Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/25 for details.
Options
Ford Focus hatchback
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
answer my calls. What kind of company is this
Ford ?
Anyway, it was an automatic. The salesman said they didn't have any Zetecs with manual on the lot.
The ride was very, very nice, though I didn't ride over any rough roads. I took the car up to 80mph and was disappointed by the amount of noise. It's probably par for this class and price range, but I was hoping for better. IIRC, the Golf TDI I drove was a lot quieter at 80mph.
Anyway, it's a good car, with a terrific suspension. And the zx3 is a looker. If only they put more sound insulation in there.
To be fair, I had to followup after driving the Mazda Protege ES manual and Honda Civic LX manual. It was drizzling and the roads were wet, which may have added to the noise, but neither the Protege or Civic seemed noticeably quieter than the Focus sedan I drove.
The Protege ES's engine is really nice, powerful and smooth, and the car overall is very sporty, with nice steering and handling. Unfortunately, the gearing for 5th is a bit high. Even at 60mph (there was too much traffic to go faster), the revs were up there and there was a good amount of noise.
The Civic was very refined, with an excellent ride (better than the Protege) and IMO, more comfortable seats than the Protege. The shifter is nicer, too. The engine seemed perfectly adequate under moderate acceleration, but push it hard and it didn't want to work. The gearing for 5th was lower than the Protege, and at 60mph it seemed quieter. Even at 80mph, it was only spinning at 3300-3400rpm. The steering, while precise, was disappointingly slow. It's not as fun to drive as the Protege, Focus, or Golf
I wanted to drive a Golf TDI again but none were available.
than MSRP, but I have seen a ZX3 (and for that
matter, ZTS Sedans and SE Wagons) here in ottawa
driving around.. not many yet, but some..
The following is an account of the customer service I have received from Ford while purchasing a new Focus wagon. I am posting this letter to numerous sites on the internet in an effort to encourage Ford Motor Company to fulfill its promise of the highest level of customer service.
If you have experienced similar problems while buying a Ford Motor Co. vehicle, you may wish to do as I have done. This message will also be posted to Ford’s Customer Assistance Center, and to the dealership
--October 12--
I place an order at Packey Webb Ford in Wheaton Illinois for a new Focus SE wagon, a dealership that gave me a very competitive price.
--October 19--
I read—through online websites, chat rooms, and bulletin boards—that there have been as many as three recalls on this model.
--October 25, week of--
I call Ford’s Customer Assistance Center for information, and am told that, in order to know whether my car was affected by any of the recalls, I would have to supply Ford with the VIN number for the new car. I ask how to get that number and am told to call the dealership.
I note that this seems absurd: that while Ford is building the car and issuing the VIN number to the dealer, and that while I am talking to a Ford representative, that that same representative tells me that Ford can not furnish the VIN number.
The representative says that he doesn’t have access to that information. After some discussion, the representative promises that he will find the VIN number and call me back when he knows the recall status of my vehicle.
--November 3--
Having not heard back from Ford’s Customer Assistance Center, I make a second call and speak with a different representative who tells me simply that they have no access to VIN numbers, and can not help me. There is no explanation for why the previous representative had never called back. When I ask what assistance Ford’s Customer Assistance Center is providing, the representative responds that "information has been recorded about my request."
I ask to speak to a supervisor, am put on hold, eventually hang up in frustration, and sign onto Ford’s website, only to find that Ford omitted from its website any method by which customers might submit email to Ford (unless they had a VIN number already.)
--November 4—
I write a letter to Ford’s Customer Assistance mailing address, detailing my difficulties in getting information, and asking for an explanation of the recalls, a justification for the poor customer service, an account of which recalls affected my car, and when I can expect delivery.
--November 9—
I receive an email message from the dealership with the VIN number.
--November 18—
Using the VIN number, I sign on to Ford’s website and access the Owner Connection function. Ford, however, does not provide enough space in their email to detail my questions and problems. I summarize these as best as possible and wait for a response.
--November 19--
Ford’s CAC emails me back a form letter, informing me that the VIN I supplied may not be valid (it was.)
--November 22—
Now that I have an email address to respond to, I copy my original snail-mail letter to Ford into an email and submit it, reiterating that I plan to post this account on the internet.
--November 23—
Dan Ryan from Ford telephones me to explain the quality of service I have received to date. He explains the three recalls, informs me that none of them have affected my car (because it has not been built yet), but offers, in my estimation, no good reason for why Ford could not access its own records to find the VIN number for the car it was building for me.
He then informs me that the scheduled build date for my car is December 13, and that I can expect delivery about two weeks after that. This means the delivery of my car will take a total of eleven weeks or more-- much longer than the six to eight weeks promised. He offers to try to expedite the building of my car, and says that he will have to contact the dealership to do so.
--November 24—
Mr. Ryan phones me at home to say that he has asked the dealership’s sales manager to put in an expedite request for building my car.
--November 30—
Having not heard back from the dealership, I email them, asking about a revised build date. I compile this account, with plans to post it to the internet when it is complete. I then email this chronology, up until this point, to both the dealership, and Ford’s customer service center.
Mr. Ryan phones me at work to ask whether the dealership has contacted me yet about the expedite request. He promises to contact them again.
--December 1—
I receive an email from the dealership, acknowledging receipt of my email yesterday, apologizing for the delays, and noting that they have put in an expedite request for producing my car. The sales person politely reminds me that he works for the dealership (Packey Webb) and not Ford, and concludes by saying that he will do what he can to get the car quickly, and will email me as soon as it arrives.
--December 7—
I have no news from Ford or the dealership on the arrival date of my car. I sign on to Ford’s website to access the "Owner connection" page. The site refuses my password, then asks for a new one, which I enter, then refuses the new password that I just entered and approved. The site’s design sends me into an endless loop of requesting, then refusing, new passwords.
While on Ford’s site, I file my second request for a brochure. Despite filling out all requested information on the first request form two months ago, I have never received a brochure.
Using the email address I used by Ford’s customer assistance center, I send an email telling of my difficulty in accessing the owner connection, making another request to be mailed a brochure, and reminding them that I will be posting this new chapter to my "Diary of a Ford Buyer."
--December 10—
Ford’s CAC sends me an email asking me to respond directly so that they can contact their web master about why I can’t sign on to the owner connection. Regarding my request for a brochure, they tell me that my request has been received and I will receive it in four weeks (which is what the form on the website told me in October).
--December 13—
I post this "diary," to date, to the three Ford Focus sites (sedan, hatchback, wagon) in Edmund’s "Town Hall."
Also, they are so busy pushing trucks that they forgot about the people that don't want them.
CM
the zx3 but does anyone know if there is a kit to
look like the cosworth focus?
if so could some one direct me?
Dwight
If "diary" had tried to order a VW New Beetle in 1998, he would be waiting six months or more! And paying over sticker.
Thanks
tony
Ohh by the way I ordered mine 2 months ago and just took delivery on December, 12.
Example, Register vehicle with service department,
Register vehicle with delivery department,
Register vehicle with Ministry of Transportation,
Register vehicle's warranty forms with manufacturer,
Draw up legal bill of sale.
I'm wondering why there is a charge for a bill of sale and to do the vehicle's warranty forms when it's a new Ford vehicle. It just doesn't add up. Has anyone heard of this nonsense? Any comments would be appreciated.
I'm still breaking in my ZTS, and have to intention of going anywhere near there yet. And as of now (>800 mi) I've been getting >30 mpg, in a mix of city and highway driving. About double what I experience in a Grand Cherokee.
And I've found the Goodyear tires to be surprisingly capable in wet weather.
I am sending a letter to SVT as well. I think that until we see the AWD Focus, the "R" is still a ways off. I definitely think the AWD Focus will happen because they want to build a mini 4x4 off the Focus. Plus Subaru builds their cars with AWD and they sell really well. So do Volvo and Audi.
I am waiting to see what Jack Roush and company come up with.
CM
The only thing that annoys me is the size of the sun visors. Maybe it's because the car has a high roof line, but I always find myself having to change the position of the visors to block out sun. They don't seem to be long enough & I frequently have to use my hand to block out spots that the visor doesn't cover.
I really recommend this car to anyone. I think it's very quiet and responsive. For those who have been complaining about performance or noise, please keep in mind that this is the cheapest car that Ford sells in the USA. It's a lot of car for the money. You get what you pay for, and in my opinion, it's a lot.
A tip.... for the best performance in the automatic, click the button on the automatic shift lever to lock out overdrive. This will keep the car from shifting into 4th gear, and performance will be a lot more lively when driving around town. The car is geared for economy, and it will shift as soon as possible into 4th gear, if left to its own devices. I prefer to choose when it shifts into 4th.
Thanks in advance.
Anyone have any advice/suggestions for me prior to taking the plunge?
Thanks!
maybe it's worth a wait. i just hope i get my baby way before x-mas!!! coz i dont think my Mazda MX-6
GT will make it through the holiday.
For the people who are also waiting: What's the story with your dealerships?
So if it's got what you want, shop around and go for it. Just my lowly opinion!
The car with with the quietest interior though is the Golf TDI. It spins at only 2900rpm in 5th at 80mph, has more sound insulation, and is by far the quietest of the economy cars. Unfortunately, it's also runs about $16K or more.
Sure you might be able to get a good deal on a ZX2, but the same can be said for a computer with a 266MHZ chip. Why would you want it when so much more is available for the same $$? As for leather seats and a CD changer, you can buy both in the aftermarket (or will be able to soon). Plus, I checked with FOrd and the stock CD player on the ZX3 is CD changer compatible, so that option can be taken care of for about $250.
Please, just drive a ZX3, and you'll laugh at the thought of considering the ZX2.
Good Luck - Dwight
Ford division sees 2000 incentives flat with '99
By Todd Nissen
DEARBORN, Mich., Dec 16 (Reuters) - The top executive at Ford Motor Co.'s (NYSE:F - news) Ford division said Thursday he expects overall incentives in 2000 to stay flat with 1999, as full prices on a wave of fresh truck products offset what could be higher discounts on older models.
Ford Division General Manager Jim O'Connor said Ford has no plans now to match the spate of incentives from rival General Motors Corp. (NYSE:GM - news) that started last week.
...One vehicle for which Ford does not plan incentives is the Focus small car, launched in September. O'Connor said 48 percent of early Focus sales have been made to people 35 years old or younger and 26 percent to people 25 and younger, hitting the targets of appealing to younger buyers....
Sorry about your accident. I can't imagine your frustration level right now.