Ford Focus vs Chevy Cobalt

[Shuriken]

Would like to hear your opinions. Cheap little cars. The Chevy has a stronger engine and the Ford apparently has independent rear suspension. Otherwise about similar.

Which would you buy if you could only choose one or the other?

Let's also constrain this to 04-06 models, not the new latest and greatest fancy, more expensive models.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

I would have to cast my vote for the Cobalt.

I am, and have been for 30+ years, an automotive tech. I have seen a LOT more Focus' in for repairs than I've seen Cobalts.

The Focus has abnormal tire wear problems and an air filter that isn't servicable. When it gets plugged according to the vacuum guage built into it,you just replace it.

Not a big problem but the replacement filter will run you about $300.

My $.02 worth.

[MaximPhil]

Would like to hear your opinions. Cheap little cars. The Chevy has a stronger engine and the Ford apparently has independent rear suspension. Otherwise about similar.

Which would you buy if you could only choose one or the other?

Let's also constrain this to 04-06 models, not the new latest and greatest fancy, more expensive models.

Hi Shuriken,
My son has a 05 Focus SES From his research the 05and newer is superior to prior years. There are 3 levels s.se.ses of trim s is very basic.
At 6' 5"' he found it the only small car that he fit into.

Phil

[crazy steve]

Can't speak to the newer ones, but my wifes '00 Focus has been a great car. Nearly 200K on it now and it's been pretty trouble-free. One tune-up, one clutch, one set of brakes. The only 'trouble' was the PVC hose went bad and killed a set of plugs (from running lean). No issues with tire wear either, but I do rotate them once a year. And the damn thing gets nearly 40 mpg on the freeway (better than my XS!) so no complaints there. Hers is a 'cheapy' (no power windows, etc) 4 door sedan with the base motor and 5-speed trans. Roomy interior, pretty good ride quality (better than any other small car we've owned). No beans, but for a commuter car it does ok. I drive a 'Vette-powered Jag XJS, so for what the Focus is, I've been impressed.

'78E original owner

[Ivan]

Along the same thread, I had a Dodge Caliber as a rental. I was NOT impressed.

Not much experience with the Chevy, but I have worked on some Focuses, and they are pretty basic cars. I remember something about the air filter like Greg said, but not much, its been a while. I do remember doing a lot of rear wheel bearing on a recall, but can't remember the cause.

I think the Focus had a Vtec engine which was fairly bulletproof and had some tuning potential as well.

Pretty much an OK car, for what it is. Don't get a Contour or Mystique (Confailure and Mistake) which regularly needed the engine wiring harness replaced, even after the recall. A $300 air filter is chump change compared to that.

[trbig]

Since they are pretty close, I personally would choose the Ford just because they have sucked it up and made a go of things without being a leach on the taxpayers like GM (Government Motors) has.

Sure, maybe that won't directly help Ford by buying a used one, but maybe that person traded in for a new Ford to replace it. Who knows what's going to happen with parts and such with Chrysler and Chevy in 5 or 8 years. They still don't seem to be doing any better even with a huge influx of OUR cash.

Just my 2 cents.


Tod

[Geezer]

Since they are pretty close, I personally would choose the Ford just because they have sucked it up and made a go of things without being a leach on the taxpayers like GM (Government Motors) has.
Tod

I'm with you on that one. I'd go with Ford first for that reason alone. They have also been working hard to bring up their quality so it's hard to go wrong with brand F these days. Now if they would stop making so many ugly cars...

Geezer

[Shuriken]

These have all been very useful replies. Thanks.

There does appear to be a pattern of wheel bearing and brake issues on the Focis cars. There appears to be a pattern of quality fit/finish issues on the Cobalt cars - at least from the info I've been gathering.

Brake issues meaning rotors, pads, caliper issues causing funny tire wear, etc. Quality issues meaning paint, clear coat, plastic cracking, etc.

The quality issues would seem more minor but to me, most brake issues and even wheel bearings seem fairly minor. A/C compressor, fuel pumps, etc., are bigger issues, but they are components that could be bolted on from any source.

If someone can point out a major difference with engine reliability or safety between the cars, that would help a lot.

[XSokieSPECIAL]

If someone can point out a major difference with engine reliability or safety between the cars, that would help a lot.

For my suggestion on that I will have to refer you to my first post here;

I am, and have been for 30+ years, an automotive tech. I have seen a LOT more Focus' in for repairs than I've seen Cobalts.

That is my experience speaking, no politics.

[Crazcnuk]

Are you stuck with those as your only choices?

I just traded in My Neon and got a Sebring for less than I paid for the Neon!

Chrysler is really cutting the prices these days. Not sure if it's the same in the US.

[TDodge7]

i've never owned a cobalt , but i have owned a focus and it self destructed in every way possible before it even hit 40k miles . the driver seat locked to it's track , the radio display would only display half the numbers , the mirror fell off the drive door while closing it normally , the welds on the exhaust header broke 4 times (each time it had to go back to the dealer for a week) the a/c lines ruptured in the middle of summer , it went thru brakes and tires like crazy even tho the dealership said it was fine , the hood latch cable broke at 25k miles , and then finally it spun a main bearing and died , ford said it was our fault and we were out 15 grand . i won't even ride in a focus anymore . my friends cobalt seems to be doing pretty well tho. i'd run from the focus , but thats just me .

[fredintoon]

My son has an '03 small Ford, dunno what model.
It recently started making nasty noises from a rear wheel.
Turns out the hub bearings had died.
No f**king way would that hub come apart.
Had to buy a complete replacement from a wrecker's yard.
No f**king way to re-grease the bearings neither.
40 years ago my buddy Curly left the BAC to work for Henry in the UK. They start junior engineers off small so they gave him the back brakes off a Ford Popular (the "Dagenham Upright" the last Ford a gentleman could get into while wearing a top hat and the last Ford that had rod brakes.) to improve their function.
After a week's figuring he came up with a design that replaced a bent sheetmetal bracket with a small forged part that wouldn't flex to let the brake off again whenever it was applied.
The boss called Curly into his office and closed the door.
Are you sure you want to work here?
Do you even know what you have done?
You have made a change that will increase the unit cost!
We NEVER make a change that will increase the unit cost!
Some things never change.

[dragxs11]

My old man bought an 07 Cobalt used a few months ago. It's already been all over the West coast. Stock tires fetched him up to 36mpg. Winter tires caused that # to plumet. He loves it and he's 73 and 6ft 1. I've driven it and it does handle very well considering.
No issues so far.

[wa407mpp]

I don't have much experience with either one, but I do know the ignition locks on the Focus are crap and are prone to locking up with out warning, not repairable and must be replaced.

[Shuriken]

Thanks for the discussion. Let's keep it going.

I do have to say I don't necessarily have to have either brand. I have a Honda with 296,000 on it and it has had very few repairs since 1984 - most all of which I have done myself.

Granted, the new cars aren't as simple as the little carbureted Honda 1.5; more to go wrong on the new cars. But the Honda engine on my car is undeniably well-engineered. It's been very hard for me to look past Honda or Toyota but I am trying to be open minded.