so i went to the mazda dealership 2day lookin at the speed 3 yea they are quick but i dont think i could give up my svt for 1. however the sales guy said u should wait till 2010 when the speed 3 loses the 2.3 and gets the 2.5 with a bigger turbo over 300 hp so idk im up in the air do i want the speed 3 in 2010 or not. if not ill just get the 09's when the 10's come out and keep the svt. what do yall think

How would you feel if you bought the '09 and then found out that in one more year the Focus RS would be here?

oops, double post

IMO I'd get the speed3 now, the next generation will be UGLY.

If it doesn't feel right though, don't part with the SVT you'll only regret it, I can't wait to get rid of mine some days though, but then there are those good days....

How would you feel if you bought the '09 and then found out that in one more year the Focus RS would be here?

Ha! That would be the day...[screwy]

if that 1 more year the rs was over i think id shoot myself and do u really think the rs would be about 20 grand too once the 10's come out the 09's r going to frop in price so im thinking that if i could get 1 now for 19-20 i could get an 09 for about 16,5- 18 optimistically lol

IMO I'd get the speed3 now, the next generation will be UGLY.

If it doesn't feel right though, don't part with the SVT you'll only regret it, I can't wait to get rid of mine some days though, but then there are those good days....

Agreed. The 2010 Mazda3 redesign is hideous. But I guess you could still wait until the new models come out, so you can get the current MazdaSpeed3 for much cheaper and with 0% APR, as the dealerships try to clear 'em off the lots. The only thing that sucks with waiting is that the value of your SVT will slowly trickle away as you put more miles into it. It's a slight gamble, but in the long run may be worth it.

I traded in my Focus at around 54k miles on it for around 5-6k as the '08 Rabbits were being cleared off the lots. Got an '08 model with 13 miles on it for thousands cheaper than an '09 model, an additional year in warranty, and a bunch of cool packages thrown in all for 0% APR. I definitely would've been paying more had I waited around, in addition to the trade-in value of my Focus going down. Be patient, but not too lazy.

[idea]

its possible its coming...

i would wait. enjoy your SVT, relish in it...then i would see the new offerings from companies...

mazdas handle like pigs...

Nothing handles like the SVT right out of the box. I drove my friends speed 3 and hated it. Yeah its got great tq and a lot of hp but throught the turns, the svt would take it out. Turbo your SVT and then you will have something that has a great power to weight ratio.

How dare you post this garbage Phil. You will not be getting rid of the SVT. Drama starter!

Save your money and buy the new 370Z!

Boooooooooooooooo dont become a trader Phil!!!

lol i was saying i might get the 09 and keep the svt when the 10's come out so i wont be starting any drama lol i just looked at the pix of the 10's omg they are fugly wtf was mazda thinking.

What's so hideous about this....?
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//media/il/future/10.mazdaspeed3/10.mazdaspeed.f34.500.jpg

Maybe once you take the mask off?

^^This
http://mazda3revolution.com/mazda3-guide/2010-mazda-3-hatchback-official-photos/
i know its not the speed but its still god awful

Save your money and buy the new 370Z!

noooo joeeee....... [nono]

speed 3! 2009..... better yet find a nice 07w/ low miles ......

keep the svt!

I traded in my Focus at around 54k miles on it for around 5-6k as the '08 Rabbits were being cleared off the lots. Got an '08 model with 13 miles on it for thousands cheaper than an '09 model, an additional year in warranty, and a bunch of cool packages thrown in all for 0% APR. I definitely would've been paying more had I waited around, in addition to the trade-in value of my Focus going down. Be patient, but not too lazy.

[idea]

yeah, we at VW have some good incentives. i love working for VW. how's your rabbit?

^^This
http://mazda3revolution.com/mazda3-guide/2010-mazda-3-hatchback-official-photos/
i know its not the speed but its still god awful



noooo joeeee....... [nono]

speed 3! 2009..... better yet find a nice 07w/ low miles ......

keep the svt!

What's wrong with the 370z nathan lol

yeah, we at VW have some good incentives. i love working for VW. how's your rabbit?

Rabbit's been perfect. I just put 10k miles into her and I've had zero malfunctions. There are SOME things that I miss about my old Focus, like the leather wrapped steering wheel, rubberized AC/Radio knobs, and my SVT suspension. But as far as performance, styling, and interior quality goes... the Rabbit dominates. It's very torquey, yet controlled. It feels absolutely incredible.

The only thing I'd change about it is maybe get the "sport spring kit" from the dealership, to reduce body roll. The Rabbit's moderate body roll can be a bit bothersome, especially when you're used to SVT suspension. That's about it. I could've gotten a GTI, but I didn't want to be stuck with 6 years of payments. A stock Rabbit is more than enough to keep the typical spirited driver happy.

[headbang]

i say keep ur svt and wait to see if ford brings over the RS. then make ur decision. im more than likely wrong but, i thought they discontinued the speed3 cause they wanted em to be rare???

^^This
http://mazda3revolution.com/mazda3-guide/2010-mazda-3-hatchback-official-photos/ (http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fmazda3revolution.com%2Fmazda3-guide%2F2010-mazda-3-hatchback-official-photos%2F)
i know its not the speed but its still god awful


I think that looks better then the current design. Hell I like that over the current Focus design too!

Okay, maybe the new Mazda3 isn't too hideous. There are uglier looking concepts out there. But the part that bugs me the most is the HUUUUGE fender flares in the front, and tiny ones in the back. It seems to dip down along the front doors, and then abruptly arches up above the front wheels. Seriously, wtf were they thinking? It just doesn't flow very well. The current generation Mazda3s have a better flowing design overall, in my opinion.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/3182928178_e7583b696d_o.jpg

Rabbit's been perfect. I just put 10k miles into her and I've had zero malfunctions. There are SOME things that I miss about my old Focus, like the leather wrapped steering wheel, rubberized AC/Radio knobs, and my SVT suspension. But as far as performance, styling, and interior quality goes... the Rabbit dominates. It's very torquey, yet controlled. It feels absolutely incredible.


Hell we sold our 07 united grey rabbit for a 04 EAP SVT.

While I miss the Tq I don't miss the nasty interior, sorry the rabbit never grew on me.

Hell we sold our 07 united grey rabbit for a 04 EAP SVT.

While I miss the Tq I don't miss the nasty interior, sorry the rabbit never grew on me.

My girlfriend has a Tornado Red '07 Rabbit. It only has 150 HP, and around the same figure in torque. The '08 and '09 models get 170 HP, 177 lb-ft of torque. Not that big of a jump, but definitely noticeable. Either way both make my old ZX3 feel like a snail.

As far as interior goes the AC knobs, power mirror knob, and radio buttons don't feel nearly as nice as the ones on the Focus. That partially has to do with the "crash optimized" design, for safety reasons. They're still very durable, but just not as nice to the touch.

When it comes to the dashboard, seat material, and interior trim... I'm sorry, the Rabbit looks and feels better in my opinion. The chrome door handles also beat the hell out of the flimsy plastic ones on the Focus. And the doors overall just feel more heavy, solid, and safe (nice "thump" when they close).

Anyway everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I still look and stare at SVTs when I see 'em. Still love 'em. But I'm absolutely in love with my Rabbit. I just don't have much interest in what Ford has to offer today (or in the near future).

[shhh]

Phil, as much as I want a new(er) car, I'm driving this thing till the wheels fall off. In about 4 years (2012), I will be in the market for a new car. I'd say drive till it falls apart...save some money...you do have a baby mama and baby to think about here....

My girlfriend has a Tornado Red '07 Rabbit. It only has 150 HP, and around the same figure in torque. The '08 and '09 models get 170 HP, 177 lb-ft of torque. Not that big of a jump, but definitely noticeable. Either way both make my old ZX3 feel like a snail.

As far as interior goes the AC knobs, power mirror knob, and radio buttons don't feel nearly as nice as the ones on the Focus. That partially has to do with the "crash optimized" design, for safety reasons. They're still very durable, but just not as nice to the touch.

When it comes to the dashboard, seat material, and interior trim... I'm sorry, the Rabbit looks and feels better in my opinion. The chrome door handles also beat the hell out of the flimsy plastic ones on the Focus. And the doors overall just feel more heavy, solid, and safe (nice "thump" when they close).

Anyway everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I still look and stare at SVTs when I see 'em. Still love 'em. But I'm absolutely in love with my Rabbit. I just don't have much interest in what Ford has to offer today (or in the near future).

[shhh]

I have to agree. But we all know why. Because it's GERMAN!!! Of course that's what it's going to feel like. German cars are know for having great interiors.

As for the power, I can vouch. I drove one in California over fall break. It was the slowest out of the group I drove, but quite a bit faster than the foci. I drove it along side a GTI and R32. The GTI was quick, but O MY GOD was that R32 AMAZING!!! It was such a blast, and the guy from the dealer was just like " yea man, you guys can drive it as long as you want, were never gonna sell it and I need some time away from that stinkin dealership", and then when it was my dads turn to drive it, the guy fell asleep in the passengers seat! haha, good times.

Anyways, I'm ranting and off subject. The Rabbit is a great little car, but I'm partial towards my foci. Handles much better than the Rabbit.

I would wait...even though i have no money to get myself into a new car right now, I still think I'm going to wait 2 more years to see what the end of the decade brings us. Hopefully in 2 years, the economy will be alittle better and the automakers will have a turn around. It seems everyone is in a slump right now, you don't know what new cars are going to be cut or how their final production model will come out. (New camaro is delayed a month and the interior supplier just went out of buisness.) I also want to see what cars come out when the domestic automakers fix themselves up, especially Ford. I used to tell myself I'd never be in a Ford again, but the new designs and the quality coming out of them lately are getting much better...i.e. new fusion and the upcoming fiesta. Even the 2010 mustang has a interior that I would be happy to live in...something I never thought I would be saying about such a car. So yea I would wait and see what the end of the decade brings us. Beside the fact that a new focus is coming in 2010 or 2011 and you'll be kicking yourself in the face if you buy a mazda3 and everyone else on the forum is rolling around in their brand new Focus ST/SVTs and RS's lol.

This time next year, i would suspect we'll be seeing some concept and pre-production forms of the MKIII Focus and a large amount of information.

My brother just got a 3speed and LOVES it.