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I've asked wayne this question and now its the forums time! I can buy(if i buy very soon cause they only have one left) a 2010 ford focus se with manual shift and 201 spec option which is cruise and controls on steering wheel for $13,000.00 before taxes or i can buy a 2011 hyundai elantra automatic with a mpg rating of 29/40 for $17,400.00 before taxes! I've drove both vehicles and the hyundai wins the driving quality and quietnsss,but i like that stick in the focus and it has a rating of 24/35 which i'm sure i can destroy! the ford actually easier funtioning radio,sync,satellite radio, dashboard controls and is a decent car although it feels kinda awkward sitting like your leaning forward(i'm used to my 2006 malibu which is lower sitting and very comfy) the hyundai elantra feels very refined ,but the only thing i noticed was the front end felt out of alignment in the car i drove! the focus runs about 2300 rpm's at 60mph which makes the engine louder,but the car handles nicely and shifts good! the elantra runs at 1950 rpm's at 60 mph and is about as quiet as my 2006 malibu(which is very quiet on the highway)! Then there is the price $4,400.00 is a lot of gas money! i've read reviews for 2 days and the 2010 focus has very mixed reviews averaging 7 out of 10! The elantra i'm sure is an awesome car that has the best warranty in the business 6/60,000 bumper to bumper and 100,000 power train warranty! the ford has 3/36,000 bumper to bumper! i've drove both and the scale is almost level so i need your help ASAP!
p.s. i'm very conservative with money,but short term gain will not help if long term reliability raises its ugly head! thank you every post will help!

p.s. i'm very conservative with money,but short term gain will not help if long term reliability raises its ugly head! thank you every post will help!

Buy the one you'll get better mileage in. :D

OK, more seriously...

Price:
- You have the $4400 up front and by investing the difference and/or paying down debts you'll really gain more.
- If your annual fees/taxes are based on MSRP you'll save money on that each year.
- The difference should more than cover maintenance costs related to reliability.

Consumption:
- It depends on your driving patterns and techniques, I guess, but you may be able to get better mileage in the Focus. Mileage log has a 46mpg for a 2009 MT Focus. Better fuel economy also saves some money.
- Is there any difference in oil change interval? That's a factor both for running costs and resource consumption.

Manufacturing:
- Ford is a US company. 2010 Focus is 50% US by parts and is assembled in Michigan
- Hyundai is a foreign company. 2011 Elantra is assembled in Alabama. I don't know the US parts percentage.

I'll throw acouple of things out there. If you plan to keep the car for 10 years or more the parts/repair coverage for the '10 Focus will be good no matter where you are in the US, but coverage for the Hyundai will be geographically spotty. (Advantage Focus)

If you're only keeping the car a few years you need to anticipate how the cars will hold their resale values. The '10 Focus is at the end of its generation's run so it may not hold its value so well. Hyundai's used to have poor resale, but it seems like they've improved recently. (Even?)

In terms of long term satisfaction with a car one of the biggest factors for me is my (dis)comfort in the driver's seat. This was why we did not purchase a Focus. You sounded comfier in the Hyundai. (Advantage Elantra)

If you're not financing the car and plan to drive it at least another ten years go with the one that you like the best. If you plan on financing the car then the Ford Focus is the winner no matter what argument you can show for the Hyundai being a better car.

With a six percent sales tax the difference is $4,664 (Focus $13780 vs Elantra $18,444) and that will buy a whole lot of gas and maintenance over the next ten years.

The other side of the coin is this, buying a car that you are not thrilled with to save a few bucks isn't worth it, if you spend the next ten years kicking yourself for not buying what you really wanted.

Thanks for advice! I recently did an online search for complaints on the 2010 ford focus se with manual shift and read a bunch of reviews about the locking mechanism on the steering wheel when you insert the key the car will not unlock and ford wont recall them! Now to mention my 1999 ford ranger had this same problem once! There were alot of complaints about fuel mileage being bad and not up to epa estimates! I plan to keep my next car about 10-15 years if it will hold up ,so i want the best car for the money,not necessarily the least expensive!

price--advantage focus
reliability--?
mpg--advantage elantra
comfort--advantage elantra
fun--advantage focus(due to the stick and handling)
looks--slight advantage elantra
american company--advantage focus
dealer service shop--advantage focus
ease of controls--advantage focus
wife being able to drive occassionally--big advantage elantra(wife cant drive stick)
passenger and cargo room--advantage elantra
resale--advantage elantra(due to new model and auto tranny)
variety of color--advantage elantra(only 1 2010 focus on lot)
financing --even
waynes advice--advantage elantra
acessories on car--advantage focus
my time line to buy--advantage elantra(focus could sell any minute)
salesman--advantage elantra
wifes opinion--advantage elantra(i think just due to stick)
money for trade in-- still have to find that out?

ranking of importance(top 5)
#1--realibility
#2--price
# 3--mpg's
#4--comfort and funtionality
#5--passenger and cargo room

What is the current situation of your wife as far as transportation is concerned? How much will she be benefitting by you getting an at transmission?

Take the one more comfortable and pleasing since you don't want to be purchasing something in another couple years due to those factors. When you find yourself just putting up with a car then that doesn't look good for your wallet or transportation future.

Personally, I'd go for the 2011 Elantra with manual transmission.

I'm sure you're shocked. ;)

Just sayin'... my '02 manual transmission has clocked in over 1000 miles on a tank at an average of over 65mpg. It isn't nearly as well rated in terms of fuel economy as the new vehicle but it has been very reliable over the 8 years I've driven it and repair costs haven't shown up too often. <shrug>

The alternative is to wait a bit longer and see how the new Focus stacks up. Over the length of time you plan to keep the vehicle, initial purchase price isn't going to be the major differentiator when it comes to satisfaction level.

my wife will get my 2006 chevy malibu with 95,000 miles ,but in excellant condition! it has automatic and gets excellent mpg's

You also should be able to get a '10 Elantra Blue MT for about the price of the Focus if you're just trying to save $$$. "10 Accents are even cheaper.

Even though the cars are "new"- you have to adjust the prices
for the fact that one car is a 2010 & one a 2011. This does make
difference.

Having said that, my Focus was ok, but I loved my Elantra!

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/1mile/2002HE1.jpg