Ford Focus Owners Opinions wanted

[playinpearls]

I checked out a focus for a friend of mine a couple weeks ago. The car seemed ok, but i did notice that it feels really "cheap". It kinda feels like you'll break it if you hit the gas too hard or something...

You can definetly tell that its ford's budget car...

 

[i_got_a_mohawk]

I didnt realise it was different between here and the US.

While I wouldn't say the one's over here are incredibly classy or anything, I certainly wouldn't put them as cheap either. Very middle of the road.

But maybe that's because I'm used to the missus's older ford fiesta

 

[René_Julien]

You can definetly tell that its ford's budget car...

Well, actually the Ford Ka is.
I don't know if that one is available in the US.

They have a new version of it.
The old one was really cool for a small cheap good car.

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A very spunky (old) 1250cc engine. And the handling is surprisingly good.


This is the new one. I don't know what to think of it.

 

[aikakone]

I had a 2000 Ford Focus up until October. I drove it until I couldn't drive it anymore.

-Gas mileage is good. I averaged 30-32/mph
-Engine life is dependable. I got over 208,000 on it. I could have gotten longer, I'm sure, had I known what some of the signs at the end.
-Good storage space for a car... spacious trunk, back seats that fold down
-A little bumpy in the handling, not the smoothest car out there, but good for the money and I got used to it quickly
-Never noticed any problems with transporting large people in terms of seating and room. I used to work with some overweight women (one who was particularly tall) and we never had problems as far as getting in and out of the car. It did handle differently once they were inside, but I think that is part of "carrying the load" as it were.

When my car finally gave up the ghost, I tried the 2009 Focus to see if I'd like it, but I didn't. It's still a good car, but the changes in design no longer worked for me. I went for a Pontiac G5 instead. It's just me, and I don't have to worry about toting equipment or family. So I went for the sports car-lite.

 

[ubado]

My wife has an '01 Focus ZX3. Currently @ about 150,000 miles. She loves it ... I think it's fun to drive; especially if you have lots of twists and turns. Super easy to get into those hard to reach spots.

Any "real" issues, that weren't caused by my wife, didn't start until about 125,000. Window power motor went @ about then ... that was a $400 job. At about 135,000 the transmission went. I wanted to scrap the car then, but she wanted to wait until the "New" Focus/Fiesta (the new name for the ZX3).

As far as MPG ... she's still doing around 35mpg on the highway. It's doing so good ... we couldn't even take advantage of the "cash for clunkers" deal.

All in all ... good reliable transportation ... until 100,000 miles or so. (but that can be said for just about any vehicle).

 

[need4mospd]

My father-in-law is a Senior Master Ford tech and he considers the early model Focus(00-03 I think) a throw away car. Maybe he's wrong, but seeing as how he's worked strictly on Fords since the mid 90's and holds the highest level of certification for fixing them...

 

[playinpearls]

This is the new one. I don't know what to think of it.

Looks like Kirby resurrected in metal form...

 

[René_Julien]

Looks like Kirby resurrected in metal form...

It would be funny to see it swallowing Dodge Rams.

 

[Bassist Jay]

We had a 2002 Ford Focus. I twas a decent car but the fuel economy was no where what the sticker claimed it should be. 1st and last Ford I will ever buy.

 

[Rusty Chainsaw]

I think the European Focus is different than it's US counterpart.

The Mk1 Focuses (Focii?) were essentially the same car everywhere in the world, with some minor detailing differences for each market. Everywhere except the US and Canada got the Mk2 around 2004 (a much better car) - the US just gave the Mk1 a facelift.

The current US Focus is still basically the Mk1 with a more substantial (not to mention ugly) facelift, what's more, they dropped the two best models (the hatchback and the wagon/estate). Ford believed at the time that people wouldn't pay for a premium small car (a position they've moved on, what with the forthcoming Mk3 Focus and Fiesta coming to the US). With the Mk3 Focus, they'll be selling the same car worldwide again, and it does look quite nice.

 

[gdthomas]

My father-in-law is a Senior Master Ford tech and he considers the early model Focus(00-03 I think) a throw away car. Maybe he's wrong, but seeing as how he's worked strictly on Fords since the mid 90's and holds the highest level of certification for fixing them...

I would agree with the had a 2001, drove it for six years. From what I have found the 00-03 have some quirks that are worth looking into(leaks around window ). Not a bad car just got to the point where it was not worth putting any more money into. Traded it in on a 2009 and we have been happy with it.

 

[Mike M.]

I've got a 2005, two door hatchback Focus that I bought brand new. It's only got about 57,000 miles on it and other than regular fluid changes and a new set of tires that car has been trouble free. Fun to drive, great sounding CD player.....I'm happy with it.