In the market for a 2013-14 of the above narrowed down. Pros and cons for each. Will be used for long trips so cabin noise reduction is important. Any owners out there to add bias to the cause!
Cheers CeeBee
zetec,
Jan 24, 8:08pm
I suggest you drive both and see which you prefer. Re the Focus I believe the oil seals in the Powershift gearbox were upgraded in 2014 so a 2014 build might be the safest. The Focus wears the tag of the best selling global nameplate in 2013 and 2014, so you'd think it can't be too bad. I have driven an i30 and it is fine, however I found the steering does lack feel. Also look at the Golf, I have not driven one but it is also highly regarded.
smac,
Jan 24, 8:23pm
By "steering does lack feel" they mean that at 100kph you can turn the wheel quickly from centre, 45 degrees left, then 45 degrees right, then back to centre, and the vehicle will not deviate from a straight line. In comparison my Falcon handles like a housefly.
ceebee2,
Jan 25, 6:31am
Thanks all. didn't know about the Trans issue with the Ford. 2014 Golf is out of my budget of $25K - 29K. What puts me off the later Mazda 3 is they still have the blardy road noise issue. I have the 2008 Mazda 3.
chook90,
Jan 25, 7:26am
I would walk before buying a Focus but cannot comment on the i30. Personally I'd be headed the Mazda 3 way as well.
I hear your comments re road noise but it is worth considering that most cars these days are built to a budget so tyres and a lack of sound deadening material applied in the right places can often be the culprit. For the sake of a goad set of tyres with a reputation for lower road noise and applying some dynamat to an otherwise great car it is worth thinking about.
ceebee2,
Jan 25, 8:09am
Thanks Chook. will consider that
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 25, 8:10am
Really?
I have seen them around in that price range. Also, remember you don't necessarily have to have a Golf with a Golf badge. The Skoda Octavia and Audi A3 are the same car wearing a different party dress, the Skoda can be exceptionally good value sometimes too.
The VW product is well ahead of the Hyundai, Hyundai themselves publicly said they were trying very hard to emulate the 12 year old MK5/6 Golf tech when they came out with the i30. They didn't really get there in my opinion and now the bar has been moved forward again with the MK7.
Compare the numbers (especially economy), take one for a drive and the decision should be easy. Just remember though, when comparing figures the kw figure means nothing because the Golf is so efficient. What you need to compare is 0-100 times to get a feel for comparable performance.
The Golf is by far and away the most popular car in the world (no one else even comes close) and it's there based on it's abilities, not marketing or popular myth.
Best of luck with it.
BTW. just to pre-empt some trolling. There is some miss reporting about that the Corolla is the most popular car in the world. It's not, the discrepancy is because a Corolla is called a Corolla whether it's a hatch or a sedan, a Golf is called a Jetta if it's a sedan. What matters of course is the actual numbers produced, not what label you put on the same car. It's not even a close run thing, the Golf obliterates the Corolla in terms of production volume.
vtecintegra,
Jan 25, 10:10am
Outside of Australia/NZ that hasn't been true for years now
delerium1,
Jan 25, 10:54am
haven't driven the focus, unlike some of the posters, I HAVE an i30 elite. 2010 crdi. mine is the 4 speed auto the year after they went to 6 speed auto but there is a jump in price (hence why I didn't get one unfortunately). It is in the 'small car' class although I have never been wanting for more room.
The diesel is quicker than the petrol and I regularly get 1000km to the tank. The gear changes are superb, only thing to be aware of is that the auto trans does un quite hot. so either change the fluid more often than the manual says or put on an aftermarket trans cooler.
For 13 grand, im really happy with mine. When I eventually upgrade im looking at an i40/i45
Iv done a bit of research and the 'i' models are a step up over the older naming conventions (eg sonata).
ceebee2,
Jan 25, 12:20pm
Thanks Jazz and Delerium1
ema1,
Jan 25, 12:30pm
Not strictly true in NZ either,but jazz will have it that way to suit his dissing of Toyota's agenda even though he must know this fact and WON'T advertise such because of the Euro biased agenda he has, if he doesn't know the facts on the different Corolla based models(with different name badges) then he isn't as widely read or versed as he purports to be. Purely agenda based clap trap again.
Toyota Corolla as a model name has sold in excess of 40 million world wide as at July 2013 from its inception in 1966. If all the derivatives and off shots were included the figure would be way higher, even Toyota's Camry sold 4th in absolute terms and leader in mid sized segment ( or C/D in Europe) which also outstrips VW Golf in 2012-14 span. Details here in same link as above http://focus2move.com/top-50-best-selling-cars-in-the-world-toyota-corolla-hit-the-new-all-time-record-volume/
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 26, 7:52am
Thanks for posting the model/derivatives link, it illustrates my point very nicely. I see numbers are a bit closer this year (my figures were from a year or so ago) but the Golf/Jetta of course is still in the lead.
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 26, 8:01am
You are most welcome then to point out where the sedan version(s) feature on that top 50 list and add them to the Corolla total. On the list I got my figures form the Corolla was actually illustrated in sedan form, so I took that to mean both versions were included, at least for statistical purposes in that list. If I am wrong I am wrong, was a reasonable assumption in my opinion.
thejazzpianoma,
Jan 26, 8:05am
Sorry, OP, I shouldn't encourage trolls who will only ruin your thread by leading it astray on silly tangents. Sadly, as you can see these boards are pro Asian vehicles only. Any mention of anything else just gets squashed under a heavy trampling of mob mentality. That's why very few of us mention non Japanese/Korean alternatives, it's just not worth the hassle of being chased from thread to thread by a certain few in their endless attempts at character assassination. Take a look at my multiple posting "shadow" above by doing a username search and you will see exactly the same pattern time after time. It's a shame, it would be nice if everyone got a voice and you the OP got to hear everyones point of view.
As I said earlier, in my opinion it would be well worth your while sitting down and carefully comparing the spec/technology/efficiency of the three vehicles. Then take them all for a drive.
ema1,
Jan 26, 11:42am
That's exactly what you do jazz, in fact all the time you do it. Even on this thread all be it in a veiled way that we can all work out. Frankly I know the Hyundai i30 as a good car and even better in it's latest incarnation, I've driven a number of them to advocate the make FYI.-O.P. The Ford Focus for that matter is quite a car too, I have had a lot to do with the 2012 models and back to the early ones. Pity to say that the "everyone's point of view" being bandied about on here and other threads I've noticed when everyone else's opinion and personal experience gets dissed totally in favour of the European bias. All too funny jazz calling all in sundry out expressing our opinions and points of view as trolls. Jazz you are the archetypical hypocrite in this and many other threads. You certainly have a high and mighty opinion of yourself, what on hell gives you the right to go diss anything that doesn't suit your agenda. answer =NO RIGHT AT ALL ! This thread was actually asking for comparisons between the i30 Elite with Focus Titanium. I have forwarded my opinions of both cars and I notice that's something you HAVE NOT done . or haven't you noticed? BTW I also agree with chook's comment on the Mazda-3 , plus the noise issue is tyre related definitely, I drove a 2013 one of them the other day with tyres changed from the factory ones and the difference was quite marked.
ema1,
Jan 26, 12:11pm
I agree with the driving whatever makes you wish to make a first hand comparison on your own ideas of how you reckon they compare and do include a fair number of other makes in your price range etc to settle your mind on. Everyone's ideas differ, I have given you my ideas in both the makes/ models you initially asked about and DIDN'T deviate from that with ANY bias. That was effectively done by our resident Euro biased troll. I pity jazz for even uttering the likes of "Don't encourage the trolls" that's virtually tantamount to trying to gain a monopoly on your thread OP and I along with other posters on here consider we all have an equal right to post our opinions to which we get the "Troll Card" pulled out on yet again, prematurely in this case almost as though jazz was expecting others to comment against the Euro bias by answering your question OP with credible 1st hand experience of such? . Pity it's you jazz who actually comes wading in with a dissing exclusion of all except the Euro bias makes, what right do you have saying aw OP "Don't encourage the trolls", that's just arrogance in taking over or trying to take over all threads to suit your ongoing sickening all pervading to the exclusion of all else Euro diatribe with a high % of untruths. Again you are the ULTIMATE TROLL, notice that you are side tracking the question being asked and yet again can't actually be told so. Ha ha the joke's on the EURO BIASED TROLL that couldn't help but being one of the "encouraged trolls", that's you jazz nuff said?
ceebee2,
Jan 26, 1:21pm
Thanks ema 1, I dont suppose you can recall what tryes were quieter than factory as I am looking at cars with an average o 3K.-5K.
Jazz, I might just take you up on test driving a late model Golf as I would never write any model off till I had thoroughly checked it out.
Always enjoy the banter!
ema1,
Jan 26, 1:38pm
Pretty sure they were Yokohama A drive? Definitely Yokohama make.
brapbrap8,
Jan 26, 1:41pm
I have Yokohama Advans that came on my new Lancer, they are known to be very noisy tyres as well so make sure you don't accidentally end up with them. They do drive well though, good grip.
ema1,
Jul 23, 3:17am
Toyo and Kuhmo tyres have a good rep, you'd need to consult a tyre specialist really as the Mazda 3 does have an issue with some tyres re noise factor. Michelin is worth a thought too.
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