Quote:
Originally Posted by Bungle
Because a Focus is such a bland and nondescript car (in it's normal guise at least) it appeals to people and is what you would call a 'safe choice'. It can't really offend anyone and does most things reasonably well.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bungle
The trouble is, it stirs no emotion aesthetically. You would have a hard time noticing one even if it hit you. What many Civic buyers choose the Civic for is the style and originality, and the technology. Not people who want a plain car to get you from a to b whilst blending seamlessly into the background.
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Both brands made a interesting move. The first Focus was a stylish and original car. When it came at the market in '98(?) the press though Ford took an enormous risk with the design. It became a success but Ford was afraid to do the same trick again with the second Focus, and made it boring. Interesting move because many people did like the Focus because of the design (and the handling off course).
Honda always made cars with outstanding technology, especially the suspension and the engines but the design never was superb. They started with double wishbones in '88. But a great handing won't sell big amounts of cars. The engines are not very special anymore also. The Civic is now a very stylish car, but maybe it is not a real Honda. However, it does work. In most counties the Civic is a success.
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Hmm, I notice I'm behind in the discussion

Anyway, I drove both the 1.8 and the 2.2 and both are not slow. However, in the 1.8 you have to shift gear a lot so the cruise control is not very useful.
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