Can anyone give me any info on the Focus? What kind of MPG? are they a good car? What are their weak points? I was looking at a used one today. Someday, I want to replace my wife's 238,000 mile 93 Chevy Lumina.
Any info appreciated.

 

Ive had 2 of them, an 06 ZX3 5-speed and an 06 ST 5-speed. The ZX3 with the duratec 2.0 got 32/36 mpg while the ST with the duratec 2.3 got 30/34 mpg. The ST was a high performance model that was so exciting to drive it got my racing blood flowing again, ended up trading it for my 07 mustang GT. The cars were roomy, sporty and very comfortable, handled verywell with power a plenrty, especially the ST, it was a little rocket on rails. They were well built and a good value for the money. In 05 they started using the duratec family of engines over the old zetec which gave them a power and mpg bump. I recomend them highly. The 08's are a redesign that have even more power and better mpg with a different look. A friend at church has a new 08 and reported that he got close to 40 mpg on a trip, thats even better than the window sticker posted. I know you said a used one, but by the time you get ready to buy, there may be some used 08's by then. Any of the durtec focus are great. The zetecs are good as well, but might as well get the best mpg you can at todays gas prices. Over all, awesome little cars at a great price. I never had a single problem out of either of the two that I owned.

 

beast112 rolled in one for awhile, he liked it

 

Thanks for your report. I want to look 05 up it sounds like. The only modern Ford car I really liked was a 88-97 T-Birds, I think was the last year of the rear wheel drives. I have always preferred GM cars. But after reading your experience I will for sure look closer at the Focus. That is the kind of mileage we want 30+ yet I don't want to have and get out to push it up hills. My wife commutes home up a 6% grade, that is 12 miles of windy 4 lane highway.
Thanks again,
Craig

 

I just bought an 07 Focus SE. (Well, it's been a few months now...)

I've got friends that have two of them. He's got a 2000, she's got a 2002. Some minor difficulties with all three, but not major troubles yet.

Mine has been back to the dealer for some warranty armrest repair, and is going back next week for some radio repair...but no biggies yet!

(Mine gets high 20's around town, and low 30's on the highway...it's an automatic...)

 

The wife & I went to the local Ford dealer Colorado Ford today & looked at them. They had a new 2008 marked down to $13,230. But as with many Ford dealerships we couldn't get any one to help us. I looked on-line & heck they want almost the much for used ones. So we're now looking at Honda's. We have done business with a very good Honda dealer in Prescott AZ (Prescott Honda). My concern with buying a Ford is I won't be able to get it fixed. Heck if I can't get anyone to even help with sales what the heck would I do if I had a problem. If it was a GM dealer I could contact GM customer service & complain but Ford doesn't give a crap from past problems I had with NEW FORD'S.
So thanks for all the info. Chevy has the Cobalt we looked at it but again the Chevy dealer here is almost as bad as the Ford dealer. But they will help you their just crooks.
So we are tending toward a Honda Civic.
Thanks again,
Craig

 

Civic is probably better choice than Focus, but good luck finding even base Civic w/ manual transmission for under $17,000.

Check "new" Saturn Astra. Many magazines said that it's best compact GM over sold in the USA.

 

Thanks for that info. I hate to complain about Fords but I just haven't had good luck with Ford dealers. With the exception of a COUPLE. in Northern Nevada in my home town the Ford dealer was the oldest Ford dealer in Northern Nevada. His son opened a dealership in 1973 in a town 50 miles away. I knew the son because he & I where the same age. Well until around the late 90s FORD finally forced him out as they did his Dad & Uncle. Because they were not big volume dealers. Ford just kept demanding more & more, and forcing him to take cars to get trucks that he couldn't sell. So finally they threw in the towel. I bought several cars & truck from him over the years. Well, since I have found Gallager Ford in Elko NV to be about the only other Ford dealer that is worth dealing with. We have 1 Ford left that is my 1986 F250 4x4. Our other cars are Chevys. At least with Chevys I seldom have to go to a dealer to buy GM ONLY PARTS as with FORD. I HATE TO SAY IT BUT FORD HAS LOST A CUSTOMER & I'M NOT SURE IF I WILL EVER RETURN TO FORDS AGAIN. This last deal with Colorado River Ford is exactly why.

 

I recently bought an 08, I put at least 200 miles a day on it, i get around 33-34 mpg with the auto, cruising at 80. It is much better than the previous gen Foci I have Had/Driven as far as ride quality, noise, power, and handleing. even the seats are great, which has always been a crap-shoot with Ford. And I must tell you, Sync Rocks!!

 

Just avoid the early Foci (2000-2002). Tend to be quite troublesome. They get better in '03, nearly all the bugs were gone by '04. One of the more competitive small cars from a performance standpoint, but like most Ford cars they depreciate a lot. Which means their low used-car price tends to attract buyers that are hard on their vehicles (both from a driving and maintenance standpoint). You just need to look over any prospective used Focus carefully; if it's a private owner, I'd want one with complete maintenance records.

 

Well, I am not beast112 but anyways,

I liked mine. Not as good as I thought it would be with MPG. I was around 24 or so if I remember right. It road pretty good. Was a little noisy (road noise) but I think it was mostly the crappy tires on it. I had no repairs except a wheel bearing and front pads. I sold it to my Mom and she still drives it daily. It was a 2002 model.

-Matt

 

I have a 2002 Focus SVT. It has a slightly higher HP engine (170) and a 6spd manual. There are also other changes like brakes and such. At present, I believe I have around 70k miles on it. We have had a few problems with the vehicle, but most problems have been with our local Ford Service in Savannah GA. We have the 100k warranty as well.

Coolant leak from thermostat housing that took them a couple of months to finally fix.

Exhaust rattle from heat shield that they just keep "screwing" back together.

Dual Stage intake failed, replaced under warranty no issues.

Clutch Master cylinder leak, I had to pay to replace ($250).

Clutch throw out bearing noise. This one the Savannah dealer wouldn't cover under warranty, but a dealer in Springfield replaced the entire clutch, bearing, plate, etc, under warranty. Long story.

In dash CD changer locked up twice on us, but not since. Covererd under warranty.

Rear hatch release quit working, but I found a cut wire at the rear hatch.

Normal wear items - brake pads - tires.

Bottom line, we had some small problems with the vehicle, but my wife and I still love it. I don't get the high MPG like the others, but if I keep my foot out of it, I can average 28mpg city/hwy. We have gotten 32mpg on highway trips. We like the car so much, we discussed getting a second, but they quit making the SVT Focus.

To date, it has still been one of the best and probably our favorite vehicle. I drive it about 80 miles a day round trip to work and back. Because of the rising fuel costs, I am glad I bought it.

Good luck with your purchase.

 

Yeah, you should get a honda civic, God built them himself don't you know. They never break and have golden lug nuts. You never want a car unless itr's japanese, there the only ones who know how to build a car. Americans are idiots, they have no clue in what there doing. If it wasn't for the japanese we would all be walking. I'm sure honda had some imput on how ford should build the model T and the model A. You could be a bonified ricer. I wish people on this ford forum would understand that when we ask about a ford, we don't want rice rammed down our throats. It happens too much on here and it's getting old. The only good thing ever to come out of japan is an empty ship. When better cars are built, like allways they will be built and designed by americans. We don't need the japanese to teach us or show us how to build a car or do we need guy's on a ford forum to encourage members to buy foreign junk. The focus is as good as any car if not better in it's price range. According to JD Powers, ford quality is next to none, something I've allways known. Opinions are one thing, but this japanese crap consitantly being pushed and debated on here is getting rediculous. Ford has been around for 100 years for a reason and it isn't because japanese vehicles are better. It wasn't that long ago when japanese cars were concidered low buck rusted out pieces of crap and still are as far as I'm concerned. Maybe they should change the name of the forum to japanese cars-R-us, then the things descused would make more sense. A better name would be, american vehicles-R-junk. Sorry for the rant, but I have had it up to my ears with rice on this forum. Then when you say something in defense of ford, then your blasted by some as a bigot or a hater, or your an idiot because you won't whorship the japanese vehicles. I'm no bigot, but I am pro-american and pro-ford and proud to be so. If that makes me an idiot, I'm proud to be that as well, at least I'm a ford driving idiot. I help keep my dad's retirement money rolling in, help keep my friends and family employed and drive the best vehicles made by our own company. When the japanese start building houses our economy will be D.O.A and we can trade in our dollars for the yen.