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The average Focus has a MSRP of between 16k to 18k but there is over $2,500 in rebates right now....
Focus is probably the only car on the market right now with rebates equal to about 15% of the MSRP!
AND IT STILL DOESN'T SELL!
Not surprising either. Most people do not have inate knowlege that there is $2,500 in rebates on a Focus...a $17k Focus seems real expensive when a Fusion SE stickers under $19k!!!!! Accordingly people probably do not even consider the Focus because they falsely believe that it is too expensive.
Mark.
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=29&article_id=10702
-Matt-
i remember seeing the current chrysler 300 with a 300m body on it.
Mark.
My dealer states, "It is not legal to disable this feature before delivery." Doesn't seem to enthused to disable it after delivery either.
I find the auto door locks annoying. Go out in the driveway to move the car into the garage and clunk all the doors lock. I like to lock my doors myself.
Otherwise this is a very nice vehicle.
Thanks in advance.
To deactivate/reactivate the autolock feature using the power door
unlock control
You must complete steps 1-7 within 30 seconds or the procedure will
have to be repeated. If the procedure needs to be repeated, you must
wait 30 seconds.
1. Turn the ignition to the 3 (ON)
position.
2. Press the power door unlock
control three times.
3. Turn the ignition from 3 (ON)
position to the 2 (OFF) position.
4. Press the power door unlock
control three times.
5. Turn the ignition back to 3 (ON) position. The horn will chirp.
6. Press the unlock control, then press the lock control. The horn will
chirp once if autolock was deactivated or twice (one short and one long
chirp) if autolock was activated.
7. Turn the ignition to the 2 (OFF) position. The horn will chirp once to
confirm the procedure is complete.
Have fun and GOOD LUCK!
https://web.msslib.dealerconnection.com/RightSite/getcontent/myfile.pdf?DMW_OBJE- CTID=09000c588051f036
Mark
Now to continue reading the manual.
DRL We have had daylight running lights is Canada for many years now and I believe they are a very important safety item, however, this is the first car that I have owned where the DRL come on with the key in the run position and the parking brake engaged. Page 29 of the manual states the parking brake must be disengaged. Not so with my Focus.
the 2007 order guide is out and the car is the same.
2008 is the most likely time for the intro. The car was refreashed for 05 and Ford recently stated they want to get to around 3 to 4 years between refreashes.
Mark
'05 U.S. Focus w/ Mondeo MkII grill/headlights = cool!
http://www.wheels24.co.za/Wheels24/Galleries/w24_GalleriesModelPicDisplay/0,,675- - -13649,00.html
Do you know what a Mondeo MkII is?
http://irishcar.com/mondst220revbb.htm
http://www.wheels24.co.za/Wheels24/NewModels/0,,1369-1374_1488115,00.html
http://www.wheels24.co.za/Wheels24/Galleries/w24_GalleriesModelCompNavIndex/0,,6- - 75,00.html
http://www.supercars.de/?show=single_screen&do=car&modell_id=146&modell=Mondeo%2- - 0ST%20220&marken_id=49&markenname=Ford©=1&url=Li9kYXRhL2ZvcmQvMjAwMm1vbmRlby- - BzdCAyMjAvNDgwLzAwOS5qcGc=
America only gets the Jaguar version of the Mondeo MkII w/ shorter wheelbase.
The Mazda platform looks way cooler.
I'm convinced confusion reigns in corporate car America. Granted, we all have different perceptions of style and it must be tough trying to hit it up the middle every time instead of stroking the long ball... :shades:
but now this... i started my car and as soon as the engine was on without the help of the starter, theres a "fast knocking sound" (no not rods knocking, much louder) the sound's cycles are congruent to the revs of the engine, rising and falling with the rpms. i was thinking camshaft bearings? or maybe the starter selonoid is getting stuck?
any other ideas or similiar experience?
p.s. ive had this car for almost 6 years, i didnt think it would make it 3. shes had a good run.
Hard to troubleshoot here at the computer with some ELO cranked up ;-) but, I'd start cheap and work your way up.
Camshaft bearings? Doubt it. Solenoid stuck? You'll find out next time you start it, or try to...
Cooling fan turning, stuck? Losing coolant? Granted, water pumps ain't cheap, but you might be due for one.
Blown head gaskets can make some nasty sounds also, but that aint cheap, sorry.
Oh, squirrel caught in there somewhere? Don't laugh, I've seen it... :shades:
Thanks,
Chintan Talati
Corporate Communications
Edmunds.com
Might actually consider one now.
On both cars the brakes have worked very well, however, the noise from them is just insane. Has anyone else had this problem?
thanks
One morning, I started up my 2000 Focus (SE - Zetec) for my short morning commute and noted that the engine seemed to be running rough. The car had been driven the night before and ran normally. The night was cool and misty and during the night, the temperature dropped to below freezing, so the grass was white and there was a thin layer of frost on the car when I started it. After cleaning off the frost, I took off down the street and noted the engine wasn't running quite right, but I arrived at the office without significant trouble. I guessed that there might have been some moisture that had gotten into something (sensor or ignition module) and figured that maybe in the daytime heating, the problem would clear itself.
After work, I got back in the car and, to my chagrin, the rough performance persisted.
The next time I got in the car was to drive to the airport. I took the Focus because I thought the longer ride might clear out whatever was causing the problem, or would trigger the computer to record a diagnostic code. Well, about half way through the 20 mile trip to the airport, the condition got significantly worse. Now the engine felt like it was running only on three cylinders. The check engine light started flashing furiously.
At this point, I was committed to completing the trip, so I pushed on to the airport. When I arrived and parked the car, there was a smell coming from the engine . . . it wasn't oil and it wasn't antifreeze. I popped the hood and noticed steam whisping from one of the spark plug boots.
I pulled out the spark plug boot and, to my surprise, :surprise: there was water on the head that was deep enough to fill each spark plug well and bridge from cylinder to cylinder!
I let the car cool for a while and then went about trying to wick out the water with paper towel. I couldn't get the paper towel down into the spark plug wells, so I used the pump from a window cleaner spray bottle to pump out the last of the rusty water. When all of the water was out, I reconnected the spark plug boots and the engine started and ran much better.
When I got back from the airport, I once again pulled a spark plug boot and looked inside. I found what I expected to see; a completely dry head. But I also noticed that the spark plug boot was fully covered in rust from the water that had been standing inside.
The car ran well for the most part, but it continued to intermittently hesitate and miss again in the next two days. I removed all of the spark plug wires/boots, cleaned the area of excessive rust (yeah, I knowingly poured water back in there), pumped the water and rust back out and then dried the area. I pulled the spark plugs and took the plugs and wires inside for a thorough cleaning.
Conductive rust had coated both the boots (inside and out) and the exterior of the spark plugs and that was apparently providing an alternate path for the current to flow, instead of jumping the plug gap.
I removed the rust, dried everything, installed the plugs, put silicone on the boots and installed them, and then drove off for about a half-hour. The engine ran as smooth as can be.
Bottom line . . . I have no idea where the water on the head came from. I admit that on occasion, I sprayed down the engine compartment to keep it clean, but the last time I had done that was months before the problem occurred (that might account for why the water was so rusty). However, the car had been driven on several occasions over hundreds of miles. I would certainly expect that the head would have gotten hot enough to evaporate any water that would have gotten on it during those trips.
In any case, it’s a mystery that has not been repeated. :confuse:
The car runs great when the A/C is off. I had a tune-up several months ago – new plugs, wires, air & fuel filter, etc. The A/C was fully recharged to eliminate any issues with it “cycling” on & off to frequently. The A/C itself works great – the air is plenty cold & cools the car in no time.
Normally I would just say the car is getting old but when the A/C is off, it runs (almost) like new.
Thanks.
optional spoiler to standard spoiler
optional cruise control to standard cruise
optional tilt and telescopic steering wheel to standard t and t
none to overhead console
optional leather wrapped steering to standard
optional tachometer to standard
optional fog lights to standard
Did I miss anything?
I feel that the Focus is hurt by its artificially inflated MSRP. Most shoppers are probably not aware that there is a $2,000+ rebate and thus do not even consider the Focus.
Mark.
By any chance does anyone know what Ford that was?
The instrument dash is soft (not like mazda3's).
It's made in Valencia, Spain, and it has a familiar look to Volvo s40.
Look at this:
http://www.ford.co.uk/ns7/foc_c307/foc_c307_body/foc_c307_ghia/-/-/-/-
http://www.ford.es/ns7/c307/c307_experience/foc_c307_gallery/c307_gallery_pop8/p- - - opup/-/-/
http://www.ford.es/ns7/c307/c307_overview/foc_c307_ghia/c307_ghia_pop1/popup/-/-- - - - /
Wall paper:
http://www.ford.es/ns7/c307/c307_descargas/foc_c307_wallp/c307_wall5_1024/popup/- - -/-/
Why does Ford need to have a $19,000 Focus? That is what bringing the EuroFocus over here would mean. Peeps might pay that much for a Jetta, but will they pay that much for a Focus when the Fusion is basically the same price?
Mark.
Mschmal assumes that Americans always choose the next larger size if the price is the same. Absolutely not true. It is true there have to be reasons to select the smaller size. For one, the safety features of the smaller Focus have to be five-star to eliminate safety as a reason to go larger. The fuel economy has to be better and the driving experience more direct and involving. Can the new European Ford Focus (or its successor) achieve these objectives? Of course. Toyota, Hyundai and Chevy are great at appliances without much driver involvement. Ford should use it's European connections to assure Ford means a real driver's experience.
A Ford can compete with a VW, but it has to really compete. The Focus has to be a standout (as the current model was upon its original introduction). Transaction price will follow excellence. A me-too car at the average will never break through to a higher transaction price. The comparison should not be against other Fords (e.g., the Fusion as mschmal opines), but rather competitors in the size class. Saturn is poised to introduce the European Opel Astra in a premium space that should belong to the new Focus. Ford is dying right now for being too slow to refresh and replace models. The competitive target is constantly moving. The older the model, even if it was brilliant when first introduced, the lower the transaction price. The target has moved and the price it can command at the dealer is constantly declining. I've had good experiences with my Fords and while my current stable is all Ford, I have and will buy competing brands. Ford has to shoot for excellence, even if that means a higher price. That doesn't mean a higher price for less content or capability due to higher legacy costs, it means a higher price justified by content and capability compared to market competitors. Ford can and should do that with the next Ford Focus.
Can Ford make a profit selling Focuses? Ford needs put its energy right now in makeng the most profitable vehicles the best that they can be.
Focus is really not the highest priority right now. Keeping F-150 and SuperDuty # 1 in truck sales is priority #1!
Our Focus, in terms of driving dynamics, is only exceeded by the Mazda3, the Rabbit/Jetta, and possibly the Civic. All cars which are substantially more expensive.
What is killing Focus is the dated styling and the rental car interior.
Ford does not need to put the Focus on the European platform, making it more expensive, in order to boost sales.
The spy shots for the next Focus are floating around, and I think its a much better looking car.
I am disappointed that Ford is not offering a 5 speed auto in the next Focus, but they don't listen to me anyway.
Mark.