2002 Ford Focus or Chevy Prizm

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R

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
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I'm looking for a cheap, used economy car and I've narrowed the selection down to a Prizm or a Focus.

I'm leaning towards the Focus as it seems to be more enjoyable to to drive (although it's probably less reliable than the Prizm).

Thoughts?
 
R

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
0
0
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Both pieces of crap. Used Civic = same price and way more reliable.

- M4H
Click to expand...

Same price? Are you serious?

I can get a 2002 Focus or Prizm with 30 - 40K miles for about $5,800 - $6,700.

I couldn't touch a Civic for anything close to that.
 
V

Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
71
Both are slow, but the Focus is less slow. Civic is slower, but you get the legendary, forum-status-boosting "Honda reliability" with a Civic.
 
M

MercenaryForHire

Lifer
Jan 31, 2002
40,819
2
0
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Both pieces of crap. Used Civic = same price and way more reliable.

- M4H
Click to expand...

Same price? Are you serious?

I can get a 2002 Focus or Prizm with 30 - 40K miles for about $5,800 - $6,700.

I couldn't touch a Civic for anything close to that.
Click to expand...

Drop down to the 96-00 model range and you should be able to score one for $6K easily. :)

- M4H
 
B

BatmanNate

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
12,444
2
81
Is the prism still a Toyota Corolla? I'd pick it either way if those were the only choice because I hate everything about the Focus.
 
R

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
0
0
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Both pieces of crap. Used Civic = same price and way more reliable.

- M4H
Click to expand...

Same price? Are you serious?

I can get a 2002 Focus or Prizm with 30 - 40K miles for about $5,800 - $6,700.

I couldn't touch a Civic for anything close to that.
Click to expand...

Drop down to the 96-00 model range and you should be able to score one for $6K easily. :)

- M4H
Click to expand...

I hear you, but for 6K I'd be getting a Civic with a lot of miles.
 
T

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
0
Rip,

About 2 years back, I was looking for a 2nd vehicle. Out of the Ford Focus models that I was looking at, at least half of them used to be fleet vehicles or were owned by a rental car agency. The best advice that I can offer is that you get a small subscription to CarFax and check the VIN for each vehicle you are considering to ensure they vehicle wasn't previously owned by a rental car agency.

40K miles on a rental car = 80K miles on a vehicle owned and driven by one owner. :)

 
R

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
0
0
Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
Rip,

About 2 years back, I was looking for a 2nd vehicle. Out of the Ford Focus models that I was looking at, at least half of them used to be fleet vehicles or were owned by a rental car agency. The best advice that I can offer is that you get a small subscription to CarFax and check the VIN for each vehicle you are considering to ensure they vehicle wasn't previously owned by a rental car agency.

40K miles on a rental car = 80K miles on a vehicle owned and driven by one owner. :)
Click to expand...

That's good advice.

 
R

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
0
0
The Protege is a nice car. The only problem is the high resale value of Japanese cars.

I want something cheap without high mileage.

I was leaning towards the Chevy Prizm because it's essentially a Toyota Corolla but I hate the way it drives.
 
AgaBoogaBoo

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Originally posted by: MercenaryForHire
Both pieces of crap. Used Civic = same price and way more reliable.

- M4H
Click to expand...

Same price? Are you serious?

I can get a 2002 Focus or Prizm with 30 - 40K miles for about $5,800 - $6,700.

I couldn't touch a Civic for anything close to that.
Click to expand...

Drop down to the 96-00 model range and you should be able to score one for $6K easily. :)

- M4H
Click to expand...

I hear you, but for 6K I'd be getting a Civic with a lot of miles.
Click to expand...

Does it really matter? With the Civic, you know it can probably run to 200k miles easily without major issues as long as you change oil regularly and don't beat on the car
 
C

Cattlegod

Diamond Member
May 22, 2001
8,687
1
0
Originally posted by: Riprorin
Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
Rip,

About 2 years back, I was looking for a 2nd vehicle. Out of the Ford Focus models that I was looking at, at least half of them used to be fleet vehicles or were owned by a rental car agency. The best advice that I can offer is that you get a small subscription to CarFax and check the VIN for each vehicle you are considering to ensure they vehicle wasn't previously owned by a rental car agency.

40K miles on a rental car = 80K miles on a vehicle owned and driven by one owner. :)
Click to expand...

That's good advice.
Click to expand...

 
R

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
0
0
You're right, mileage probably isn't an issue. I live in Rochester, NY so the body will go long before the engine. A late model car will probably rust out on me faster.
 
AgaBoogaBoo

AgaBoogaBoo

Lifer
Feb 16, 2003
26,108
5
81
Originally posted by: Riprorin
You're right, mileage probably isn't an issue. I live in Rochester, NY so the body will go long before the engine. A late model car will probably rust out on me faster.
Click to expand...

I'm glad that you seem to be deciding with an unbiased opinion :D

:beer:

Usually people are either all for domestive or all for imports, good to see you're considering them all
 
T

T2T III

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
12,899
1
0
Rip,

If I were you, I'd consider all kinds of vehicles. In my case, I settled on a '99 Taurus SE that was only 3 years old at the time. It had 40K miles on it, had *every* available option on it and featured 20,000 miles that remained on the extended warranty. I was almost set to pay a similar amount of money on a Focus, but the guy accepted my offer of $6,800 for the Taurus. It has made a great second vehicle for our family and I almost prefer driving it over the Millenia that we own because the Taurus is a bit more spacious.

 
R

Riprorin

Banned
Apr 25, 2000
9,634
0
0
Originally posted by: Tiles2Tech
Rip,

If I were you, I'd consider all kinds of vehicles. In my case, I settled on a '99 Taurus SE that was only 3 years old at the time. It had 40K miles on it, had *every* available option on it and featured 20,000 miles that remained on the extended warranty. I was almost set to pay a similar amount of money on a Focus, but the guy accepted my offer of $6,800 for the Taurus. It has made a great second vehicle for our family and I almost prefer driving it over the Millenia that we own because the Taurus is a bit more spacious.
Click to expand...

T2T, I ruled the Tauraus out because of the reliability record in Consumer Reports. Maybe I'm putting too much emphasis on the CR ratings.
 
K

Kaieye

Platinum Member
Oct 9, 1999
2,275
0
0
Civic's are cars that people like to steal for parts. Go for the Prism if $$ is tight...
 
F

Fingers

Platinum Member
Sep 4, 2000
2,188
0
0
I worked in a garage and the early focuses were the worst thing ford has ever made but 2nd half of 2001's and later have proven soilid performers.
 
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