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Chevy Cobalt vs. Ford Focus

76 messages,  Last post on Nov 25, 2008 at 1:31 PM

You are in the Chevrolet Cobalt Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Cobalt, Ford Focus, Sedan

Messages Page 6 of 8

#47 of 76 Re: Cobalt vs. Focus vs Mazda 3 [nifty56] by pat

Nov 17, 2005 (4:26 pm)

Replying to: nifty56 (Nov 17, 2005 3:07 pm)
If several folks would like to add Mazda3 to the title of this, that's certainly an option. I just didn't want to get too off-topic. But the topic can be changed, if that's appropriate.

#48 of 76 Re: Problems and Solutions [nifty56] by pat

Nov 17, 2005 (4:26 pm)

Replying to: nifty56 (Nov 17, 2005 3:10 pm)
If an owner has something that needs to be a discussion like that, it can be created. Meanwhile, you might find that folks are discussing issues in the general topic, that happens - since it IS a general topic.

#49 of 76 Re: Only if [nifty56] by explorerx4

Nov 17, 2005 (7:54 pm)

Replying to: nifty56 (Nov 17, 2005 2:59 pm)
focus 2.3 is different from the 'unmentionable but related brand' 2.3. i think the mileage is good, but i do drive it in a conserative manner. what mileage does the cobalt get?

#50 of 76 Re: Only if by threebucks

Jan 11, 2006 (6:16 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Nov 17, 2005 7:54 pm)
A few months ago, I bought my first car, a 2006 Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged Coup. Well, it's not my first car really, as I also have a 1972 Dodge Van. Love that 360 V8! Nevertheless, it was my first new car. The 2005 and 2006 models were the same price at that point, and no local dealers had the SS in stock; so I got it custom ordered from the factory. Black and sleek, it arrived on the truck, and the dealer proudly placed it in a prominent place on the lot, where it was to sit until I picked it up. When I got there, they told me that many people were curious about it, and a couple had actually offered to buy it on the spot. It turns out that they had to move it to the garage in the back for fear of accidental dammage by curious customers.
 
I like the lines of the Cobalt better than those of the Focus, except perhaps the wing. Of course, the wing was a part of the sport (or whatever it was being called at the time) package, so I had little choice. The Recaro racing seats are really comfortable, though I have read complaints about the regular stock seats. Backseat room and comfort in the Cobalt is great. I have had friends repeatedly comment on the back seats being more comfortable than other coup rear seats.
 
I have loved the XM radio, and plan on renewing it when the trial expires.
 
The trunk is surpisingly spacious, at least to me. I have been able to haul a Server, couple of desktops, and their monitors, cords, etc in the trunk with some room to spare.
 
Fuel economy has been great at 25mpg city and 28 to 30 on the highway. Of course, those figures go up or down depending on how aggressively I drive. I would expect that the non-supercharged and/or non SS flavors of the Cobalt would get even better milage.
 
Insurance is only slightly higher on the Cobalt than on my previous vehicle, a 1985 Ford Tempo 2-door.
 
----------
 
Of course, I have never owned or driven a Ford Focus, so I can't do a legitimate comparison. Just my take on the Cobalt.

#51 of 76 Re: Only if [threebucks] by ambull

Jan 14, 2006 (2:17 pm)

Replying to: threebucks (Jan 11, 2006 6:16 pm)
I've driven a Cobalt coupe and a Focus ST. The Focus interior seems out-of-date, but otherwise either one seems acceptable. Of course, there is no Focus which can compare to the SS Supercharged.
 
Your insurance compared to the Tempo is suprising.
 
Has anybody out there driven the SS non-supercharged? I'm curious how much it differs from the regular coupe.

#52 of 76 Re: Only if (threebucks) by hpmctorque

Jan 16, 2006 (7:28 pm)

Congratulations on your new Cobalt! Did you not consider the Focus because of your experience with the Tempo? How many miles did your Tempo have on it and what was your experience with it?

#53 of 76 my room mate by randydriver

Apr 28, 2006 (9:09 pm)

My roomie is driving a 2002 Saturn SC2 with 36,000 miles on it and is thinking of gettin either a Focus Zx3 or the Cobalt LT coupe .....2006 models ....Need some input from both side and mileage.

#54 of 76 Re: my room mate [randydriver] by explorerx4

Apr 29, 2006 (5:05 pm)

Replying to: randydriver (Apr 28, 2006 9:09 pm)
a manual trans will get better mileage than an auto becuse you can coast a lot. that might not work depending on driving conditions. my 2.3 5 speed focus averages 29 mpg over 21k miles, but i am conservative. no long drives, though.

#55 of 76 Re: my room mate [explorerx4] by randydriver

Apr 30, 2006 (10:54 am)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Apr 29, 2006 5:05 pm)
thanks, he is also a conservative driver.

#56 of 76 Cobalt vs. Focus by mikus

May 28, 2006 (12:17 pm)

I have driven rental Cobalt, and recently I became an owner of a used Focus wagon, so I guess I can do some comparison.
 
Focus is really great in fast turns, it keeps the line no matter what. But it is too bouncy (again, I am talking about a used wagon here), so I ordered a new set of shocks. Cobalt is very supple, it ride is not too stiff, not too soft, it drives along the potholes with ease and does not bounce. I really like its suspension setup, at least on straight line, I had not have a chance to drive it fast in curves.
 
I like original Focus interior design, still looks good and airy, better than boring redesigned panel. Cobalt is ok, large dials are easy to read. Cobalt's turn indicator lever is horrible, it is of "electronic" style, the same as on Opel Astra (same parts bin, Opel Astra rides on the same platform as Cobalt and even looks similar). So you don't know where your turn lever is, and you cannot easily turn it back to neutral.
 
Cobalt has electric power steering and it shows, the feel is somewhat artificial, Focus is much better in this department.
 
Cobalt is sedan/couple only, no hatcbacks or wagons, so there is no real comparison here. Focus hatchback looks best and drives great, Focus wagon is functional. Cobalt is neither here nor there, just another small sedan.

Messages Page 6 of 8

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