Ford Focus input

[ccga3359]

OK, Monday I wrote off my beloved Avenger. With the high milage and age of the car I didn't get much from insurance. I have priced out a new Ford Focus (as I have a Ford partnership plan at work). The savings I'll get make's this the only affordable new car I can get. All you Focus owners past and present how do (did) you rate this car? What problems arose?

[Dirka Skene]

They're soooooo tiny!!!! I had a choice between a Focus and a Ford Ranger. They were both about the same price, so I picked the Ranger. My Ranger is a stick shift, so it's just about as good on gas as the Focus. The extended cab isn't much more than the regular two seater.

[O'Neille]

They make a focus w/ their Partial Zero Emissions engine that is almost as efficient and cleaner than a hybrid if the fuel is available where you live. Just a thought if you'd like to look into it. O'Neille

[LK-13]

had one on a lease from 2000 till 2003.
great little car.
i had the 4 door with the better of the 2 motors.
i love to get the 4 door hatchback.

[Panache]

Grant,

I don't have personal experience with the Ford Focus.

But I highy recommend Edmunds for car information

Here's the link:

http://www.edmunds.com/

Cheers

Panache

[cavscout]

I'm driving the focus 4 door hatch back (Station wagon)

It's a decent car, especially if it keeps you from having a car payment. The only problem I've had with the car is some valve that the computer uses to open and close something in the engine screwed up but I think that could be due to some bad gas I was putting in it for a while. I've stuck to QT since then and the problem has not reappeared.

I'm coming from a Saturn 2 dr. Coupe (wifes car in college and I inherited it. I hated that car but that's another thread) which for me at 6' was rediculously small.

It has more room than many cars in that class. I carry my bike gear in the back and still have the back seat for extr4a stuff or people. I bought this car to beat up getting to bike trails and using as a base for long rides. It has served it's purpose well and I don't loose any sleep about scratches since it was so inexpensive.

I may be the wrong one to ask though since I don't have a lifestyle that supports a nicer vehicle

[Dreadbelly]

I was just reading something about the Ford Focus the other day... I forget where, but it was online. I followed a link to a news site from Fark. From there, I followed another link, to another link, to an article about Fords quality problems as of late.

I don't remember everything, but what I was reading stated that the Ford Focuses made down in the Mexico plant were of a much higher quality and reliability than the Ford Focuses actually made here in America. They use a different parts supplier for the Mexico plant. Much better parts. Pretty much all of the faulty Focuses and the most of the recalls came from the American plants. (Which use crappier parts because they have to pay the workers more... Go unions!) Also, the Mexico plants use more robots than people for certain assembly jobs... While here in the states the unions make sure that people are doing the jobs that machines could be doing better, faster, and of a higher quality.

Was an interesting read.

[jordanjm]

You said that you have a special deal at Ford, but have you enquired about their trade ins? You may be able to get a good deal, with some more options. However if I had not inherited a Mozda Protege, with which I am impressed, when I got married, but the Hatchback Focus would have been my choice for an after school car.

[KiltedTurtle]

I have never owned a Ford Focus but I do buy Ford whenever possible. When I was last at the local dealership I had the salesman tell me that the Focus was a throwaway car. Basically drive it till it dies b/c there is NO trade in value.

[cavscout]

They are also heavy to insure, at least in Georgia. I was shocked when I got my bill, I assumed it would be cheaper but they said to repair the focus is very costly so they pass it on to me .... thanks.