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Ford Focus SVT vs. VW GTI - READ ONLY
33 messages, Last post on Apr 12, 2003 at 9:31 AM
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What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Coupe, Hatchback
#14 of 33 Isn't the Golf and GTi by seminole_kev
Nov 19, 2001 (12:04 pm)
built in Brazil? Also, while the SVT is a limited production auto, the car itself is a regular ZX3 pulled of the assembly line and modified. So it's not exactly a hand built auto. But I'd take the SVT over the GTi just despite the torque difference. SVT should be quite the handler. And it will have a nicer interior than the standard Focus. Oh, and I can pocket the cost difference for something else. But that my opinion, I know other will lean more towards the luxury than performance and take the GTi. To each their own.
#15 of 33 moparbad by diploid
Nov 20, 2001 (1:04 am)
Then where are they made? I've googled it, and an incredible majority of the websites agree that they're assembled in Mexico, while the engines were built in Germany.#16 of 33 GTI where is it made by moparbad
Nov 20, 2001 (9:56 am)
Brazil. 60% German content and 40% Brazil content.#17 of 33 MADE IN MEXICO by butlersbox
Nov 22, 2001 (4:06 am)
According to this link, it's made in Mexico.http://biz.yahoo.com/ifc/mx/news/91001-3.html
The beetle, Golf & Jetta are all the same car, it only makes sense that they come from the same plant. I think over the past 7 to 10 years, it's been proven that it doesn't matter where a car is built, all car companies have the same robots building them. What does matter is the engineering behind them. Thats what makes a great car, not where it's made. Take Toyota for an example, besides the celica, I can't think of another Toyota in North America that comes from Japan. They are all built in plants in the U.S. And the celica was designed in California! The days where a car is either Japanese, American, German, etc, etc, are truely gone! Car companies are building there cars and getting there parts wherever it makes economical sense for them.
#18 of 33 Golf and GTI made in Brazil re butlersbox by moparbad
Nov 22, 2001 (7:35 pm)
Go look at 2001 or 2002 GTI or Golf and check the VIN. The 1st digit of VIN is country of manufacture and W is Germany, 1 USA, 3 Mexico, and 9 Brazil. Second digit is manufacturer and A is Audi, B is VW Brazil, and V is Volkswagen.The link you posted is wrong. The robots are the same but the people installing seats, wiring, trim and etc. are not. The Jetta and Beetle suffer from greater number of squeeks and rattles (IMHO) and minor assembly defects than do the Golf. http://www.auto.com/autonews/cwirh17_20000517.htm
Number of defects per 100 vehicles for Golf is 187 and Jetta is 234.
#19 of 33 moparbad by diploid
Nov 23, 2001 (12:43 am)
So how does Brazil differ from Mexico? It's still not made in Germany, which was butlersbox's point.#20 of 33 RE: moparbad by butlersbox
Nov 23, 2001 (3:18 am)
I found that link on your last posting about which cars have the most defects to be interesting. http://www.auto.com/autonews/cwirh17_20000517.htmThe Ford Focus had a much fewer defects according to your source. Out of 191 vehicles on the list, the Focus was ranked at #131. That's much better than most of the Volkswagon's rankings. The Golf was rank at #153, the GTI was rank at #164, and the Cabrio at #186. The Jetta was only fifth from the bottom, beating only the a Suzuki & three Korean cars at #187. So I guess, according to your source, the SVT Focus would be a better choice for quality alone! And it's made in Mexico/States!
#21 of 33 Quality in context...Focus vs. GTI and where made by moparbad
Nov 23, 2001 (10:24 am)
According to JD Power you are likely to have 1.31 defects per car with Focus and 1.64 defects per car with GTI so yes there is .33 of a defect extra on the GTI. Focus less defects but I would not make a purchase decision on such an insignificant difference. VW certainly has some work to do to improve quality and especially dealer service.My main point of contention with bultlersbox was the incorrect assertion that VW GTI/Golf was made in Mexico. It isn't. I am not trying to build a case against the Focus. Also it is my opinion that different manufacturing plants do often have different end quality even if they are building the exact same product. This has been noted by Ford and GM in their plants and they have used the quality difference to decide on which plant to expand or close. The GTI/Golf made in Germany is known to have more defects than GTI/Golf made in Brazil. German car made in Brazil or American car made in Mexico is not hugely important to me.
I like the Ford Focus SVT, ZX3, ZX5, and wagon and also like the Golf and GTI. The SVT offers more performance per dollar than the GTI. Given a choice I would buy a GTI over the Focus SVT simply because I like the GTI interior more.
#22 of 33 Build quality of Focus and GTI by gfunk3
Dec 09, 2001 (12:35 am)
I have a Golf that was built in Germany, my VIN starts with "W" and I have a few squeaks and rattles after 2 years, not to my suprise. I have also heard a lot about the Focus being recalled many times though and I only remember the Golf being recalled once in the last few years. So does number of defects per car include the severity of the defects or just the exact number of defects? I know someone who has had to take his car in 3 times for recalls already.#23 of 33 by wordman93
Dec 11, 2001 (11:01 pm)
I'm guessing just the exact number of defects. From what I recall, the Focus has had many recalls since it's introduction a couple of years ago and I bet those recalls are not factored into those reports. Besides being ranked that low isn't really worth bragging about is it? Which GTI are you guys comparing against the SVT? The current 1.8t or the current 2.8 or the not yet released 2.8 24 valve which is expected to have improved handling at a much lower price.Advertisement
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