About 2 weeks.

A bit short of time, can still try thou. I booked last Sat, until today it's not approved, it's quite strict in getting loan nowadays, which personally I think is a good thing for the nation.

And by the way, it's by 30th Oct 2013, not 31st Oct.

wahh sayang ler wehhh.. but guys i do think they will be giving out more goodies in nov/dec.. no?

but what are your thoughts on the 1.38% interest that is on ford msia website? condition is loan period 5 yrs dp 15%?

Guys,

Can anyone confirm this?

http://www.ford.net.my/promotions/big_deal_promo.asp

The promotion for low interest is until 31st Dec 2013?? (fine print and condition in the bottom part)

dam.. i get offered either 1 only

tempted to get this car, been test drive few times already.. dunno if its worth to replace my current 2010 honda city.. hmm..

Yes, that is what they say, and I think it is quite valid if one values handling and driving dynamics over safe and somewhat mundane Japanese. I haven't driven many Japanese vehicles but I have to agree that the ones I had driven can't really hold a candle to the Focus. It is surely a joy to be behind the wheels of the Focus.

If one loves the control and sharp steering feel and handling of the Focus, I agree it would be difficult to go back to Japanese makes. I can only imagine that happening with a priority change, such as the need of larger space for occupants at the back seat. That is where the Accord, Camry or Teana come into the picture. Of course, larger sedans with good handling such as the Mondeo or those from the likes of Audi/BMW/Mercedes Benz are available, but at a premium. People may be willing to settle for the cheaper Japanese (over a smaller cheaper continental such as the Focus) if comfort and space are priorities.

So the Mazda 3 still cannot match up to the Focus? Hah, guess so. Perhaps the new Mazda 3 may close the gap slightly, but still the Focus offers much (continental) quality and value at a rather down-to-earth price if compared to the Japanese equivalents in the same price bracket.

I have sat in the Suzuki Swift before just last month but have not driven it. Not too sure whether it's a Sport model. So the handling and driving pleasure of the Suzuki Swift Sport is better than the Focus? Wow, that peppy little car must be something special. As a passenger sitting in the car, I would say the comfort and refinement of the Suzuki are far behind the Focus. The interior is noisy, mainly loud engine noise intrudes into the cabin apart from traffic and road noise. The suspension feels loose and bouncy and as a passenger in the vehicle the ride isn't too comfortable. Perhaps for the driver that translates to great handling and driving pleasure. I am guessing the smaller dimensions of the vehicle has made manoeuvring of the vehicle easier and more effortless than the larger Focus.

Care to elaborate briefly in what ways the handling of the Swift is better than the Focus that translates to higher driving pleasure? Is it more to the steering feel and road feedback, the control of the vehicle, or it's more to how the vehicle behaves on the road especially in bends and corners? Less bodyroll, more stable ride and less bouncier ride due to the suspension tuning setup and body structure etc.

Yes. I agree that as small as the back space of the Focus can get, the Swift is even more cramped in interior space not only at the rear but the front seats too. IT's just a different segment.

I am predominantly comparing the Nissan Sylphy's handling to the Focus when I thought it can't hold a candle to the Focus' handling and driving dynamics. Though in areas of space and comfort, the Sylphy has the edge with significantly more rear legroom for passengers at the back when compared to the Focus.

good to see cyberjaya kaki here. very less focus can be seen here. cyber road bumpy ka bro? i drive everyday here seems ok ni.. are you talking about the stretch from SK to Cyber?

haha.. yeah la that road is so poorly built..
anyway good to know about Swift.

congratulation bro, your loan approval is so fast, mine still waiting reply from HQ >.<"

Thanks for the information. Much appreciated. Don’t worry too much about expressing your thoughts which do not favour the Ford Focus. Most of here are not really fanatics or die-hard Focus fans that will be on the defensive(or worse still, offensive) with negative remarks on the vehicle. I’m just interested to know your experience since I was little surprised that the Suzuki Swift Sport can have better handling than the Ford Focus considering the pedigree of the latter’s driving dynamics. Since I have not driven the Swift I couldn’t comment, hence the questions.

I can understand the better steering feedback of the Swift due to the heavier steering of it vs. The lighter steering of the Focus. Yes, I agree that the steering of the Focus is light, and a car with heavier steering may give better confidence in bends and turns. Nevertheless, I feel the steering feedback of the Focus is good – precise and accurate although light. There is not much loss in confidence with tight bends or corners with the Focus. Some vehicles such as the Nissan Sylphy have a light steering with low feedback. In other words, there is less precision and feel in the steering which translates to lack of confidence when on corners and bends at moderate to high speeds. The steering feels “loose” with little feedback due to the lightness. With the Focus, there is still high feedback although the steering feel is light.

Almost any vehicle with a heavier or stiffer steering will give a feeling of security and confidence when in bends and turns as the tendency to lose control (with a slight twist on the steering) is minimised in comparison to a vehicle with lighter steering. I can relate to your experience since I also own the Proton Preve Turbo which comes with a much heavier and stiffer steering than the Ford Focus. I presume the steering of the Preve is even heavier than your Swift. And yes, there is high confidence when taking corners or bends with the Preve Turbo. However, there is also high confidence when doing the same with the Focus.

Personally I believe both Preve Turbo and Focus (or the Swift) have good steering feedback. It’s just the level of stiffness of the steering that is the crux of the issue here. Lighter steering is usually seen or felt as having inferior steering feedback. However, in the case of the Focus, the accuracy and preciseness of the steering feedback are still high despite the lightness of the steering. A vehicle that has lower/poor levels of steering feedback, one example is the Nissan Sylphy. Both Sylphy and Focus have light steering, but the steering feedback of the Focus is much higher than the Sylphy.

As for the Swift, the *presumably* stiffer steering may have given the impression of better/higher levels of steering feedback, since you have mentioned the steering of the Focus is on the lighter side of things.

The Swift may have better cornering with the smaller body structure and geometry of it.

The Swift has a stiffer suspension and the ride is bouncier than the Focus on bad roads with undulations. The unnevenness of the roads is transmitted more effectively in the Swift than in the Focus. Somehows, I just feel the suspension of the Focus has the right balance in giving the best of both worlds - it feels very light and planted to the ground and yet it does not bounce as much when going over bad uneven roads. Usually lighter suspension setups will tend to bounce more than heavier/stiffer suspensions, transmitting the unnevennes or undulations of the roads into the cabin. It's the other way round with the Focus.

For bumpy/uneven/bad roads, I reckon the Focus will be much comfortable than the Swift Sport with higher stability/less bounciness, and also less suspension noises. :-)

Yes, the Focus would be an upgrade to the Swift in many areas. Taking the performance and handling out of the equation, the interior of the Focus is already much better than the Swift I believe. Thick leather seats, the packed dashboard that some may thought of as confusing with too many buttons, more substantial and solid doors etc. Overall higher levels of quality and refinment between the two.

Could be little inappropriate comparing a segment B to a segment C vehicle but anyway. The Fiesta is the one that should be compared to the Swift. Nevertheless, as I have mentioned earlier to another forummer, we can always compare vehicles even though they do not belong in the same segment, as long as we have experience with both.

wait and it shall start... and then slowly goes away.....

Good to know that bro. I also staying in seri kembangan and hopefully getting my focus next week, we shall meet up sometime, cheers!