Thoughts on Chevy Cruze vs. 2012 Ford Focus?

[Slick5150]

Well, just as an update, I went to the Ford yesterday to ask when they'd even be getting the new Focus in, and they said it'd probably wind up being late April before they'd have any in stock that I could drive (their first couple batches arriving in early April have already been sold), and since I need the car in the next few weeks I went back to the Chevy dealer and negotiated a really nice deal on the Cruze ECO, so I wound up going with that.

I took one out on the highway to test the power at higher speed and I was actually really impressed. The manual transmission is really nice and the engine responds quite well.

The one thing that shocked me is they don't give you a spare tire of any kind. Seriously?! They give you one of those stupid inflation kits, but those are useless if you have anything more than a nail stuck in the tire. They claim it's because they kept weight to a minimum on the ECO version of the car, but sacrificing the spare tire seems like a bad idea.

 

[LTC8K6]

Well, just as an update, I went to the Ford yesterday to ask when they'd even be getting the new Focus in, and they said it'd probably wind up being late April before they'd have any in stock that I could drive (their first couple batches arriving in early April have already been sold), and since I need the car in the next few weeks I went back to the Chevy dealer and negotiated a really nice deal on the Cruze ECO, so I wound up going with that.

I took one out on the highway to test the power at higher speed and I was actually really impressed. The manual transmission is really nice and the engine responds quite well.

The one thing that shocked me is they don't give you a spare tire of any kind. Seriously?! They give you one of those stupid inflation kits, but those are useless if you have anything more than a nail stuck in the tire. They claim it's because they kept weight to a minimum on the ECO version of the car, but sacrificing the spare tire seems like a bad idea.

GM has been putting the inflation kits in their cars instead of spare tires for a while now. It's irritating, but it's nothing new. A spare tire is an extra cost option.

 

[yh125d]

As someone who has had 2 blowouts in the last 6 months I don't think I could talk myself into buying a car without at least a donut

 

[rcpratt]

That's too bad that you couldn't wait. The first Focus' are supposed to be rolling off the lines this week...you could have found a dealer that would have a few in March.

 

[ShawnD1]

GM has been putting the inflation kits in their cars instead of spare tires for a while now. It's irritating, but it's nothing new. A spare tire is an extra cost option.

I think it was Honda that had some weird thing where cars with manual transmissions came with spare tires but cars with automatics came with tire repair kits.

here it is:
http://honda.ca/fit#/fit/specs
Spare tire MT only MT only MT only
Tire repair kit AT only* AT only AT only

Focus is 5man/6auto with a more powerful engine

Hey their website is still showing 5 manual, 4 auto. Where did you read this?
http://www.ford.com/cars/focussedan/specifications/view-all/
"5-Speed Manual Overdrive Transaxle; Optional 4-Speed Electronically Controlled Automatic Overdrive Transaxle"

edit nevermind that's probably old model

 

[LTC8K6]

Transmission type 5-speed manual (std. on S and SE); 6-speed PowerShift automatic (opt. on S and SE); 6-speed PowerShift automatic with SelectShift manual control (opt. on SE and std. on SEL and Titanium)

http://www.ford.com/cars/focus/2012/specifications/engine/

 

[Throckmorton]

I think it was Honda that had some weird thing where cars with manual transmissions came with spare tires but cars with automatics came with tire repair kits.

here it is:
http://honda.ca/fit#/fit/specs
Spare tire MT only MT only MT only
Tire repair kit AT only* AT only AT only





Hey their website is still showing 5 manual, 4 auto. Where did you read this?
http://www.ford.com/cars/focussedan/specifications/view-all/
"5-Speed Manual Overdrive Transaxle; Optional 4-Speed Electronically Controlled Automatic Overdrive Transaxle"

edit nevermind that's probably old model

People who can drive manuals can change a tire. People who can't call AAA.

 

[LTC8K6]

People who can drive manuals can change a tire. People who can't call AAA.

Appears to be Canadian Fit auto drivers who can't change a tire...

 

[Sinanju]

2 questions OP should figure out before buying.

1. Will the american car make it to 50k miles with ZERO problems.. ( looking at their history, you have a better shot winning the lottery)

2. Will the company try to screw you over warranty-wise WHEN (and you will) have engine/tranny problems... ( looking at their history, Carry KnY in your pocket at all times... you're gonna need it)

While Ford looks to be improving their game (im loving their new focus and mustang). Going with Chevy is like asking to be raped. The only car Chevy offers thats worth its weight in gold is the vette.

Honestly if you want a car NOT designed to break buy Japanese or at least go with Korean.

alot of the patriotic ppl will flame me for this, but hey when was the last time the Japanese car companies were hurting because they deliberately manufactured crap cars to sell to the stupid?.. Never, because they don't

 

[Vette73]

2 questions OP should figure out before buying.

1. Will the american car make it to 50k miles with ZERO problems.. ( looking at their history, you have a better shot winning the lottery)

2. Will the company try to screw you over warranty-wise WHEN (and you will) have engine/tranny problems... ( looking at their history, Carry KnY in your pocket at all times... you're gonna need it)

While Ford looks to be improving their game (im loving their new focus and mustang). Going with Chevy is like asking to be raped. The only car Chevy offers thats worth its weight in gold is the vette.


Honestly if you want a car NOT designed to break buy Japanese or at least go with Korean.

alot of the patriotic ppl will flame me for this, but hey when was the last time the Japanese car companies were hurting because they deliberately manufactured crap cars to sell to the stupid?.. Never, because they don't

wow talk about a post FULL of BS and FUD

My Chevy has close to 60k with no major repair. My CTS has about 50k with no major repair. I had 2 other amercian cars with 200k on them.

I use to be a auto tech and worked on just about every line out there. I drove mostly american cars the whole time. I have also had asian and european.
Asian and American I rank the same in terms of reliability. Some will be better than others and of course some will have lemons but on the whole most problems came from the owner, not the car name.
European I still rank below the other 2. I would not own unless its under warranty or you know how to wrench yourself.

Oh and your last part...

"Japanese car companies were hurting..."

Guess you have never heard of mitsubishi, isuzu, nissan (see who owns them NOW), etc...

 

[c3p0]

2 questions OP should figure out before buying.

1. Will the american car make it to 50k miles with ZERO problems.. ( looking at their history, you have a better shot winning the lottery)

2. Will the company try to screw you over warranty-wise WHEN (and you will) have engine/tranny problems... ( looking at their history, Carry KnY in your pocket at all times... you're gonna need it)

While Ford looks to be improving their game (im loving their new focus and mustang). Going with Chevy is like asking to be raped. The only car Chevy offers thats worth its weight in gold is the vette.

Honestly if you want a car NOT designed to break buy Japanese or at least go with Korean.

alot of the patriotic ppl will flame me for this, but hey when was the last time the Japanese car companies were hurting because they deliberately manufactured crap cars to sell to the stupid?.. Never, because they don't

That may be the MOST ridiculous post I have EVER read.

c3p0

 

[Sinanju]

Well im glad you've had such good luck with your cars, but unfortunately the past few years have shown the american car makers have struggled.

wanna take a guess as to why?

 

[yh125d]

Well im glad you've had such good luck with your cars, but unfortunately the past few years have shown the american car makers have struggled.

wanna take a guess as to why?

Well I'm glad you've been so successful deluding yourself to the point of delirium, but unfortunately Chevy/Ford the past few years have made huge leaps in quality, reliability, and bang for the buck. Meanwhile, the ever boring and always overrated toyotas and hondas haven't really been improving at all, and they're even losing the edge in resale value that they traditionally have. Hell, they're not even competing with the rapidly improving Kia and Hyundai


wanna take a guess as to why?

 

[Demo24]

2 questions OP should figure out before buying.

1. Will the american car make it to 50k miles with ZERO problems.. ( looking at their history, you have a better shot winning the lottery)

2. Will the company try to screw you over warranty-wise WHEN (and you will) have engine/tranny problems... ( looking at their history, Carry KnY in your pocket at all times... you're gonna need it)

While Ford looks to be improving their game (im loving their new focus and mustang). Going with Chevy is like asking to be raped. The only car Chevy offers thats worth its weight in gold is the vette.

Honestly if you want a car NOT designed to break buy Japanese or at least go with Korean.

alot of the patriotic ppl will flame me for this, but hey when was the last time the Japanese car companies were hurting because they deliberately manufactured crap cars to sell to the stupid?.. Never, because they don't

Funny, considering Honda just had to recall a few million vehicles. Toyota has had to recall just about every vehicle they've made in the past 10 years. The japanese are still riding the reliability train when in reality they can no longer claim to be significantly more reliable than their American counterparts.


And Korean cars? Lmfao. They've been worse than American cars.

Sure American cars had issues in the 90's and early 00's, but that's been quite improved in the past few years and I wouldn't hesitate to buy an American car now. People stopped buying the cars not so much because of reliability concerns, but they lost focus of what the people wanted.


I own a Japanese car and so does most of my family. For the most part they have been good, but each has had problems and all are from 04 up.

 

[yh125d]

Caution, anecdotal experience:

I've owned an 07 fusion to 70k and an 06 fusion to 105k. the 07 had absolutely no problems, until my brother totaled it, And the 06 has had only a coolant temp sensor go out $20/10 minute fix), and the drivers side heated seat go out (apparently a common problem on 06, first year model)

Meanwhile, my mother bought an 05 accord new and my brother bought an 05 sentra new. The honda has had brake problems its whole life, something about a brake module gone bad, pedal sensor broken, new master cylinder and brake booster, also all of the electric locks have gone bad, all of the buttons on the key fob (its not a dead battery, its just broken), the power windows only work half the time, and I remember there was something transmission related, minor. Its at about 120k miles

The nissan has gone through 2 starters and start solenoids, an ignition switch, crankcase position sensor, a couple other sensors I can't remember, water pump, coolant temp sensor, and fuel pump.

 

[ShawnD1]

Oh and your last part...

"Japanese car companies were hurting..."

Guess you have never heard of mitsubishi, isuzu, nissan (see who owns them NOW), etc...

Not sure about Nissan but I've definitely heard about Mitsubishi having problems because they make shitty cars that suck. Apparently the leader of the company flat out said he doesn't do recalls because they hurt sales :awe:
Isuzu, I don't know. I don't even think they sell those in Canada.
Suzuki has a hit or miss reputation.

 

[Mermaidman]

That's too bad that you couldn't wait. The first Focus' are supposed to be rolling off the lines this week...you could have found a dealer that would have a few in March.

The selection will be limited and I doubt the dealers would budge on price. Based on professional reviews, it seems both cars are good, but emphasize different strengths.

Well, just as an update, I went to the Ford yesterday to ask when they'd even be getting the new Focus in, and they said it'd probably wind up being late April before they'd have any in stock that I could drive (their first couple batches arriving in early April have already been sold), and since I need the car in the next few weeks I went back to the Chevy dealer and negotiated a really nice deal on the Cruze ECO, so I wound up going with that.

I took one out on the highway to test the power at higher speed and I was actually really impressed. The manual transmission is really nice and the engine responds quite well.

Congrats on your new car--Sounds like a good one. Please post follow-up review and pic! About the absence of a spare--What's the possibility of getting one from a junkyard? I think the space for the spare is filled up with an organizer, right? So you might have to remove the organizer.

 

[ElFenix]

Interesting. I always thought of it as overstretched on the sonata, like it had been lengthened by 15" after the design was done, and that it fits the elantra perfectly

i agree with this. i also think the design will be dated quickly.

 

[exar333]

The newest gen Civic is boring and (coupe only) is clausterphobic. I seriously don't know why people buy these at all. I would much rather buy a mid 00's or later 90's Civic.

 

[Imp]

may i recommend a Honda Civic? you won't be disappointed. plus, in 5 years it will be worth 3x more than a focus or cruze.

I drive a 2010 Civic and would honestly tell you to look elsewhere. Freaking A-pillar is a liability if you have to deal with pedestrians regularly.

 

[MiataNC]

Well im glad you've had such good luck with your cars, but unfortunately the past few years have shown the american car makers have struggled.

wanna take a guess as to why?

1. Just like in the 70s they kept building large gas guzzling vehicles (SUVs) when consumers wanted smaller more efficient cars to counter rising fuel costs.

2. HUGE financial burdens in the form of benefits and pensions to union workers.

3. Recession/Depression killing sales.

4. Rise of cheaper more competitive makes (Hyundai, Kia)

5. Contractual obligations to suppliers (and their associated unions) preventing modernizing and updating of existing products, facilities and production lines.

There are a lot of problems with US automakers, but the products themselves are not driving them. (no pun intended)

 

[ShawnD1]

1. Just like in the 70s they kept building large gas guzzling vehicles (SUVs) when consumers wanted smaller more efficient cars to counter rising fuel costs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_car#1970s.E2.80.931990s
Chevy Vega, Ford Pinto, Chevy Chevette, AMC Gremlin, etc. Lots of American economy cars to pick

I drive a 2010 Civic and would honestly tell you to look elsewhere. Freaking A-pillar is a liability if you have to deal with pedestrians regularly.

lol. I almost hit a few pedestrians with my 2006 Civic. I think it has a huge pillar because it's an air bag or something, so there's this thick plastic thing that prevents you from seeing where people are about to jump onto the road. My toyola is a little better but still has the same issue.

edit
That 2006 Civic was also very difficult to park. The turning radius (how much space you need to make a u-turn) is about 4 lanes. It's fucking huge. Turning radius of a corolla is 2-3 lanes at most.

 

[Sinanju]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_car#1970s.E2.80.931990s
Chevy Vega, Ford Pinto, Chevy Chevette, AMC Gremlin, etc. Lots of American economy cars to pick


.

all of which died off because they were utter trash compared to the competition.

 

[Mermaidman]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_car#1970s.E2.80.931990s
Chevy Vega, Ford Pinto, Chevy Chevette, AMC Gremlin, etc. Lots of American economy cars to pick

all of which died off because they were utter trash compared to the competition.

I would bet my entire life savings that the 2011 Toyota Corolla is better than the Ford Pinto.

 

[yh125d]

I would bet my entire life savings that the 2011 Toyota Corolla is better than the Ford Pinto.

Difference: The Pinto blew up when you got rear ended, the Toyota blows up when the accelerator gets stuck and you wrap it around a tree