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Comments
Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Mazda is a Ford ;-)
2000 ZTS, 15500 miles since March, still going strong.
Financially, I did not like the idea of taking a huge hit on depreciation, by far the worst first year depreciation of the last ten new cars that I have owned. But to continue to own this piece of junk such that I don't lose money on the first year of depreciation is similar to holding onto a stock that is slowly going down the drain. It is economically stupid to "wait for it to get better". I won't lie to myself. I put my faith in Ford and was let down in the worst way. They may have gotten my money this time, but never again!
Also, trying to sell the Focus to a private buyer instead of trading it in was out of the question, as used Foci are sitting all over dealer lots and are not moving. I seized the opportunity for the best possible trade-in when the car decided to start behaving itself again. I knew this would not last for long, so I capitalized on this rare opportunity while I still had the chance. Yet somehow, the cuteness factor is keeping the prices high for brand new Foci, with minimal rebates and incentives (compared to the competition). If people continue to buy these cars, Ford will keep laughing all the way to the bank. Just don't say I didn't warn you! And if your Focus is still behaving itself, just hang in there. I have complete confidence that this good behavior won't last much longer!
If you weren't sliding how do you know the ABS is great? ABS only comes into play when you are sliding and one wheel stops spinning on the snow,ice,oil.. etc.
I seem to recall reading a report a while back saying that ABS brakes actually cause more accidents because people drive harder and think they won't slide during braking because of the ABS. This causes them to drive more aggressively and faster than conditions allow and more accidents are the results. The conclusion of the article was you should drive your car like it did not have ABS and if you hear the ABS come on you are to fast for conditions.
In snow - I was too lazy to shovel the drive this AM. My car plowed through 10+ inches of light fluffy stuff in our driveway on the Firestones (that some tire buff say are flaky in snow). Don't try this without a shovel in the trunk!
No problem at all with the rest of the drive on icy streets. '00 LX w/ ABS
BTW, about the whole nameless thing, that's just a moot point, since I could have put any name I wanted to in my user profile. I've been on edmunds for several years under the handle rea98d, and quite a few people know me here. I'm not an anonymous fly-by-night flaming everyone. Finally, if I did post my name, you'd have no way of knowing if I was telling the truth, but if it makes you feel better, my name's Rob.
Stay consistent. If you are going to judge the Focus based on Ford's merits, its time to start judging the Mazda by those same standards.
By the way, I believe it says a lot that a name is more important than the substance. Who friggin cares if somebody wants to maintain a bit of anonymity. But, as we have seen, the name is more important than all else and it trumps all common sense.
xyzipp...I do agree with your assessment of how depreciation works. I can't honestly say I agree with some of your other views, but I believe we can have differences of opinion and still be civil to one another. I come to these forums to learn from other's experiences, and occasionally debate the issues. That doesn't mean I'm right or wrong...or you're right or wrong. I see to many posters in Edmunds that insist they are right, and if they can't convince others to "see the light" they resort to personal insults.
I think it's too early to judge the Focus either way...like you said, long term resale (as well as reliability) takes longer than one year to ascertain. I will say this...the vast majority of posters that post on this topic seem to be happy with their Foci despite the 1st year bugs.
Ok, so if Ford is owner (part owner, or whatever the heck you want to call it!) of Mazda, how is the Protoge competing with the Focus? Buy a Protoge, buy a Focus, Ford Corporate doesn't care, they still get your money. It's like saying a Contour or Escort competes with a Focus. Finally, Ford is either donating parts to or using parts from every company they are owner (part owner, whatever! Doesn't matter) in, Mazda included.
There is some law in Japan I read about that does don't allow foreign auto companies to have more then the 33% stake in a Japanesse auto company. I will have to dig around more to see what limitations on influence this may have. Does anyone know?
I hope they are giving you a replacement car while the parts are on order. Or did they tell you the car was safe without the use of the seatbelt?
To Jereny11 Sorry it took so long for me to check this forum, but I have a ZTS with every available option minus smokers package and engine block heater. I ordered it in March and picked it up in April. I paid $15,600 for it.
Run by Pete Tullin
18000-mile farewell report - January 2000
Let's come right out and say it. The Focus is the best small hatch ever made, bar none. And the 1.6 version is the best of the best. Any dissenters? I think not.
I said this after my first drive in our reigning small hatchback of the year. Now, after the best part of 12 months in the company of our silver 1.6 LX 5dr, my opinion hasn't changed.
The introduction of the Focus has not so much moved the goalposts for small hatches, as ripped them out and hurled them over the grandstand.
From the sublime driving experience, courtesy of an independent rear suspension (a rarity in a small hatchback), to the brilliantly sited bonnet release lock behind the blue oval nose badge, every single Focus component has been designed with zealous attention to detail. And the proof comes in the driving.
No other competitor can match the Focus for handling and ride quality. Such is the competence of the chassis I can push on down e f my favourite stretch of fast B-roads with a confidence and composure that would have many so-called hot hatches squealing their tyres and me backing off the throttle or dabbing on the brakes.
Don't get me wrong, our Focus hasn't just come into its own when I've got my (ageing) boy racer helmet on. It's the effortless way in which I've been able to pile on miles that shows how deep-seated the Ford's talents are.
Living in Winchester, Hampshire, around 60 miles from the What Car? office has meant that most of the 18,000 miles have ticked up on multi-laners. Apart from a little wind whistle around the front pillars it's brilliant on the motorway.
I'm not overstating the case to say that it's not far off the best executive cars at 70mph. A supple ride and unstressed engine note make my trip to work much more relaxing than it would be if I was in Philip Holloway's Golf.
Fuel economy hasn't been any better, mind you. On our near identical round trips to work, he and I have posted virtually the same average consumptions. His Volkswagen has recorded 34mpg, compared with the Ford's 35.1mpg. As the days are getting colder, though, I've been less tempted to switch on the air-con, so lately I'm posting figures closer to 40mpg.
Those habitual blasts down country lanes came back to haunt me when I took the car in for its first, routine 10,000-mile service at Evans Halshaw, my local dealer in Winchester. After the service manager had docked £99 off my credit card for carrying out the work, he politely enquired if the car was `being driven aggressively' as the front tyres were showing more wear than he was used to after 10,000 miles. That said, and with a further 8000 miles on the odometer, there's still no sign that they need replacing, so I reckon the rubber will outlast my tenure with the car.
Coincidentally, it was around the time of its service that the Focus committed its only faux pas. The pollen filter housing which sits at the back of the engine bay became displaced and rainwater flooded into the passenger footwell. Evans Halshaw simply realigned and resealed it under warranty while it was in the service bay. The only thing I had to suffer was a soggy carpet for a couple of days.
Meanwhile, I had also noticed that the cabin ambience was, for want of a better expression, getting a little stale. My immediate temptation was to blame the less hygenic What Car? staffers, but apparently it's a condition that has afflicted quite a few owners. The remedy was to deodorise the air conditioning system by squirting an aerosol through the pipes.
Everything else was sweetness and light, and I'm happy to report that it still is. The 100bhp Zetec engine feels fitter by the day, the gearshift has lost none of its precision and the interior remains tight, rattle-free and an ergonomic delight - a fact underscored by
its latest triumph in our car comfort survey.
While I'm on the subject, I couldn't agree more with Dean Southall, the What Car? ergonomics expert. Everyone from the short and squat to six-foot plus beanpoles have praised the multi-adjustable driving position, the quality of the interior materials and the comfortable, supportive seats.
The position of the Focus's switchgear has all the signs that designers have spent thousands of hours making sure everything is perfectly placed. I challenge anyone picking up a Focus hire car from the airport not to instantly know where everything is - you can't say that about a Golf or Astra.
Not everyone in the What Car? office is a fan of the dash's angular New Edge styling, though, or the swathes of grey plastic. Personally, I love it. Perhaps it's just a matter of taste. The quality's pretty good, too, even if it doesn't exude the slabby, solidity of a Volkswagen.
Before this gushing flow of praise becomes too much, there is one aspect of the Focus that can be criticised - the lack of boot space. It's not a problem some owners would notice, but when you've got a wife and two teenage daughters who can't go away for the weekend without a fortnight's worth of clothes, things get a bit tight. If my golf clubs come too, they have to join my kids in the back.
It's going to be difficult to say goodbye to the Focus - it's a great car. Sure an extra 50bhp would be handy, as would more cargo space - my golf clubs only just fit diagonally across the boot - but nothing's perfect. And I reckon the Focus 1.6 is as close as a small hatchback gets.
Cnoll, you asked me in one of the messages that was lost where I lived because I was grumping about not being able to find a decent dealer. Suffice it to say it is a long way from California. Right now I am thinking it is closer to Antartica. We have been blasted with snow and ice. I'd give good money to be in California.
cablock, I was not sure about what the heck AdvanceTrac was. I pulled this from a review:
"A "sixth sense" for drivers who encounter a variety of emergency situations," he explains, "the system enhances stability in extreme driving conditions when drivers misjudge speed or road
conditions." In some cases, this sixth sense might mean: "I see bad drivers." Anyway, AdvanceTrac computers determine the presence of excessive "yaw" (forces trying to spin the vehicle) by comparing steering wheel angles to data from a variety of dynamic sensors including vehicle speed, wheel speed and lateral acceleration. "The system applies braking to the appropriate wheel or wheels and, if necessary, reduces engine torque to help counteract cases of oversteer or understeer and works in concert with the vehicle's traction control and anti-lock braking systems to deliver enhanced control in a variety of conditions." This kind of thing has proved quite useful on a number of sedans and coupes.
I don't know if it is worth an extra $1000, probably depends on your location and weather.
all i know is this it is #00S50. it is for the decklid wire harness. i will assume this is a sedan only recall for now, but i stand to be corrected. i will see if i can get more details when i pick the car up tonight.
this is now the 4th recall repair i have had, in addition to my other problems.... but i still like my car and think it is the best value for the $$. i have an early production model, so i am playing guinnea pig. 2001 is much improved....
happy holidays everyone!! and for those of you in state like here in WI, be careful driving....
Dear Ford Focus Forum,
I have had my Focus now for over 10,000 miles. And, although it has been in for several recalls (possible rear wheel seperation and A-Pillar modification) it has been a most awesome car to own and one of the most funnest cars that I've ever driven. It averages 25mpg/33mpg. I got it with the Zetec engine, 5-speed and, for me, is more than adequate for the driving that I do. I find myself shifting a lot more than I need to because it is so enjoyable to do so. It is an incredible bang for the bucks. Not a bad sound system as well...
Anyway, I could go on. But, the Focus is calling to me and I must answer the call.
Sincerely yours,
SpaceShot
1) Have they fixed all the little problems that the 2000 models appear to have ?
2) Can you turn the advancetrac system off ?
I really like the thought of having rear disk brakes (which come with the advancetrac system). A sedan with adequite power and good headroom is a must. I have also thought about the Mazda 626, which actually has just a little bit more room on the inside, and is a much larger car on the outside. Your thoughts and opinions would be welcome. Thanks !
If you want rear discs on a 626, you'll have to spring for the V6, which will push the sticker up a thousand or so.
Both these cars are eminently flingable; I took them on my standard Urban Decay Test Tour and was impressed with the way they dealt with the variety of situations, from low-speed hairpins to frighteningly-short on-ramps. If headroom is an issue, Focus wins; the 626 has good vertical space, but you have to duck quite a way to get into it.
And for some, there's a potential audio issue: in the Focus, apparently, you can have the tape unit or the CD, but not both, and the aftermarket really hasn't addressed Foci yet. For me, at least, Mazda wins this one.
am finding that I am having alot of trouble with the alternator getting wet, and then losing
power for lights and defrost and other important things. We have had our car since May of 2000
and until this point it was alright. Another peeve I have is with the stereo system and not being
able to tune in the radio very well. When I spoke to my dealer about the alternator problem,
his solultion was to make up some type of guard to protect the alternator? I am wanting to get
rid of this car. This has happened in snow and rain!! Has this happened to anyone else?
Maybe Ford's experience with the Focus and Escape/Tribute will force them to re-learn the lessons on quality that they seem to have forgotten.
Over 15,000 trouble-free miles was put on the car.
P.S. I previously posted as "Focused1" but can't recall my password. My e-mail address has also changed, so Edmund's can't e-mail me with my password.
But personally, given the damage that you've described, I think you'll be better off having the car written off as a total loss since they probably won't be able to fix it like new.
You might not have your Sony anymore, but at least you have your health. I love my Sony too, but I'd rather it get creamed than me...
lkdog3: sorry to hear about the trouble that you've have with your 2000 LX. If your dealer is willing to trade you a 2001 for it, I think that's a good idea. So far - knock on wood - the 2001's haven't been affected by any of the 2000's recalls.
csb1: To answer your questions:
[1]I don't think Ford has fixed all the little bugs in the 2000 models, but, at least, the 2001's have been free of those little bugs. Though, FYI, since AdvanceTrac is new for 2001, there could be some issues with its reliablity in the future.
[2]I believe you can turn AdvanceTrac off. But I'm not sure.
hmpower: I don't know that you should be so afraid of recalls with a 2001 (or later) model Focus. You have to remember that Ford is under the microscope for suppressing potential dangers in the Explorer/Firestone case, so they aren't taking chances anymore - hence the numerous recalls for the Focus & Escape - because they don't want anything to come back and haunt them.
peace
The recalls aren't simply the result of over-cautious executives, they are because there are real, potentially dangerous flaws in some vehicles. Ford has had an awful record with these lately, and I don't feel like taking a chance.
A good friend of mine has had a Tribute for about 4 months now and he's had no problems with it whatsoever (and it's not like he pampers the truck, he's actually pretty damn rough on it) so it's partly about luck too.
As far as the Focus is concerned, there have been those that have had horrible luck with their Foci and those - like myself - who've been very lucky. But if you stay away because of reliability concerns, that's understandable.
peace
Thanks, Mike
Happy Holidays Everyone!
Holly
AS: I have only seen 3 other cars like mine in this area, but when I was in Wisconsin visiting my folks, I saw ZILLIONS of them!!!
Argument #2: The Mazda Tribute IS a Ford.
Does anyone else see the problem with this?
Oh, wait, cuz the Tribute has problems, then it MUST be a ford... I get it...
(sarcasm on)
17000 miles on my ZTS and my door stopped squeaking, so I guess everything's ok.
Also, you might not wanna give up your car, but no matter how well they fix it at the shop, it will never be the same again after such a severe accident. Also glad to hear you came out okay.
I worked in retail management for a number of years for a large chain. There is a principle I learned from my experience. If you sell crap, people won't buy it. People buy with price, quality, and aesthetic value all bundled up together. Put something out that is top quality with good aesthetic quality and an unreasonable price --- people won't buy it. You can change the variables any way you want, but it will hold true. I think the same holds true in the automobile industry.
If that's the case, then it is wise to scrutinize the background of Ford and Mazda. Ford Focus --- top selling car in the world. Ford F-150 --- top selling pickup truck in the world. Mazda Protege --- top selling car, ummmmm wait, kinda of good selling car, ummmm, well they sell some cars somewhere. I am sure it is the top selling car at some Mazda dealer that only sells Proteges. What Mazda car or truck is there that ranks in the top three in its class? I could stand to be corrected but I don't believe there are any. (Unless of course we only allow Mazda's to participate) Ford stakes a very different claim. I would guess that Ford likely has a vehicle in the top three in close to every category, if not very close. Not only that, but the top spots in a couple of cases.
So here is the challenge Mazda enthusiasts. Tell me why Ford CONSISTENTLY outsells Mazda in every category, yet Mazda is soooo much better. I think to do so, you are going to have to say everybody is stupid except for the few who buy Mazda's. Do that, and you call a lot of people stupid. Frankly, I don't believer the consumer is that ignorant. Maybe it is all a conspiracy. Perhaps the government is interfering with the numbers and Mazda really sells more than Ford. Yeah..thats it. It's a conspiracy.