2012 Ford Focus, et al

[Axon]

All,

I'm in the market for a new car. I've been driving a 2006 Honda Accord (before they borrowed from BMWs style book), which I hate. It's a good car, but it's a friggin' boat in terms of size, and I despise the simplistic external design.

I've been looking around at some various options and the Ford Focus appeals to me greatly. I can afford something like a BMW 3 or Audi 4 series, but I'm a price/performance guy and I don't really know what advantages a car like those two would bring to the table over the focus, other than they're name brands and a little sexier.

Thoughts/recommendations? I'm a single city driver and my car is more a pick up chicks/bring 'em out to montauk under the auspice of riding bikes etc etc than anything else. I can swing up to $50,000 sticker price. I have ten k saved and the trade in value of the 2006 accord.

 

[HAL9000]

My friend has a Focus ST, it's a nice car, I don't see anything negative about it, reliable, reasonably priced, although it only get's about 25-30 mpg, but if you can't live with the bad fuel economy get a smaller engine one, if you can live with it then get a Focus RS! It's in your price range 😉

I'm not a hatchback fan though, so I'd be looking at a 3 Series with your money, or maybe an S4 (or second hand RS4!!!!)

 

[SearchMaster]

If you're looking to impress, the Focus isn't the right choice even though it's a good car. If you're a city driver (read: low miles) then pick up a 3 or 4 year old luxury brand car.

 

[SearchMaster]

Oh and for Hal - no Focus RS in this country 🙁

 

[HAL9000]

Oh and for Hal - no Focus RS in this country 🙁

Dang, well the ST is still coll.

 

[Arkaign]

The current 3 series is fairly close in size to the 2006 Accord. Ditto the A4/S4, they've slowly creeped up in size over the years.

Something around the size of the Focus (external size, the backseat WILL be tiny!), but with a premium badge and heaps of 'fun-to-drive' factor will be a 135i w/sport package. They're pretty fast, handle incredibly well, etc.

Great reviews, here's a long-term Edmunds wrapup :

http://www.insideline.com/bmw/1-series/2008/long-term-test-2008-bmw-135i.html

 

[HAL9000]

The current 3 series is fairly close in size to the 2006 Accord. Ditto the A4/S4, they've slowly creeped up in size over the years.

Something around the size of the Focus (external size, the backseat WILL be tiny!), but with a premium badge and heaps of 'fun-to-drive' factor will be a 135i w/sport package. They're pretty fast, handle incredibly well, etc.

Great reviews, here's a long-term Edmunds wrapup :

http://www.insideline.com/bmw/1-series/2008/long-term-test-2008-bmw-135i.html

In the 3 door focus, the back seats are quite small, but not in the 5 door.

 

[homercles337]

NM

 

[FDF12389]

Hyundai genesis for a coupe, you'll even save some money.
For a sedan, you can pick up a lot of nice late model Cadillacs on the cheap.

Those would probably be my choices.

 

[MiataNC]

Wrx/sti

 

[Arkaign]

In the 3 door focus, the back seats are quite small, but not in the 5 door.

We don't have the 3-door Focus here. I wasn't entirely clear enough I guess, I was talking about the 135i backseat area, which is indeed for midgets or amputees.

The 5-door and 4-door Foci we have for 12+ are about what one would expect in the backseat. Adults can sit there, but not comfortably if they're average height or more.

 

[ElFenix]

In the 3 door focus, the back seats are quite small, but not in the 5 door.

we don't have the 3 door, we don't have the RS, and we don't have the ST for another year.

 

[HAL9000]

We don't have the 3-door Focus here. I wasn't entirely clear enough I guess, I was talking about the 135i backseat area, which is indeed for midgets or amputees.

Ah sorry my mistake. lol 😀

The 5-door and 4-door Foci we have for 12+ are about what one would expect in the backseat. Adults can sit there, but not comfortably if they're average height or more.

Exactly. I'm 6ft 5 and I can get in the back, it's not ideal, but it's doable.

we don't have the 3 door, we don't have the RS, and we don't have the ST for another year.

Oh, Oh, REALLY?!

 

[busydude]

Are there any planned updates to Honda Fit? It was a promising car when it was launched, but looking rather bland once the competition caught up.

 

[theeedude]

Focus is not a pick up chicks car, IMO. Which is not to say it's not a great car, but the PDC is low.