Ford Focus

Price Paid:  $17200.00 from Local Ford Dealer

Year / Model Reviewed:
2008 Ford Focus SES

Strengths:
Cool looks, fun to drive, good fuel economy, solid quality.

Weaknesses:
A little underpowered.

Summary:
The 2008 Focus SES is a joy to own! I recently purchased the car for commuter use. The two-door coupe is surprisingly roomy and quiet for an economy car. Interior fit and finish are excellent. I'm particularly happy with the height adjustment on the driver's seat -- it gives us shorter drivers a better view of the road.
The Focus is nimble and fun to drive, even with the automatic transmission. It's eager to run, and handles confidently enough to carve up traffic both around town and on the highway. A little more power would be nice, but isn't an absolute necessity for fun.
The Sync system adds to the cool factor, but proves frustrating at times. Let the system learn how you speak before you try to talk to it on the road.

Price Paid:  $17500.00 from Local Ford Dealer

Year / Model Reviewed:
2008 SES Coupe

Strengths:
Looks great, SYNC, Sound System

Weaknesses:
Underpowered

Summary:
I got this car about a month ago, and i love it. Its got a lot of room for a coupe, an amazing sound system, and the sync is a nice feature to have. The car itself looks good with the spoiler and the 16 inch alloys. They did a real good job redesigning the Focus. Great car.

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $17000.00

Year / Model Reviewed:
2008 four door

Strengths:
size, gas mileage

Weaknesses:
under powered, no support from ford

Summary:
Well I was very excited to buy this car. I love how it looks. I loved it from the moment I test drove it. Plus the gas mileage is perfect. I was nothing but excited. I have had a few problems though. First the brakes have been squealing, but the dealership said that it is normal. Keep in mind I have only had this car for four and a half months. The battery has died three times since I have had it and we cannot figure out why. Every once in a while there is a spark in the dash when I turn the blinker on and its a little scary. With a baby on the way I dont want to have to worry about the car catching on fire. Lastly the car freaks out on me. For a while it was normal. When you lock or unlock it it would do the normal beeping. After just a month or so it would randomly start beeping like the alarm was going off. Every time I would go to lock or unlock the door it would start the alarm. This will last a few days and then there will be no beeps at all. No sound when I lock or unlock the doors. After a few days or that it will go back to normal. It drives me crazy. The dealership wont do anything about it either.

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Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Price Paid:  $17000.00 from VARSITY FORD

Year / Model Reviewed:
2008 FORD FOCUS SE

Strengths:
CORNERS WELL POWER IS SUFFICIENT TO FEEL AT EASE WHEN ENTERING A HIGHWAY SYSTEM HEAD ROOM IS MUCH BETTER WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING THAN MY SUV TRUNK SPACE IS VERY GOOD

Weaknesses:
REAR END DESIGN COULD USE A LITTLE MORE PIZAZZ IN THE TAIL LIGHT DESIGN

Summary:
ECONOMY ECONOMY ECONOMY AND AT THE SAME TIME VERY SPORTY FRONT END DESIGN IS ESPECIALLY SHARP WITH THE FOG LIGHTS AND HOOD DESIGN BLENDING WITH THE LIGHTS. lOVE THE DASH LIGHT COLORS AT NIGHT THIS IS THE BEST CAR WE HAVE OWNED IN YEARS WE OPTED TO GO WITH A SUNROOF INSTEAD OF A CONVERTIBLE THIS TIME AND WE LOVE IT WE HAVE BEEN A GM FAMILY FOR YEARS AND LOVE THE NEW MALIBU BUT WE LOVE THIS FORD AND IT IT MADE IN MICHIGAN OUR HOME STATE I DO NOT WORK FOR THE AUTO INDUSTRY and AM SELF EMPLOYED My wife is a retired teacher who loves sportiness in cards and she is totally satisfied

Similar Products Used:
PONTIAC SUNFIRE CONVERTIBLE

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
3.50 of 5, 22.00 votes

Price Paid:  $0.00 from rented at Rome termi

Year / Model Reviewed:
2007 Ford Focus hatchback

Strengths:
See above

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

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.

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