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Got info from Allstate when the 97 van was getting to the end of the factory warranty that looked interesting. Know you have to be careful with 3rd party warranty companies... anyone have any experience they can share???
Can't really give you too much other than a big thumbs up! Our 2001 Focus SE Sport has about 70 miles on it and is less than 24 hours old!
Hope to have lots of great years ahead!!!
In 1984 we bought a brand new Toyota van. The vehicle had so many things wrong with it that 3 years later I could no longer take it and traded it in for an 87 Ford van (so much for Toyotas are soooo reliable).
The common thread in these two stories??? Both were first year vehicles. Now we all know that being the first kid on the block with the new toy is a great feeling but it sometimes comes with a price.
We just picked up my son's 2001 SE sedan on Monday and I look forward to many years of great transportation. Hopefully you folks who bought 2000 models have done Ford's last research and development for us and we will enjoy trouble free driving.
I do say though when you've got problems with a new car, the dealer is the one that either makes the situation pleasant or makes it a nightmare. I guess when you purchase a 1st year car it is even more important to shop dealers not only price!
First, that was in the age when we as consumers took what we got. Believe me, I was looked at like I had two heads when I went back and complained while trying to get some of the problems corrected. That was the low of lows for Detroit (and the reason my next 3 cars were from Japan)and the feeling from the car companies were that we (as consumers) would take whatever they gave us.
Second, I guess the same as when the sales manager pulls the bs "I need more money for this car" scam. Your new baby is sitting there all shiny and new and your vision is not always as clear as it is when the smoke clears.
Some of the problems were corrected, but others took weeks to correct including a couple of trips to the body shop!
The sad thing was that it was a great little car... just built very badly!
I haven't seen any recalls or posts on this site about rotors for the focus so maybe it's just me.
Are rotors covered under the warranty if proof is provided that the pads were not worn through?
Any suggestions?
Anyone looking at a used 2000 Focus should make sure all the recall repairs have been completed.
The salesman at the dealership?
The service manager?
By the way, I can't find in my warranty information anything about the rotors being covered or anything about the coverage ending after 12 months or 12,000 miles.
Is the some unwritten part everybody knows about but me?
Thanks for your help
Never even would have thought those were areas covered by warranty.
I'm to the point of driving the car thru the showroom window.. but I know it's not the dealers fault.
Didn't you complain to the dealer?? Did they blow you off or did Ford?
Buy the way, My kids have to PUT THEIR HANDS ON THEIR EARS while riding in the vehicle, because of the sounds emittined from the wheel bearings, SINCE 7K MILES!!
First: I need to go thou "arbitration" which is just another type of stall tactic.
Second: I need to fill out all the paper work, so they can make a decision. Obviously in THEIR favor.
Third: My Wife will still need a vehicle to drive and somehow,I think I'm going to get the short end of the stick in this.
One note to this.
I spoke with the Finance Manager who originally sold me the car, and surprisingly,HE wants to see the vehicle brought back as a LEMON. The Finance manager wants to set up a meeting with the Owner of the dealership to address the issues with the vehicle.
I find that FORD is the one that doesn't want to take responsibility for this. I also find that the Service Manager has told me that the vehicle has to be "brought in for 3 times for the SAME repair" to qualify for a lemon status. I think 14K miles of unreasonable noise, being told it was the tires, having spend 300 bucks for NEW tires, and STILL having the same trouble qualifies the vehicle for a lemon states doesn't it?
Please don't get me wrong, I'm a Ford guy.. been that for a very long time but I also was a machinist by trade, now a Private Investigator. I think I'm onto something here, and big business, as usual, is trying to undermine the little guy
Having the dealer finance guy on your side thou does seem like a bright spot. We bought our Focus from the owner so if we have problems I hope he'll be on my side.
I'm afraid that business in the 21st Century is not going to be an easy time for most of us. With cutbacks, hiring freezes and the like, many companies just don't provide the service they once did. Not easy but I'm afraid a way of life.
Too bad but it seems that some of you 2000 Focus buyers finished the research and development for Ford. Haven't heard these kinds of complaints from fellow 2001 owners.
If you're interested in discussing the upcoming 2002 Focus ZX5 5 door sedan, please join us in this new Hatchbacks Message Board discussion: Ford Focus ZX5 (2002).
Pocahontas
Host
Hatchbacks/Station Wagons Message Board
I noticed nothing with the tires, so I got back in and slowly drove off. I got about 50 feet away from where I stopped, and the front passenger wheel and the rear passenge wheel FELL OFF!!
I called the dealer where I bought the car, told him that HIS service manager told me last monday April 9, 2001 that "the car is SAFE TO DRIVE" while awaiting for the replacement wheel bearings.
I told the dealer that i was having the car sent to him, and that I was going to call Ford as soon as I got home.
I called the 800 number and reported the problem and the dealer's service manager to the Ford rep, who told me they were going to follow up on the issue on Tuesday Morning. I'm going to be camped out at the dealer , so when my "Service Manager" comes in. I'll throw him the keys. and tell him to "kindly place them where he sits"
As far as I can see it right now, we have a lemon, and the service manager can suck on the darn thing. I think Ford is going to have to go a long way to fix this "broken fence"
Oh yes.. the rear brake pads were unevenly worn when they were exposed , due to the wheel bearing seizing up and breaking the rim from the hub. but I believe this is just the tip of the iceberg for some of us Focus owners. The "R&D" owners.
More, I guess, to add to the "don't buy a car in it's first year" saga.
Took our son's 2001 Focus SE Sport up to him at college this weekend. With just a bit more than 400 miles on the car, we traveled the 250 highway miles at varying speeds as per the breakin procedures. Filled it up with gas just before we got to him and got 29+ MPG.
Good luck with your dealer.... hope you've got the kind that will be on your side as they can make all the difference in the world.
Mileage is way less than advertised. as much as 10 mpg less
over 70 mph and the noise comeing from the right rear is terrible
every time I go over uneven pavement or hit a small bump at over 20 mph the tires rub the body and it bottoms out.
Road noise at any speed is terrible.
Spoke to service manager at dealership, he is clueless to begin with states if engine light isn't on he cant do anything, called Ford left numerous complaints and no one responds.
NEVER buy Ford they could care less about their product and even less about their customers.
Only good thing about the Focus is the amount of head room. No more Amercvan for me Toyota or Subaru or nothing
DO you drive over railroad tracks at 70?
This sounds like the fanatics who think everyone must get an Asian car, or else. Go get a high quality Daewoo and shut up.
Here's my reply from the Hatchback post:phowell1..you tell us about your poor mileage but then don't tell us what you are getting?? Do you actually mean you are getting around 20 MPG??
I'm sorry but I must say that I haven't had your experience with our 2001. Now, we have only had it for 2 weeks or so but I don't find it objectionable noisy nor does the suspension bottom.
It is not a quiet as my wife's 2001 Taurus SEL but then it also cost close to $10,000 less! Lets remember to compare apples to apples not oranges. We had a guy a couple of weeks ago who complained that the Focus wasn't as good as a car (a Subaru) that cost about $8000 more than the Focus.
Thanks,
L8_Apex
Host
Sedans Message Board
Louie
2. Believing that the mileage predictions on window stickers are anywhere near correct
3. they were on my last few purchases wonder why not on a Focus
4. will not complain much longer I spoke with a toyota dealer today I am tring out a Camry tomorrow and if it works out this sick Focus can be his. Yeah the camary is a few dollars more but it's worth it Toyota is quality and when and if there is ever a problem they stand behind it and fix it not laugh at you like FORD
I have a 2000 Focus zts 5 sp and my experience has been more than satisfactory. My mileage is about 20K/year so, I can truthfully say, I consistently get about 33mpg in mostly highway driving at ~70mph. Considering what I paid for the machine, it is well built, fun to drive, with a quick heater, very good sound system, and very good quality materials. I smile everytime I walk up to the thing to drive it. I even have a unique, defunct color: autumn orange! LOL
Which car, BTW, at any price, is guaranteed to be a wonderful experience? A Mercedes? A Toyota?
Jay
Again I ask, what kind of mileage are you getting?? You continue to complain but don't give us any insight on your actual mileage. I would have to take issue with you thou on the Camry when you say its a few dollars more. According to Priceline, a 2001 Camry CE Manual invoices for 15,908 and has an MSRP of 17,675. That same source lists the Focus LX sedan at 11,856 invoice and 12,480 as MSRP. I think the 4 to 6 thousand difference is again, like comparing apples to oranges. I say again, the Focus is not as nice as my wife's 2001 Taurus SEL but it costs close to 10 thousand less!
Now, as to Toyotas... I've owned 2 and my Mom now has a 2000 Camry LE auto. It is a nice car but even thou it cost thousands more than my son's Focus it has a real low buck interior. Again thou as you did with the Subaru, you can't really compare cars in different classes unless you factor in the cost.
Now you want to talk about quality, dealers and service?? My last Toyota was an 84 van that was a piece of garbage. The car cost me a mint and was in and out of Toyota dealers all over the area because they were all crooks who took mega bucks and never fixed the car. It died the 4th day we owned it and between that and the dealers sent me running back to Ford! The last blow it struck was when we found that in a bit more than 2 years it lost 3/4 of its value!!
The dealer my Mom bought her Camry from was great in the purchase but then service??? Forget it!
To all you people who bought the 2000 Focus and have problems, I feel for you. I've been there with first year cars (the Toyota Van and my '79 Capri) and learned my lesson. Ford has, however sold hundreds and thousands of them and I don't think the level of complaints reflect that everyone hates the car.
Enjoy your Toyota or Honda...to each his own. Thant Thank God is why they make cars in different colors!
Being a small car, it's not going to be able to take much of an impact over about 40 mph in my opinion. It scored well in crash tests, but I have my doubts about how well this car would hold up in a serious collision (as compared to a larger car, anyway).
Anyway, regarding resale value, I've heard the Escorts would sell for pretty decent money if they weren't more than three years old, but after three years, their value dropped like a rock. I wonder if the same thing will be true for a Focus a few years from now. I hardly see any of them on the road where I live (Washington, DC), so it makes me think that everyone is choosing the Protege, Civic, Cavalier, etc. over the Focus.
I would hate to make payments on this car for four years only to have it be worth nothing once it got paid off. I hope I didn't make a mistake by buying this thing. Anyone out there have any advice or insight to offer? Thanks...
Phowell1 - I can believe 29 to 30 with a Crown Vic on trips. But never less than 22 in mixed driving seems a little high. That's an 8. I wasn't under the impression that they do that good.
Stevem327 - The Focus in all liklihood will not be worth as much as a Toyota or Civic at trade in time. Then again you pay more for a comparabliy equipped Toyota or Honda. So you have to weight the initial cost of purchase and either interest cost on the additional dollars spent or the return you'd get on your savings buying the Focus if you invest it. People don't seem to consider the additional cash outlay and what your options with that money would be when you purchase a car for less bucks.
Just my two cents.
Life is like that sometimes and hey all you can do is hope for better days. I sincerely hope that you folks who hate your Focus will be very happy with your Toyota, Honda, Subaru or whatever.
I also hope that those of us who like our Focus will continue to.
I like red cars and respect your right to like blue ones. Camaros are nice but I'd rather be driving my Mustang.
My last wish is that you find a car dealer who meets your every expectation and who is kind and patient and really understands your pain.
Good luck to all...I wish you nothing but good mileage and smooth riding.
Just an update, 22k miles in 13 months (2000 ZTS), which is ridiculous, but I'm the one always offering to drive (trips to Atlantic City are a killer on the wallet and the mileage!!). But overall, I have to say, that as my first car purchase ever, I couldn't have asked for anything more. I'm averaging about 310 miles per 10-11 gallons of gas (you do the math), and that's mostly highway driving with some stop-and-go city miles... The ONLY problem I've had is that the guys that do my oil dented my hood when they closed it... ever notice that the hood has to be slammed to shut? Well, evidently when he tried to slam it shut, and it didn't close, he pushed on the corner of the hood with the palm of his hand... that's a no-no, and now I have a nice $250 dent/cracked paint on my hood that he has to fix...
But other than that, the car drives like a dream, and hasn't given me one problem. I sympathize w/ the people who've had legit problems, but I don't think it's just a "ford thing"... buying a car is a gamble, that's why they have warranties and lemon laws... I'm just thankful that I haven't had any problems.
So good luck to everyone, I live in SE PA near philly and drive into Jersey/NYC area often, and there are TONS of Foci on the road. I don't feel so special anymore, but oh well, as long as we don't get as played out as the Civics.
The manual says I have a 13.2 gallon tank, so this would mean I've got 2.5 gallons in reserve. That amount seems way high to me. Most reserves are no more than one gallon.
Is it possible that I have something other than a 13.2 gallon tank in my ZTS?
Since we have moved to our new platform, we no longer have the requirement to stop and restart discussions after the numbers of posts exceed a certain limit. Since this discussion can continue as long as anyone has anything to say about the Focus, there is no longer a need for the "Part 4" that has been included in the discussion name. Down the road, that could confuse our newer members so I have removed it.
I've altered the name slightly of the original Focus discussion in the Archives to differentiate it from this active one.
Please continue...
Pat
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Sedans and Women's Auto Center Message Boards
I've had two cars in my life that I would classify as lemons, a '79 Mercury Capri and an '84 Toyota Van. Both of them were first year cars (no more of them for me either)and in neither case was there any program to fix the cars nor any where to go to get financial relief for the problems that I paid out of my pocket for.
Of the two of them, the Toyota was by far the worst and sent me running back to American cars. Unfortuneatly not before it cost me lots of repair money, wasted time, and ultimately trade in value.