Posts

Showing posts with the label Ford Focus

Ford Focus

Image
Although similar with Deutschland, the Ford Focus currently has stronger links to Tom Yum Goong than to dish. The switch to Thai production in August saw the introduction of the Focus Mk2, that debuted Ford's hands-free synchronise moving-picture show system among different technical school options, nevertheless failed to suffer a come by cabin quality to the extent of the Fiesta it created an equivalent transition 2 years earlier. The production shift was quickly followed by a price cutting that saw the RRP of the entry-level Ford Focus Ambiente manual drop to $20,290 and therefore the dual-clutch automatic to $22,590 though Ford's 'special' driveaway valuation supply of $19,990 and $21,990 severally remains months later and may be your start line negotiating with dealers. It puts the Focus within the thick of the action within the ultra-competitive small-car phase, wherever it takes on the new-generation Toyota Corolla (from $19,990), the top-selling Mazda3...

Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited 2012

Image
Leave it to a black Subaru Impreza interior with Vinyleather upholstery and all-weather floor mats to redefine the word cheap. Add a raucous engine note amplified by the dreaded continuously variable transmission, and you have a recipe for Japanese Econobox Flashback, 1988-style. Justy, anyone? OK, so comparing our 2012 Subaru Impreza 2.0i Sport Limited to the three-pot Scooby scooter is probably a bit harsh. In Subaru's defense, I probably wouldn't be so hard on the Impreza if it weren't for the fact that I was in two Kias earlier in the week, each of which had interior appointments far surpassing that of our Subaru. These weren't $30,000 Optimas, either: They were both Kia Rios, and both came in at less than $21,000. On the road, once the CVT had stopped adjusting its belts and pulleys, things definitely improved. Noisy though the cabin was, the 2.0-liter flat-four proved adequate for pushing the Impreza along. The driving position was good, with much better seat-bott...

2012 Mazda 6 i Sport

Image
Base Price: $21,035 As-Tested Price: $21,665 Drivetrain: 2.5-liter I4; FWD, six-speed manual Output: 170 hp @ 6,000 rpm, 167 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm Curb Weight: 3,272 lb Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 24/24.2 mpg Options: Sirius satellite radio ($430); pearl paint ($200) It's interesting in how the Sport model here is basically the entry-level trim package. I guess "sport" means different things to different people and manufacturers. One might think that a Sport model would get the more powerful engine. But maybe in Mazda's zoom-zoom world, even the least powerful base models are still sporty, so the name would still be appropriate. And Mazda would be right. Even this base car with the 170-hp four-banger with a six-speed manual transmission is fun to drive. Mazda engineers know how to tune a suspension and dial in the kind of responsiveness that driving enthusiasts enjoy. Quick turn-in response and the kind of steering feel that lets you know where the front wheels are at a...