07 Focus ZX3 vs 07 Cobalt???

Alright, anyone with opinions? I'm looking at the following:

07 ZX3, s model, 5 speed, a/c.

or

07 Cobalt LS with same options except spoiler.

I will be using for commute, 70+ miles a day. Teenage son gets to use it on weekends. Price difference come out to less than $200 after deals.

Whatcha' think? Gas mileage is better on Focus. I haven't been able to test drive a ZX3. I did drive the Cobalt, seems to scoot pretty well with the 5 speed.

Thanks in advance, Roger

Go with the focus better crash test results and reliability feedback the cobalt’s feel cheap

You also have to factor in the cost that Cobalt has a much better 100,000k powertrain warranty. I have never driven a Focus, so can't really compare. I do love my 07 Cobalt, which I've had for 6000 miles. I bought it to save on gas money as I started a long new commute this year, and it has fulfilled that role perfectly. Haven't had any issues with it, and it doesn't feel cheap to me. Well, the plastic wheel covers are cheap and do make noise, and if I had it to do over I'd get the aluminum wheels. Other than that, it's been great and fun to drive.

I thought my Cobalt was a nicer car to drive than my buddies Focus was... :2cents:

I like my 07 Cobalt LT1 a whole lot. Did test drive a focus twice but I just couldn't get comfortable in it.

Found the Cobalt handled better, for me anyways, and the fuel economy, to date has been good. Averages mid 30s highway.

cobalts dont even come close to the focus's handling but dont get me wrong the cobalts are good littel cars

Thanks guys. I know this is very close comparison. We have driven the Colbalt and an Aveo(talk about feeling cheap....and only $500 less than a comparably equipped Cobalt). I've owned a focus 4 years ago, but it was an SVT. Not fair to compare. This time I'm looking for low price and great gas mileage.

Kinda funny, I posted this same question in the Focus forum, but only one reply. You guys over here don't seem as biased as I thought!!! Thanks!!

I feel the Cobalt looks and feels sportier, but harder to see out the back window!! Focus's have a rear wiper.....

Thanks again, Roger

Sounds like your choice could come down to which dealer has a better service reputation.

I do like the higher up seating position and higher cabin of the Focus over the Cobalt. However I am kind of partial to the Ecotec/4T45 combo. I know when I bought my Cobalt, you couldn't touch a new Focus for the out the door price of a Cobalt. All things being equal, I'd buy another Cobalt today if I had the need.

Joel

I used to have an 07 Focus, but just traded it in for an 07 cobalt. The cobalt seems to be MUCH better so far, but its only been like 3 weeks. I love the fact that the cobalt has a lot more safety features standard than the focus, such as anti-lock brakes, traction control, automatic headlights, etc. The cobalt does a lot for being such a cheap car, the DIC is amazing (driver info center, it shows ur mpg, fuel range, temp outside, coolant temp, 2 trips, etc) Overall, the cobalt had a lot more bang for the buck, which is exactly why I traded in my 2007 Focus SE sedan on my 2LT cobalt coupe. Don't go with the focus, they have boring style, and the 2008 is horrible looking as well. Go with the cobalt, take it from someone who really knows a focus. The reliability of a focus is horrible as well.

Well, Just signed the papers for a 2007 Rally Yellow!!! 5 Speed with Cruise and the Street Package(power sunroof, spoiler, aluminum wheels). Should get it on Wednesday, will snap some pics! Thanks for all your help!!

This same question posted on the Focus forum has recieved 1 response.....is that telling me something??

Thanks again, Roger

.. I love the fact that the cobalt has a lot more safety features standard than the focus, such as anti-lock brakes, traction control.

Neither of those is standard features on a Cobalt. You have to bump up to the LT package to get those. Problem is, now you are making a 'cheap' car an expensive car with the LT package IMO.

Joel

The Focus licks balls.

I owned a 2007 focus se auto and it handled great and was a really nice car. The dash board design was lacking but it was functional and the interior was average. Nice seating position and telescpoing wheel. I averaged 29 mpg 50/50 mix. I traded in the focus for an 07 Aveo 5 that i bought for $7200 after all discounts and GM bucks. They actually wrote me the check for the difference. The aveo really rode nicely and averaged 30 mpg, not too bad. But everyone was picking on me due to the size of the cars rear end. So i went to the chevy dealer and traded in the aveo5 for a base cobalt that was $10,500 - 5 speed air, spoiler, mouldings and 4 airbags. The dealer gave me $7200 for the Aveo so I didnt lose anything on the deal. The Cobalt is really nice. I love the standard XM stereo system in the car. The Focus does have a better sportier suspension. It seems like the focus likes to be thrown into turns and such. The Cobalt however does handle well and is no slouch. It also seems much more tightly built and handles bumps much better than the Focus or Corolla. The doors panels on the Cobalt are too thick at the top, lack and imagination, have too swallow of map pockets and feel like aligator skin. In other words the suck. The Cobalts seats also lose to the Focus on the fabric, comfort, and the lack of a front seat arm rest. Essentially the Focus is much more European while the Cobalt is all American in its ride. Both cars have decent acceleration as well. The Cobalts exterior wins points with painted body color door handles and bumpers. The focus paints the bumpers well but sticks the owner with flat black door handles that turn white if wax hits them. The main thing is to test drive both cars first to see which one you like, you really cant go wrong.

Three 2007's all in under a year? :eek: Just curious; How did the Aveo feel/drive as compared to the Cobalt? They seem like decent little cars for the money, but after incentives, you can get a Cobalt for basically the same money. It doesn't seem like much sense to buy an Aveo for that reason. GM barely even advertises the things. All I can figure is they keep them in the fleet to boost the average fuel economy of the fleet (CAFE). An Aveo 5spd had got to have an impressive hywy MPG rating.

Joel

Wow, I just bought a 07 LT2 yellow one too, I like the car and it get's great gas mileage to. Here's my pictures.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/littlebluerocket/DSC03879.jpg

And one week later I got lucky enough to hit a deer on my way home from work.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/littlebluerocket/Picture263557638.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/littlebluerocket/Picture263557639.jpg

So I had to take out my summer car for awhile.
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b52/littlebluerocket/b75ea103.jpg

Deer suck... This season has been terrible for them running... :(

Well, sorry for the delay in telling my story. Long story short... I didn't get the Yellow one I bought...... or thought I bought.

I signed the papers, got the loan, got the check from the credit union and went to pick up the car when they informed the car was sold!!!!

They promised to find me another one....but couldn't get one just like it. Ended up with an identical one just in Sport Red Tint...and automatic!! I said I didn't buy one with automatic and after some sweet talking, the dealer paid for the automatic!! It had everything I wanted, sun roof, cruise, power options, spoiler.... To make the deal even better, I could buy on the GM Plan. Plus they gave me $1,500 more for my Ford F-350 than Ford would give me. That made me mad, this is the same (and only) dealer I have bought 13 vehicles from over the last 10 years - talk about dedication...I may become a chevy fan now...)

SO....the Cobalt became mine!!! I love it so far! I really wanted the Stick, they seem a little peppier, but I won't turn down free Auto. After the snow melts, I'll snap a couple pics.

Thanks for all the responses, Roger

Good deal Roger! Sounds like a nice Cobalt. I've owned 6-7 manual trans vehicles over the years. They are fun. For a daily driver? Not so much IMO. You'll save some gas over that F350!! Trade-in values always kill me. You can get 3 completely different #'s from 3 different dealers. I typically base my purchase on who ever gives me the most for my trades. The Cobalt is a great little car, but it is what it is; an 'inexpensive' car. It's going to have a cheaper interior, road noise, suspension noise, etc.. That said, I'd buy another in a heart-beat.

Joel

went i wanted a new car, i went in planning on getitn a focus. the dealership i went to sold both ford and chevy. i drive 58 miles each way to work and i needed mileage. the cobalt has 100k mile warrenty as opposed to fords 60k. cobalt is $4k cheaper. and it gets 4mpg better. now those are on the models i bought and looked at. i obviously went with the cobalt.