Ford Focus

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.87 of 5, 15.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from rented at Rome termi

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Ford Focus hatchback

Summary:
My wife and I just returned from three and a half weeks travelling throughout the South of Italy by car. We rented a 2007 Ford Focus hatchback, 5 speed maunal at Rome's termini station in the heart of Rome.

The car was fabulous. Anyone who has driven in the South of Italy would fully appreciate the abilities of this vehicle.

The Amalfi Coast with its inumerable super-tight hair pins along a rock cliff face falling to the Mediteranean Sea 200 ft below required great handling and agility. Press-back acceleration in 2nd gear (on these roads you can barely get to 3rd gear an the few short straight sections) allowed passing (yeah, we drove like Italians) when only seconds were a luxury.

An Italian parking spot is one that is just 24 inches longer than the car. That's 12" in front and 12 in back. The Ford Focus had the tighteset truning radius of any car we've driven and it was needed to manouver into these tight spots and to handle the "threading" of the car through small village streets where people park in "Italian Random" style.

The autostrada was another story. Left lane driving is normally for Mercedes, Audis and BMWs (andthe odd Ferrari). Not uncommon to be travelling above the 130 km limit ( 150 is the Italian translation) and have another car BLOW past you as if you're standing still. The Ford Focus held it's own in these intimidating conditions so well I don't think the locals new we were tourists.

Did I mention that it was a diesel engine? We used 220 litres to travel 3950 km. That's about 40 miles per US gal or 53 miles per Imperial gal.

The car was a 5 door model. The trunk took our two large suit cases and more.

I can have back pain when sitting in somme car seats too long but there was no discomfort during the odd 500 km day during our vacation.

This was a great looking car with styling that reflected the European image of what they like in their shoes and clothes.

Wish we could get one of these cars here in Canada.

Strengths:
See above

Weaknesses:
Not available in North America. What are we? Second class world citizens?

Similar Products Used:
Acura 3.2 TL 2002 automatic.
Mazda 6 hatchback 2005 4 cyl. manual

Price Paid:  $10495.00 from Kings Dodge/Mason, O

Year / Model Reviewed:
2006 Ford Focus ZX4 SES

Summary:
I think this car is great. . . I bought my Focus used as a 2nd vehicle to commute mainly for a 90-mile round trip to work, the HEMI in my Dodge Ram was not the best on gas mileage. This car is a blast to drive, handles very well, has loads of features I didn't expect to have, especially for the price as a slightly used 1- year old vehicle.

Strengths:
Handles very well, steering feel is good, cruises along well at 75-80, 5-speed has long throws but shifts pretty smoothly, stereo sounds pretty good for factory (6-disc in-dash/mp3), seats have good bolstering, power sunroof works very nicely, 2-tone interior looks more expensive than it is.

Weaknesses:
melted fog light and peeling gear shift knob replaced under warranty, some QC issues (but not much worse than a Honda or Nissan), gauges/radio kinda boring looking but functional, could use a bit more power (probably curable w/aftermarket)

Similar Products Used:
1990 Pontiac Grand Am LE- Quad 4 (crap), 1999 Dodge Neon Sport 2.0 DOHC (also crap), 2002 Dodge Stratus R/T coupe 3.0L V6 (nice car with mitsubishi internals)

Price Paid:  $14500.00 from Taylor Ford

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 focus 4dr SE

Summary:
I can only say GOOD things about this car.
That's right!! GOOD THINGS!!!
I purchased this car as a "buy back" in 2001, and it has been going strong ever since. It has never had any problems except for the usual maintenance, brakes, oil, etc.
If your are looking for power and performance this car is not for you, but if you want something reliable and will start at the fist turn of the key (for the past 7 years) this is the car for you.

Strengths:
RELIABILITY

Weaknesses:
Not much get up and go

Similar Products Used:
'88 Chev Cavilier
'88 Honda Civic

Price Paid:  $16000.00 from Skyline Ford

Year / Model Reviewed:
2006 Focus

Summary:
After 1 year I can still say this car is a gem. I never expected to buy it, went to the Ford lot looking for something used and cheap, but the dealer turned me toward the Focus with 0% financing, so I test drove it. I am an old school Japanese car snob, so I was quite surprised at how nicely this thing drives.

It's only grown on me. I feel like I have the most reliable car ever, and the cheapest to fix if I ever need to (bought the extended warranty just because I couldn't believe I was buying a new Ford).

It's not exciting to look at, but it's still "cute". Space inside is amazing, and you really feel like you're in a midsize with this car. I admit the stereo isn't the greatest, but it sure isn't bad. I have read a lot of complaints about the cheap quality of the materials, and that may be so, but they're not gaudy -- they're quite "Ikea" minimalist, and everything does what it's supposed to. Seats are comfortable, ride is excellent, handling is superior. Little noisy on the road, but this car grips the road so it's easy to get caught up in the drive itself.

I'm glad people continue to underestimate the Focus. It keeps it cheap for those of us who realize we got a hell of a good car at bargain basement prices. (Oh yeah, and the insurance on these, as opposed to say a Civic or Corolla, is laughably cheap. Who the hell wants to steal one?!)

Strengths:
Handling, transmission, the noise the doors make when they shut.

Weaknesses:
Not splashy by any stretch. And that's good, fewer things to break.

Similar Products Used:
Toyota, VW, Honda

Price Paid:  $13000.00 from Utah Chevrolet

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 Ford Focus ZX3

Summary:
this car has ruined me. i hae never been so disgusted with a personal decision as i am with the decision to buy a ford. mind you, i've heard not all their models are so bad, but i have had such an atrocious experience with this one i am forced to believe that ford is an evil corporation that preys on those who don't have the money to head down to the bmw dealership. the car is not even paid off, i only have about 2 monthsleft on the loan and i am willing to have it re-poed just so i don't have to look at it anymore. in the 5 years i have owned it i have had to have 3 major brake jobs because of some sort of defect, the throttle cable(which i'm told should last up to 10 years) snapped in 2003 - the thermostat and housing have been replaced twice - the ignition has been relapced twice - the a/c, heater, and defrost have not worked in 3 years (no, it's not a fuse problem) - i tapped the side mirror once at which point it fell right off (tapped. not slammed into something) - the water pump has gone out - i have purchased 3 new batteries and 2 new alternators - and currently must stay in constant motion or it overheats (the fan or the fan relay have gone out. again - not the fuse)... oh. and the motor mounts are broken. oh oh oh! and whoever had the brilliant idea to put that size rim on a stock car needs to be medicaly examined. the only tires that fit happen to be a minimum of $85 a piece and are racing tires. good luck racing that thing!! the engine will either blow up mid-race or the brakes will fail at the end.
i have never been hard on my car. i drive it very nicely and have never been in an accident because i know i can't afford to fix it, but as a 21 year old girl, i am in so much debt because of ford that i have no idea how i will ever get out of it.

Strengths:
looks kinda cute on the side of the road... in an enlarged preying mantis head sort-a-way...

Weaknesses:
it's a ford. need i say more?

Similar Products Used:
I did have a bicycle as a child in which had some sort of an issue that the wheels always fell off?