FUsion, fiest, or kia forte koup?

[HeHasReturned]

Originally Posted by Stew

Well, I did some test driving this weekend, here are my thoughts:

Fiesta SE/automatic. We'll start with the good:

well loaded at around 18k. Very nice interior design and materials. More backseat legroom than the Focus coupe. Sync. Peppier than I thought it would be, though ever so slightly. excellent ride/handling balance. Can't beat the MPG ratings

The bad: good room for it's size, but is no miracle. Hip room was pretty tight, especially in the footwells. The pedals were so close that my shoe kept getting captured by the brake pedal everytime I tried to bring it up from the gas pedal. The powershift fully electronic transmission was different, instead of shifting it basically seemed to lurch or slip between gears. Finally I am red/green colorblind and the red display for the radio/sync was basically invisible to me. And while the power was slightly better than expected I can see the the mountains here still giving it fits.


Focus Coupe. I have to be honest this car absolutely surprised me.

The good: much more front seat room, plenty of knee and leg room, huge trunk, nice easy to read guages, easy to use center stack and the display was in blue and easy to see YAY! Engine was far peppier than I expected and actually pushed you back ever so slightly in second gear. The automatic, though just a 4 speed, was far better and more effective than I expected. It downshifted when needed and shifts were pretty quick. Even though it is a 4 speed it is easy to live with. The chasis was surprisingly well tuned, like the fiesta providing a good handling/ride tradeoff. Very solid feel too. Honestly if you are looking for a small car, try the focus, I think you will be sirprised!

THe bad: Well, not really bad, but the interior was definatly a little cheaper than than the Fiestas, but really not bad and nowhere near my Jeep. Back seat room was a bit tight, then it was also the coupe instead of the sedan.

As for the cruze, i like it, but for less than the base price of the Cruze ( around 16500 I believe), I can get a decently loaded focus including things like sync. Not to mention I am rather liking the coupe availability.

Also we need a second vehicle desperatly right now, so the Jeep will probably be kept considering how upside down i am and the fact I can end up with it and a new Focus for roughly same payment amt as trading the Jeep for a Focus and getting something older as a second vehicle. Hopefully going in this Saturday to deal on the Focus we drove.

You didn't even test drive the Kia?

[Stew]

Originally Posted by HeHasReturned

You didn't even test drive the Kia?

Well I sit in one with a sunroof and the headroom was really tight. And the fact is with the rebates on the focus ($3000) it is about $2000 less than a similar Forte with only $1000 cash back. Was also pretty happy with the focus.

[HeHasReturned]

Originally Posted by Stew

Well I sit in one with a sunroof and the headroom was really tight. And the fact is with the rebates on the focus ($3000) it is about $2000 less than a similar Forte with only $1000 cash back. Was also pretty happy with the focus.

Alright, good for you that you liked one of them

[Stew]

Originally Posted by HeHasReturned

Alright, good for you that you liked one of them

Yep, don't get me wrong, i am sure the Forte is a great car, and IMHO looks way better, but at this time price is playing a huge roll in this purchase.