wife want a new car. Focus, Mazda3 or Civic?

[scottc]

Hi everyone.


My wife is looking to get a new car, she is looking at either a Mazda3, Focus or Honda Civic.

I was leaning towards the 3, as much as I like the focus, I felt the 3 was better.

The Civic also looks good, except i dont like the digital speedo on top of the dash.

Any thoughts about these cars would be greatly appreciated!

Scott.

[Kenster]

this is my personal view of the car

Honda civic current model looks so weird dont like to be caught driving it.
Mazda 3 looks great and i been told drive is great
Focus is the same apart from the big blind spot at the back

[scottc]

Cheers Kenter.

I actually dont mind the look of the Civic, but I hear what you saying. Got that Euro type look happening. And with the vti-L model with climate control, six stack and side airbags for about $25k, seems good value.

[Yaw]

I think it depneds on the kind of model you are looking at.

For "sporty" models Mazda 3 SP23, If your after performance Focus XR5,
Normal run of the mill models I would favor The Focus.

Thats just a personal opinion.

[vik351]

I just got a CL Focus for SWMBO sedan,auto,she didn't like the hatch : : :

And I tell you what bloody thing goes good,in the hills the ride is very nice,and this is the base model...

vik...so the other ones are even better :evil3: :evil3: :evil3:

[nb_351]

we bought a 3 ourselves, and i tell you...its a great little car... i woned a ghia before this, and its really nice... pretty well built, doesnt go too bad for a 4 banger... gets 500ks out of a tank the way i drive it...
depends do you want german quality, or japanese quality...

[pertuan]

Originally Posted by nb_351

depends do you want german quality, or japanese quality...

Actually the Focus (except the XR5) is built in Sth Africa.

[dandaman]

the subaru impreza gives you abit of kit for 23990, ie climate control, 4x airbags, etc etc

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by pertuan

Actually the Focus (except the XR5) is built in Sth Africa.

that's what i was going to say ;p

designed in germany, assembled in south africa. the early models had a few build quality issues too, they seem to have got better since then though. they try to fool you a little by saying 'german engineered'. From most people that own them though, they seem to be a good little car. I've not heard too much bad news about them.

[JD86]

i dont know much about these cars so all i can on is looks, and i cant decide between the focus and mazda3, id probly go the focus just cos its a ford.

[AC/DC]

Well, , the Mazda 3 is starting to date already, ,

The focus is, , well a focus, ,

Leaving the Honda Civic in first place by a MILE

[nat_daly]

my mum bought a mazda 3 the other day.. new car has 2.0 litre, 110kw and is ultra smooth drive.. its sporty little car.. they have also got clear tai lights standard on all models and some seatbelt thing that tells you when all passengers are buckled up...
the civic drove like crap, had more body roll then a belly dancer and the focus was a good car too.

[Keepleft]

Focus - for the Euro safety features standard and available.

22 yo Nephew (P2) has the current SP23, manual and in metallic grey. 'It's okay' but is in the process of being 'Europeanised' for greater safety:-)

[jim1606]

Get the focus, you will regret buying a 3 and the civic is alright, infact its either focus or the civic, do you have the new space age civic hatch in oz? or is it only the sedan?

[jim1606]

Get the focus, you will regret buying a 3 and the civic is alright, infact its either focus or the civic, do you have the new space age civic hatch in oz? or is it only the sedan?

[uranium_death]

In the Herald Sun's motoring guide (which I believe is every Friday), somebody asked what small car in the class they should aim for.

The Ford Focus was given the nod just ahead of the Astra.

The Mazda 3 looks like **** if you ask me.

I've heard that the Focus really goes. But the Astra has a nicer interior I hear.

But I'm no expert. Just a skinny turd at his pc looking for friends. :P

[Kenster]

well the mazda 3 mps just realise it completition of the XR5 turbo, im interesting during my spare time to go to the dealer and take a look. Astra just look like anyday astra which it doesnt catch my eye. Focus got the nice smooth sound while you are driving which you probably want to hear.

Honda Civic as much is eye catching i still finding the shape very odd and unattractive to drive and power is probably lack a bit

[Smoke Pursuit]

We have a LS Focus (current) and its pretty good, my only complaint is it pulls to the left hard and we cant seem to get to the bottom of it, other then that it handles well, got a fair bit of punch and also brakes well considering it does not have ABS. Before it we had a Mazda Sp20, great car but really boring to drive and ROUGH, it was an old platform so im not sure if the 3 is any better but boy the old one was a peice of **** when it came to road handling / ride quality.

[WASP]

The Honda does nothing for me

I bought my lovely wife an LS Zetec last year and it's not bad. Drive and ride quality is very impressive but the SA build quality/finish however is questionable. The Mazda 3 is better finished off IMO but is more expensive also.

Mazda 3- better styling IMO, finish and ergonomics
Focus- better drive and ride.

The Focus, although small is more a boys cars than a girls IMO. There appears to be a lot of not well thought out minor features which would probably not bother a bloke, but bugs the hell out of the wife. She does love driving it however!

My advise, get an XR5T if it's in the budget. It's German built and offers much better value for money for most other cars in the same price range, The Mazda3 turbo is great but quite a bit more expensive.

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by jim1606

do you have the new space age civic hatch in oz? or is it only the sedan?

We only have the sedan in Australia.

Personally I'd choose either the Focus or the Mazda. They are both great cars. The Civic is just dull by comparison

[MAFIA]

Civic - OMG where do we start. Style is very ugly, poor road handling, weird interior, not a good power to boot. :

Mazda 3 - Still made on the old 323 platform, tight interior, looks too much like the Mazda 6. :

Focus - Winner of wheels car of the year and AMIA car of the year. Drive and handles brilliantly. Plenty of Torque in either manual or Auto. Very spacious and roomy interior like a family car. Great styling. Great price too. :Reverend:

My mum got a new focus and it top class mate. Don't bother with the other 2.

FORD FOCUS....SMOOTH AS.... :eclipsee_

[ClevlndStemer]

Originally Posted by MAFIA

Mazda 3 - Still made on the old 323 platform, tight interior, looks too much like the Mazda 6. :

BZZZZZZZT WRONG!!!! Mazda 3, Ford Focus and Volvo S40 share the same platform

[AU-MUSTD]

Mazda 3 for me :

[Pedro]

Why restrict yourself to those three? What about the VW Golf?

[scottc]

0We were thinking about the Golf also which is a great car, but I think the price was getting up there.

At the moment the 3 is looking the best for us.

[apolloxbgt]

I looked at the 3,but ended up buying an ls focus lx for the missus.I hated the intierior of the 3.
I may be on my own,but I think the new civics look alright.

[Kenster]

Originally Posted by scottc

0We were thinking about the Golf also which is a great car, but I think the price was getting up there.

At the moment the 3 is looking the best for us.

if it the golf might give a try of the gti model since its the exact same engine from the focus xr5. Golf it realiable and very fuel economic

[bt0]

I'm also about to buy a new Focus LX. I think the Focus looks heaps better and bit cheaper. Would like a Gold TDI but they are a bit expensive for myself.

[scottc]

I would love a vw gti or focus xr5 but it's over budget.

I went to test drive the Focus today and the salesman was such a jerk, I tried to put up a bit of a comparison for the Mazda3 v Focus, but no matter what I said he gave me a totally Ford biassed answer, like 'why buy a mazda, when ford own 51% of Mazda and the focus is the same chassis as the 3'
Dont get me wrong, I am a ford man and love them, but jesus this really puts me off.

Anyway, I ended up not taking the focus for a test run, which annoyed me, maybe next weekend. I saw a maxx sport3 with 50k on the clock for $25k which I might enquire about.

Thanks guys for your great input.
Scott.

[AC/DC]

Vw Golf....

The new Renault Clio.....

Peugeot 206......