I love this car so much! I have an automatic with the zetec engine and this baby moves. Merging onto crazy L.A. freeways has never been easier. Focus has an extremely roomy interior and comfortable seats. I have a bad back and a bad knee, so exiting the car with it's high seats is very easy. I'm finally getting used to all the attention the car attracts. Many people comment on it and wonder if it's an electric hybrid. The ride is quiet and I have to really watch the spedometor! The car is fun to drive and a couple of my friends can't wait to get their own. Oh yeah - - great A/C, a true need in this part of the world.

A little hard to see out the back when I'm backing up - -just have to be vigilant. A CD holder would be nice, for now I'm storing them under the seat. It seems like the mileage could be better, but I've had the AC on constantly and I do tend to gun it!

I paid about 15K and got the zetec engine, AC, CD player (standard). I would highly recommend this car, and I hope it turns out to have been a good decision. You never really know with the first year of a model so let's keep our fingers crossed! It's a great car for a single person who has to dart about town a lot.

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Honda Civic, Miata, Toyota Celica, etc.. This car feels more solid.

Where do I begin? Comfortable inside, impecable handling, good power, nice to look at, I guess I like everything. The wheels on the ZTS model are fun too, and the leather interior is a must.

It needs a sunroof! It makes NO SENSE to me at all that a car aimed at a younger market wouldn't. Bad decision. That's all though, except for maybe the cupholders being a little short so tall cups might hit the center column. And one more small thing, if you're going to have a 60/40 split in the back seat, the seat bottom should also have a 60/40 split too, a srange oversight. There also doesn't seem to be anything between really quiet and really loud on the CD volume (but since I like it loud, it doesn't bother me).

I paid 16,500 for this little gem, a bit high but it has all the toys (electric everything). I love driving this car, I tested everything else out there and this beats them all hands down. I would recommend this car to anyone. You have to get the Zetec with 130 hsp though, the 110 just doesn't do it. And what the deal with floomats being an OPTION? They put a hook in the floor to keep the floormat in place, what are you going to do, not get them and just have a hook sticking ou of the floor. Stupid.

This is a fantastic car, I wouldn't lie to you. But it IS gear for the younger generation, this isn't your father's Buick!!! If your buying your first car, or just like getting more than your moneys worth, BUY THE FOCUS!!! And Tony, yes mine is better than yours:)

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Honda Civic and Accord, Nissan Sentra, Dodge Neon, Toyota Corolla. It blows all of these other cars completely off the road. Yes even the low end Nissan (buy an Altima you cheapskate, it's ten times the car!).

decent handling,good brakes,oddly attractive styling,sangria red,h-u-g-e trunk,super roomy,fair wit da gas dawg!

"You paid HOW much for this stereo!?!?",my exact words to my wife after she came home and played the hideous $1,700 dollar sound "system"

we paid a pretty penny for our top of the line focus but for what we got plenty for our money(we hope). Please people stay away from the sony package it is a total rip off! Being a self proclaimed "audiophile" I assumed i could send my wife and she would come back with a worthy limited edition"only 700 made"sony super stereo! yikes have you actually heard this "thing"? IT SOUNDS LIKE @$#! . $1,700 hard earned dollars for what I priced in crutchfield at maybe 650 bucks. MAYBE 650 bucks! buy a regular se model and go buy a REAL 1,700 dollar stereo. i.e. alpine cd,polk audio,kemwood,nakamichi........... Anyone who knows music would never buy this,this,thing! BETTER GO MYSELF NEXT TIME!!!!!!

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mazda protoge-good car.

Great handling, accurate steering, smooth ride, decent brakes. Lots of interior room for a small car, kick-ass stereo with easy-to-use controls. "Dirt" paint, 16-inch wheels, and roof rack look cool on the Kona Edition.

ZX3 needs a center console. Right front brake squeaks once in a while (but that may disappear as I put some miles on the car). Still waiting (after 2 weeks) for the Kona bike to arrive.

Used to drive a Ford Contour with a V6. That car handled great but was falling apart after just 30,000 miles. I was a little disgusted with Ford after my Contour started going south, but since I'm an A-Plan buyer, I decided to give Ford another chance. The Focus equals the Contour in terms of handling, and it has a smoother ride over rough stuff. The engine could use about 20 more horsepower, but for 15 grand, I'm not complaining.

The interior is very thoughtfully designed. The seats are supportive, and it's nice to have a telescoping steering wheel. The stereo sounds great -- the best I've encountered in a car under $30,000. I wish the ZX3 had a center console. I think it's an option on the sedan and wagon models.

Overall, the car is fun to drive and so far seems to be put together pretty well. If it isn't falling apart after three years, maybe I'll buy another Ford. If I start having trouble, then I might be heading to a Honda dealer, regardless of my A-Plan discount.

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97 Ford Contour

Good little go car, cheap. It has broken in nicely and the fuel economy is improving esp great on the highway. Looks are a definate plus, even though it is inexpensive, it still looks sporty. In crashes it handeled well all but burns from the airbag.

I have had problems with the reverse gear going in (grinding), the e-brake and the clutch. All have been explained as "normal". Airbag has burnt my hand. Okay, not great handeling esp in windy conditions. (Reminds me of my cube van!) Gas millage is still questionable in city conditions.

For the price paid, I cannot complain. I wish the little annoying things like the clutch was fixed or fixable. (Self adjusting clutch...this is the first vehicle that I have actually stalled at a trafic light in the past 11 years.)

Yes I would recomend it if money is tight. Good options don't make it that much more expensive and is worth the extra $$$$. Value is good overall.

I wish the Contor lineup was still advailable as this car doesn't do all. There needs to be a car somewhere between here and the Tarus.

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Many cars....it compares to the Tempo/Topaz line-up wich is a bit disapointing as the Contour was suposed to replace the Tempo/Topaz line-up. This car feels a bit more solid than the Escort line-up.

Slick handling with a 5 speed manual transmission. Great acceleration (for size.)Good looks. Great interior. Nice CD stereo. Very Comfortable. Handles turns well. Cheap with all the options

1) No 4 door option 2) No sun roof 3) A little bit blinded when trying to move to left lane 4)Golf set has to struggle to fit into trunk 5) Wish the area between the 2 front seats could be designed to hold CD's etc 6) No Coin holder

Bought it on X plan. Fully loaded costed 15k. I will reccommend this car as of now. Of course, only time will tell about ford's workmanship. Overall I will DEFINITELY reccommend this car.

I think it is a great car for the single student, poor medical resident or a young family who needs a second car. It gives the panache for less money.

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Honda Civic 1997: While the Civic had greater room, the car looks very stale compared to the Focus i.e., too conventional. The focus is cheaper and has greater accelaration.

Styling, Handling, Doesn't feel cheap.
Dealer is good all around.

3 recalls in 7 months.
Minor complaint; the rear mirror was too small. Easy
enough to remedy.

Absolutely recommend it. I would definetly go for the ZX3 model
as opposed to the sedan if you don't need 4 doors..

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None

Excellent handling. Great in Snow etc. Trunk is huge! Styling is good esp. with alloy rims and fog light/spoiler package

A little bit noisy in the wind. Had a rattle in the passenger front door that dealer could not fix however it went away after a while.

I recommend this car if you are looking for a good economy car. If you start thinking you've bought a luxury model you'll be disappointed.

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Toyota Tercel - Focus is much better

Stylish, Good Standard Features, Good Interior Design and Room, Quiet Ride, Smooth Suspension... this is what sold me on the vehicle, I'm really regretting this decision now.

BAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS - short warranty - transmission shifts are not smooth

My experiance with Ford's products and Services has been poor. The three different dealerships I have taken my vehicle to have offered very poor service... Ford Customer Relationship Center has been completely useless. They do not stand behind their product and I do not recommend anyone purchase a Ford Focus.

If you would like more information on the problems I've had please view my messages posted on yahoo... http://messages.yahoo.com/bbs?.mm=AU&action=m&board=8313827&tid=2000fordfocus&sid=8313827&mid=515

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Honda Civic 1996 (last new car I owned) was much lower to the ground, the seats were not comfortable on long rides, but the quality was there. I dro ve for nearly 100,000 miles problem free. Only needed the oil changed and brakes. I drive a lot, this Ford Focus I own is 15 months old, has just over 40K miles and has been in the shop for 3 recalls, 1 time to have the trunk fixed and 2 times to have a problem with the fuel pump sender (the first time the dealer could not locate the problem and it was under warranty, the second time the car broke down it was not under warranty and was 418.95 dollars to repair)... Ford will not honor this as a warranty repair even though the problem was documented before my warranty ran out.

Egg Yolk Yellow, 16 inch mags, peppy engine, good torque, good heater and a/c, decent brakes, great and I mean really great handeling, very roomy interior up front and in the back.

Recalls, two so far.

Being someone who works for one of the BIG 3. The automotive industry for those who dont understand, one thing people need to understand is this. Most if not all recalls are done on parts made FOR Ford by an ouside supplier. Funny how when Joes alternator service sends Ford a bad alternator people say Ford sucks or G.M, my company. Many of the things that go wrong are parts supplied to Ford by another company. Next time you have a recall, ask the service departement for the name of the company that makes that part for Ford and let them have it for a change. The reason that the Japanese and European companies seem to be more reliable is that many of the parts we Americans outsource, they make in house, there by having more control of all that goes into the car.

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Civic, Tercel, Prism.