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Ford Focus hatchback
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Comments
carlady/host
Is it because of the 1.3 liter engine? And is it normal, or is my transmission bad?
I'm very concerned about this, and hope they were just made that way.
Tom
carlady/host
http://www.fordnews.com
Man, I can't wait for the Focus ZX3...
Cool, I'll take mine in silver please with
5-speed and throw in some air conditioning if you don't mind. :-)
Tom
- Power Windows
- Power Door Locks
- Power Seats (not available on any model)
- Cassette Player (CD Player is standard)
- Cruise Control
- Tilt Steering Wheel
- Sunroof (not available on any model)
IMHO, $12,280 is where you'll start. After a few options packages, the price will probably be closer to $15,000, though most customers could probably bring the dealer down a grand or so in negotiations.
On the other hand, the options list for the Focus, which also includes Leather Seats, is much better than for the Honda Civic, which also has 27 less horses under the hood. The other big competitor, the VW Golf, starts at $14,900. Hmmmmm...
Back to cars........ The Honda hatch is also very cheap and it doesn't come with anything standard. At least with the focus you have the option of adding options if you want them. There are very few available options for the civic hatch.
As for the Golf. By the time you add options to the focus to match the standard equipment on the golf I would imagine that the focus will still be cheaper. Besides, they are going to make tons of the focus so you won't have to be calling around dealerships just to find one. Ford wants to sell a lot of these and is going to be building a lot.
The Aspire shifting thing is something you should be HAPPY for. These 3-speed automatics in the Aspire, Festiva, and Metros are built tough for a reason...durability under load. The 50-70 horsepower engines aren't enough to overcome the tires nor the transmission. If you are driving your car hard enough to cause a really hard shift (like pulls the steering wheel out of your hands) then maybe you should buy a tachometer and not let your car shift at 6500rpm...
I like the Focus, but for my $12,280 I would rather have two slightly used Geo Metros, or maybe a Plymouth Road Runner, 383/727, in Sub-Lime...we can all dream can't we?
$12,280 will also buy a Golf III/Jetta III with a V6, or a late eighties Mercedes-Benz 4Matic wagon...hmm?
Tom
I may be a bit out of date here, but a great link for pictures and info on the Focus is ford's uk site. http://www.ford.co.uk/fo2 will take you directly to the focus.
Please let them bring the 5 door here.
Ford Focus ZX3 Hatchback w/ these options:
- Air Condition
- Anti-Lock Brakes
- Power Door Locks w/ Remote Entry
- Side Impact Air Bags
- Floor Mats
With the 5-spd manual: $14275
With the automatic: $15090
Judging from these prices, I'd be willing to bet that some Ford dealerships will advertise the 5-speed Focus with those options at $12995 and still make a few bucks from that deal. That should get people around here interested, eh?
BTW, one dealer has a black wagon arriving the end of August. Anyone want a dirt magnet?
carlady/host
The dealer did not have the color options for the ZX3, making it difficult for me to order. (For some reason, he's not convinced that the ordering codes are already available on the Internet at www.kbb.com!)
[BTW, Very small color swatches are shown at www.fordvehicles.org, but they're too small to be useful. The overseas Ford sources use different names than the US..... Have any of you found a good source of color information?]
At 3% over invoice, a loaded ZX3 with shipping is less than $14,500: a good deal, if the quality is in fact Job One.
I am glad that the 3 door is coming earlier than the spring. Hatchbacks were looked down on by buyers as econoboxes, but now the image has faded with time, Hooray!
BTW: Earlier someone said that they do not buy domestic cars, only trucks. Well, I consider my Contour and the Focus as equivalents to US made Hondas, Toyotas, etc.
I wonder if the Focus will go "chunk" (like the Golf), or go "clank" (like the Civic) when you slam the door. I prefer a good solid chunk. Fell in love with the Golf's spitited ride on the test drive, and the 4-wheel disk ABS is awesome! Have owned Hondas with suspect brake longevity. BUT, I do like Ford trucks, and will consider waiting for the Focus to see how good "Europe's best" is.
carlady/host
I can't wait to look it over and drive. My Contour is solid, much more than my mother's 94 Sable. If the Focus is newer design, I expect it to be as good as my car.
BTW, a local dealer sent me word tonight that he has a silver Focus sedan. So they are coming....
without taking so much as a wheel off, spare wheels, cooler & duffel bag. I can also fit two bikes (front wheels off) & as many as 3wheeelsets.
I know its a high liftover but most of my stuff is
pretty light. In the winter I can fit 3 cross country skiers (in winter clothing), their ski's,
boots & poles! Will the Focus hold as much?
All of us that have a long drive to and from work would sure love to have at least the option to have cruise control on our car (at least I do). Hopefully, that was fordnews.com's mistake. I sure want the ZX3...
But I just don't understand Fords strategy. The cheapent model comes with the most powerfull engine while the most expensive (wagon) has the lesser. What the hell are they thinking? I would love to have a 130hp wagon with a a stick. Oh well. Leave it to Ford of North America to mess up what the Euros created.
I was previously considering a Civic hatch, but the Ford hatch is a much better value in a more attractive package. I am just aprihensive about the quality.
Here is some advice: If you can wait, dont buy one of the early examples to come of the line. Wait a couple of months to order yours. I have seen that with many new models (from a variety of manufacturers) the first examples have some build quality issues in general.
I curently have a base 95 Meon with no options (power steering and AC does not impress me HA HA HA.) Its noizy as hell but bullet proof despite all the bad press (go figure.) For $8600 new, it was the best deal I ever got, on anything. I just hope the Focus prooves to be just as good.
Does anyone think that I could get my hands on a base ZX3 for $1100 or less?
I ment to Say "Neon" and "$11,000". Not "1100"(I wish.)
Hey Ford, newsflash- young, active buyers like to row their own boats! Ask VW and BMW if you have doubts...
Someone asled about the feel of the door on the Focus, and I can attest that they feel more solid than Civics. My Dad (in Europe) has a ZX3 (it is called Trend over there) and the door close with a very solid sound. Overall, in Europe it is a well-built car. I just hope American quality will be at least as good.
BTW, the American ZX3 has better engine than the Euro car, which is GREAT! I cannot wait to drive this 130hp car!
wagon. I bought it for my wife to commute to and
from Brooklyn hoping it would last a few years,(
cheap transport.) but it proved to be the best car
I have owned. except for normal wear items the only thing I have replaced was the turn signal
flasher. It now just turned 150,000 hard N.Y.C
miles,still gets 30+m.p.g. If the new Focus is close I wouldn't worry too much about reliability!
Go to: http://www.wieck.com/public/index.html
There, type in the "Search Criteria" box "Ford Focus." They are in cronological order of release. There are about 160. When clicking on a picture, open it in a separate window because your back button will now work to take you back to the list. Enjoy.
GM has nothing similar to the Ford Focus. I wrote them and asked if there was anything similar in the works...No response. I guess they don't care.
(Don't anyone say Metro)
I am exited about the Focus. I was England 2 months ago and they are all over. The design caught my eye. I can't wait to test drive one.
Does anyone have any information on the Toyota Echo? I am interested in a comparison.