Edmunds dealer partner, Bayway Leasing, is now offering transparent lease deals via these forums. Click here to see the latest vehicles!
Options
Popular New Cars
Popular Used Sedans
Popular Used SUVs
Popular Used Pickup Trucks
Popular Used Hatchbacks
Popular Used Minivans
Popular Used Coupes
Popular Used Wagons
Comments
This mildew smell takes quite some time to go away after the fresh (non-recirculating) air in "A/C-off mode" kept blowing through the system.
I can avoid this issue simply by not using the A/C & REC buttons the same time.
My '90 Protege had the exact same problem, but the factory service bulletin took care of it by replacing certain A/C part made of different material. Ford is no Mazda :sick:
The "sickening plasic smell from the dashboard" is a separate thing those of you in cold climate zones won't experience much. This problem is unavoidable unless I never park the car under sun light, which is impossible here in sunny California.
The Focus has heated seats in the SEL, if you select the winter package. And they are multi-level.
Mazda and Subie are the only ones keeping up with Chevy, Ford, and Hyundai in this class.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Thanks!
Ford, if ya run a promotion, ya gotta learn how to do it right! It ain't that hard now is it!
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
I have yet to apply this theory...so who know what will happen if/when I get to the negotiation point.
Just negotiate your best price before rebates and then apply them after.
Yeah, I was going to print out the TMV and try to get under that; once the true bottom is reached I was going to bring out the rebates.
The Sandman :sick: :shades:
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Yep - own 100 shares for 6 months you qualify for X-Plan. We used it when we purchased our Explorer in August.
BTW - only one X-Plan pin per year.
Comfort-wise, the driver's seat could have used more lumbar support but otherwise fit well. The plastic steering wheel had sharp edges at 10 and 2, so I wonder if it would be comfortable for a long trip. There's thin padding on the front door armrests--but none in the rear (something I noticed also on a Mazda3 Skyactiv Touring). In back, leg room was just sufficient for the sit-behind-me test (5'9"). The high rear seat helps provide thigh support even though the leg room isn't great, also there's enough room to place feet. No limo but fine for short trips for up to 2 medium-sized adults.
The dash is fairly high so I felt like I was sitting low, even though I raised the driver's seat to close to its maximum height. Controls were a little hard to decipher at a glance, although the HVAC knobs were simple and intuitive (if a bit clacky compared to some other cars). It took the sales rep awhile to figure out how to reset the trip computer, for example, but we finally figured it out. Materials quality was good, except I would have liked a little padding on those rear armrests. Also there were no map lights, but there was one overhead light over the front center console that might do the trick.
Trunk room was fine, but the rear seat folds in one piece and slants up quite a bit, limiting the usefulness of the folding seat compared to cars (e.g. 2012 Impreza) that have a 60/40 seat with a flat load floor. The sales rep said the SE hatch has a 60/40 seat that folds flat because the rear cushion pulls up. They didn't have any of those in stock so I couldn't check it out, but that alone would put the hatch much higher on my list than the sedan.
On my short test, I reset the mpg meter when I got onto the freeway and saw 40 mpg the rest of the way, at speeds from 60-65 and including a couple of short stops at traffic lights. So it appears the car would have no problem hitting or exceeding its 36 mpg highway rating.
Overall I enjoyed how the car drove, and it had enough feature content for me at a reasonable price (dealer's "no haggle" price was $17.4k). However, I think I'd have to go with the hatch to get a practical folding rear seat, and that lists for $1000 more than the sedan I drove. At that price, it will compete with the Mazda3 Skyativ Touring, Impreza, and Cruze Eco among others.
I understand most German cars have a wet tranny, if the difference is small we can forget @$24k and go with anothe vehicle.
TY,
Puffin
The EPA has the manual rated 1 mpg less overall than two standard automatic offerings (not sure what the difference is between them), 30 vs. 31, and 3 mpg less than the special SFE variant with automatic. So not much difference except with the SFE, and that will cost a lot more than a stick since you have to pay for the automatic plus the SFE option. EPA says the fuel cost difference between stick and SFE is $154 a year with its assumptions. Based on that it would take a long time to get payback on the SFE automatic vs. stick. Plus you'd miss out on the fun of driving the stick.
I am partial to the Sedan over the hatchback but I do not want to go to the SEL model level which is expensive and includes certain equipment which I am not interested in. Many reviewers give Focus very high marks is Fun to Drive category, it should be a very good successor to my '04 ZTS sedan, but I am glad I did not jump into it . This launch was not as problematic as the original Focus launch 12 years ago, but it has not been as good as the Ford people would have wanted it to be.
It was good for $2000 off a $24000 vehicle here...
IIRC, Ford employees and supplier employees may get more than 1 PIN per year and are allowed to share. We stockholders - yeah the owners - are only allowed 1.
I bought 100 shares @ $10.03 and it went to $11.89 then dropped to$10.00 again. I haven't checked it today.I bought it (the stock because of the hit the new Focus made.)
Now, I drive a BMW 3 series 6spd, wife has a Lexus Is 6 spd. and I can't belive I bought a 2010 5 spd VW Golf loaded. I mean I thought VW's were junk and we bought it, for a Home Depot car. Evidently the V Dub model we bought is the most reliable in it's class.I know hard to believe,but it's so comfortable and has so many standard features, multilevl heated seats 2 MFI's Bluetooth,lumbar you name it.This is a 5cyl 2.5 that gets 34 highway and 20 around town, or better if you can stand driving 35 mph in 5th gear.
Well, I'm going to try a 6 spd Focus SEL HB and do a TCO and make sure it doesn't have an interfaced engine(timing belt). I'm curious as to the multi link suspension also.
Back to the Golf in order for me to get the same features with a Focus HB as the VW, you have jump to an SEL model,with 302a pkg and it totals out to $24K .
Have a good 1 :shades: Puffin
I was really just trying to point out that there are definitely others that have skin in the game when it comes to Ford profits.
I doubt it. Ford required that I send them 2 recent statements 90 days apart proving ownership. As for the mutual fund that wouldn't fly. The mutual fund owns the shares so they are the owner of record, not you.
I was really just trying to point out that there are definitely others that have skin in the game when it comes to Ford profits.
I realize that. I just find it odd that a supplier employee gets more PIN's than a shareholder.
Still makes X Plan a winner IMHO.
The best part of X Plan is being able to walk into the dealer and say you are an X Plan buyer. It makes the process so easy.
Yep, compare the Mazda3 2.0 Skyactive w/ the 2012 Ford Focus SFE.
& if you don't care about FE, & simple want gobs of torque w/o turbo/super charging, then compare Mazda3's 2.5 w/ the more powerful 5-cyl 2.5 in the Golf, but Toyota's 2.5 can do even better in both FE & power.
I understand Ford is working on this problem, but in reading many posts regarding the transmission, many Ford dealers are saying nothing is wrong, stating you need to learn how to drive the car, etc.
I am going to be looking for a new car in a couple of months, and probably will look at a Focus, but if the transmission is still a herky jerky affair, it will be off the list in a hurry.
My other note on this car that there is no cubby in that can hold sunglasses, keys, change, toll tag etc. in the front console.
Bel Air Car Guy
I really REALLY want auto climate control though, and the Focus has it. The Mazda3 doesn't have it in the SkyActiv trims, and the 2.5 has rotten FE.
BTW yes I did have the thirsty 2.3L when I had a Mazda3. Yes it did have the engine problems that they had, which is why I now own a Hyundai Elantra Touring. Having realized Hyundai is a mistake for those who love the sense of zoom-zoom in the twisties, I am now trying to correct things. :shades:
If I want auto climate I have to give up a slapshifter, now THAT'S a tragedy.
I'm contemplating the Focus trims...I'll really need to try the seats out, because leather is a question mark. Then again, I'm tempted to stick with the SEL so I can get a non-black interior...but that means giving up the sport suspension. Decisions Decisions. :shades:
This is a dry clutch unit (first one for Ford) and it's not quite as smooth as the wet clutch versions in Europe or a traditional automatic - but it does get good mpg.
Anyway, I drove the stick (SE sedan) and liked it a lot. So I'd go that route if I got a Focus. Save some bucks that way also.
Funny thing, this dealership even had a number of Fusion models on the lot with three pedals under the dash.
If you treat the car as if you would a stick, you'll see it respond better. (for it, in essence, *IS* a stick without the clutch pedal)
The Focus rode nice as well. Not as firm as I expected, but very sharp handling. Surpisingly I expected the wheel to be a little meatier and all the buttons to be difficult to deal with, but they turned out OK. Very comfortable leather seats, wouldn't want to sit in the back though. Love the extra blind spot mirror on the rearview mirrors. I just wish the wheel were a little thicker, and I could get the interior in something other than black. THe transmission was what I expected, definitely doesn't feel like a slushbox at low speeds, that will take getting used to. Loved the MyFordTouch system
Getting into the Mazda3 made me realize how much I missed driving one. ANd while I like the improvements, and LOVE the SkyActiv engine and auto-tranny to death, there's areas of the car that need some work, like the entire center stack, and the confusing steering wheel buttons (though the wheel itself is pleasantly meaty). The suspension beat the Focus's sport suspension....but not by much, and the Focus has more creature comforts available.
Really tough decision here. Leaning toward the Focus though. WHile the Mazda is a more fun drive, the Ford is fun enough and offers some goodies the Mazda doesn't have.
Bel Air Car Guy
Also, the engine is not interfaced(has a chain).The fit and finish it was excellent.The interior is so so with alot of plastic. I'd get the leather.The center stack and steering wheel buttons took a little getting use to.
Well, I hope the Euro Focus 6 spd 180HP comes over that would be a nice ride plus I like those blinking blind spot mirrors.(Car@Driver)
I tried the SE 5spd and it was a hoot and it had all the options that the SEL had heated seats ,moonroof (which I thought the SE didn't offer) If it was a 6 spd and lumbar we could of talked.The price was 1K less.($23075.00)You get what you pay for and I think because there is little mark up due to bank loans Ford took instead of the gov't bailout.So prices will stay the same. If, you want a Focus that's a drivers car and has some bells and whistles Ford has you by the throat, $24k to 26k that includes a Ti also.
Consumer reports say the Focus quality is only fair. What do they know? I'd take their word on a toaster,but not on a car.
Well, we are off to CO for the winter, think snow ,Puffin :shades:
I guess I should try out the SEL HB to get a feel for the non-sport suspension. If I find that good enough I could avoid having to get a black interior. Keyless isn't that important to me, it'd be nice but it's not critical, and anything else I want I can get in the SEL.
It's more accurate to say that both the Mazda3 and Focus share the same jointly developed platform, although I think the latest Focus was developed on the Ford version of that platform alone since the Mazda relationship has gone south.
The reason I kept keeping my MkI Focus ST sedan is that its compact body-width actually comes w/ a wider rear-glass visibility than the other Focus'. & "Passing-safety visibility" corresponds to driving fun in cut-&-thrust traffic.
MkII (never available in the U.S.):
sedan (1, 2, 3, rear)
hatch (rear)
wagon
I can't stand the MkIII having the lower corner of the rear glass (the most useful area for passing/lane-change to the right) sliced off: :sick:
Sedan
hatch