2013 Ford Focus ST Long Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

2013 Ford Focus ST Long Term Road Test

Does the popular Ford truck line outshine its venerable sedans and coupes?

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duck87

I'm not sure why you think it would be different in Michigan. Here we have trucks. Big trucks. Or SUVS. Not sporty little zippy cars. We do have Mustangs, but they hardly qualify as "little".

Also- Hyundai/Kia? In what universe are their cars considered sporty/zippy?

seppoboy

Or maybe the answer would not be so different, at a Ford dealership. I have stopped by two different Ford dealerships, with serious interest to buy a Focus equipped to my satisfaction. Even after the near-death experience of 2008, these dealerships didn't get it. Sales reps were dismissive of my interest in their cars, and were eager to put me in an F150 or Explorer, especially one already on their lot. We already have an older F150, thankyouverymuch, and those comments that "those are for college kids and young ladies, you belong in one of these..." showed contempt for the Ford business strategy, as well as potential customers. They like moving the heavy metal, more commissions, and I understand that, but sheesh...

stever

I'm currently living in the UP of Michigan and my neighbor's Edge is about as sporty as it gets. All the Ford trucks do look zippier this time of year - their plows are off for a few months.

subytrojan_2

Ha! Nice job, E!

agentorange

@seppoboy BTDT. Nothing gets my hackles up quicker than a car salesman telling ME what I want, or that I cannot cross-shop between the vehicles I have in mind. Grrrr.

stovt001_

I've had my share of sleezy dealer experiences, but wow, I thought salesmen trying to put you into a truck and saying the car you want is just for little ladies was a tired hollywood cliche. Scary stuff.

darthbimmer

I don't get the "Ford = trucks" mentality. Not in 2013, anyway. Ten years ago, the only domestic cars you'd see on the road in California were rentals. Domestic did equal truck at that time. But cars have made a resurgence as gas prices have remained high, and Ford has come out with cars that are strong competitors in their segments. When I was shopping for a compact car last year, Ford dealers never tried to steer me to a truck. A few salesmen did suggest I consider a Fusion instead of a Focus for more room but that was fine.

fordson1

I think the Focus ST/Fiesta ST twins are building a whole new image for Ford cars. There is for sure no Cruze/Sonic/Dart equivalent to them, shopping domestic nameplates, and the Focus ST is a worthy competitor to the MS3 and GTI, talking foreign brands. The Fiesta ST is going to offer performance equal to or better than the MINI Cooper S and Fiat Abarth for less money.

duck87

One thing to remember are that all dealerships are NOT created equally, so you get absolute scumbags in one and competent sales and service staff in another. They're independently run or managed by companies far removed from the automakers.

jederino

If this kind of thing happened, seppoboy, then dealerships are making the case themselves that their government-sponsored monopolies should end.

stovt001_

I did one time have a salesman at a Chevy/Pontiac/Buick dealership try to sell me on a Buick. This was back in the Lucerne era, and I was in my early 20s. Worst. Salesman. Ever.

greenpony

Hopefully you took the opportunity to give your 12 year old a lesson in the long list of sporty cars NOT made by Hyundai, Kia, or "maybe Honda".

dw_fit1

I live in Michigan, in the Detroit area with many Ford employees living around me. Ford cars are the rarity here too; its F-150s, SUVs and CUVs.

petejosh

Please. Never happened. Can you say, "contrived"?

petejosh

This conversation never happened. It's an invention.