiterZTS]

i have a zts.....its fully loaded....leather,moon roof, manual, everything auto, air......u can pick one up for a about 7gz

[Frost__2001]

Tsunami,Aug 25 2006, 12:48 PM Wrote:I came to a point of my life where I have to decide again what vehicle I need.
Focus is one of my options, beside Proteje, Civic, Sentra, Corolla and Esteem.

Gimmie some reasons to buy a Focus.
How much should I expect to pay for something 2003 or newer with about 60k's on the dash.
zts, zx5 or wagon

thanks guys


soonamie
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Nissan Sentra;

Not a bad car but for used they are a bit more then a ford focus, Mazda 3 and Protige, the Esteem will be the cheapest, and the civic and corolla will be the most expencive two. THe Sentra is not a bad car if you can find what your looking for in one, but keep in mind they are rather dull looking if your going for the 2000-2005 model range.

Mazda 3 / Protige;

Well since Ford Owns Mazda the Protige is a dated model, but it comes with the same 2.0 engine in that of a Escort or Focus. Reliblity is quite good, but if you looking for a fully loaded model they are hard to find in a sedan form. The wagon version is a bit smaller then the Focus wagon, but it's just as quick and is a little more sporty then the sedan.

Honda Civic;

If you are looking at a Civic, get used to the Idea of everyone wanting to race you in any form of the civic. The Honda Civic is the most to buy with few to little options to show for it's price, reality is your paying more to own a Honda in name then your are for your options. Gas wise it's not bad, it's up in the 10 for having the best over all gas milage. Other then that, since everyone and their mother owns one it's little suprise not to see them all over and genereally in the same boring silver colour. It's also the most to Insure as it is so popular.

Toyota Corolla;

Again like the Civic you are paying more for the Toyota name brand they you are getting in options in the car when your looking to buy one. Over all the Corolla is a good over all buy as their relyability is better then the Honda Civic, but get used to the Dealerships blaming you for problems with the car that are beyond your control. Again like the Civic it's in the top 10 for over all good gas milage. In my honest opinion of the Corolla is it's borring as it's under powered and I can't seem to keep awake in one as a passenger.

Suzuki Esteeme;

Over all it's not a bad car, most people don't care for them, and when people think Suzuki they think Cheep, very Cheep.

Ford Focus;

Over all out of your choices this is a good one because it comes in 4 different body types, and 10 different over all packaging spread over all the body types, Relibility wise they are ranked as a good buy, not to mention that the focus has over 20 awards from 1998 ~ 2004. On avarage for a used focus in the 2003 range with the mileage you quoted don't paymore then $15,000 for one. Make sure it's up todate on all service recalls, and matanaince and if you can get it with a warntee the better you are getting out of the deal. Parts are super cheap to replace on the Focus as it's Domestic and most scrap yards have a few in their by now, and all 2000 - 2004 are inter-changeable. If you want a Sportier version of the Focus get a SE Sport or ZTS with the sports package.

[BerinG]

had about the same choices.. picked the focus.. never regretted it..

some did though ;)

i say try them all.. you'll see

[naz]

i vote wagon! i'm not sure if the 2.3L motor is available in the wagon though

[FocusGuy7476]

Frost__2001,Aug 25 2006, 06:32 PM Wrote:Mazda 3 / Protige;

Well since Ford Owns Mazda the Protige is a dated model, but it comes with the same 2.0 engine in that of a Escort or Focus. Reliblity is quite good, but if you looking for a fully loaded model they are hard to find in a sedan form. The wagon version is a bit smaller then the Focus wagon, but it's just as quick and is a little more sporty then the sedan.
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i'll have to correct you on that, the 2.0l engine is different in the protage comparied to the Zetec. no similiar to each other at all.

[Drivesthebeast]

Agreed that the Toyota BOREolla is for the everyday person who cares about getting from point A to point B, with little-no-care for HOW they make that trip. You'll pay premium price for a car with hubcaps and cheap interior bits, unless you buy the XRS or something. The Corolla S is just a poser, and not as good a car as the XRS, which has the toyota Celica GT engine and gearbox (NOT the GT-S, as many think so, and this is wrong).

I also agree that the Civic is again a stripped down car that you'll pay top dollar for. It's what everyone else has, and is also what theives want too for some unkown reason. They also have the greatest battle against the "Ricer" or "Boy racer" stigma. You'll pay top dollar for a car with a cheap and spartan interior, and also with hubcaps and steelies. They also have less Ft LBs of torque than a stock Zetec too, even the Si models...

The Sentra is a heavy car, with a cheap interior and poor fit and finish. It's got lousy handling which will require aftermarket bits right off the bat to put it in the same league as a ZX3 or ZTS Focus. This is no joke, read the reviews online or in the magazines...the car is considered a mule, even the SE-R or SE-R Vspec, both of which will be a LOT more money than the Focus.

The esteem actually isn't that bad of a car. For a low price, you can have a relatively reliable car that does have an aftermarket following (one of my co-workers is building up an Esteem Wagon with a bunch of aftermarket bolt-ons and a killer MTX sound system). They are reasonably priced, and shouldn't be any more expensive to fix than a focus. The downside, it's got a stigma of being even cheaper than a focus, and it's not as well appointed either.

The Focus is an awesome deal. Because of it's bad rep in the first 2 years in Canada for mechanical woes and recalls, it would seem that most people aren't too interested in them...thus making the resale prices very appealing, even on some older SVT's now too. The focus is going to give you a car that can outhandle all of it's competitors, even when still stock. Put some good tires on one, and you'll embarass a lot of expensive cars, right out of the box. They also have a fairly large options list, and nicer than average plastics and vinyls and whatnot used throught the interior. Go and compare the interior of a ZTS sedan or ZTW wagon with an import...bet you'll find the Focus is MORE luxurious and expensive looking inside, and will likely have more options for the money too.

If you wanna find one as a project car, I'd go for a low mileage ZTW wagon, as they make an awesome sleeper project. Pretty much any focus will be a lot of car for the money...

You shouldn't be sorry, and I'm sure that despite the horror stories you may have heard about them, I think that there are MORE Focus owners on here, and other sites for them that DIDN'T end up with a lemon, than those that did.

Hope this stuff gives you some insight...

[Mason]

naz,Aug 25 2006, 11:19 PM Wrote:i vote wagon! i'm not sure if the 2.3L motor is available in the wagon though
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I love the wagon for the sterio potential alone.... But I would feel dirty driving a wagon... :huh:

[residentdud]

This is my second Focus since 2001, and I still love it. I only had one problem with my first one, the fuel pump. Since i got my ZTS I've had zero probs. Great car. Great engine, and they seem to be owned by great people too...lates.

[naz]

how about a gsr? hard to find in good shape now, but very fun and hatchback is practical

[GapBoyPCS]

FocusGuy7476,Aug 26 2006, 02:29 PM Wrote:

Frost__2001,Aug 25 2006, 06:32 PM Wrote:Mazda 3 / Protige;

Well since Ford Owns Mazda the Protige is a dated model, but it comes with the same 2.0 engine in that of a Escort or Focus. Reliblity is quite good, but if you looking for a fully loaded model they are hard to find in a sedan form. The wagon version is a bit smaller then the Focus wagon, but it's just as quick and is a little more sporty then the sedan.
[right][snapback]204130[/snapback][/right]

i'll have to correct you on that, the 2.0l engine is different in the protage comparied to the Zetec. no similiar to each other at all.
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I was always told the Protege's 2.0L DOHC and the Zetec only shared the block Aside from that (intake, exhaust, componentry), it's all different. That being said, the Zetec between the Contour/Mystique and the Focus have variations as well.

The 2.3L was not not available in Canada between 2003 and 2004 - unless you import one from the US.

Aside from that, if you do pick up get it inspected thoroughly. Aside from that, it's a great daily driver that can put a smile on your face.

[oldeguy]

I bought a used 2000 ZTS in April. Other than having to replace a Throttle Body, I haven't had any trouble. I would consider buying a 2003 and newer again. The Focus is a lot of car for a small price. I've driven all the other small cars you are looking at, and if having some fun in your driving is what you are looking for, get the Focus.

[NikiterZTS]

oldeguy,Aug 28 2006, 11:08 AM Wrote:I bought a used 2000 ZTS in April. Other than having to replace a Throttle Body, I haven't had any trouble. I would consider buying a 2003 and newer again. The Focus is a lot of car for a small price. I've driven all the other small cars you are looking at, and if having some fun in your driving is what you are looking for, get the Focus.
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Focus is only alot of a car if you're buying it used...like a couple years old...my focus brand new was $32000...would i buy that car new? never.....for that price of money i can pick up much better car.......im kinda lucky i only paid $8000 for my ZTS in mint condition, i still think i paid alot for it though

[oldeguy]

NikiterZTS,Aug 28 2006, 12:44 PM Wrote:

oldeguy,Aug 28 2006, 11:08 AM Wrote:I bought a used 2000 ZTS in April. Other than having to replace a Throttle Body, I haven't had any trouble. I would consider buying a 2003 and newer again. The Focus is a lot of car for a small price. I've driven all the other small cars you are looking at, and if having some fun in your driving is what you are looking for, get the Focus.
[right][snapback]204319[/snapback][/right]

Focus is only alot of a car if you're buying it used...like a couple years old...my focus brand new was $32000...would i buy that car new? never.....for that price of money i can pick up much better car.......im kinda lucky i only paid $8000 for my ZTS in mint condition, i still think i paid alot for it though
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I had a 95 Escort, got 400,000 kms out of it.
Then a 96 Buick Regal ( live near Oshawa, Mechanics know how tofix gm out there, cause there in the shop all the time. only got 90,000 out of it.
Focus had 84,000 kms on it when I got it, like you, in mint condition.

[NOS2Go4Me]

The Focus takes not a lot of work to become either a very fast car, a very fast-cornering car or both. Sadly, it will take some serious cash to corner and go fast as the aftermarket hasn't been as broad-based as the beloved Honda s***vic. Oops, I mean Civic.

The hatch is a great small tourer, the sedan (what we have) is the optimal cruiser of the three body lines and the wagon is... a nice-driving wagon :D

I'd suggest a SE Sport / ZTS 4-door with the Zetec and a 5-speed for maximum stock fun and the easiest track for modding.

[Tsunami]

NOS2Go4Me,Aug 28 2006, 04:40 PM Wrote:The Focus takes not a lot of work to become either a very fast car, a very fast-cornering car or both. Sadly, it will take some serious cash to corner and go fast as the aftermarket hasn't been as broad-based as the beloved Honda s***vic. Oops, I mean Civic.

The hatch is a great small tourer, the sedan (what we have) is the optimal cruiser of the three body lines and the wagon is... a nice-driving wagon :D

I'd suggest a SE Sport / ZTS 4-door with the Zetec and a 5-speed for maximum stock fun and the easiest track for modding.
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thank you all,

ya guys r fantastic. thanks to you i look different to a focus now, that's amazing.
i don't know if it was such a good idea to ask you wot'd u choose. i initially wanted to start with you and then move to other japonese car's forums for the same kind of questions.
i dont wanna do this anymore. i think i'm gonna fall in love.

nice posts thou

thanks again

(btw, i dont need the focus for the performance, i have an 100CP bike for that, i just need to change my car with a newer one, so, cheap on gas, cheap on maintenance, easy to find parts for, easy to find shops to be able to service it, not to be ashamed accelerating from the lights, reliable, small, confortable somewhat...... ooops, that's a focus description, again...)

[jen_deans]

What do you mean by 100CP bike?

1000CC? or is it a different measurement??

[Tsunami]

jen_deans,Aug 30 2006, 11:05 AM Wrote:What do you mean by 100CP bike?

1000CC? or is it a different measurement??
[right][snapback]204739[/snapback][/right]

:D :D :D

you're right,

that shoud be 100HP, but i wrote in my native language (translated horses) :lol: :lol: :lol:

[ANTHONYD]

Good luck!

Let us know how it goes. We'll be here regardless of the car you purchase.

Buy a Focus and get a FREE set of Focus Canada stickers!

courtesy of yours truely.


:)

[Tsunami]

ANTHONYD,Aug 30 2006, 03:07 PM Wrote:Good luck!

Let us know how it goes. We'll be here regardless of the car you purchase.

Buy a Focus and get a FREE set of Focus Canada stickers!

courtesy of yours truely.


:)
[right][snapback]204809[/snapback][/right]

i tell u wot:

if i'll buy a car, that MUST be a focus
i have spoken!!!

i'll see later if i'll thank you guys