Looks, handling

Quality, pick-up

I so wanted to like this car. I think the styling is good and the car is rather rommy for a compact. It has nice features and touches of a more expensive car. However, the quality of the car has been pathetic. It has had numerous problems such as trim falling off, steering column locking (the car had to towed in),The car made a disturbing grinding noise from the rear and the brakes squeal all the time. We have replaced the front and rear brakes and now the dealer tells tme that this is a "normal" sound. We have taken the car in four times for this problem. I am so disgusted with both th car and the service department that I have given up on Fords. I tried to go back to American cars but I just can''t take the problems.

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None

Unlike most cars of its class, the Ford Focus is quite roomy. Like the New Beetle, the Focus has a high ceiling, which is perfect for anyone over 5''10." This car is also powerful. The high torque and small turning radius make city driving fun. Ford took a nod from Saturn by offering a great service plan. Lake Saturn owners, Focus owners even get their pictures take with their car.

The Focus doesn''t have the hp of a sports car, or the gas mileage of a Honda Civic, but the Focus does bridge the gap between spory and functional.

The Ford Focus is a sleek and roomy small car with a zippy 2.0L engine. Ford certainly stole design features from Volkswagon, Saturn, and Honda to make the Focus the best all-around car in its class.

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Saturn Coupe, Saturn Sedan, Honda Civic, VW New Beetle, Ford Tempo

Fun to drive (leaps and bounds ahead of Escort). I have a station wagon, which is versatile yet a blast to drive.

LOTS of weaknesses. I''ve had, I think, 3 radios. They kept turning themselves back on. This one''s done it twice in the last 9 months or so, but I''m not going back to the dealer. I needed new brake pads at 17,000 miles (and I am NOT a fast starter/stopper). The dealer also insisted that my rotors needed resurfacing, and that I''ll need new rotors at the next brake job (probably in 17,000 miles). Gas mileage is ridiculous. Dealer has calculated at 19/22 (yes, that''s city/highway), but then they also insist there''s nothing wrong. Ford and the EPA say it''s 22/32. I usually get around 17 (I have a wagon with zetec and automatic). I had to get a new ignition switch because it took half an hour to get the key to go on, then it would only work in one direction (it''s a two sided key). Be prepared to hear these words from the dealer a LOT: "They''re all like that." "There''s nothing wrong." Ford Customer Service is a joke, and not a very good one.

Too bad such a great car is let down by quality of components.

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None

See review of January 16th, 2001

None :-)

I posted a review when I had the car for 2 months (january 16th, 2001), and now, 8 months and 34.000km (20.000 miles) later, I''m still VERY glad I bought it. So far, NO problems at all.. No recalls, no noises, nothing!

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Cars is this price-class

Stereo is good, lots of room and a/c works good.

BRAKES, fuel filters clogged up causing power decreases that are very noticable but Ford again will not recall and power sterring pumps give out often

Overall, the car isn''t that bad except the brakes. My company bought 2 brand new 2001 se 4 DR back in May and to date we have put 4 new sets of brakes on each car. Ford of cousre says its us but everyone that has a Focus has the same problem. The only difference is we put 50000kms on each car since May. They handle poorly on hways, in town there fine. Poor gas milaege.I also find it very stuffy inside went windows all closed despite the vents are open.Need a/c on to breath ok

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1999 Coralla,now this is a car thats build to last, we had these cars and put over 180 000km on each one in 2 yrs and the brakes were done once in that time. Granted there alot smaller inside but they

Handling, Sound System, Unique Styling, and Nice looking interior plastic and cloth material. Nice feel to interior knobs and buttons.

Poor quality workmanship , some design flaws, too many recalls(very inconvenient) , poor quality mechanical parts, and assembly. Front seats need more lumbar and thigh support. With build quality, need better warranty. Engine need a little more power.

Well at first, I loved the car even though the minute I left the dealer and took it out on the interstate, the tires were out of balance and caused the steering wheel to vibrate a little bit. Little did I know that was the beginning of mutiple problems I would have with this car and more problems than I have had with 10 previous cars combined. Next on the list, I had to take it back to the dealer for two recalls. The rear seat latch and inside A pillar trim. While in the shop, they had to replace the horn, the belt molding on the drivers side door, rubber weather strip on passenger side(leaked water at car wash), passenger side outside door handle. I also let the dealer know that there was a squeak coming from the rear and the front, like in the suspension but they could not find anything. A few months later, I took it back to the dealer for the same squeaks and also a broken fuel door latch, and also a broken passenger seat release lever to gain access to the rear(zx3). Also, I let the dealer know that at night I noticed that the headlights and interior lights would dim (a lot) like the alternator was going out but they could not find a problem. I figured that because it has only done this a few times. (strange) Anyway, while I was waiting for the parts to come in from my last visit(about 4 days later) I was on my way to work one morning (first day at new job) and the clutch went out. Completely! No warning! After a tow and 4 hours later I made it to work with a "courtesy car" from the dealer. A week later, the car was fixed and they replaced the clutch, and related parts along with the fuel door release and seat latch. Just 2 days ago I solved the rear squeaking problem myself that the dealer failed to find. The emergency brake cable underneath the car travels along under the drivers side. Right about under the drivers door(zx3), the cable housing goes through a openholed brace. The cable was rubbing metal to metal with the brace and echoing up through the frame with a loud squeak. Also there is a plastic clip that is supposed to hold the cable that came off also. Removed the brace...problem solved. To sum it all up if anyone is still reading: great handling, sound system, nice unique styling. Very bad quality workmanship and numerous design flaws, engine could use more power. I will never buy another FORD again!!! One word. JUNK!

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Toyota Celica, Honda Prelude, Ford Ranger, Ford Mustang, Nissan 240, Nissan Sentra, Hyundai Excell, Ford Escort, Buick Regal, Chevrolet Cavalier

price, good on gas, you can depend on this car.

it won`t let you alone if you don`t put on your seat belt it will keep beeping till you put it on.

Nice car, The only problem we had with it is that it had a oil leak that the dealer fixed in one day. The dealer gave us a rental so no biggie. We did notice that the rental drove alot smoother. I asked and the rental was a 16 vaulve we had a 8. go with the 16 much nicer ride. Don`t get me wrong the 8 will do the job just the 16 it alot more smoother. OH pick your dealer with care they can make or break how you feel about a car.

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cavalier. thats what i drive now, also a very good car.

I have a top of the line Focus with all the extras, so those are definately stong points. Great brakes,smooth handling,easy to drive, takes bumps well (I''m in Houston, and we have some of the worst roads, and I can really tell a difference),passengers say that it feels like a luxury driving car,when on the frwy. it doesn''t feel as I''m going as fat as I actually am,very low outside noise.

Wish it had more pick-up, but once you get up to 30 mph, it goes pretty quickly. Driver window squeaks loudly when going down,but only when very hot outside (didn''t do that at dealership, started about a week after I got it),decent mileage, but I''m comparing it to my Mazda that I owned previously, and foriegn cars always do better.

After thorough searching for about three months, I kept coming back to the Focus. I was impressed with the features, safety, and the reviews. After test driving the Focus I fell in love. It drove better than I had anticipated.

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Mazda MX-6 -1991

Ultra precise steering - the car responds immediately to steering wheel input. Brakes - fabulous feel and modulation, though I wish it had rear discs.... Engine - decent low end torque and good fuel economy.

Armrest - totally gets in the way, up or down, if you have a 5 speed. Seats - not very supportive. When the lower cushion is adjusted down bar at bottom of upper cushion can be felt. (I guess Recaros spoil you, eh.)

This is the modern successor to the fabled VW Rabbit, not the bloated new Golf. My handling standards are quite high since I own a tuned Rabbit GTI and this ZX3 with the S2 package does not disappoint!

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Rabbit, Rabbit GTI, Jetta I.

The powerplant is very snappy. For those that would know, it is like driving a 440 racing snowmobile. The vehicle''s handling is quite suprising, especially when enjoying the emptiness and the challenges of the Dalton Highway(alaskan arctic) during the fall when gravel conditions bear many potholes and slick mud conditions. On a personal note, the looks of "Yogi", as my wife and I have named it, are very attention-grabbing and memorable to say the least.

As stated previously, there are to be expected shortcomings in a vehicle priced under eleven thousand dollars. The most obvious being: struts that didn''t last long, rough door hinges that are loud,

This vehicle is very able for most of the Alaskan conditions that it has faced to date. These conditions included fresh powder snow, gravel roads above the arctic circle, and much in between. There have been subtle disappointments, which are to be expected for a new vehicle for under 11 thousand dollars. After all, something has to give for that price, and it wasn''t the engine/suspension/design arena I suspect.

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1994 Ford Escort sedan