So it's time to downsize, and glaring realities of asking this question in a Mazda forum aside, I'm hoping for some honest responses.
I sat in a new focus st over the weekend and I thought I was sold, the recaro's hug you fantastically, the orange paint is appropriately loud, the interior and exterior are styled fantastically, and the price is also nice as well for the features you get.
I feel as though the Ms3 deserves to be considered at least however(these two cars *are* riding on essentially the same platform). It's been king hot hatch for a long time, and I may be able to get one cheaper too.
I will withold my usual long-winded comparison here, and instead just summarize the differences as I see them;
To sum up, the MS3 is the bigger brute, better suited to around-town shenanigans than anything else. Asthetics are also a tick better in the Mazda, at least exterior wise. From the various plethora of 'traditional' hot hatch and torqe steer monster analogys thrown around, I get the impression that this car is a bit nostaligc in trying to be a modified tuner's car while remaining stock. ie, exhaust drone, abrubt clutch uptake, turbo surge. These are things I enjoyed in the B5.
The Focus seems to be the better all-rounder, more 'emmpehhgeees' better handling, great looking (except for the rear, and because of that, the MS3 wins for me asthetically overall), the ride is reviewed as better, and the interior again, more expensive feeling. it still Delivers 9/10ths of the brute that the MS3 is, without the drama assocated with torque steer and massive amounts of understeer. It is described as lacking that edge however, am I crazy for acitvely looking for a less refined vehicle?
Share your comparisons and thoughts here.
I sat in a new focus st over the weekend and I thought I was sold, the recaro's hug you fantastically, the orange paint is appropriately loud, the interior and exterior are styled fantastically, and the price is also nice as well for the features you get.
I feel as though the Ms3 deserves to be considered at least however(these two cars *are* riding on essentially the same platform). It's been king hot hatch for a long time, and I may be able to get one cheaper too.
I will withold my usual long-winded comparison here, and instead just summarize the differences as I see them;
To sum up, the MS3 is the bigger brute, better suited to around-town shenanigans than anything else. Asthetics are also a tick better in the Mazda, at least exterior wise. From the various plethora of 'traditional' hot hatch and torqe steer monster analogys thrown around, I get the impression that this car is a bit nostaligc in trying to be a modified tuner's car while remaining stock. ie, exhaust drone, abrubt clutch uptake, turbo surge. These are things I enjoyed in the B5.
The Focus seems to be the better all-rounder, more 'emmpehhgeees' better handling, great looking (except for the rear, and because of that, the MS3 wins for me asthetically overall), the ride is reviewed as better, and the interior again, more expensive feeling. it still Delivers 9/10ths of the brute that the MS3 is, without the drama assocated with torque steer and massive amounts of understeer. It is described as lacking that edge however, am I crazy for acitvely looking for a less refined vehicle?
Share your comparisons and thoughts here.
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