Corolla vs Focus

[Rubaslippah]

I've done the search thing and didn't turn up much info so I have to ask. Though opinions will probably be bias I'd like to hear what you think. I'm helping a friend make a purchase tomorrow. 2006 Corolla CE or S vs 2007 Focus 3 door HB SE? Also, what's the OTD price for a 2006 Corolla CE or S (no trade in, paying cash)? I'd really appreciate the input. Thanks!

[freakinbox]

I think the focus is cheaper since the corolla's aren't really anymore. Depends on your friend. Have them drive both cars. Which ever they like more buy <shrugs>

[Froggmann]

DO NOT GET THE FOCUS! THose things are heaps of trash. My GF has a 00 Focus that has been nothing but trouble. Yes I know first year/model equasion but the more recent ones are havign trouble too and Ford's customer service has been nothing but a disservice. Right now on her car that only has 60,000 miles on it it has 4 items that are recallable for any other manufacturer. Here is the short list. The ign tumber does not work, the engine hesitates because of a faulty ign module, the trans freespins in stop and go driving sometimes feeling like it is going to rip the front end off the car. And last but not least the freaking thing overheats because of a sensor that commonly goes out on those things.

The driveability of the car sucks too granted I have pleanty of headroom (I'm 6'4") the car rattles shakes and seems to only go when it wants to. The rotors warped quickly and badly signifing the brakes are undersized.

Basicaly I used to be a hard core Ford guy. But after this experiance I won't buy another new ford for a long time if ever. The customer service has been crap, the materials used to manufacture this car are crap and the quality of manufacture is crap as well.

As an anicdotal moment of this car I will relay what happened a couple of days ago. I am at work and I get a phone call from her. She is panicing on the side of the road because she is hearing a grinding sound and felt what sounded like her pad getting welded to the rotor. I tell her where to leave the car and after work I go to her location and pick her up. We go to her car where I feel the rotors and find she did go metal to metal on the brakes. So I give her my car, a 1990 Corolla with 156,000 miles to drive back while I ferry her car back home to do a late night brake job. Almost imediately she takes off from me and I lose her for about a block. Finally i pass her due to me going with the flow of traffic to keep out of the brakes and she swings in behind me. Of course the car is rattling, I got wind noise comeing from the door, the temp needle is wavering back and forth threating to go into the red and the A/C is freezing my arm off. Well I get it home and pull into the driveway where I grab my keys from the GF and we head over to autozone (There's a 24 hour one not far from my house) On the way over she's telling me that once she got on Beach and took off she looked down and saw she was already going 60 and didn't even realize it. Then she told me that the Corolla actually drove better than her car and seemed to accelerate better too. Now keep in mind the cars have a 90,000 diffrence between them and IMHO the corolla's suspenstion is shot. But according to her the little car was in much better shape than her car.

Anyways just wanted to share that.

[FLCEGuy]

I share your pain. I finally dumped my Chrysler for a Corolla late last year and couldn't be happier. While I found the Mazda 3i more fun to drive, the higher gearing in my rolla will serve me well over the next decade or more. Corolla has one of the highest reliability ratings of any car ever made.


Toyota has added many unadavertised improvements to the 9th generation rolla in the past 3 years. Ford/Chrylser doesn't even fix known defects. To me, that is worth a few hundred extra bucks in the beginning. I imagine with gas prices up considerably you won't get any bargains from any dealer on a small, efficient car these days. If you plan to keep your car a long time and want the best shot at trouble free driving, pay the fair market price to get a Corolla!


My Corolla was made in the USA (including it's sheet metal and engine) by UAW workers. I think they did a better job and had a better designed car to start with than Ford, GM, or Chrysler. Time will tell, but I'm betting on Toyota to satisfy my expectations better in the long run than those other mfrs. who have disappointed me and so many others in the past.

If I was buying again today, I'd offer $13,600 out the door (including tax and fees) for a base CE 5-speed. Only option I'd consider is the Upgrade Pkg of pwr. windows, locks for $550 more. Always bargain on an "out-the-door" price or you will get screwed by hidden fees.

BTW there are 64 Certified Used Corollas (03-06) in the Seattle area with asking prices starting at 14,995.

[Joe B]

My company car is a '06 Focus.A real POS.
My last one was an '05.
At 50K miles struts and steering rack went.
Rattles and creaks.
Does not come close to the Corolla in quality.

[freakinbox]

I don't know my uncle had a focus, never gave him grief

[Joe B]

Originally Posted by freakinbox

I don't know my uncle had a focus, never gave him grief

Good for him.
I'm on my third Focus and they suck.
The only reason my company buys them is because they call them throw away cars.

Mine listed at $18+K.

55-60Kmiles and gone.
I would never recommend a Focus.
This is not the same Focus that is sold in Europe.

[toyotaspeed90]

i didn't read what everyone else wrote... it's my bday and i'm kinda drunk

but... the focus is a piece of garbage.... really.... when it first came out i had like 6 friends go out and buy them.... i think 1 still has theirs..... and it's the only friend who bought a non zetec version...

one of them (my best friend from before college) had at least 10 recalls in the first year of ownership (everything from the rear wheel potentially falling off to the rear seats not locking in place, the ignition key breaking, etc....)

another good friend up here in college... his g/f has a focus.... it's already eaten an alternator and had several other problems and is less than 3 years old... POS!

[XRS yo]

I drove a Focus, which I sold for my Corolla XRS. I had a late 2002 ZX3 power premium 5-speed. And my gf had a late 02 ZX5. And now I drive a Corolla, so take my opinion for what it's worth.

The Focus is a great car. People trash it b/c they've heard of problems second hand, or because it's a Ford and holy crap, we all know Fords Suck, right? Any car can be a piece of crap if it's not properly maintained. I can say that my 05 Corolla has more squeaks and rattles then my Focus ever did ...

Anyway, I beat the everloving HELL out of my 02 ZX3. I put 50k miles on it in less than 2 years, raced it, auto-x'ed it, you name it. Absolutely not a single mechanical problem whatsoever. The only problem I ran into was premature brake wear, which is a common known Focus issue (for the earlier ones anyway), although I'm sure my spirited driving technique sped up this wear. $200 got me a set of EBC Greenstuff pads and EBC grooved rotors, which make the OEM brakes look like bicycle brakes. My only other complaint was the gas mileage was a little weak. I averaged about 20 mpg around town. That's not that great, with a 5 speed. My 95 Taurus does that with a 3L v6.

As for the 07's, I couldnt tell ya. The duratec motors are rock solid. Theres a decent aftermarket for them too, if you're into that sorta thing.

Comparing it to a Corolla? Well I did -- back in 2002. however a fully loaded 03 Corolla S was almost 5000 more than a fully loaded 02 ZX3. F--- that -- I bought the Focus. (Mind that this was back in late 02, when the S was brand new -- and the Focus's were "last years model")

Focus +'s -- dirt cheap to insure, hatchback + fold flat seats = buttloads of space, less $$ than the Corolla, better aftermarket, MUCH better handling, probably better features (keyless entry, 6-disc, etc)
Corolla +'s -- better gas mileage, Toyota reliabilty, better resale

Both is going to be an equally boring drive as they're both base model entry level cars. Get in each, and drive it. Then go from there.

[ToyotaMan1281]

HA!! I use to have a dodge neon 5 speed damn thing was in the shop every month. Paid 14 something for it, put half that amt in repairs Cylender 3 blew out finally and thats when i got my corolla LE 4 speed auto. Couldnt be happier. Oh yea paid the same price as neon after trade in, etc. 60K miles worth only 2-3K. what a piece of shit. DO not get the ford, get the corolla, well worth it and will last 250K miles easily if you take care of it.. Only major expenses will be brakes, battery, and 1 or two other things. Oil changes, wiper changes, etc are all cheap service. SO ask yourself do I really want a car that will not be worth shit in 4 yrs and 1 million recalls plus expenses up the wall, or something where if you do oil changes, etc on time it will last 250K miles easily.

[Tercel GTS]

I work on cars and Focus has major wiring issues. Just go check out the wiring section at focusfanatics.com last time I looked there was 8 pages of threads on wiring issues for a less than 5 year old car. A few give no problems, but it's like playing russian roulette and the gun has 4 bullets in it.