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Is FORD LISTENING? - BUT NO TRACTION CONTROL is AVAILABLE with the 2.3.
Good luck.
1 - SVT is moving upscale and the Focus SVT will go away and not be replaced. Sounds like they want to want to concentrate on more big bucks vehicles. New "performance" Focus to be called Focus ST.
2 - While there will be a new Focus in Europe and it will share underpinnings with the Mazda 3 and Volvo V40, we in the US will continue to get the current Focus with model upgrades. Have seen Ford say in print that they haven't gotten their full investment back on the US version and also seen speculation that after Ford got burnt on the introduction of this Focus, they are not interested in starting all over again.
Perhaps just a mater of where and what you read, but that's what I've seen.
From what I understand the 3 is already on the way to dealers, the S40 will be introduced early in '04 and the Focus on the new platform will be an '05 model. I agree with you its all what you read but I would hope that Ford would not sit on its butt and try to milk the older platform while the competition cruises by. They've been milking the Taurus platform for so long its become a joke and the thing just does not come close to competing with other vehicles. Although the current Focus is a gas to drive it has been re-call ridden and lacks the reputation of reliability that is necessary to maintain market share. This new platform promises to be more reliable. I'm not saying your wrong about the introduction of the new car I just hope you are for Fords sake. With the new Five Hundred on the horizon and the Futura after that Ford has a chance to make a comeback in passenger car sales. Of course I just read that they will continue the Taurus until '09 with some modest re-design and sell it alongside the new product. I guess that is to keep Hertz in rental cars. They might as well just change the name to "Ford Rental Car" or "Classic" like Chevy has done with the old Malibu. I guess what I am saying is that they should not let the Ford brand flounder while their other makes get all the good stuff. The Mazda 6 is such a great car and the Futura is supposed to be based on that platform so what are they waiting for? I'm sure they have plenty of reasons. Of course for me when the new Focus comes out is irrelevant because my next car is going to be the new Mustang. I'm already saving extra money for gas.
I have to agree with you about Ford when you said "I guess what I am saying is that they should not let the Ford brand flounder while their other makes get all the good stuff." I think that they have concentrated on SUVs and trucks for so long that they have a fleet of cars that is a generation old. Look at my Mustang...same basic car as was the 1979 Capri I had the first year I was married - now my 17 year old daughter is sharing the Mustang with me. My wife's Taurus - cutting edge vehicle when the Taurus was introduced in '86 now laughed at by most car nuts but it is in reality still a very good car! The Focus...well we've had great experience with it as my son has put close to 45,000 miles on it in less than 3 years but look at the public's impression of the vehicle line.
I hope not, but it sounds like Ford is running scared now, and when you do that, nothing good comes from it. I hope that we do see a new Focus based on the same platform under the Volvo and Mazda and I guess we'll just have to keep reading...hey, perhaps they just want us to subscribe to all the magazines!
My son has had a couple of minor problems with the Focus but we have a very good Ford dealer and I have a great relationship with the service manager. They are always willing to fix problems and so little things stay little. I think that so many of he bitches folks have about the Focus include a bad dealer in the equation. A problem car plus a dealer who doesn't give a damn equals disaster! The dealer is an important element in owning a car and the few dollars people save when shopping is often not worth it in the long run!
Those who are quick to shun Ford today forget back 10 years ago when it was the darling of the auto industry. We're a Ford family too and have been since my Dad's 57 Fairlane 500. I learned to drive on his 66 Galaxie 500 with a 390 and through the years we've had more Fords then other makes. We've had Japanese cars too (loved our 80 Honda Civic - hated our 84 Toyota van)when the American auto industry hit rock bottom (the 79 Capri was the turning point for me)but the Toyota van was garbage and 5 dealers didn't help. We traded it in for an 87 Ford van and have been back in the fold since.
Stay warm and enjoy the snow...from inside!
Is there a link somewhere with this information?
http://autoshow.edmunds.com/news/autoshow/articles/100915/article- - .html?tid=edmunds.e.laas..topsubnav.1.*
Also
http://www.autosite.com/Previews/2005-ford-focus.asp
jkidd
With the SVT going away, I would say that '04 will be last year the Focus will be on Car & Driver's 10 Best list....
jkidd
New interior looks much, much better imo. On top of dynamic improvements, looks like it's a better car.
Having driven a European-spec Focus (Hertz rental) at high speeds through northern France, I have to say Ford has a fine little car in the Focus.
I admit when I first looked at the Focus it was for features/bang for the buck. Agree that the ZX5 is the better looking of all the models, but I liked it because of the four doors. Alas, the ZTW had more cargo room--critical to me--so that's what I got.
Initially I thought the ZX5 exterior (front & rear) was bizarre--especially the rear--but it grows on you and looks not at all plain Jane. With the right wheels, it looks cool. The dash layout is just plain modern and still draws compliments.
Too bad plain Jane was on the design team (apologies to the real "Janes" out there...)
The decision to go with a sporty sedan in favor of the ZX3 and Zx5 is baffling to me. ???
jkidd
Paid $10,800 plus trade. I know it wasn't the best deal in the country, but I don't live in a dense urban population where the dealers can make up for lower prices by selling more cars. At least that's how I rationalize it.
Oh, and it's my first new car.
So, in the words of Danny DeVito: "I'm one of us!"
Having asked that, ABS was a must on our ZX5. It will be our daughter's car when she turns 16, and I don't think we would drive a car that didn't have that option.
The way I see it, you use the brakes pretty much every time you drive the car, whereas the side airbags are used only in the worst case scenario (you get t-boned).
Where do you live? Do you get a lot of rainy or snowy weather?
Is there a difference in insurance costs? I know many insurance companies are not offering discounts for cars with ABS, where they might for the side air bags.
Good luck, and let us know what you end up doing.
It seems the yellow ZX5 is the better deal since it has more equipment and the color you like for less money. Plus it has the added safety of side airbags. I'd go for that one.
At least it seems that way...
I would rather go to the dealer or a quick change place than change it myself, but it seems every time I do I end up with oil/grease stains all over my interior. Apparently those disposable plastic seat covers they used to use are too expensive
Upgrading to wider tires (usually on wider rims) helps decrease the difference between your brake's maximum potential and your tires'.