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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Euro Focus VS US Focus

July 17, 2010 8:37 p.m. NOHOME Reader

Was over in Deuschland a few weeks back and as a rental I had a Ford Focus. Never been a domestic car fan and yet I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprides as I drove this thing along the autobahn trying to hit 200 kph and stay out of the way of the Audis.Did not quite manage either, but it was close.

Fast forward to last week when I had to do a two hour drive from Kansa City to visit a client in Columbia Missouri. I of course grab a Ford Focus since I have just had such an enlightening experience.

This THING was not safe at 80 mph, and I shudder to think what it would like to be aiming for the 120 mph mark as I was doing in Germany; doubt it would stay on the road!

So does Ford deliberately sell crap in NA or is there something I am missing?
July 17, 2010 8:40 p.m. m4ff3w SuperDork

My old 2000 Focus was very stable at speed.

The NA/Euro Focus will be again on the same platform next year. The US Fiesta is very similar to the EU Fiesta as well.

So going forward, things look brighter.
July 17, 2010 9:13 p.m. Bumboclot New Reader

All LX, SE and/or ZX3/4/5 Focii NEED SVT suspension. "European" handling for under $300 from Jegs and lots of other places. I think you need to swap to older knuckles on newer cars.
July 17, 2010 9:26 p.m. Hal Dork

NOHOME, You were driving two different cars, not even built on the same platform. The Euro Focus was updated to the C1 platform(Mazda 3, Volvo C30) in 2005 while the US retained the C170. Wait till MY2012 (early 2011) and both will be updated to the same new platform.

Regarding stability, you were driving a rental probably with worn out bushings. I have driven my Focus (supercharged) to 130 on the track and saw one (turbo 350hp) run 152 at VIR with no stability problems.
July 17, 2010 10:07 p.m. BobOfTheFuture Reader

Yeah, My SVT is very stabile. There is a huuge difference between the split port cars and the Zetecs, i put it up to that and crappy tires
July 17, 2010 10:13 p.m. NOHOME Reader

Hal:

WORN bushings on a car with 5k on the clock? Now THAT is a reason to head for the hillls when it comes to thininking about buy a new Ford. Can only imagine what the thing would be like after it was a year old?
July 18, 2010 12:13 a.m. Bumboclot New Reader

BobOfTheFuture wrote:

Yeah, My SVT is very stabile. There is a huuge difference between the split port cars and the Zetecs, i put it up to that and crappy tires

SPI or Zetec, they all got the same suspension (obviously excluding the SVT, Street Edition, Etc.). As far as power goes, both HP and torque, the SPI has roughly 90% the Zetec's power.
July 18, 2010 12:22 a.m. BobOfTheFuture Reader

What i meant is the SPI cars are noticably more crappy.

And the SPI is much worse NVH whise than the other engines.

Edit: Wait, 5K miles? Yeah, forget the SPI idea.

From what Ive heard, the newer low budget ones are still pretty crappy
July 18, 2010 12:44 a.m. benzbaron HalfDork

I've seen my fathers zx3 do 95mph so they'll go. The focus feels very stable, the only thing I don't like is the engine is buzzy and there is a lot of road noise through the front tires, kind of like a hum through the car that resonates.
July 18, 2010 4:44 a.m. integraguy Dork

From what I read in another magazine who shall remain nameless....when the Focus was "updated" for the 2008 model year, Ford decided there were enough complaints about the "too sharp/too sensitive steering", and the "stiff ride" that what was need to appeal to more potential customers (women and fleets) was to add A LOT more "squidge" to the suspension. In other words, they turned it into a small Buick.
July 18, 2010 7:49 a.m. NOHOME Reader

So I guess the answer is that they ARE different cars. Sure felt like it. I would consider buying the German one, but not the USA version. As noted vehicle harshness was also up from the euro model.

Good to know that the euro platform is Mazda 3; wife is going to pull the trigger on a new car and it will be a Mazda 3 or a Mazda 2. Waiting for the Mazda 2 to come out in Canada. (Might already be here)

I realize that Ford carries a variation of the Mazda 2, however based on integraguy's thoughts, will save that trip.
July 18, 2010 10:59 a.m. alfadriver Dork

Very soon- the Focus will be the same.

It was intentional that they were different, as it was "projected" to be cheaper for the US version (realistically, a Focus in Europe is more of a Fusion for the US, class wise). There have been claims of that not being true- that the US version was as or more expensive. But whatever. The core reason why they were different is changing- no more US vs the rest of the world thing.

Chassis tuning is an issue- most of our roads are worse condition... sad.

(ZTEC and SPI motor have been out of production for at least 6 years now, so I'm not so sure why that's an issue)

Rental cars are notorious for abuse- the rental Focus I had was pretty entertaining in the hills of northern California- even with decent miles on it, and while I complained about the Yaris, it's condition was pretty much perfect over last week. So it highly depends.

If you want a Mazda 2- you should check the Fiestas that are now for sale.
July 18, 2010 12:52 p.m. SVTF New Reader

I drove my completely stock SVT on Road Atlanta. It did suprisingly well, even at 115. The Focus chassis has always gotten accolades.
July 18, 2010 7:24 p.m. MitchellC Dork

The Focus has been classed quite differently everywhere except the US for a few years. The RS version is priced just below the Mustang GT (In Mexico, one of the few markets that I could find both on Ford's website), which means it would likely be a hard sell here in the States.
July 18, 2010 8:04 p.m. Tyler H Dork

MitchellC wrote:

The Focus has been classed quite differently everywhere except the US for a few years. The RS version is priced just below the Mustang GT (In Mexico, one of the few markets that I could find both on Ford's website), which means it would likely be a hard sell here in the States.

I think they learned their lesson with the Probe in the 90's....can't have a new pony in the stable, outselling the original Pony Car.
July 18, 2010 8:32 p.m. MrBenjamonkey Reader

That's funny, I'd rather have the Focus RS than the Mustang GT.
July 18, 2010 10:09 p.m. alfadriver Dork

MrBenjamonkey wrote:

That's funny, I'd rather have the Focus RS than the Mustang GT.

While I'm sure you are not alone- the gross majority goes the other way.
July 18, 2010 11:58 p.m. MrBenjamonkey Reader

In the US, I'm sure you're right. I wonder why tastes are so different between the US and, well, everywhere else.
July 19, 2010 2:25 a.m. z31maniac Dork

alfadriver wrote:

MrBenjamonkey wrote:

That's funny, I'd rather have the Focus RS than the Mustang GT.

While I'm sure you are not alone- the gross majority goes the other way.

If Ford could figure out a way to price it competitively, I'd be in agreeance.

A $30k+ Focus RS, not going to happen against a Mustang GT.

A $25k+ Focus RS? I'd be driving a 2010 Focus RS and not a 2010 Mazdaspeed 3. No BS.
July 19, 2010 6:08 a.m. NOHOME Reader

alfadriver wrote:

Very soon- the Focus will be the same.

If you want a Mazda 2- you should check the Fiestas that are now for sale.

Now, the results of this thread show exactly why that won't happen. This thread suggest that Ford seems to spice cars different for NA than it does for the rest of the world. I have decided that I like the rest of the world's flavour in steering and suspension, rather than what Ford thinks I want in North America.
July 19, 2010 6:52 a.m. alfadriver Dork

NOHOME wrote:

alfadriver wrote:

Very soon- the Focus will be the same.

If you want a Mazda 2- you should check the Fiestas that are now for sale.

Now, the results of this thread show exactly why that won't happen. This thread suggest that Ford seems to spice cars different for NA than it does for the rest of the world. I have decided that I like the rest of the world's flavour in steering and suspension, rather than what Ford thinks I want in North America.

Do you really think the 2 will have the same suspension set up? No, it won't either. Nor do most of the cars imported from Europe. If you want to be in denial of this- that's fine with me, but Ford isn't the only one who changes suspension tuning to meet market demands.
July 19, 2010 6:55 a.m. alfadriver Dork

MrBenjamonkey wrote:

In the US, I'm sure you're right. I wonder why tastes are so different between the US and, well, everywhere else.

Road quality, space, size, and fuel costs.

So the Smart will only be a oddity in the US, whereas it's a mainstay of some rental markets in Europe thanks to the very small centuries old towns.

It's a different world when you have space.
July 19, 2010 10:21 a.m. twolittlebroncos New Reader

NOHOME wrote: Good to know that the euro platform is Mazda 3; wife is going to pull the trigger on a new car and it will be a Mazda 3 or a Mazda 2. Waiting for the Mazda 2 to come out in Canada. (Might already be here)

If I were in Canada, I would pick up the Mazda3 hatchback with the 2.0 and 5-speed. That configuration isn't available in the US, but is available in Canada. High 30's mpg, 5-door utility, Mazda reliability and Mazda handling. Win.
July 19, 2010 12:24 p.m. GTwannaB Reader

I drove a Mazda3 rental car a couple of years ago and I could not believe how unstable the car felt. My theory is the cheap ass tires on rental cars just ruin the ride.
July 19, 2010 9:27 p.m. NOHOME Reader

GTwanaB:

You may be on to something. I toss the factory rubber and run the fleet on Falken Azenis. There might be better all around stealth rubber, but I have been happy with this for some time.

The family fleet has been Mazda (and MG) since 1990 and I have yet to find a cheap car that steers as good as their iron. Faster and better screwd together, yes, but nothing that enjoys going around a corner. Matter of priorities.

Alfadriver:

You have a good point. I need to rent a Mazda 2 next time I am in europe so I can compare. Just not in Germany, cause I still want to break the 200 km/hr club. Not going to happen in a Mazda 2! Pretty sure the wife unit is going to choose the 3 after the test drive.

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