What would you do? Again.

[Bones Brigade]

Current car:

2004 Volvo S60R, 86,000 miles
300hp, AWD
$60 per week to drive to an from work
$300/month payments

Want:

2004 SVT Focus, 55,000 mile
170hp, FWD
Probably not quite half the fuel costs
At least half the payments

Handles better, not nearly as quick.

Update:

Bought the SVTF, kept the R.

New predicament: I think I actually do want a Miata. But a fast Miata. Anyone have any insights as to the reliability of boosted NA's? Nothing crazy obviously, just the base FM kit which is apparently good for 165whp.

There is also the option of an NB Mazdaspeed MX5 and the FM kit for that, which is is supposed to be about 200whp, but that might be a bit much.

Granted, right now it is hard for me to imagine life without the R as the roads have been covered in snow and ice since Wednesday, but I really like the idea of a turbo MX-5.

I can't add a poll, so:

1. Get an NA, buy the Flying Miata kit.
2. Buy an NB Mazdaspeed with the FM kit.
3. Buy any NA/NB and keep it NA.
4. You're an idiot, just stop going around in circles with cars and keep the Volvo.

 

[Azuremen]

Really depends on disposable income. If you can afford to live how you want while making the payments and running the Volvo, I see no reason not to keep it. However, if you are lacking means at the time, it may not be a bad idea to pick up the cheaper vehicle. More so if space isn't an issue. And AWD certainly isn't needed in Tacoma.

 

[VolvoV50Driver]

Current car:

2004 Volvo S60R, 86,000 miles
300hp, AWD
$60 per week to drive to an from work
$300/month payments

Want:

2004 SVT Focus, 55,000 mile
170hp, FWD
Probably not quite half the fuel costs
At least half the payments

Handles better, not nearly as quick.

How is the Focus going to handle better? The S60 has fully active suspension that adjusts 500 times a second!

But the fuel cost will be cheaper, less power and no AWD system to drag around!

I'd stick with the Volvo but call me biased..!

 

[Bones Brigade]

Money is not an issue, I've just always wanted an SVT Focus. If I could I would get it as a second car. (K, so money is technically an issue, but I am not strained with the Volvo.) Plus, look at those Recaros! I've never come accross one that actually had them.

As far as handling is concerned, yes the 4C is nice. It handles quite well for a 3700 pound FWD bias boat. The Focus on the other hand, handles better than 95% of other 2700lb hot hatches.

 

[VolvoV50Driver]

What about an ST Focus? They are fitted with all the tricks including recardos but same the same engine as your S60 but slightly less power and FWD.

 

[Bones Brigade]

What about an ST Focus? They are fitted with all the tricks including recardos but same the same engine as your S60 but slightly less power and FWD.

We Americans didn't get the same great Focii all of Europe recieved. No turbos, no inline-5's and the "ST" we got was a watered down replacement for the "SVT." Less power, normal Focus suspension, and a terrible "sport" body kit.

The "SVT" we got would be better known to you as the ST 170. It was the last time a Focus was the same in the US as it was overseas. We only had the "ST170" until '04 or '05. After that we got the junk I described earlier.

 

[Cale]

Keep the Volvu and buy the Focus. I can drive the Focus when you aren't.. you know to make sure it stays in working order.

 

[RenoRanes007]

If money is not a problem, then the payment and running costs obviously aren't, so I would keep the Volvo.

But then I am biased towards Inline 5, Turbo and 4WD

 

[YSSMAN]

After that we got the junk I described earlier.

The Mazda-powered STs that followed the SVT model weren't all that bad, they just weren't as good as their predecessors. Making it sedan-only was a mistake, and the fun model ended up being the ZTW that was available with the same engine.







Either way, there is only ONE OPTION:

 

[VolvoV50Driver]

We Americans didn't get the same great Focii all of Europe recieved. No turbos, no inline-5's and the "ST" we got was a watered down replacement for the "SVT." Less power, normal Focus suspension, and a terrible "sport" body kit.

Thats a shame. I won't tell you to look at the new Focus RS500 that we've just got in Europe then...

 

[Azure Flare]

Either way, there is only ONE OPTION:

👍

 

[Bones Brigade]

i'd just be slapping myself in the face if I did that. I got rid of my Z because I thought I needed a back seat. If I was going two seater again, I'd jump back in a Z.

 

[YSSMAN]

I'd look at it this way:

Compared to owning/paying for a Volvo, it'd be practically free to run a NA or NB MX-5. Insurance rates are stupid-low, fuel mileage can average in the high 20's, and replacement parts are pretty easy to come by. That, and even after selling the Volvo, you'd have thousands of dollars left over to put back in the bank.

Hell, the idea pays for itself!



Or, if you need an MX-5 with space, just get a Mazda 3s hatchback.

 

[Bones Brigade]

I just talked to another enthusiast here in the office, he thinks its a no brainer.

This is a car I've always wanted. When I had the Z I thought, I'd like to have one of these. With the R I've thought, I'd like to have one of these.

Money may not be an issue, but I would be saving 300 a month at least. No premium gas, 30+ mpg compared to 22, cheaper payments, cheaper insurance.

Lower maintenance costs, fewer miles, better reliabilty. And as rare as the R is, this is even more rare. I've never seen an SVT with the Recaros, or those wheels, which are in fact a factory option. (Dark Agent European Appearance package...or something.) (theyre knockoffs)

The ONLY issue I see is that 130hp is a big difference, even if the car is 1000 pounds lighter.

I think I may be going to portland this weekend.

 

[Keef]

Either way, there is only ONE OPTION:

Oh come on now. Going from a fancy-pants S60R to an NA Miata? That's a ridiculous idea.

Now, getting it as a second car would make sense. But his payments are already high enough. The SVT has a much better blend of comfort, amenities, and performance than the Miata, and even it is nowhere near as good as the S60R. The Miata is outclassed is all aspects besides "feel" which is the main reason to get one.

 

[Bones Brigade]

So, I just spoke with my fiancé. I showed her the Focus and reminded her of how regardless of what car I've had, I've wanted an SVT Focus. Anyway, she looks at the car and says, "I like it." Then I ask I she would rather drive my R than her Camry, or even if she'd rather drive the Focus. Yes to both. (She has a thing against Focii, so I was unsure.) After discussing finances, it looks I (we) may end up with an R and a wonderful Focus.

Yes she can drive stick, to answer your questions.

 

[Keef]

Yes she can drive stick, to answer your questions.

Marry her.

Oh, wait...

 

[JCE]

The SVT Focus would be my choice mainly because of cost of ownership. That Volvo would cost you alot to run, maintain and something else you didn't mention (or I didn't see) insurance. The Focus is in a cheap insurance bracket...the Volvo is not.

Something else you might want to consider if speed is your thing, yes the Volvo is quicker but the SVT Focus FEELS faster. Feeling means everything for the driving experience. My 60mph sprints are 6.5-6.8 seconds depending on weather/road conditions. Not fast, but damn quick. Plus, they (SVTFs) really do handle brilliant, properly brilliant. I take corners in mine literally double the speed over the average car. The brakes are very strong too by the way.

My only piece of advice if you buy one is get one stock and unmolested, a 2003/2004 model, factory HID headlights and with less than 60k miles on the clock You'll need to make sure all of the TSB's have been done in regards to the transmission--that's the weak point mechanicially for the SVTF is the transmission. While crisp and clean it (transmission) isn't very reliable.

 

[Bones Brigade]

I was wondering when you'd stop by! Look at the one I posted man. It has the HID's and it has freakin Recaros! The rims are cheap, but the fitment is incredible.

The Volvo DOES cost me a lot to run. 300 miles a week for my commute. Not all stop and go, but quite a bit. I'm lucky to get 23mpg. And of course it's 92 octane or bust. But the boost man...

 

[Feral Pigeon]

Either way, there is only ONE OPTION:

*cough*WRONG*cough*

 

[-Fred-]

Surely there are better options than an SVT Focus if you want something cheaper and fun to drive, no?

No offense to anyone who owns one, but I fail to see how it's any better than say, an RSX Type-S or a MKIV VR6 GTi...

 

[Rotary Junkie]

RSX I can't say anything about...

But a MkIV? No. Just no. They're nice but then they're not. VR6 would just make it all worse as well.

 

[Bones Brigade]

The questions now becomes...do I go to Portland (not quite 2 hours from here) to get that car I posted, with beautiful Recaros and 55k on the clock. Or do I go an hour and a half north past Seattle to get the one with standard seats, 88k and a lower starting price?

The one in Portland I would try to get for 7500. The one up north I would want for 6000. Both have the HID lights. I suppose it comes down to the Carfax...

 

[Tornado]

But a MkIV? No. Just no. They're nice but then they're not. VR6 would just make it all worse as well.

VR6 models are the ones that don't break.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

VR6 models are the ones that don't break.

I know.

Wasn't my point.

 

[-Fred-]

I'm no VW fan and cannot for the life of me see the appeal of it, but I know I'd rather drive a MKIV than an SVT. Much more aftermarket support, for one.

I can probably think of 10 FWD cars I would choose before the Focus. It's not that it's bad... but then again I never thought it was good. Or had any appeal.

 

[Bones Brigade]

So what are those 10 cars and what do they offer that the Focus doesn't?

The RSX is not even in the same league, price wise. And the regular version offers no performance advantages that I can think of.

A GTI offers a badge for people who don't like the word "Ford."

10k or less, 6spd manual, heated leather, 170hp, less than 75,000 miles, and class leading or top tier handling.

Go. What are my options?

 

[JCE]

Go. What are my options?

They are biased against Ford most likely, but I'll assume they have legitimate suggestions that meet your price/mileage requirements. However I doubt it. He mentions the RSX, too expensive and way too understeery. The GTI/VR6, too expensive and not exactly worth the extra $$$ for the tiny little performance gain in a straight line. Corners? Nope, the SVTF is better than the Golf. Don't get me wrong, I like the RSX, and I like the Golf but they aren't as good as the Focus in the overall performance category. Look better? Depends on your preference. Interior quality better? Probably better than the Focus, at least in the Honda. However, my interior doesn't rattle and all the bits are still as good as new.

Thankfully, while shopping I drove plenty of cars in this bracket and sadly none of them handled better than the SVT Focus. That's the key word these blokes are missing, those three magical letters--S V T. The mods SVT put on turn it into something special in the handling department--which is saying a lot because the regular Focus was great around corners too. I know, I owned 2 other Focus' previously (07 ZX3 & 05 ZX5) I will most certainly assume they haven't actually driven one to state their opinions about other FWD cars being better.

The ONLY other competition in this segment is the MazdaSpeed Protege as far as I'm concerned. These are quite good, quite fast, make a great growling noise and handle better than maybe every other FWD car minus the Focus.

Good luck finding one, then finding one in your price range, then finding one with low miles and lastly finding the ONE left in the United States that is unmodified. If you do you will not be sorry.

 

[-Fred-]

Biased against Ford? hardly. I've driven 3 different SVT Fociis, and I'll admit, it's a fun car, no way of denying that. But I don't see the appeal of it, why, suddently, everyone here wants one. I see it as a trend, much like the Miata trend we've got going. You wanted suggestions, and I think the RSX is a viable option. Sure it's a bit more "diluted" than an SVT tuned Focus, but it's also more comfortable, something that's worth considering as you get older and your bones start to feel older as well. That stiff SVT suspension's awesome when you throw it around, but in day to day commute? That's another story.

Not in the same price range? You can get an 02-03 Type-S with a little over 90k miles for around 7-8k... and 100k+ go for around 6000$. That's basically break in for those things, we have a customer at work who's done over 200 000 km's on his, and it's still as fresh as the day it was new. I know I'd rather buy a car with 90k+ miles that's been serviced regularly and well maintained than one with 60k that's been beat to hell and back. Too understeery? Unless the roads in your area are racetracks, I don't see why that matters. If you're driving fast enough to induce understeer on a twisty country road, then maybe you don't actually belong on the streets. Or you don't know how to drive. Or you're driving a J-Body.

While I'm shooting in the dark here, have you thought about the 03 and up Hyundai Tiburon GT? That's pretty much right around when Hyundai started to make good cars, it's got 170hp (V6 soundtrack!) and 6 speeds, it looks fantastic, doesn't drive too bad either, and you can get them for peanuts nowadays.

As a past 3 time owner of what is arguably the yardstick for FWD performance cars, in North America at least, I'm biased, obviously, as I can't find anything that'll come close to it in terms of driver involvement and feel. But it doesn't have 6 speeds, it doesn't have leather seats (not that it matters, because cloth seats > leather seats), if you find one with less than 75k it'll be out of your price range, it's rarer than hen's teeth, you can't leave it unattended for 15 minutes without it getting stolen, it attracts as much attention as Paris Hilton, the few that haven't been used and abused are now garage queens, they stopped making them in 2001 and you can only get it in 3 colors...

 

[Joey D]

10k or less, 6spd manual, heated leather, 170hp, less than 75,000 miles, and class leading or top tier handling.

Go. What are my options?

To throw another vehicle out there, you can look at an R53 MINI Cooper S. They have 6-speeds and you can find them with leather, heated seats. It has slightly less horsepower at 163, but it also weighs 2,513lbs, compared to the Focus 2,750lbs. 250lbs means more then 7hp.

MINI's are often regarded as one of the best handling small cars too.

The SVT isn't a bad car though, I've had friends that have had them in the past. They were fairly unreliable but I'm not sure that was really the cars fault as my buddies often thrashed them everywhere they went and raced them quite frequently.