I''ve hated this car since I bought it. If I had another choice, I wouldn''t have done it. Circumstances being what they were, it was either this or a Chevy Cavalier, and I dislike Chevy. I got this car under Ford''s first time buyer program. I don''t recommend it. I''ve had problems with this car since day 1. In addition to the safety recalls, the check engine light started coming on 2 months after I bought it. The transmission started to whine about 3 months ago. The key sticks in the ignition and sometimes the car won''t start. There is a hesitation at certain speeds, especially if the car gets to 4000 rpm. It tends to stall a bit in the rain. It stumbles while idling on occasion. The gas mileage is *nothing* like it was advertised to be. I generally get less than 240 miles on the tank. The brakes squeak now even when they aren''t wet. And for some reason, I think it has an exhaust leak as well. It also recently developed a strange knocking noise in the engine that needs to be looked at. I bought this car because it was either spend money I didn''t have on repairs for my 1980 Datsun 280zx (which had 250,000 miles on it), or trade that car in for a new one. I did it so I wouldn''t have to spend so much time getting my car repaired. I would rather have made payments and have a reliable car than spend money on repairs and have my car in the shop every few weeks. I still wish I had kept that 280zx.

handling, and many modifications stlye-euro looks, perrformance for the money 2,500 miles.

there is a small rattling sound coming from the back passenger side. i think it might be the wheel thing but i am going to the dealship to get that looked at.

What a car! I have had it little under 2 months and love every minute of it. its fully loaded and handles like a dream. i have fully body ground effects and a hugh spoiler fin. i have alot of customs and people love the way my car looks. it really turns head. next i am going to modify the engine so i can race it. i love it my car to death

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nothing, but had a mazda 626...... piece of doo doo!!!!

engine runs good, handles good, love the car itself

leaks water everytime it rains

I don''t have any problems with my focus running bad. I am having problems with water leaking inside my car on the passinger side floor everytime it rains outside. I have had it to the garage 4 times for it to be fixed and i''ve only had the car for about 5 months, and it still leaks. I have even had the carpet replaced because we thought the problem was fixed only to find out the next week it was still leaking. So now the carpet has to replaced again. Right now it is in the garage again for the same problem and I told them to keep it until it is fixed I don''t even want it back. It smells so bad inside because of the water just laying in the carpet. When it is warm outside you can really smell it.

there''s nothing more diappointing then flushing $20,000.00 down the drain. I have taken this car in now 3 times for the same problem.. the check engine light keeps coming on and the car feels like it is going to die , it chucks going down the road... The gas mileage ia great if you can handle the air that never really feels cold. The latch to the back hatch never closes the frist time that you try. the cup holders that you can hardly put a fountain drink in.. the seats are falling apart all ready. the seat belt in the back keeps locking up for no reason. the rear window...who''s brillant idea was that.. the window should be able to roll down..

Looks good on the outside. Awesome stereo.

This car could compare to meeting the prince of your dreams and then finding out he''s a homicidal maniac.

I am absolutely disgusted with this car. I bought a new car to get away from problems. This was my first new car and I have had nothing but problems including; brakes, drums, rotors, electrical, the radio, etc. Oh and of course the recalls. It never seems to end. I know that you aren''t supposed to buy first year cars but I was in a bind at the time and didn''t think it would be this bad. When I am financially able to take a loss on this car and get another one, I will never by another Ford again. I do everything in my power to discourage people from buying Ford period. I live in the Motor City and I think I may even buy a foreign car next time. To those that haven''t had bad luck with your Focus, the folks on the assembly line must not have been hung over that day. P.S.-William Clay Ford can''t put together a decent football team, you think he could put together something as complicated as a good car?

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N/A

Good performance. Awesome handling. Funky looks. Good stereo.

Road noise. Brakes squeal when wet. Interior squeaking noise during extended drive.

I feel sorry for all the people who bought a 2000 model, as my 2001 has not given me much problems at all in a year of driving. I did have one minor problem with an air-flow sensor failing, which caused a slight hesitation at certain speeds, but this was fixed promptly by the dealer under warranty. Another minor annoyance is a slight squeaking noise coming from the dash after extended driving, but this could just be because I''m very sensitive to such noise. Overall I have to say my experience has been very positive with this car as it is a joy to drive and has been quite reliable. I have driven a Civic before and the Focus is not as refined and the engine is not as smooth, but on the other hand the Focus handles better and has better looks and personality. I can''t say enough about the handling of this car. I drove a Mazda protege before and thought that car had good handling, but it doesn''t hold a candle to this car. A long drive through a twisty back-country road makes you feel like a king of the road. I would say if all you care about in a car is quality and resale value, get a Civic. But if you''re looking for a good-value econobox with above average performance, good looks and personality, then Focus may be a better choice.

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Honda Civic.

Almost all

Alot of road noise... The Trunk latch works when it wants to.

I bought this Car in 2001, for a bithday present.

Roomy interior and ergonomic layout.

VERY POOR construction and reliability. Definitely NOT a long-term vehicle. Poor gas milage.

I have had more problems with this car than any of my previous cars, combined. I currently have 33,000 miles and the brake system has been totally replaced along with a sway bar end link, strut, ball joint, rear wheel bearings, fuel sending unit, emissions sensors, seat cover, tires. The cars rear end jumps sideways when going over bumps and handles terribly in the rain and snow. The car has a stumble at idle, a rattle in the suspension, wind noise and the key sticks in the ignition and now it will not start on occasion. Very few people I know get anywhere close to the advertised gas milage. I average 25 mpg with 90% highway driving. I wanted an Accord but my wife wanted the Focus because the dealer was close, which is a good thing because your car will be spending a lot of time there.

Price for what I got! Loaded! W/moonroof. Response in take off and slow down Gas Milage (after few thousand miles improves greatly!) Good looking and can easily be modified. Yellow! :)

Road noise Rolling feel to suspension...but it''s a sporty car, not a luxury car.

First comment - Love my Hot Hatch! Second - Folks, NEVER buy a first year release of a vehicle. You are the guinea pigs. Year 2000 owners, I''m sorry about your experiences, but - Try a 2002 or a 2003. Don''t just write it off. The response of my 5-speed is better than excellent. I''m thrilled with the performance off the start and in the middle. Long trips are a breeze when you click it into Cruise Control. :) Keeps me steadily at 75mph, even going up steep inclines. So far, nothing terrible to report, simple maintenece. As usual with any car, but hasn''t cost me much at all.

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''79 Toyota Celica Lift Back

Euro styling/handling; well laid out controls; wiper spoiler; just a heck of a car for the money.

Recalls; no rear head restraints on base model ZX3; I wish the front pass seat would fold flat (forward or back) to aid in carrying long cargo

This has been a great car. It did have 4 recalls, but I waited until I received a "serious" one (wheel bearings) until I took it in. Service experience was wonderful (Dimension Ford in Ft Wayne, IN) and the repairs were done in one day. I was skeptical cause it was a first year car, but I''ve heard that doesn''t carry as much weight as years past. We have a 1st year Chevy Venture and haven''t had any problems. I have 28K miles on the car. The power is quite adequate, though you do have to "plan" for passing. It''s comfortable, attractive and it does seem like a much more expensive car. I''ve had two problems with the car: A broken hood latch release retainer (interior), and the car wouldn''t start for me once (I think I did the old carburetor equivilent of "flooding" it). If I didn''t have extra money on this loan from my previous car (Mazda 626) I would be lining up for one of the new SVT Focuses. I plan on keeping this car and eventually pass it on to my son (he''s 10 now). He says he''ll take it!

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Mazda Protege (owned 5 yrs; another great car); Audi 80 (in Europe).