Ford Focus 1.6 AT or Mazda3 1.6V?

[orly_andico]

These are the same car under the skin. Both have the all-important ABS and power features.

Focus
+ it's 40k cheaper (not a huge difference)
+ rear aircon vents
+ softer suspension and better NVH suppression (?)
+ rear sensors (3k only to add, supposedly)
+ remote control for the windows a la Peugeot (cool gimmick!)
+ auto up/down on all windows with anti-pinch a la BMW (another cool gimmick)

Mazda3
+ digital climate control
+ passenger airbag
+ better looking (?) depends on whether you like conservative or edgy
+ 16" wheels
+ 6-disc changer (vs 1-disc) and steering-wheel controls

In terms of interior quality, they feel about the same to me. I like the Focus dash more (softer to the touch) but prefer the cloth on the Mazda3. Both have amazing non-cloth headliners but turns out all non-midrange cars are like this.

[mbt]

mazda 3 for me on the sole basis of exterior and interior styling (though focus isn't bad at all)

[mazdamazda]

I'd go with the Focus simply because Ford's auto tranny is a bit better than the Mazda3.

[orly_andico]

There are some pretty disturbing posts here..

http://forum.fordclubph.com/viewtopi...er=asc&start=0

Squeaking brakes? hard starting? check engine lights? rattling interior bits? busted CV joints on sub-5000km cars?

That's horrible!

[BlueBimmer]

wow dami naman problema yan...isolated case lang kaya yan...

[lui]

MAzda 3 for me. d ko type yung fdashboard ng focus. pero ok yung rear a/c nya. init pa naman ngaun.

[HyBrideVo]

Ford Focus for me.. it just looks alot ***ier than the Mazda3

[niky]

That's mostly from the 2.0 owners. The 1.6 Duratec is based on different engine architecture from the 2.0 Duratec.

RE: Squeaking brakes: unless they're warped brakes, they're not a problem, just an annoyance.

RE: Rattling trim... errh... it's a Ford?

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Try looking for problems regarding Mazda3s online, too... although the most I've ever heard of is clunky shifting of the manual.

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I prefer the Focus simply because it's available in MT. If the Mazda3 were available in MT, too, I'd go for that. But then, if it's AT to AT, go for the Mazda.

[orly_andico]

Aha! the Ford guru speaks

I also have some concerns about the gas-guzzliness of the Mazda3/Focus AT due to the heavy body and weak engine. Hence I'm a bit inclined towards the MT Focus. Not to mention the MT Focus is cheaper and would probably be 1 km/L more economical on fuel which does add up.

Ford Global City's test unit had an unusually stiff gear shift, for some reason (along with the cheesy non-engraved gear numbers). At first I was thinking it was because the car was relatively new and the shift bushings were still hard. But the FD Civic and even City stick shifts I tried were much, much smoother.

Also, regarding the Ford rattling. How does it compare to Mazda rattling? my old 626 doesn't count (it's a veritable spawning pool of rattles, because it's ancient).

[orly_andico]

That's mostly from the 2.0 owners. The 1.6 Duratec is based on different engine architecture from the 2.0 Duratec.

RE: Squeaking brakes: unless they're warped brakes, they're not a problem, just an annoyance.

RE: Rattling trim... errh... it's a Ford?

The Ford Club thread on problems sounded like a laundry list of the problems I've had on my old Mazda, to wit --

- hard starting (battery and starter issues)
- rattling interior bits
- squeaking brakes
- busted sensors

but then my Mazda is 14 years old!!!

One would expect to not experience such problems for at least 3-4 years, right? it's one of the dubious value propositions of a new car, because if transportation is all one's after, a Suzuki Alto or one of those Norkis things would do.

[chase]

mazda 3...mas gwapo.

[kmo]

mazda 3 ! mas hindi "bare"

[kyoots]

Aha! the Ford guru speaks

I also have some concerns about the gas-guzzliness of the Mazda3/Focus AT due to the heavy body and weak engine. Hence I'm a bit inclined towards the MT Focus. Not to mention the MT Focus is cheaper and would probably be 1 km/L more economical on fuel which does add up.

Ford Global City's test unit had an unusually stiff gear shift, for some reason (along with the cheesy non-engraved gear numbers). At first I was thinking it was because the car was relatively new and the shift bushings were still hard. But the FD Civic and even City stick shifts I tried were much, much smoother.

Also, regarding the Ford rattling. How does it compare to Mazda rattling? my old 626 doesn't count (it's a veritable spawning pool of rattles, because it's ancient).

yes, the M/T's a better choice... the stiff gear shift is common to fords. the lynx also has a stiffer gear shift than the stiffest i've driven (e.g. a new sentra or corolla). well, our revo used to have the stiff shifter but now it's smooth...after about 4 years... hehe..and yes, honda shifters are the best.

i'd go for the focus. just don't know why they had to put a lock on the hood...? also wish the 1.6 focus had the rear bumper of the 1.8 ghia.

[kyoots]

mazda 3...mas gwapo.

yup dati obsessed ako sa mazda3...pero now, i'd choose the focus. dami na kasi mazda3 sa daan... lalo na yung sedan. eto choices ko:

focus 1.6 m/t
mazda3 hb

pero kung may budget...

focus 2.0 sport (hb)
mazda3 2.0R

[the josh]

Mazda 3

[niky]

The Mazda3 and Ford Focus's 1.6 actually loosens up after a few tens of thousands of kilometers, and provides somewhat decent fuel economy... not spectacular, though... that's the realm of the Civic and Corolla.

Rattles... well, the Focus is more solid than the Lynx, which sounds like a tin can when it's new... which makes it surprising that some owners are complaining of rattles. I got the first trim rattles on my Lynx at 55,000 kms... but note... 80% of my driving is on the SLEX at 80-120 km/h, over craters so deep that all of my mags look like eggs, and I have had one relatively bad fender bender. Thus far, it's only two trim pieces that rattle.

The Mazda3 is also stiffer and a bit tinnier than the Focus, but I haven't heard of rattle complaints.

Sayang pa naman... the Focus has great things going for it... German suspension, German body stiffness... but... an American interior...

RE: the MT... I felt the gearshift was just fine... a bit notchy, but fine... but Ford/Mazda gearshifts tend to get clunky after a while because of worn bushings. Not really bad when you get used to it, but for first timers, it's a bit annoying.

[orly_andico]

The discussion turned somewhat irrelevant (for me).

Mazda Makati gave me a quote which was only 500/month (!) more than Ford Global City's, and with a down payment only 20000 more. And this was for the Mazda3 1.6V (the midrange model) against the Focus 1.6 Manual. Making the choice a no-brainer.

Except, the Tucson 2.0 MT costs about the same as a Mazda3 1.6V! but, you lose all the safety features and it's a manual tranny. Anyway the CFO decided that she'd rather have a Tucson, even with the missing ABS etc. (the CRDi Tucson is too expensive). Back to the drawing board...

[mazdamazda]

The Ford Club thread on problems sounded like a laundry list of the problems I've had on my old Mazda, to wit --

- hard starting (battery and starter issues)
- rattling interior bits
- squeaking brakes
- busted sensors

but then my Mazda is 14 years old!!!

One would expect to not experience such problems for at least 3-4 years, right? it's one of the dubious value propositions of a new car, because if transportation is all one's after, a Suzuki Alto or one of those Norkis things would do.

I experienced those problems before in my 1 year old Rav4 then. That's nothing. :rofl:

[Biggs]

Sayang pa naman... the Focus has great things going for it... German suspension, German body stiffness... but... an American interior...

Di ba "Euro" ang interior ng Focus (e.g. the placement of the switches)?

[niky]

"Euro-style", "American Plastic"...

It's not bad on the 1.8 and 2.0, as they have lots of soft-touch materials besides, but the 1.6 is nearly all-plastic, thus, it's easier to see that, despite the polished, pebbled look of the plastic, that it's kinda cheap.