Okay guys I am new here. I am in the USA.

After shopping aroung for a CHEAP new car that is not totally boring I have been looking pretty hard at the Focus ZX3.

Here is where I am at:

2004 Focus ZX3 Comfort (A/C, CD, Tilt, Leather Wheel, Cruise, Etc)
2.3L PZEV Engine (+$115)
16" Aluminum Wheels (+$130)

Dealer Invoice - $3000 Rebate = $11500 USD

My stepup option is:

Misubishi Lancer Ralliart (ABS, Full Power, 2.4L 162 bhp, EVO Shifter, EVO Steering, Great Seats, Good Suspension Tuning, Good Brakes).

Dealer Invoice - $1500 Rebate - $500 Customer Loyalty = $15400 USD

I have driven pretty much every compact car available and these are my favorites for the dollar. I was really suprised I prefered the Ralliart to the SE-R Spec-V and Mazda 3s. The Focus SVT might have been a little better than the Ralliart but was a good bit more expensive in real world price.

Tell me your thoughts.

Well with the $3000 rebate the SVT is a good choice at around $17,500 if you can find one without the Euro pkg and some of the higher priced options on it or even a 2003 model which are still floating around.

SpecV is just a disapointment period. Nimso does offer some nice upgrade to the car though. I would love to have the Mazda 3's bodyshell rather than the Focus' but there's no rebate (owner loyality only) and the 2.0L I version still sells for over $14,000 with nothing in it!

Depends on what your after, but the aftermarket for the Focus is way more than what any non-DSM Mitsubish has and I doubt the Ralliart will be supported either. Just not enough people buying the car. Blame Mitsubshi's marketing and heavy discounting of the cars in the media.

The Ralliart makes good power now, but you won't be able to get much more out of it later.

I'd get the Focus and save some money... Just my .02

I really thought this would generate more opinions. I did expect it to biased opinion on a focus board but still opinions.

i would have given you my opinion, but i missed the thread, i have mondays off, so i never saw it, sorry....

my opinion:
i dont like the lancers all that much. (unless its an evo, lol) i have not personally driven a ralliart, but i have driven the oz edition. the interior of the lancer just looked plain and boring in my opinion. the outside is not that great either.

i personally love the style of the focus, and you can do so much to them to personalize it. i would save the green and go with a focus. (but in that price range, if you look hard and are lucky, you might be able to find an svt, if you can do that, it would be sweet.)

Originally posted by crazy_urn
i would have given you my opinion, but i missed the thread, i have mondays off, so i never saw it, sorry....

my opinion:
i dont like the lancers all that much. (unless its an evo, lol) i have not personally driven a ralliart, but i have driven the oz edition. the interior of the lancer just looked plain and boring in my opinion. the outside is not that great either.

i personally love the style of the focus, and you can do so much to them to personalize it. i would save the green and go with a focus. (but in that price range, if you look hard and are lucky, you might be able to find an svt, if you can do that, it would be sweet.)

A OZ is just a std chassis with some dress-up items.

The Ralliart adds a lot of hardware - Bigger Engine, Better Brakes, Better Seats, Better Steering, Better Shifter, Lower Gearing, etc.

F both of them get a 03' SE-R

Originally posted by hkysk8r07
F both of them get a 03' SE-R

A Ralliart would hand a SE-R Spec V its butt on a road course.

SVT and Ralliart would be a pretty close match with the same tires (All-Seasons have to go!). Ralliart has better seats, steering, and shifter than SVT. SVT has a better ride and has a more sporting engine feel.

I agree with Gene K. I would personally go with the SVT because it rides better and I am all for comfort, but I could never afford one so I just got the ZX3 but still it rides great. I like to take trips around the island and one day we went with my friend and he has a Ralliart and man if was uncomfortable and didn't get that good of gas. When we took my car, (a reg. ZX3) there was so much more comfort and I got better gas and my car never felt like it was tired or anything. The Ralli felt like it was tired (we made so much stops too) and towards the end of our trip it felt like it had lost power. That's just imo and also my $0.02.....so good luck. I also think the Ralli has better options as Gene K stated......but I am more for comfort and ride[:D]

I have that same model (all options same). My piece of shit has been in the shop twice and I've only owned it since 03/16/2004.

THAT is my MY opinion.

Jeff

Buy the focus!!![:D]

Originally posted by Gene K
After shopping aroung for a CHEAP new car that is not totally boring I have been looking pretty hard at the Focus ZX3.

If these are your main goals, then the PZEV-equipped Focus is hard to beat. The Mitsu is nice, but too new to gauge what kind of interest it will generate in the aftermarket and with consumers. It may end up something like the dodo bird - extinct after a few model years (and then you have the problem of limited parts supply, limited knowledge of the car, etc.).

If you're into modding your cars at all, then the PZEV is already emerging as the way to go - it's only been out a short time but aftermarket parts companies are rushing to get parts out for it. Plus for the price you listed, how can you beat that? Almost as much power as the Ralliart, for thousands less and with a good warranty just in case. [thumb]

i just purchased a 2004 svt this past week. ford is offering $3000 on all focus including svt. my sticker was 21475 and with 3000 in rebate, this isnt a bad deal. stick with a focus

I really appreciate the opinions.

I ended up going used.

...and the winner is:

1997 BMW M3 (E36) 4dr 5spd

$13,000 w/ 50,000 ml and super clean.

I know about the cost of maintenance issues with BMW's
but I think the cost of maintenance should be offset by
the reduced depreciation.

sounds like you made a good choice to me. i love the m3s... [thumb]

The M3 is a nice car, glad to see that you got a good deal. All that matters is what you like, sounds like you made a good choice, even if it was not a focus. [;)]