Gen. 5 Prelude vs. Focus SVT for me

  • Thread starter Vonie
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Plenty of Euro tuning bits for the Focus ST170 (what we called it.)

Prelude is a coupe, and does handle better - although I've only driven a Motegi auto, and although it could shovel and turned okay, I knew it would be much better with a manual.

However, the Focus can be made into a really very capable track car. And the interior is better, I remember. If you're going to tune for handling, the Focus will (as said here) turn into a sleeper that can look quite sinister with the right lowering kit.

The only practical difference between the two day to day is the number of seats, and the ease you can put your shopping and/or loads of gear from the Home Depot into it. If you need that, Focus wins.

And if you buy one, dump the awful Federal grille and get a Euro bumper cover and turn signals - a stock ST170 would do it.
 
Venari
And the interior is better, I remember.
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Whoa whoa whoa...that is a fallacy!

This:
112_0306_3way_z+2003_ford_svt_focus+front_interior_view.jpg


Cannot hope to compare with this:
PRELUDE001I.jpg


The Focus SVT feels "tall" compared to the Prelude. The Focus' seat sits too way too high and feels like you are sitting in a small SUV.
 
I'm going to have to say I like the Focus interior more.

And the higher seating position is actually good in the real world. You can see further down the road, get a better understanding of corners, and you can see around shrubs and stuff better when pulling out from those poorly place stops.
 
1. I don't care about the "real world". :D
2. That Focus interior feels as cheap as an 80's GM car.
3. That whole slant theme just doesn't do it for me.

Oh, and the 'lude has tweeters in the doors...TWEETERS IN THE DOORS! That alone = win.
 
JCE
The Focus SVT feels "tall" compared to the Prelude. The Focus' seat sits too way too high and feels like you are sitting in a small SUV.
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Isn't that because the Prelude practically has your ass on the road?
 
ROAD_DOGG33J
Isn't that because the Prelude practically has your ass on the road?
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Can't be lower than my MR2. Which I admit has a neat feel to it... but not being able to see over anything next to you is a huge pain in the ass.

I've been in both the Prelude and SVT Focus. Nothing on the Focus struck me as particularly cheap feeling or such.
 
ROAD_DOGG33J
Isn't that because the Prelude practically has your ass on the road?
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Its pretty low. Lower than my Camaro. Which is pretty low.

Azuremen
Can't be lower than my MR2. Which I admit has a neat feel to it... but not being able to see over anything next to you is a huge pain in the ass.

I've been in both the Prelude and SVT Focus. Nothing on the Focus struck me as particularly cheap feeling or such.
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It is just as low as the MkI MR2 give or take an inch. The Focus' interior is where it feels cheaper. The rest of the build quality is pretty good. That's all I meant by cheap.

Toronado
Not to mention the steering wheel is on the wrong side. :sly:
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Indeed. :D
 
JCE
It is just as low as the MkI MR2 give or take an inch. The Focus' interior is where it feels cheaper. The rest of the build quality is pretty good. That's all I meant by cheap.
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My MR2 has nearly a 2 inch drop and then Momo's that drop your seating position a few inches as well...

My head is roughly on par with where the window starts on the focus... my friend's head was at the same height as the door handle on the last generation Protege.

You sit low in my car.
 
My head in my Prelude was at the bottom of my Camaro door's window. :eek:

That's stock versus stock though. But anyway, its a moot point. :sly:
 
Okay, the seating position in the Focus provides for better outward vision.
The Prelude is arguably a better looking car.
However, in my research Preludes generally cost a good bit more.
You can do much upgrading of the Focus with the money you save...
 

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