You've got a good point, and my employer agreed. We needed a replacement company car (for general use by staff for hauling people and cargo). We settled on a 2006 Kia Sedona EX van -- it's a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and less costly than the comparable Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna. Plus it's got a better warranty.
I myself haven't driven it yet, but by most accounts, it's a winner.
I read this weeks issue of Autoweek last night. THey did a recap of the goods from Detroit autoshow. The one car singled out as a big loser? THe Focus!
Seems that Ford decided to wait for the c2platform (not sure on the number, but the next iteration to replace the C1 that Volvo/Mazda currently use) in around 2010-2011, skipping th eC!. So they just refreshed the current ancient platform.
But, being FOrd (the gang that couldn't shoot straight), according to AW they spent more than if they have just done a new car on the C1 platform! Plus it looks boring, and no model variety.
KNid of like remodeling an old house. If the changes you want to make are significant enough, and the old place has some inherent flaws, it is cheaper and easier to knock it down and start from scratch.
People have been screaming at Ford for years to bring their European models over here. Since Ford operates its various geographic divisions completly seperate from each other that is why it is not happening.
Supposebly things are changing and there will be more integration at ford between the North American and european divisions.
That doesn't make sense though because Mazda uses the C1 platform for the Mazda3, Volvo uses the C1 for the S40/V50, and Land Rover uses the C1 platform for the LR2.
I don't know if the CX-7 is a C1 child though...
It made no sense for Ford NOT to do a C1 Focus in 2005...
Ehh the LR2 isn't really C1 it is more of a highly modified EUCD platform then anything else. Even then only about 40% of that platform is being used. The rest is all unique to the LR2.
I know it makes no sense for ford not to use the european focus platform in the US but so far they have not.
You're right about the C1 Focus -- Ford said they'd have to price it too high, but Americans expect small cars to be cheap. So how does that explain why the Mini Cooper is a success? :confuse:
Last thing I read was that only 40% of the platform would be shared with other platform-mates.
There are lots of other shared components in the LR2 though.
Engine transmission are shared by the S80 and the new XC60. I am sure the nav and entertainment system will be the same on both of those just minus the off-road NAV for the volvos.
Probably some interior bits will be shared on the XC60 and LR2.
I don't think their argument holds water though because Ford could have kept the existing Focus, cut the high end SES and ST models, the wagon, and both hatchbacks, and brought in the European Focus under a new name (say, Fiesta). That way, Ford would have a compact car for bargain shoppers and a compact car for people who wanted the newer design and could afford it. Also, rental fleets could be satisfied with the "old" Focus.
Sort of what Chevrolet did with the Classic and Malibu for a while until they phased out the Classic.
local volume dealer is now running screamer ads for Foci, "all at $8988". At $9000, it might be worth a look. Test drove a wagon recently, automatic SES, was more than a little underwhelmed.
I thought it was kinda funny that Autoweek published a "correction" in this week's issue regarding the '08 Focus, which was originally published under the title "biggest losers of '08" or something. So the '08 Focus got to be the "biggest loser" twice. :-P
How could a model go from the top (early year 2000 press reviews) to the bottom (endless recalls in its first two years, allowed to run on until it put the Neon to shame in its efforts to be the bargain fleet appliance of the year) so quickly?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
And to top it off, the '08 Focus (at least the coupe I saw at the DC Auto Show) has adopted one of today's styling cliches: the fake vents on the front fenders! Lame.
Well the best explanation for that would be Ford's lack of enthuasiasm for the product as it aged.
The same thing happened with the Taurus. The reviews were excellent in the 80's but by the time the Taurus made it to 2000, it was the rental fleet and used car special of the century...
$8988 is not a bad price for a brand new Focus; local Chevy dealers want $9000+ for Aveos... (and I'd take a Focus over an Aveo any day )
"Well the best explanation for that would be Ford's lack of enthuasiasm for the product as it aged."
"The same thing happened with the Taurus. The reviews were excellent in the 80's but by the time the Taurus made it to 2000, it was the rental fleet and used car special of the century..."
Ford always does this they'll let a product go stale like you said before with the Tarus and they did the same thing with the LS. Why does Ford always let a model go stale and end up just killing the name of the product that they let go stale(Tarus, Lincoln LS.) Can;t Ford just redesign products every 5 years like every other automaker or at least every 6. I thought Ford would have learned by now not to let models go stale but they haven;t.
- the new G35 is sweet, Interior was a nice upgrade. - I really liked the interior of the 3 series BMW too. - Ditto for the VOlvo S80. And the C30 was way cool!
Star of the show (even my 15 yo son was impressed): the Nissan Versa! Sat in a sedan, and the amount of room was shocking. Rear legroom like a Maybach! Upscale, comfy seats, tons of features, and a whopping 15.7K with an AT, so about 15K with a 6 speed stick.
The bottom end of the market (mid-high teens) has some nice goodies. The Versa, a rabbit, Suxuki SX4, all impressive at the price point. The Yaris? Yuck. Seemed cheap. Didn't really investigate the Korean small cars, but an Optima for 22K could have easily passed for a loaded camry.
Comments
I myself haven't driven it yet, but by most accounts, it's a winner.
Seems that Ford decided to wait for the c2platform (not sure on the number, but the next iteration to replace the C1 that Volvo/Mazda currently use) in around 2010-2011, skipping th eC!. So they just refreshed the current ancient platform.
But, being FOrd (the gang that couldn't shoot straight), according to AW they spent more than if they have just done a new car on the C1 platform! Plus it looks boring, and no model variety.
KNid of like remodeling an old house. If the changes you want to make are significant enough, and the old place has some inherent flaws, it is cheaper and easier to knock it down and start from scratch.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Supposebly things are changing and there will be more integration at ford between the North American and european divisions.
I don't know if the CX-7 is a C1 child though...
It made no sense for Ford NOT to do a C1 Focus in 2005...
I know it makes no sense for ford not to use the european focus platform in the US but so far they have not.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_C170_platform
I didn't know that the LR2 was so unique; it seems to make more sense to use as much of C1 as possible to save money on development...
There are lots of other shared components in the LR2 though.
Engine transmission are shared by the S80 and the new XC60.
I am sure the nav and entertainment system will be the same on both of those just minus the off-road NAV for the volvos.
Probably some interior bits will be shared on the XC60 and LR2.
Sort of what Chevrolet did with the Classic and Malibu for a while until they phased out the Classic.
I thought it was kinda funny that Autoweek published a "correction" in this week's issue regarding the '08 Focus, which was originally published under the title "biggest losers of '08" or something. So the '08 Focus got to be the "biggest loser" twice. :-P
How could a model go from the top (early year 2000 press reviews) to the bottom (endless recalls in its first two years, allowed to run on until it put the Neon to shame in its efforts to be the bargain fleet appliance of the year) so quickly?
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
The same thing happened with the Taurus. The reviews were excellent in the 80's but by the time the Taurus made it to 2000, it was the rental fleet and used car special of the century...
$8988 is not a bad price for a brand new Focus; local Chevy dealers want $9000+ for Aveos... (and I'd take a Focus over an Aveo any day
"The same thing happened with the Taurus. The reviews were excellent in the 80's but by the time the Taurus made it to 2000, it was the rental fleet and used car special of the century..."
Ford always does this they'll let a product go stale like you said before with the Tarus and they did the same thing with the LS. Why does Ford always let a model go stale and end up just killing the name of the product that they let go stale(Tarus, Lincoln LS.) Can;t Ford just redesign products every 5 years like every other automaker or at least every 6. I thought Ford would have learned by now not to let models go stale but they haven;t.
It'll be interesting to see what Ford does with the Fusion when it comes up for a redesign.
- the new G35 is sweet, Interior was a nice upgrade.
- I really liked the interior of the 3 series BMW too.
- Ditto for the VOlvo S80. And the C30 was way cool!
Star of the show (even my 15 yo son was impressed): the Nissan Versa! Sat in a sedan, and the amount of room was shocking. Rear legroom like a Maybach! Upscale, comfy seats, tons of features, and a whopping 15.7K with an AT, so about 15K with a 6 speed stick.
The bottom end of the market (mid-high teens) has some nice goodies. The Versa, a rabbit, Suxuki SX4, all impressive at the price point. The Yaris? Yuck. Seemed cheap. Didn't really investigate the Korean small cars, but an Optima for 22K could have easily passed for a loaded camry.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.