Focus SVT vs Civic Si

Sold my Miata and am looking for a replacement. The Miata is such an awesome car, but I found that unless the weather was perfect, I dreaded driving it. It was always a 3rd car. My plan was autocross/hpde, but that just didn't happen. I'm looking for something that will be easier to drive in cold/rain. I also plan to autocross and do some hpde's. We'll see.

I've got my heart set on a Focus SVT. I've really liked them since they came out. I would also like to find a decent 99-00 Civic Si, but those seem to be next to impossible to find thanks to the ricer/YOLO SWAG movement.

Which would you choose? SVT, Si, Neither? Then what?

Thanks,

-Scott

Personally, I prefer the Civic but I don't hate the Focus. My biggest problem with the Focus is mostly subjective. I just have a really hard time with the dashboard design and the quality of materials used by Ford during that era. That said, the Civic isn't exactly plush inside either.

If the interior doesn't piss you off like it does me, I say it's going to be easier and cheaper to find a decent Focus. The hatchback design is more useful as well.

The Civic interior just reminds me so much of my wife's old '98 CRV. Blah.

Speed 3?

Forte SX. More torque. Less rpm's. Better stuffs.

Well considering I am about to buy a '99 Civic Si, Civic Si.

z31maniac wrote: Speed 3?

This. I guess it depends on your price range, but you couldn't pay me to take a Civic of any cloth. Hondas are not my jam. I'd take the SVT Focus in a second over an Si.

mndsm wrote:

z31maniac wrote: Speed 3?

This. I guess it depends on your price range, but you couldn't pay me to take a Civic of any cloth. Hondas are not my jam. I'd take the SVT Focus in a second over an Si.

Agree. There's so many more choices out there now compared to before.

My budget is under $4k, so even finding a clean, well maintained SVT is proving to be a challenge. The average Joe with an unmodified Si seem to think it's worth $7k. I'm also shocked at the amount of morons who refuse to respond to my Craigslist emails.

I love the 3. We had one before we traded it in on a larger family hauler. Honestly it's what helped me decide to sell the Miata. I enjoyed driving my wife's commuter car more than the car that's always hailed as the funnest driving cheap sports car.

So for me, it was not the answer.

Yeah, you aren't touching a non butchered Si up here for that cash. What about a Protege MP3? They're the NA version of the Mazdaspeed Protege- IIRC they had the same racingbeat suspension bits, and I tell ya, the Mazdaspeed protege is one of the most brilliant FWD chassis' I've laid my hands on... and I have a Cooper S.

I helped a friend rebuild his '00 SI from the ground up(it had been a stancefag car).....we ran into several "They're either 99 or 00 specific parts" that led to many headaches and much cursing.

I would go with the fsvt just because its not like that. The fsvt is begging for boost though.

The Civic interior just reminds me so much of my wife's old '98 CRV. Blah.

That only makes complete sense. If you'd had an Si first, it might be a positive association, too.

Personally i would get the SVT Focus. Easier to find in decent shape and probably objectively performs slightly better and is more practical.

I'd go miata (I honestly can't believe that nobody hadn't said this yet)

Honestly i'd look for a 2.3L duratec focus, better interior, cheap, generally previously owned by non euthusist so i won't have been raced and cosworth makes some nice duratec bits for later on down the road when the budget allows. Or how about an SVT contour?

The SVT is a fun little car. That's my pick.

In reply to Vigo:

And you can get a completely new FSVT suspension for peanuts from ford themselves.....

Still happy with our 2000 Civic Si. No, we're not selling it for $4000, though.

For that price range, I'd look for either an SVT Focus or the 2.3L Focus/SVT suspension swap is your best bet. I wouldn't go anywhere near a 99-00 Civic SI. They are either going to be tough to find a decent one in your price range. Hatchback>coupe anyway.

captdownshift wrote: I'd go miata (I honestly can't believe that nobody hadn't said this yet) Honestly i'd look for a 2.3L duratec focus, better interior, cheap, generally previously owned by non euthusist so i won't have been raced and cosworth makes some nice duratec bits for later on down the road when the budget allows. Or how about an SVT contour?

He already had one. Didn't like it. Likes hot breadboxes.

Matt B wrote: Personally, I prefer the Civic but I don't hate the Focus. My biggest problem with the Focus is mostly subjective. I just have a really hard time with the dashboard design and the quality of materials used by Ford during that era. That said, the Civic isn't exactly plush inside either. If the interior doesn't piss you off like it does me, I say it's going to be easier and cheaper to find a decent Focus. The hatchback design is more useful as well.

Pretty much exactly what I was going to say. There's no way to get a decent Si for 4k. However you might be able to get into a decent Integra for that amount. More practical than the Si.

Does the SVT suspension bolt into any year ZX3? I'm thinking about taking a test drive in an '05 ZX3 this weekend, it's at a dealership, they want just under $6k for the thing with 75k miles. Seems a little spendy?

ScreaminE wrote: My budget is under $4k, so even finding a clean, well maintained SVT is proving to be a challenge. The average Joe with an unmodified Si seem to think it's worth $7k. I'm also shocked at the amount of morons who refuse to respond to my Craigslist emails. I love the 3. We had one before we traded it in on a larger family hauler. Honestly it's what helped me decide to sell the Miata. I enjoyed driving my wife's commuter car more than the car that's always hailed as the funnest driving cheap sports car. So for me, it was not the answer.

AHh, yeah. That's too bad.

Speed 3 is a great car.

pres589 wrote: Does the SVT suspension bolt into any year ZX3? I'm thinking about taking a test drive in an '05 ZX3 this weekend, it's at a dealership, they want just under $6k for the thing with 75k miles. Seems a little spendy?

Not only does it bolt in, it's stupid cheap. Like $250 cheap.

EDIT: Meant the suspension. Yeah, $6k seems kinda steep for something with those miles.

04-05 civic si, but I'm partial... http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y143/pj350/3wheelsSept1_zps8466336c.jpg

All joking aside, they kick ass in STF.

Cheap insurance, no theft risks, side airbags, timing chain, 87 octane, etc...

In reply to psteav:

Yeah, I'll press for $5k and then hope for $500 out of my trade-in. But I need to drive it first so I'm already getting ahead of myself. SVT strut & spring swap would be a springtime project most likely.

In reply to pres589:

Might as well do an svt rear sway bar while you're there....