New car: 2012 Focus or 2012 Mazda3

[CorvallisBMW]

Why no fiesta?

Too small, less refined, only slightly cheaper and no improvement in mpg.

[djjerme]

..nothing 'merica about the Focus. Designed in the UK, built in Mexico. It's got some great handling characteristics for a FWD, and there some decent mod's that can be done. Hit the YouTube's and check out Top Gear's review of the Focus and the RS (which we will probably never get to see on our shores.)

[CorvallisBMW]

The RS is coming in 2013

UK also gets a 1.6 turbo, 6-speed sticks, projector headlights and diesels :(

[5Toes]

So why not just buy an e28 eta???

[KenC]

So why not just buy an e28 eta???

Because he doesn't want a worn out 25yo car with no modern amenities and no warranty.

[Wh33lhop]

Civics are for gays and chicks. /discussion

If you don't want a civic that's fine, but I would have thought that as an engineer you were above ignorance like this.

[F34R]

Why not buy a used car? You can get a 2010 VW for around 13k

BUT if you have to have a shiny brand new one I would get the Focus.

[CorvallisBMW]

Why not buy a used car? You can get a 2010 VW for around 13k

BUT if you have to have a shiny brand new one I would get the Focus.

Maybe a 2.5 Rabbit, but not anything decent. I looked at '09-'11 TDi Golfs but with their high resale value they were either the same price as or ~$1k less than a brand new Focus, but with 20,000 miles and VW reliability :/

I'm not set on a brand new car, hell I'd prefer used if I could find one I liked so I don't have to eat the depreciation. But I'm picky, and with used car prices still very high and new cars rolling in 0% APR and cash-back incentives (plus I get X-plan pricing on Fords through my employer) its hard to make used cars pencil out.

[KenC]

Darin, one word: 911. 8)

[tjts1]

Why no Veyron? Its what all the cool kids drive, all RED inside and out.

[Mercury[BKM]]

it doesnt sound like he wants a commuter vehicle at all with the vast options for commuter cars available which crushes the options listed.

buy whichever you want, its your car and will cost you much more money in the long run than a pre owned commuter

[CorvallisBMW]

It's not a commuter car, it's a primary car. It's practically my only car as the 335iC lives in the garage 7 months a year and gets maybe 3000 miles/yr

[Kruzen]

What's the price point on each configured with the options you want?

I really dig the new focus, I'm looking at picking up an older forester once I clear out some debt but some of the new offerings out there are definitely attention grabbing

[cale]

I wouldn't sacrifice my safety just to save on gas in something like an EG civic. If you're gonna rack up the miles, get something you'll walk away from a crash in. The new fords are actually quite nice cars, my buddy has a fusion and I actually liked it and I used to hate domestics.

[CorvallisBMW]

What's the price point on each configured with the options you want?

I really dig the new focus, I'm looking at picking up an older forester once I clear out some debt but some of the new offerings out there are definitely attention grabbing

The Ford is cheaper by a bit once they're optioned to a similar level (Nav, moonroof, etc) if you take advantage of discount pricing through Costco. Some things are different, such as the Mazda having bi-xenon headlights standard and the Ford not even having them available as an option, and the Ford having a fantastic MMI system while the Mazda has a screen the size of a stamp.

They both work out to about $24.5K as I've built them. That's Costco pricing (saves about $1300) but before any rebates/incentives