300-400k budget ford focus HB or Mazda 3 HB?

[xninjax]

With a budget of 300-400k, I'm looking to buy a 2006-2009 Ford Focus Hatchback or Mazda 3 Sedan/Hatchback . This will serve as my backup/coding car and probably used on weekends too.

I'm looking for something more exciting/fun to drive compared to my boring altis :-D.

Any issues with both these models?

So far based on what I have read on forums:

More Fun to Drive = Focus
Fuel Consumption = (7-9 km/l city) - Focus might have a small edge
Maintenance = Same
Reliability = Same?
Resale = Same(Both Low)

If you were in my shoes, which of the two would you buy?

[1D4LV]

the focus...
i like the way it looks....
imho.

[renzo_d10]

Unless it's a Focus TDCi, I'd get the Mazda 3 any day... not the hatchback though, but the Mazda 2.0R sedan.

Those two (Focus TDCi & Mazda 2.0R) are pretty exciting vehicles to have compared to the Altis.

But if I were to choose between a Focus gas HB or a Mazda 3 HB, I'd get the Focus.

[Egan101]

Some used Mazda3 2.0R could be found within the budget stated. If I have that amount of money for a used car, I will be looking for a Civic ES K20 (2.0L i-VTEC, 2004-2005) or the youngest 7th gen Accord (2003-2007) I could find, preferably with the K24 2.4L engine.

[niky]

None of these cars are what you'd call "cheap to maintain", not compared to old-school 90's cars... but the Accord is something else, entirely. It's a nice car, but you've got to have the budget to fix things when they go wrong.

A pretty big budget.

-

The Focus is the nicest car of the lot to drive, all around, the Civic is the most powerful on the highway and the Mazda3 2.0R is the liveliest at low speeds.

The Mazda3 hatch is nice, but it's sloooooooow.

[GTi]

You can get the 1.8L FD Civic already for your budget. Fuel consumption isn't spectacular but doesn't really sting the wallet, and its got good power and reflexes.

I wouldn't really get the Focus, unless its the TDCi. The Mazda 3 looks really nice inside and out- something that wouldn't look dated even after ten years. 1.6 is underpowered but 2.0 is OK if you are willing to live with 2.0A/T consumption.

Honda's with K-series engines are a joy to drive, but are thirsty at the pump whether it be the K20 or the K24. Consider Honda models with these engines if your daily commute comes with lots of long, wide open spaces