Corolla overtakes Mazda 3 in May - Page 2

**DJM83** · 04-06-2013, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

New Corolla is actually not too bad to drive. Not as good as Focus in handling department but cheaper and has got Toyota badge . Focus is a quality product in one of the most competitive segments of the market.

Have to agree, the missus has an ascent sport i reckon it aint half bad and the quality is excellent. She was leaning towards the Focus until we drove the corolla.

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 09:51 AM

The sedan version is going to be sig larger in all direction....I guess much like the Civic is now almost medium in size category.
More boring white goods reliability.

Nikked · 04-06-2013, 10:08 AM

Ford needs to get the focus moving...both the ranger and focus to the top 5.

Smoke Pursuit · 04-06-2013, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Ford needs to get the focus moving...both the ranger and focus to the top 5.

Supply.

Ford has invested alot of marketing in Focus and offered 2.9 but cannot supply popular models like Trend Autos.

Focus is without a doubt the best car in the segment.

GT-spec15 · 04-06-2013, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

Just wondering where all these cars are? Looks like the top 10 list for a South East Asian country.

Out where I live all the new cars are Falcons, Commdores, Territories and Landcruisers... I must be in a time warp out in here rural Queensland.

The roads around my area (inner east Melbourne) would be clogged if everybody drove a Territory or Landcruiser.

The more Corollas that get sold in the city the better - more space for everybody!

csv8 · 04-06-2013, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikked

Ford needs to get the focus moving...both the ranger and focus to the top 5.

Maybe, a price revision for Focus ??? Titanium for $29,990 drive away ?? instead of $35k approx depending on deal. Titanium is too expensive as is Kuga and Mondeo Titanium they should be down $5k....
Ford need to fix price and supply issues. Then a different tact for advertising the Focus. ?? Japanese and Koreans seem to have advertising right.
At the cinemas..Hyundai ad compares the i30 to the Corolla as an example..

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Supply. .....
Focus is without a doubt the best car in the segment.

Well it is hopefully more reliable than that other brand.....

GT-spec15 · 04-06-2013, 10:25 AM

IMHO Ford does not do a good enough job of plugging the 'Euro' aspect of their small-midsize offerings.

GQ_Smooth · 04-06-2013, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GT-spec15

IMHO Ford does not do a good enough job of plugging the 'Euro' aspect of their small-midsize offerings.

A few years ago they really pushed the German aspect of the Focus on all the ads (2 German engineers in Lab coats going for it over a Focus clay model if I remember correctly), I'm not sure it had any real positive affect. Every time my wife see's a Festiva/Focus ad, she doesn't mind it. Their target market seem to be accepting it.

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 10:43 AM

For those looking for affordable reliability, pushing the euro theme is a could edge sword thanks to VW

mik · 04-06-2013, 12:06 PM

Its a sign of the times, if you talk to an average big low wage earning family they are down sizing to the small cheap imports, across the road from myself is the perfect example, they are new australian s, have no brand loyalty to any one brand other than what will save them a buck,
they own 3 small cheap asian cars and a beat up old commodore, speaking to them a while ago when the commy expires they will be getting another cheap import, its all about the money.

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 12:55 PM

The next (2014) corolla sedan will have more internal room than the old Comode.
The large RWD market niche will be served by imports in time.

a-total-tool · 04-06-2013, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

Maybe, a price revision for Focus ??? Titanium for $29,990 drive away ?? instead of $35k approx depending on deal. Titanium is too expensive as is Kuga and Mondeo Titanium they should be down $5k....

^^^This.

When I went car shopping last year - my requirements were simple, diesel hatchback. I had no preference as to the make, colour, transmission etc. I was looking for good quality, resale and features.

Anything Euro was too expensive, or in the case of the Volkswagen Golf would become too expensive once optioned up to the same level as the others.
The focus seems to have European pricing for a Thai built car.

I narrowed my choice between 3 cars in the end - Hyundai i30, Mazda 3 and Ford focus. Upon driving the i30, it felt too underpowered for my liking - so ruled it out quickly.

In the end - my budget was the deciding factor. I did try negotiating with the dealers and the best I could get for my $$$ was:
*Ford Focus Trend TDCi (with no added value)
*Mazda 3 MZR-CD (with $2500 of accessories thrown in)

You can't compare the ghetto spec Focus to the mid spec Mazda. So I bought the Mazda.

Everyone here seems to hate them (or their popularity). Drive one. You'll see why they are so popular. Decent product with good quality at a good price. As for the corolla - can't comment... haven't looked at or driven one.

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 01:56 PM

Things keep moving faster...Drive had Mazda3 last of 5 IIR VW, FOCUS COROLA HYUNDAI then MAZDA....but then its up to the individual....after all journos don't buy cars then live with them.

SumoDog68 · 04-06-2013, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryeman

Things keep moving faster...Drive had Mazda3 last of 5 IIR VW, FOCUS COROLA HYUNDAI then MAZDA....but then its up to the individual....after all journos don't buy cars then live with them.

Those were base models , If shopping in that segment I would go for manual diesel Mazda 3 or if funds stretch an ST Focus..

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SumoDog68

Those were base models , If shopping in that segment I would go for manual diesel Mazda 3 or if funds stretch an ST Focus..

Yeah....that's why the load options free due to the approaching new model.

jpblue1000 · 04-06-2013, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6 Martin

If it wasnt for supply issues, Ford could easily be 2nd...

What...they supplied cars people actually wanted!

JP

Poetic Justice · 04-06-2013, 02:55 PM

I enjoy how people kick Toyota's based on past models and then expect us all to understand easily if the latest Focus is such a great model with great features and value.

If you question the success with the new Corolla because of an experience with the old one, I must suggest you drive the new model because you will be quite surprised at the difference between the two models - worlds apart.

MAFIA · 04-06-2013, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Who would buy one of those crappy Tritons. They are rubbish, and they look like rubbish too.

Same as who would buy hilux. interior looks like something boring out of Great walls!!!

**janddbone** · 04-06-2013, 04:59 PM

The 3 and focus are almost the same bloody thing anyway...

jpd80 · 04-06-2013, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Supply.

Ford has invested alot of marketing in Focus and offered 2.9 but cannot supply popular models like Trend Autos.

Focus is without a doubt the best car in the segment.

Because Ford marketing still thinks everyone wants a cheap steel wheeled 1.6 Ambiente...
Mostly because the much better equipped Mazda 3 Neo is galloping away with sales.

You hit the nail on the head, offering a discounted Trend would put buyers in a quality vehicle more appropriate
to the image that Ford is trying to build, Unfortunately they don't seem to back it up with the right product mix..

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 05:04 PM

I couldn't live with the 3's guppy mouth which is set to get worse with the new model.

jpd80 · 04-06-2013, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryeman

I couldn't live with the 3's guppy mouth which is set to get worse with the new model.

Sure but the one thing marketing teaches us is that our own preferences
may not necessarily reflect the taste prefereences of the market...

Or the location of said taste buds....

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 05:17 PM

^^^^yeah , I think they're targeting the female market with the 'non-aggressive' smile which to me spoils the MX5 which I had.
I think the Japanese would do even better if they employed European designers particularly Subaru......instead of the fussy/cutesy origami stuff....just my op though.

mik · 04-06-2013, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpblue1000

What...they supplied cars people actually wanted!

JP

Yeah but as in the post above, in the final analysis it came back to the dollar as being the main decider,, people are being more careful with their bank balance first and then ticking off the option s list., badge these days means less and less.
I'd put money it if you put the price of large cars down to the same as small cars they would have an amazing resurgence.

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 05:45 PM

They have been coming down for years, if you look at mid size Mercs which I can recall lusting after in 1973.
They were north of 100K then and 40 years later thanks to the elimination of the much loved (?) tariff barriers are still the same price, but av weekly earnings have gone up by a factor of 10.
The Falcon has INCREASED by a factor of 10.
In the 'good old days', there was little choice.

mik · 04-06-2013, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryeman

They have been coming down for years, if you look at mid size Mercs which I can recall lusting after in 1973.
They were north of 100K then and 40 years later thanks to the elimination of the much loved (?) tariff barriers are still the same price, but av weekly earnings have gone up by a factor of 10.
The Falcon has INCREASED by a factor of 10.
In the 'good old days', there was little choice.

Yep and cost of living has gone up accordingly.

stevz · 04-06-2013, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpd80

3. Mazda3 3055

Even though its no longer at the top, I still cannot believe the sheer number of clueless sheep who line up every month to buy these truly horrendous vehicles.
In their class they are the oldest, ugliest, have the least features and the road noise they produce can be likened to a 747 taking off. What the hell is wrong with today's consumers?

ryeman · 04-06-2013, 06:01 PM

Just like politics it's about group-think ....we are constantly told they're the best,
RIGHT?

DanielXR8 · 04-06-2013, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevz

Even though its no longer at the top, I still cannot believe the sheer number of clueless sheep who line up every month to buy these truly horrendous vehicles.
In their class they are the oldest, ugliest, have the least features and the road noise they produce can be likened to a 747 taking off. What the hell is wrong with today's consumers?

Reliable, good sales and after sales support, reasonable equipment levels and reasonable value.

Old yes and yes quite noisy. Both fixed early 2014.

If you think Australians are sheep for buying Mazdas, get a sheep dog to help make your way through the car park when the new model arrives, because you will see a lot more of them. ;)