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Hatchbacks Mazda3 Mazdaspeed3 vs. VW V GTI vs. Civic Si
1379 messages, Last post on Oct 01, 2009 at 10:54 AM
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Replying to: creakid1 (Aug 09, 2007 6:07 am) |
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Replying to: eldaino (Aug 09, 2007 6:47 am) You nailed it. All show, with very little-if at all-extra go. |
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Replying to: creakid1 (Aug 09, 2007 6:07 am) |
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Replying to: eldaino (Aug 09, 2007 6:47 am) I was in St. Lucia and picked up a British car mag, forgot the name, but, on the cover, it had a comparo between the WRX, Mazda3 MPS (Speed3 over here), and Civic Type-R. It was a pretty good article. The Subi came in last, the Mazda 2nd, and the Type-R 1st. Mazda got kudos for being the fastest, and handling while the Type-R won because of handling and driving ergernomics.
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Replying to: aviboy97 (Aug 09, 2007 12:13 pm) the type r i was talking about avi is the jdm version. its the one with the huge brakes and 222hp engine. some sources say 212, but the engine in the EUROPEAN hatch type r is supposed to be only 198 hp. Its essentially our si's engine, but tuned for torque and midrange. (it has more of it too rated at 142 lbs.) it actually only has a torsion beam rear suspension; but the interior and exterior simply own our si and the jdm type r(which is just a jdm civic sedan.) even though its technically the lesser of the two, i'd love the euro type r hatch, the sytling is amazing and its still quite a bit quicker than our si, if not quicker than the jdm r. again, the styling alone is the selling point. on top of that, while it does lack an lsd, it comes with a stiffer suspension, noticably bigger brakes, awesome wheels and a better k20. |
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It is absurd that the Euro Civic w/ such low-tech suspension can beat the Control-Blade GTI & C-1 Focus ST, per most Brit magazines. That's b/c lowered sport versions don't use much suspension travel, & therefore the crude suspension geometry doesn't show much. The 5-cyl turbo in the C-1 Focus ST also hurts, no wonder it got ranked behind the GTI: creakid1, "2008 Ford Focus future vehicle" #43, 19 Jan 2007 2:11 am But once comparing the "normal" versions, the order almost always goes reverse. The C-1 Focus w/ 4-cyl beats both the Golf (Rabbit) & the Euro Civic, mainly b/c the Euro Civic's ride sucks & neither can match Focus' steering feel.
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Replying to: eldaino (Aug 09, 2007 6:45 am) Yeah, but I'm sure the 30th Edition is, per some Brit magazine who found it too uncomfortable for British roads.  "creakid...i'm suprised you say that the focus st rides less 'nervously' over roads than the 3...i test drove one the other day and it was good fun, and sportier than my rabbit." I only drove the '04 Mazda3's, so I don't know if its quick-rebound ride has changed or not. But the Focus ST has retuned the suspension after the '05 & no longer using the SVT shocks. No wonder Consumer Reports mentioned how comfortably the '06 ST rides. "is the st the c-1 chassis? i was always under the impression that the c-1 chassis can only be found under the euro focus..." Some Brit magazine also found the old BMW E36 3-series more fun than the E46 3-series mainly due to the more lively steering feel & more playful oversteer from the multi-links. So even an E36 w/ std suspension is still more fun than an E46 w/ the less comfy sport suspension. The same goes to the old C-170 Focus I vs the C-1 Focus II. The only thing wrong w/ the U.S.-spec is the over assisted steering on all but the discontinued SVT model. But I know how to fix that by tapping into the pwr-steering wires. I can also have this cheaply equipped car sound insulated by Dynamat to feel more luxurious. British Top Gear said: comp386, "2008 Ford Focus future vehicle" #47, 19 Jan 2007 10:14 am In other words, the old C-170 Focus I beats the Mazda3 & the Golf V. It also beats its own new version in fun but not ride/handling compromise (see post#67): creakid1, "Ford Focus 2005 release date" #67, 25 Dec 2004 12:39 pm That's right, you don't want to give up a lively tail if the high-tech Control Blade design can harness it w/in a predictable level.
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Replying to: creakid1 (Aug 09, 2007 10:52 pm) if the focus or mazda 3 accomplished what they do using a torsion beam, than i'm sure you wouldn't complain.  there is no denying the purity of the type r philosophy. plus creakid, you haven't driven the type r have you? i'd say the brits are pretty savvy on their hatches...they know what they are doing.
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Replying to: creakid1 (Aug 09, 2007 11:25 pm) i was under the impression that that 3 here in states was the only offering with the control blades....so your saying that even your focus st has them? but then again, you and top gear also think that regardless of the suspension, this older focus is more 'fun'? ok i get that. i'm just trying to confirm that this is what you are saying! because you mentioned it 'beating' the 'new' version, whereas i thought the c-1 was kinda oldish and not anything 'new'. |
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never mind, i got educated on wikipedia. i know the differences now, so i guess the question i have is if the mk1focus in europe is the same suspension as the focus st we have here, because the wikipedia article on the american focus that i just finished reading didn't identify the chassis codes on the american focuses, just the euro ones. having said that, compared to the older euro focus AND the new c-1, most euro guys, including top gear, still think that the rabbit feels the nicest with regards to ride comfort, while stil having a sporty edge, even if its not as big as the old focus or c-1. so yeah, you were right. the rabbit does kinda ride like a luxury car.
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