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Ford Focus Wagon

637 messages,  Last post on Nov 29, 2011 at 9:58 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Wagon



Messages Page 31 of 64

#298 of 637 Wagon by jazvan

Jun 25, 2005 (7:32 pm)

I am a real big advocate after getting my 04 ZTW. My enthusiasm (see a few posts back) has not diminished at all. THere are some stick shift wagons and you can find a few 2003 1/2 and 2004 with the 2.3 if you want an extra kick of power. If you want an auto I think it will be easy to find what you want. Also note that the warranty is fully transferable and the 03 and later warranty was improved and many are still in effect. SO I decided to narrow my search to 03 1/2 to 04. I don't like the 05 styling changes, but of course that is a personal decision.
 
There is certainly nothing wrong with the 2.0 Zetec and it is pretty reliable. The general reliability of Foci improved every year. Probably avoid 2000 and 2001 and look for 2002 and later.
 
There a few good search engines on the internet including the Ford Direct site for dealer used cars. Personally I did not care for the Matrix/Vibe. The 1.8 seems very "torque challenged" and the floor does fold easier but the Focus winds up with more cargo room.
 
-Jaz

#299 of 637 Re: Former ZX3 owner wondering about moving up to wagon... [tickbitty] by vegasralliart

Jun 27, 2005 (11:31 pm)

Replying to: tickbitty (Jun 25, 2005 3:20 pm)
What a great place to rant about how hideous my 01 Focus Wagon was!!!
(Well, it was a love/hate relationship)
 First to answer your Vibe Question, I owned an 04 & it was AWESOME!! I just loved that thing! I just got divorced & I owned all the cars, I got the Vibe for my unappreciative husband, who only liked it after his friends kept telling him how cool it was. I wanted to keep the Vibe & sell my Focus because frankly it was AWFUL mechanically. It had been in the shop for :
 3 times front suspension replacement, whole brake system failure at 18,000 miles (which I had to negotiate a refund through Ford Dispute Resolution board & they gave me a thousand bucks back but made my 6 year extended warranty untransferable if I sell. they told me that the brakes were too small for the size of the car. The entire steering column had to be replaced, The condenser on the air conditioner was replaced, the electrical system shorted out & was replced, the rear suspension was replaced, the window mechanism broke on the drivers window & both rear windows, new motor mounts, The headliner fell down in the back & was repaired 3 times. & This was all before the Factory warranty went out! Since then I've spent $200 in deductables not to mention the rude people at their service department who make you feel like you're making things up & oh yeah, this one I just love, The entire car shakes at the stop lights. "Well thats NORMAL" I can't tell you how pissed I was. They wouldn't do the motor mounts again & chalked it up to "bad design of the mounts", "but thats normal for a Ford" GEEZ!!! I got rid of the heap w/ 41,000 miles on it & its already an old beater! What a colossal waste of money . I paid close to $20,000 & 3 years later I sell it for $6500! Needless to say I wanted to keep the Vibe, I bought it w/ 25,000 miles on it for $12,000 & in 10 months we never had to bring it by the dealer once! It was great, & It had a 5 star crash rating & boy did it deserve it! The day after we signed divorce papers, my ex was sitting in traffic , w/ my son in the back, NOT in a car seat ( boy did he get it for that!) & was rear ended & plowed into 3 cars by a guy in a Tahoe w/ one eye (I'm NOT joking) who then swerved into 2 other cars. My Vibe was totaled but my son was FINE! (& unfortunately so too was my ex) the insurance company gave me $16,000 for it & although I loved that car, it had too many memories & was a bit too small in the back w/ kid gear, so now I have my new Mitsu Lancer Sportback Ralliart & it is AWESOME!!!
 If you can find one I highly reccommend it!

#300 of 637 Re: Former ZX3 owner wondering about moving up to wagon... [tickbitty] by jazvan

Jun 27, 2005 (11:46 pm)

Replying to: tickbitty (Jun 25, 2005 3:20 pm)
Like I said, avoid the 2000 and 2001's.
 
-Jaz

#301 of 637 Focus Windows by tww7364

Jun 28, 2005 (8:13 pm)

Interesting to only find one posting regarding Focus rear window motors. The driver side motor for my 2002 had to be replaced last Dec. Now the passenger side one is broken. Although around 50K miles, rear windows use is very infrequent so it seems faulty parts vs wear and tear - like battery, brakes, tires which I've replaced since I bought. I am befuddled. Any others with similar rear window experience?

#302 of 637 FOCUS WAGON QUESTIONS by carglow

Jul 01, 2005 (10:27 am)

I'm considering an 05 Focus wagon.
 
1) has qualtiy improved from earlier years?
 
2) is the 2.0 a Mazda engine?
 
3) are signficant changes planned for the 06 Focus?
 
The only real down side I see to this little wagon from my intial observations is poor resale value.

#303 of 637 Re: FOCUS WAGON QUESTIONS [carglow] by jazvan

Jul 01, 2005 (12:52 pm)

Replying to: carglow (Jul 01, 2005 10:27 am)
1. Yes the quality has improved steadily. I would recommend anything from 2002 on.
 
2. Yes the 2005 2.0 is a Mazda-design which is called the Duratec. It is manufactured by Ford in the case of the Focus and Mazda manufactures the same engine for some Mazdas. The head design is more efficient then the older 2.0 Zetec. The Focus Duratec motors began in some mid 2003 Foci and was at that time a 2.3. The 2005 2.0 Duratec is essentially that same motor but destroked to 2.0 and without balance shafts which aren't as necessary with the shorter stroke. The 2.0 picks up a few mpg which isn't a bad trade off.
 
3. My understanding is the US Focus doesn't change until 2007. The new generation Focus however is already out in Europe and the Mazda3 shares most of the mechanicals of the new generation Focus - So except for styling the Mazda3 is kind of the new Focus and the Mazda5 is kind of a big new-generation Focus wagon, but it has some poor specs compared to the US Focus wagons, like 22-27 mpg, tepid acceleration and less cargo room.
 
The resale takes a pretty good hit the 1st year, but I don't know how that is calculated because Foci typically have $3,000 rebates at the end of the year. Anyway I decided to take advantage of the 1st year resale hi and bought a low-miles one year old wagon.
 
I don't know where the rebates are now but I think they will hit 3,000 for sure if they are not already there.
 
-Jaz

#304 of 637 Re: FOCUS WAGON QUESTIONS [jazvan] by carglow

Jul 01, 2005 (12:59 pm)

Replying to: jazvan (Jul 01, 2005 12:52 pm)
Thanks for the reply, Jaz.
 
The rebates are at $2500 now, but there's slim picking of station wagons at my local dealerships.

#305 of 637 Re: FOCUS WAGON QUESTIONS [carglow] by jazvan

Jul 01, 2005 (4:25 pm)

Replying to: carglow (Jul 01, 2005 12:59 pm)
If you want to check inventory you can get on the Ford Direct site and once you figure how to play the system you can check all inventory for an area. It only does about a 20-30 mile radius per inquiry.
 
-Jaz

#306 of 637 Cargo capacity by carglow

Jul 04, 2005 (3:49 pm)

How does the Focus wagon compare to it's competition (e.g. xB's, PT's, etc ...) in cargo capacity?
 
Do the rear seats fold down flat?

#307 of 637 gas flap crap by gordon6

Jul 05, 2005 (7:19 am)

My daughter took her Focus Wagon through car wash, gas filler flap open, snapped it off. Only a plastic stub left. Anyone know how to remove and replace the door? There are two visible screws but they don't do much to get at the door. Thanks.

Messages Page 31 of 64

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