The Mazdas do well in popularity and the Mazdaspeed versions are certainly sportyI'm not sure if I'd describe most of those are sporty though. Nor do I think most were ever really popular.
I've only ever seen the two door hatch SVT Focuses. So they're not really popular (not that I see a lot of those ones either though). I see a MazdaSpeed anything once every few months. So again, not really that popular.The Mazdas do well in popularity and the Mazdaspeed versions are certainly sporty
The Focus SVT came in a ZX5 form. On paper, it was essentially an EP3 with 2 extra doors. It should have done well. The problem wasn't the EP3. The problem was that the Neon SRT/4 came out at about the same time. Same price as the SVT + 60-70 hp. (and that's a conservative figure. most automotive magazines insist that Chrysler's horsepower figure for the SRT/4 is bit pessimistic) Also Ford's Mazda branch had the Mazdaspeed Protege' so they were effectively competing with themselves.
The Korean cars? Maybe the Elantra GT 5 door is sporty. The Daewoo-zukis are not. The Spectra 5 door looks sporty but again is like driving a CR-V with a loose shifter and the parking brake on.
I don't know why Honda doesn't sell the Civic 5 door here. Maybe it's a Pounds to Dollar thing (why GM is losing money on the German built Saturn Astra) Maybe they don't want to cut into CR-V sales.
Yeah, that looks better and probably performs better than the US counterparts. There are two main Focus branches; the North American version and the international version.We got the Focus ST, which i presume is similar. It is a hugely popular 5 door hatch though
That's not our Focus. The Euro market Focus is our Mazda 3 and Volvo S40. The US market's Focus is the previous generation of Euro market Focuses (Foci?)We got the Focus ST, which i presume is similar. It is a hugely popular 5 door hatch though
I used to see the 3 and 5 door Foc.....whatever the hell the plural of Focus is, anyway, I used to see Focus SVTs, Konas, S2s (which have a little sticker on the side in which the 2 is made to look suspiciously close to a lower case "i". So at a distance it looks like a Honda "Si". Up close you can clearly see it's a 2) all the freaking time.The SVT five door hatch was only out for '03-'04. The three door SVT was out from '02-'04.
Yep. And the American car companies wonder why they do so poorly here compared to some of the other overseas companies. Try making something that's not so boring and run of the mill and perhaps you'll get some better sales. I'm not asking for somethign mind blowing... just something a little interesting.hmm, its funny, over here the Focus is highly regarded for its reliablility and good handling. And that ST goes like stink. I'm suprised actually, considering ford is a hugely american company, i'd have though that you lot would have benifitted from the best models. I like how this thread has turned into a debate about the Focus.
coupes are more desired over here because we're "fat american's" to the rest of the world. of course hatches are going to be more popular in japan, theres far too many more people for such little spaces, it's more convenient for them in the space they have to live. us Americans are used to everything being Big as s**t so we need cars to fill that space. my example, the extremely large, extremely ugly hummer.i think the coupe's were target more for the US market and thats why they made them better equipped. I read somewhere that sales for hatchbacks in general in the US are significantly lower than Europe or Japan, guess thats why everywhere else the hatchbacks are better equipped. I know over here they're far more sought after anyway
do you wanna super size thatcoupes are more desired over here because we're "fat american's" to the rest of the world. of course hatches are going to be more popular in japan, theres far too many more people for such little spaces, it's more convenient for them in the space they have to live. us Americans are used to everything being Big as s**t so we need cars to fill that space. my example, the extremely large, extremely ugly hummer.
each car has their advantages and disadvantages, it all depends on your daily drive, and what your lifestyle is asking for. me, i'm married with no kids and i'm broke. hatchback all the way because i can still fit my whole livingroom in my hatchback with the seats folded down. and it's better for gas, and i get out of driving road trips in my car because everyone knows comfort in the rear of a hatchback wasn't thought out very well. so if you see yourself driving 2+ passengers around and the randomness of needing a crap load of room to fit a 42" tv than get a coupe. it's not like people buy 42" TV's once a month to need a hatchback all the time to get it in. and if you are buying that many TV's, you can afford both a coupe and a hatch
Get A Hatch.... And keep the Coupe
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And rice em out!!