The Dart is heavier than it's rivals but It's actually bigger than other compact cars and actually classifies as a midsize.

 

I pretty much shared some of your thoughts until my wife and I drove a 2013 Ford Focus ST last night. I will say that the EPA numbers are pretty damn close for fuel economy between the 200-hp GTI and the 252 hp (and more impressive 270 ft/lb of torque) Focus ST. So, don't totally write off the economy car aspect just because it has over 200 hp. If it lives up to it's fuel economy ratings it gets better fuel economy than the three cars currently in our driveway and has more horsepower and torque than all three too. That being said the Focus doesn't feel that much more powerful than a GTI, it handles it well, the electronics eliminate torque steer (in the GTI torque steer was immediately apparent to me). The Focus is still a Ford, and while it has awesome Recaro's, and a well thought out dash, there are still fit and finish issues with regard to body panel gaps, color matching between body panels, and the trunk floor does not match up at all with the seats when they are folded down. Things like that make you know that it's a ford focus underneath. The ride height is a little too high for me, but it's certainly a capable and fun grocery getter. My wife likes it alot, and may buy one (she wants to take a second test drive of a GTI first to be sure). She likes the two-box style; so, I don't think we'll be waiting for a Dart SRT4. That's fine with me.

 

That is a huge if (literally and figuratively). Ford's turbo engines have been less-than-stellar for real-world fuel economy and so I wouldn't bet on this one being any different.

 

Well put!

 

Because we don't know the weight of it?

 

I'm interested in your comment that the ford doesn't feel that much more powerful than the GTI. The numbers are pretty extreme to not be able to feel it. Is it because they limit power to minimize torque steer?

 

Here's why (for me at least): (1)I think the GTI is just slightly lighter, (2) GTI's torque felt like it was available alot sooner with not much noticeable turbo lag (Focus ST has "overboost" requiring you to mash the pedal down -- with more pedal travel), (3) seating position is alot lower in the GTI, the ST adopts Fords slightly higher roofline and much higher seating position, that distance always makes a car feel slower (I tried to put the seat all the way down in the ST and I still felt like my head was very very close to the sunroof, I'm 5' 10"), and (4) the Focus could seriously use a short-throw shifter. The GTI wants to go with little effort from the driver; the ST wants you to work for it a little more.

 

I could be deciding between these two soon, so I appreciate your comments. I'll obviously have to drive them both but my initial impression is that I just like the GTI better but I thought the Ford's power would be hard to resist. Maybe not as hard as I thought.