Focus or SP23?

Kardae · 27-10-2006, 10:52 PM

Can anyone help me in deciding which car to get?

Love focus, but being put down by many quality related comments I read about..is the quality really that bad? like broken clutch, hair in paint etc...

As for SP23, seems good, but prefer the looks of focus..with more power than focus I heard.. seems pretty good overall, quality, build, price, performance.

Havent really got time to test drive any of em yet...

Any input would be much appreciated..

Thx

Uni · 27-10-2006, 10:58 PM

test drive them both. Dynamically, hands down to the Focus Zetec. body control is much better, it's lighter over the front wheels and it has a better tyre/wheel combination, along with more effective brakes

brute force, the SP23 takes the cake, and i think is a seriously hot looking car too. dynamically inferior, but still an excellent car all round, and it's an absolute gem of an engine. it is still another $2000+ more expensive, whether you can justify that cost is entirely up to you, but the focus will make SP23 power for that much $$$ quite comfortably, and it's still a dynamically superior car.

personally, focus, but i'm biased. ford is excellent with the customer purchase satisfaction, and if you end up with a bad one, they will do all they can to help out. just make sure you dont take delivery until you're absolutely happy with it

Uni/.

raymon81 · 28-10-2006, 12:31 AM

Hopefully this will help you abit more with your decision

http://wheels.carpoint.ninemsn.com.a...opDefault.aspx

Ive owned a SP23 before, great car! but the focus is a much more rewarding drive and i know if u take one for a test drive, u will definately buy the focus. Im starting to get over the SP23, theres just so many on the road and i would rather have a car that not every tom,dick and harry has. As for quality issues, every new car has quality issues mate, so did the sp23 but over time they get fixed and im pretty sure Ford has looked into it.

Good luck!

Blue_ST170 · 28-10-2006, 01:14 AM

How about an ST170??? u can get them for a decent price and they r faster and go way harder than an SP23.......a few of my mates have sp23's and its a nice car but just doesnt have the feedback and feel of a focus....plus my mate ****** his engine racing me......was in service for like 3 weeks....luckily all under warranty..... :evilsasmo

XR8-260 · 28-10-2006, 02:23 AM

IMHO I would buy the SP23. The Focus is a tad to conservative whereas the SP23 is the sexiest small car that I have seen (in sedan form that is). The manual SP23 is a blazer in this class. Infact Wheels recorded a quarter mile time of 15.9sec. Yep that would beat many automatic 6cyl falcons beside BA, BF. Focus Zetec doesn't have any power or torque improvemnts over the regular focus. Handling wise, there isn't much in them - they both share the same platform...

XR8-260 · 28-10-2006, 02:25 AM

Plus the SP23 has a kick *** interior with leather and Bose as options. Not to mention 6spd manual.

28-10-2006, 03:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 30487256

IMHO I would buy the SP23. The Focus is a tad to conservative whereas the SP23 is the sexiest small car that I have seen (in sedan form that is). The manual SP23 is a blazer in this class. Infact Wheels recorded a quarter mile time of 15.9sec. Yep that would beat many automatic 6cyl falcons beside BA, BF. Focus Zetec doesn't have any power or torque improvemnts over the regular focus. Handling wise, there isn't much in them - they both share the same platform...

15.9 is the best the "professionals" could do... I did a 16.2 on my first ever run, ever! with the 2.0L Focus. The 2.0 Focus isn't too far behind, closer or even ontop if I learn how to launch.

The Duratec2.0 is the same as the 2.0 MZR in the Mazda3s. The 2.3 Mazda3 (same engine in the Mazda Tribute and Ford Escape), has a longer stroke and VCT over the 2.0. This makes more torque lower down, but its about the same power as the 2.0 higher up in the RPMs.

Suspension is different between them. You wouldn't say a Territory handled the same as a F6 would you; they're the same platform.

Now if it was XR5 against Mazda MPS thats a whole new debate

simonr · 28-10-2006, 02:38 AM

AHhhhh..... The Mazda 3 (The base model) Has the same engine as the Focus Line.....

Therefore the SP23 must be faster(or more powerful) than the focus..

mitch_lx · 28-10-2006, 08:33 AM

With the problems the new Focus are faced with, i simply would not buy one.

The Mazda SP23 looks fantastic and seems to be much more reliable.Also it has more power and a bigger engine... Just buy one in white !!! *dribbles all over keyboard*

PDIDDY · 28-10-2006, 08:49 AM

I just bought my Mrs a Zetec, and having sold new Mazda's before(currently with the Blue Oval), it is true that the Mazda will rev a lot higher and harder. However, the instrumentation is like looking at the suface of Mars(at night)with the red illumination. I put a small cat-back exhaust on the Zetec, and it has freed it up quite a bit, not to mention the better fuel economy. Plus, it gave it a small note, not a drone, but it saves me stalling it because I can't hear it. Mazda's quality is very good, and early Focus paint quality was very ordinary(lost 2 deals over it) but Ford seem to have rectified it. I agree with a couple of the other members, that the Focus is a better looker as well.

Focus gets my vote.

crispymk2 · 28-10-2006, 09:51 AM

^^^^
agree with paint comments, Ford seem to struggle a bit more re matching paint colours on different surfaces ie, bumpers vs. rest of car and some colours are worse than others, mainly the metallic's.

#Russ#Es# · 28-10-2006, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispymk2

^^^^
agree with paint comments, Ford seem to struggle a bit more re matching paint colours on different surfaces ie, bumpers vs. rest of car and some colours are worse than others, mainly the metallic's.

Ford aren't having problems with colour matching, more the quality of paint finish on earlier LS Foci.

In terms of the colour matching problems with the Focus bodykit - that problem has occured because of the different material used to make the bumpers and the bumper extension. No issues with paint matching, just material used.

There has been similar problems with the Territory as well...

MoreHPformyXR6 · 28-10-2006, 12:08 PM

If it was me id test drive them both you may get a skewed opion asking this question on a Ford forum. If it was based on looks alone I would pick the SP23. Hot looking car IMO.

MAGPIE · 28-10-2006, 06:39 PM

If I was choosing between the two....

Reliability - SP23
Performance - SP23
Exterior Appeal - Tie
Interior Appeal - SP23
Driving Dynamics - Zetec (only just)
Price/Equip - SP23 (Zetec is dearer in NZ)

Winner by a country mile SP23

and if NZ was still getting the S.A Focus I just wouldn't consider one full stop !

murcod · 28-10-2006, 08:53 PM

The quality related issues with the Focus seem to be a worry? (or more so the way Ford seem to not satsifactorily deal with the common issues - eg. engines stalling and not starting.) Check both of them over carefully and go for a long drive.

I've heard of some isolated electrical issues with the Mazda 3's , but nothing like what the Focus seems to suffer. The new improved SP23 (with six speed manual or five speed auto) will probably be more of a match for the Focus handling wise- not that I've driven either of them....

I imagine the Mazda would have a comfortable win in the resale value stakes- if that sort of thing worries you?

If you want to do a bit of research then another forum is http://www.ozmazdaclub.com/forums/index.php? Oh yes, I'm a bit biased as my wife drives a Mazda 6 - it's a fantastic car and runs the same engine as the SP23. We've had it for 6 months / 5000km and it's been flawless and a pleasure to own and drive.