Well, my grandfather sold me the Cavalier you all have been hearing about. He is driving his 99 Silverado that has 35,000 miles on it, and its in perfect condition. He is going to wait till late spring/early summer of next year to trade it in for a new car. He has looked at the Cobalt (one of which his brother has) and a Focus. I was there when he test drove a red 2009 Ford Focus SES, fully loaded. It was a very good car, it had good acceleration, and was very comfortable. Interior quality was good, and it looked awesome in the dark red with black trim and rims. He is leaning towards the Focus, but the Chevrolet dealership is offering him an additional $1000 trade-in on his truck. He says he is probably going to go for the ford, which stunned me and my mom. He has always been a GM guy after a really, really, really sht-ty like, early 80s Ford F-250. It leaked oil like a iatch, it sludged up the valvecover, and he was turning and the left rear wheel and axle came right out of the differential. Last ford he bought. And now he is considering getting one, even preferring it over the Cobalt. Which one would you choose? I want him to get the Focus. I'm generally a ford guy, after the good experiences we've had with our 98' windstar 3.8L, 03 Expedition 4.6L, and 07 Mustang V6.
Focus SES or Cobalt?
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I have heard nothing but good about the engine in that Cobalt as far as reliability.
I had several of the older Focuses (focii plural?) as rental cars and hated every one of them. The newer "focii" are vastly improved, but I don't think they are up to the standard of the Cobalt.
I do a lot of traveling and I always rent compact cars, so I have experience with both the Focus and Cobalt. The Cobalt is durable, refined, and I love GM's ecotech engine.
I like the Focus styling far better than the Cobalt's.
I do a lot of traveling and I always rent compact cars, so I have experience with both the Focus and Cobalt. The Cobalt is durable, refined, and I love GM's ecotech engine.
I like the Focus styling far better than the Cobalt's.
Ex had an 08 Focus.. Dog turd.
Ugly, cramped inside, Many warranty problems within the first few months.. No thanks.
I'd go with a G5 or Cobalt over that thing any day.
Ugly, cramped inside, Many warranty problems within the first few months.. No thanks.
I'd go with a G5 or Cobalt over that thing any day.
I like the new Focus. It's on the previous Mazda3 chassis. IMHO it's also a nicer looking car than the Cobalt.
There are people who own either and I'm sure they can give you a better assessment than what I said.
There are people who own either and I'm sure they can give you a better assessment than what I said.
Interesting if to hear the what is preferred for these cars.
I'd go with the Cobalt. Mainly b/c I think the Ecotec powertrain is a very impressive unit for power, economy, and ease of maintenance. I think the interior of the Cobalt is a bit roomier, which he might appreciate, going from a truck.....
without respect to reliability, the Focus is the better driving car, with respect to NVH and handling.
Focus hands down, I don't even like fords that much but do some research on the cobalt and you'll find some horror stories, the early focus models had some issues but now they are pretty good cars. I honestly cannot believe that someone would choose a cobalt over a focus, to each his own I guess.
Since he's waiting until next summer, the Ford Fiesta should be available by then. The Fiesta should be far superior to both the Focus and the Cobalt.
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Only cars I`d own by either of those companies are a V8 Mustang and Corvette :^)
JTK
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They are both entry level, inexpensive, economy cars. Take which one you are more comfortable in 1st, better deal 2nd. To say one is far superior to the other is ridiculous.
Joel
Joel
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Maybe your grandfather is as unhappy with Government Motors as the rest of us, resting its bloated laurels on pillows lined with taxpayer dollars.
Sounds like he is making a good choice.
Sounds like he is making a good choice.
Focus is a great car. I've got 3k so far on an '09 and have ZERO complaints about it. I get an AVERAGE of 35mpg going to work, it's VERY comfortable, power is good, handles well, fit and finish is great, the stereo system and dash gizmos all function well, and the whole layout of the interior is also top notch.
Besides.....with all the GM quality issues of late, I would not own one. GM has never really been that greatat small economy cars in my opinion. The Focus is exceptional for the money and a great value.
Besides.....with all the GM quality issues of late, I would not own one. GM has never really been that greatat small economy cars in my opinion. The Focus is exceptional for the money and a great value.
In my opinion, the Chevrolet Cobalt and Dodge Caliber are the worst American small cars I have ever driven.
Driving a Ford Focus was a breath of fresh air. I've driven all three as rental cars before and the Focus was the absolutely the best.
Sorry to be off-topic but I just had to share one more thing:
The Dodge Caliber was so bad, after day 3 out of 10, I considered asking for a trade.
Driving a Ford Focus was a breath of fresh air. I've driven all three as rental cars before and the Focus was the absolutely the best.
Sorry to be off-topic but I just had to share one more thing:
The Dodge Caliber was so bad, after day 3 out of 10, I considered asking for a trade.
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He is considering a focus because me and my mom recommended it to him, and he likes how it looks and the interior. He doesn't care about the whole "Government motors" deal. Like I said, he drove the cavalier for the past 12 years before selling it to me, so I think even a Caliber would be a step up, but he refuses to buy a chrysler product.
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Originally Posted By: rudolphna
He is considering a focus because me and my mom recommended it to him, and he likes how it looks and the interior. He doesn't care about the whole "Government motors" deal. Like I said, he drove the cavalier for the past 12 years before selling it to me, so I think even a Caliber would be a step up, but he refuses to buy a chrysler product.
That's big of him. I want them to die a painful death. I cannot believe 11 billion dollars of our (Canadian) money went to save a couple thousand jobs in Oshawa, meaning the cost to us is several million dollars per employee!
Having to pay for the laziness and stupidity of GM has made me somewhat bitter.
He is considering a focus because me and my mom recommended it to him, and he likes how it looks and the interior. He doesn't care about the whole "Government motors" deal. Like I said, he drove the cavalier for the past 12 years before selling it to me, so I think even a Caliber would be a step up, but he refuses to buy a chrysler product.
That's big of him. I want them to die a painful death. I cannot believe 11 billion dollars of our (Canadian) money went to save a couple thousand jobs in Oshawa, meaning the cost to us is several million dollars per employee!
Having to pay for the laziness and stupidity of GM has made me somewhat bitter.
The flaws that have been mentioned on the focus were on the early ones from 00 to 03 inlcusive. during that time frame and until this day, the Focus has recieved quality improvements from one model year to the next.
I use dot have an escort that had over 150k miles. I used to run it on Mobil 1 5W30 for 15k mile OCI's and it never burnt or leaked a drop of oil. Aside from that, the a/c system and all the electronic goodies ( power windows, keyless entry, power mirrors etc.) all never gave me a stitch of troubles for the 4 years and 100 k miles of harsh city, highway and mountain driving I punished it with. I have never had a car perform so well, that cost so little.
The onyl downside i had to the car ws that it struggled to make (or maintain) heat in the winter, and the front seats were the most uncomfortable seats I've ever been subjected to sitting in since I have started driving several years ago
I think it's a no-brainer, the Focus is the best car for your money.
I use dot have an escort that had over 150k miles. I used to run it on Mobil 1 5W30 for 15k mile OCI's and it never burnt or leaked a drop of oil. Aside from that, the a/c system and all the electronic goodies ( power windows, keyless entry, power mirrors etc.) all never gave me a stitch of troubles for the 4 years and 100 k miles of harsh city, highway and mountain driving I punished it with. I have never had a car perform so well, that cost so little.
The onyl downside i had to the car ws that it struggled to make (or maintain) heat in the winter, and the front seats were the most uncomfortable seats I've ever been subjected to sitting in since I have started driving several years ago
I think it's a no-brainer, the Focus is the best car for your money.
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I had a loaded Focus SES as a rental and I loved it. I've also had three Cobalt's, all of those were very nice too. One of them was a Cobalt Sport, which was actually really nice with supportive leather seats and a power sunroof.
I think you'd be making a good choice with either car, but I'd probably lean towards the Focus for a sedan and the Cobalt for a coupe.
I think you'd be making a good choice with either car, but I'd probably lean towards the Focus for a sedan and the Cobalt for a coupe.
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