Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Focus Sedan

2013 messages,  Last post on Jan 23, 2012 at 7:12 PM

You are in the Ford Focus Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Sedan

Messages Page 189 of 202

#1875 of 2013 Re: 2008 will be here in the spring. [mschmal] by comp386

Nov 09, 2006 (10:05 am)

Replying to: mschmal (Nov 07, 2006 8:13 am)
I never quite understood why the manufacturer doesn't just lower the price especially since the Focus starts every year with a 2500 rebate. I was deciding between the Mazda 3 and the Ford Focus in 2005 and was sold on the Focus because it was about $1000 less OTD than the entry level Mazda 3. Probably not completely what Ford was looking for in selling their vehicle, but it's a sale none the less.

#1876 of 2013 Kinda Off Topic But...... by npgmbr

Nov 20, 2006 (8:47 am)

I saw the new 007 flick today (which I think is a must see) and if I remember correctly, there was a very hot looking car in the second scene of the movie that had a Ford badge on it. We only got a very small glimpse at the vehicle which I thought looked like a Mazda 3 only much much nicer. It's my personal opinion that if Ford would stop putzin around and design small vehicles like the one in the film and bring them to their home market they'd be in much better shap than they are now.
 
By any chance does anyone know what Ford that was?

#1877 of 2013 New Focus by alfmz3

Nov 25, 2006 (2:23 am)

The new focus has just arrived to mexico.
The instrument dash is soft (not like mazda3's).
 
It's made in Valencia, Spain, and it has a familiar look to Volvo s40.
 
Look at this:
http://www.ford.co.uk/ns7/foc_c307/foc_c307_body/foc_c307_ghia/-/-/-/-
http://www.ford.es/ns7/c307/c307_experience/foc_c307_gallery/c307_gallery_pop8/p- - - opup/-/-/
http://www.ford.es/ns7/c307/c307_overview/foc_c307_ghia/c307_ghia_pop1/popup/-/-- - - - /
 
Wall paper:
http://www.ford.es/ns7/c307/c307_descargas/foc_c307_wallp/c307_wall5_1024/popup/- - -/-/

#1878 of 2013 Re: Kinda Off Topic But...... [npgmbr] by comp386

Nov 28, 2006 (9:46 am)

Replying to: npgmbr (Nov 20, 2006 8:47 am)
That was probably the Mondeo. Haven't seen the movie though so I'm not positive.

#1879 of 2013 Re: Kinda Off Topic But...... [comp386] by npgmbr

Nov 29, 2006 (8:21 am)

Replying to: comp386 (Nov 28, 2006 9:46 am)
Well whatever it was it looked nice. I still think its a damd shame that Ford continues to ignore it's home market. I mean even GM has recognized it. 2008 is too long to wait for a New Focus and as of right now I think the Focus is Ford's only small car in their lineup in the mainland. They need to stop focusing so much on trucks and start trying competing or they'll find things are only gonna get worse. Don't get me wrong, I understand that the European Focus would be too costly to build for the home market but damd they could at least make the U.S. models look like the European versions.

#1880 of 2013 New Ford Focus by mschmal

Nov 29, 2006 (1:46 pm)

I've say this every week it seems like.
 
Why does Ford need to have a $19,000 Focus? That is what bringing the EuroFocus over here would mean. Peeps might pay that much for a Jetta, but will they pay that much for a Focus when the Fusion is basically the same price?
 
Mark.

#1881 of 2013 Moving up Focus vs Jetta by basiliskst

Dec 11, 2006 (5:29 pm)

I'd like to respectfully disagree with post #1880 by mschmal on the market potential for a more expensive European Ford Focus in the US. For the sake of argument I'll accept that the new European Ford Focus is directly competitive with and comparable to a new VW Rabbit or Jetta in that both feature European-style, driving dynamics and efficient, upright interior packaging. As a former VW owner and current Ford Focus ST owner the manufacturer and dealer still matters. VWs are popular with young adults because of style (and maybe the anti-Toyota of their parents statement), but are notably poor in quality ratings and reliability. That parallels my own experience where VW is the worst at fixing things right the first time. Ford service is perfect. All of my recent Fords are markedly reliable and routine service is always right the first time. Would I rather choose a Ford over a VW if there are competitive offerings? Absolutely. I can't be alone.
 
Mschmal assumes that Americans always choose the next larger size if the price is the same. Absolutely not true. It is true there have to be reasons to select the smaller size. For one, the safety features of the smaller Focus have to be five-star to eliminate safety as a reason to go larger. The fuel economy has to be better and the driving experience more direct and involving. Can the new European Ford Focus (or its successor) achieve these objectives? Of course. Toyota, Hyundai and Chevy are great at appliances without much driver involvement. Ford should use it's European connections to assure Ford means a real driver's experience.
 
A Ford can compete with a VW, but it has to really compete. The Focus has to be a standout (as the current model was upon its original introduction). Transaction price will follow excellence. A me-too car at the average will never break through to a higher transaction price. The comparison should not be against other Fords (e.g., the Fusion as mschmal opines), but rather competitors in the size class. Saturn is poised to introduce the European Opel Astra in a premium space that should belong to the new Focus. Ford is dying right now for being too slow to refresh and replace models. The competitive target is constantly moving. The older the model, even if it was brilliant when first introduced, the lower the transaction price. The target has moved and the price it can command at the dealer is constantly declining. I've had good experiences with my Fords and while my current stable is all Ford, I have and will buy competing brands. Ford has to shoot for excellence, even if that means a higher price. That doesn't mean a higher price for less content or capability due to higher legacy costs, it means a higher price justified by content and capability compared to market competitors. Ford can and should do that with the next Ford Focus.

#1882 of 2013 European Focus for 2010. by mschmal

Dec 12, 2006 (12:49 pm)

I mostly aggree with you, I just don't think Ford needs the C1 platform just to make a good Focus.
 
Can Ford make a profit selling Focuses? Ford needs put its energy right now in makeng the most profitable vehicles the best that they can be.
 
Focus is really not the highest priority right now. Keeping F-150 and SuperDuty # 1 in truck sales is priority #1!
 
Our Focus, in terms of driving dynamics, is only exceeded by the Mazda3, the Rabbit/Jetta, and possibly the Civic. All cars which are substantially more expensive.
 
What is killing Focus is the dated styling and the rental car interior.
 
Ford does not need to put the Focus on the European platform, making it more expensive, in order to boost sales.
 
The spy shots for the next Focus are floating around, and I think its a much better looking car.
 
I am disappointed that Ford is not offering a 5 speed auto in the next Focus, but they don't listen to me anyway.
 
Mark.

#1883 of 2013 VW sales are tanking right now btw. by mschmal

Dec 12, 2006 (12:50 pm)

Mark.

#1884 of 2013 Re: European Focus for 2010. [mschmal] by comp386

Dec 13, 2006 (8:30 am)

Replying to: mschmal (Dec 12, 2006 12:49 pm)
I got a sneak peak at one of the new Focuses and I've gotta say "WOW!". It's so much better looking than the older model going out. The interior is all new and looks vastly different. It's center stack reminds me of a Volvo S40.
 
I never really found the need for the Focus to change to the C1 either. The current platform rides very well and has pretty responsive steering. The thing that's bothered me the most is the build quality. Hopefully they'll make it better this time around.

Messages Page 189 of 202

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement