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

[xninjax]

Thank you all for the feedback. I'm leaning more towards the focus hatch gas. The TDCI version is out of the budget range I think (500K+ up already)
Any transmission issues since I'm considering the AT models?

*GTI, care to expand why you wouldn't consider the focus?

I'll add the civic to my choices. THanks

[jut703]

I'd get the Mazda 3 2.0R with that budget. Admittedly, the Civic 1.8S is larger and probably more economical, but the Mazda 3 just has more character. It's also torquier and more comfortable. Personally, it looks better too.

[GTi]

Thank you all for the feedback. I'm leaning more towards the focus hatch gas. The TDCI version is out of the budget range I think (500K+ up already)
Any transmission issues since I'm considering the AT models?

*GTI, care to expand why you wouldn't consider the focus?

I'll add the civic to my choices. THanks

It quite simple actually. In terms of looks, I prefer the Mazda 3 over the Focus. These two are mechanically the same underneath except for a few tweaks here and there, and even share the same engines. Therefore, since both are the same, I might as well go with the better looking one.

The cars in question are already modern, well-engineered vehicles. Transmissions are much better than those from the 90s in terms of reliability. Even if there would be transmission related problems, if used normally, it would be at least ten years later before I first hear of it, and by then you can already get a surplus tranny from Banawe for less than 20k.

[xninjax]

Thanks GTI

[xninjax]

What's the ave fuel consumption for the mazda 3 2.0 city driving? 6-7km/l?

[GTi]

Fuel consumptions depends on several factors including route, time of travel and driving style. But yes, more or less 6-7km/L pure city driving.

[xninjax]

So I finally found a seller of Focus 2.0 HB and we agreed on the price but here's the catch:

- The car is a company car loan and it has a remaining balance of 80K due by September

What the seller wants:
- I pay the seller in full, Seller will give me a receipt of payment.
- I get the car but no orig CR/OR and deed of sale yet. The seller will pay the remaining balance on the loan and will turn over a deed of sale/OR/CR after it is released in maybe 2 weeks time
- So you see I am assuming a great risk by trusting the seller that he will turn over the documents or pay the loan

What I offered the seller instead:
- I give him 80k initially for him to pay off the remaining loan balance, i get the car
- Once the orig OR/CR and deed of sale is released then I pay the remaining amount of the car in full
- The seller does not want to go this route as it is a greater risk on his end according to him


What do you think can be a good compromise so this deal can push thru? Or If I agree to the seller's condition, what protection / assurance can I have that he will turn over the orig OR/CR?

Hoping some kind souls can help me out

[GTi]

So I finally found a seller of Focus 2.0 HB and we agreed on the price but here's the catch:

- The car is a company car loan and it has a remaining balance of 80K due by September

What the seller wants:
- I pay the seller in full, Seller will give me a receipt of payment.
- I get the car but no orig CR/OR and deed of sale yet. The seller will pay the remaining balance on the loan and will turn over a deed of sale/OR/CR after it is released in maybe 2 weeks time
- So you see I am assuming a great risk by trusting the seller that he will turn over the documents or pay the loan

What I offered the seller instead:
- I give him 80k initially for him to pay off the remaining loan balance, i get the car
- Once the orig OR/CR and deed of sale is released then I pay the remaining amount of the car in full
- The seller does not want to go this route as it is a greater risk on his end according to him


What do you think can be a good compromise so this deal can push thru? Or If I agree to the seller's condition, what protection / assurance can I have that he will turn over the orig OR/CR?

Hoping some kind souls can help me out

I wouldn't agree to the seller's terms either. No car documents, no full payment.

If he's afraid that you would run away with the car and not pay the remaining sum, I suppose you can give him a bit more. Maybe 150k? That's around 1/3 of the car's selling price, right? And then perhaps you can document the whole process in ink, sign it, and maybe have the document notarized. That should be guarantee enough.

[xninjax]

Thanks GTI..

Anyone familiar with a deed of conditional sale and if it would work on this case?

[shotgun]

im also looking for another coding car and considering the ford focus... primarily because of rear aircon vent.
are there other sedans with rear aircon vent?

[Egan101]

im also looking for another coding car and considering the ford focus... primarily because of rear aircon vent.
are there other sedans with rear aircon vent?

Not common among the compact sedans but some midsize sedans do have rear aircon vents. Cefiros and Camrys have rear aircon vents.

[yapoy86]

im also looking for another coding car and considering the ford focus... primarily because of rear aircon vent.
are there other sedans with rear aircon vent?

not a sedan, although considered as a MPV but looks like a hatchback is the Kia Carens, crdi, rides like a sedan, with rear aircon vent, seats 7 (cramped) seats 5 comfortably with lots of cargo space..

[fourtheboys96]

So I finally found a seller of Focus 2.0 HB and we agreed on the price but here's the catch:

- The car is a company car loan and it has a remaining balance of 80K due by September

What the seller wants:
- I pay the seller in full, Seller will give me a receipt of payment.
- I get the car but no orig CR/OR and deed of sale yet. The seller will pay the remaining balance on the loan and will turn over a deed of sale/OR/CR after it is released in maybe 2 weeks time
- So you see I am assuming a great risk by trusting the seller that he will turn over the documents or pay the loan

What I offered the seller instead:
- I give him 80k initially for him to pay off the remaining loan balance, i get the car
- Once the orig OR/CR and deed of sale is released then I pay the remaining amount of the car in full
- The seller does not want to go this route as it is a greater risk on his end according to him


What do you think can be a good compromise so this deal can push thru? Or If I agree to the seller's condition, what protection / assurance can I have that he will turn over the orig OR/CR?

Hoping some kind souls can help me out

Why wouldn't the seller give/sign a deed of sale if you are going to pay him the full amount? I mean there is no risk for him anymore.
Kung nabayaran mo na lahat, paano ka pa tatakas sa responsibilidad?

Bakit hindi mo na lang hintayin na mabayaran niya lahat sa banko? Or kung desidido siya na ibenta yun, suggest mo sa kanya na siya na lang magbayad ng remaining loan balance (syempre nsa kanya pa din ang kotse) tapos bibilhin mo sa kanya agad agad.

Halos no risk yan sa seller kasi kahit ndi mo bilhin yung kotse niya, pwede pa din niya ibenta sa iba.