You are here: Forums Hatchbacks Ford Focus Ford Focus Sedan

Ford Focus Sedan

1997 messages,  Last post on Aug 02, 2009 at 6:57 PM

You are in the Ford Focus Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer

What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Sedan

Messages Page 5 of 201 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ... 201 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#36 of 1997 Focus owner experience by hotx3 Dec 04, 2000 (3:59 am)
Piglover and Chase7, THe oil filter (at least on the base engine) is behind the block and almost impossible to get off unless the car is on a rack. Figure on taking it to a shop. I noticed the blind spot just this morning. I'm told it goes along with the padded pillars mandated for crash protection. I drive a '00 LX and the only thing that's actually broken is the clutch spring. It rides great and has enough pep once you learn to spool it up a little. The doors squeak and a gasket popped off the rear door (easily fixed but annoying), so Ford had a few things to improve, but it is a great car to drive, and roomy besides. The engines are held over from the Escort, so there should be fewer problems there. I say, whatever you buy, enjoy it and let the dealer fix the snags. Re mileage, I get 30 mpg (mixed driving) all the time, but people I've talked to at the pump get the 24/30 spread with the auto/DOHC engine. ('00 LX, 8months, 8700 miles)
#37 of 1997 Thanks! by chase7 Dec 04, 2000 (2:51 pm)
All of you, thanks for your valuable input. I'm definitely going with the Focus 2001. It sounds like we are a match. Now, the car salesman.....
#38 of 1997 Reliability by hkoenen2 Dec 04, 2000 (5:08 pm)
No question in my mind on that one. IT IS NOT. With just over a year of ownership on mine and about 9000 miles, I have gone through several ABS brake sensors, a new transmission (auto), replaced the driver inside door handle and power actuater, problems with rear seat hinges, seat fabric, passenger door handle sticking, recalls, poor fuel economy just to name a few of the reasons my can has made 15 trips to the dealership. But I have only one of several million cars. On the other hand, Comsumer Report just gave it a worse than average rating on reliability in their 2001 book. I think that data is far more telling on the future of the FOcus. I for one will buy the extended warranty before my three years are up or sell the car prior to the warranty running out.
#39 of 1997 Vocus... by haumang Dec 04, 2000 (5:49 pm)
Your experience hit upon some issues that a few owners have mentioned with the Focus. Some say that seats are very uncomfortable in the sedan over long stretches. I personally don't have this problem, but perhaps that's cuz I'm a little fella (5'6"). Also, about the car feeling like it was going sideways; my only real issue with the way the Focus drives is the large amount of rear suspension travel. If your rental car was out of alignment (and I've come across more than a few like that) then this agravates the problem further. My wheels were out of alignment when I got it from the dealership - I had splash guards installed at the dealer and the the wheels ended up out of alignment - and, with NYC's bumpy roads, I had a similar experience to what you describe. Once I got the wheels aligned, though, the car drove great. peace
#40 of 1997 seats! by lgb Dec 05, 2000 (1:41 am)
My only real complaint. If you are going to use a Focus for long-distance commutes, rent one from Hertz for a long test drive ! P>S I'm a shortie too!
#41 of 1997 I liked the seats by windowphobe6 Dec 05, 2000 (1:53 am)
Then again, I shop in the Behemoth section of the store. In fact, there were only two things I didn't like about the two Foci I sampled: 1) They smelled funny (a Ford preservative?), though obviously the scent wouldn't persist. (The older of the two had 500 miles on it.) 2) No way to get both CD and cassette into the dash. Maybe I would have thought differently had I taken one up to Bangor for the week, but this is an awfully small list of gripes, especially considering how much I complain about everything else.
#42 of 1997 Here We Go Again... by ccroke Dec 05, 2000 (2:38 pm)
Two nights ago my radio just quit on me. Driving home from work it just cut out on the highway. What is going on at Ford? This adds to the growing list of issues affecting my Focus. Almost all of the things hkoenen2 and hottx3 cite are affecting my car. Has anyone heard a thumping noise come into the car from the rear axle? It seems to originate from the rear left axle. I just paid off the loan for this car. I love the way it drives and the ride is superb, but I have a feeling the car will fall apart. I was not surprised by Consumer Reports findings. Given the chance to do it again, I would not have bought the car. My dealer still has to perform one more recall fix and replace my trunk assembly.
#43 of 1997 Something I discovered by beatles Dec 05, 2000 (3:59 pm)
I specified Goodyear tires on the contract when I ordered my 2000 ZTS as I have had good experience with the brand over the years. (Don't ask me about the Firestone 500's that I had in the 1970s!) Unfortunately, last week I punctured the tire due to a road condition, and had to purchase a new tire from the local Goodyear dealer. Since I was currently just under 10K miles, I still qualified for their service contract. At $7/tire, it's a bargain as it would have covered the cost of replacement, and it includes rotations every 6K miles and flat repair. If you are currently running Goodyears on your Focus, and are at <10K miles, I would recommend going to your dealer for this cheap contract. BTW, your radio may not be working if you accidently released the front plate of the tuner section. Snap it back in place and the radio may work again!
#44 of 1997 Radio...not working?? by cnollkamper Dec 05, 2000 (7:17 pm)
I had a little fuse problem the other night, for some mysterious reason ( I have a feeling it's because of the Aftermarket alarm)the headlight fuse went out. SO I looked around the fuse box for a less important 7.5 amp fuse to substitute with since it was nighttime, and ended up up using the one for the Radios power. Even though i removed this fuse, The radio still turned on (because of the 1 hr power on feature) but I had to press the power button, it wouldn't turn on with the ignition. I really don't know if this means anything to anybody , but its an experience I had.
#45 of 1997 Satisfied So Far by hank73 Dec 05, 2000 (10:13 pm)
Thanks for feedback about my previous mileage question. I also had reliability questions, having suffered with a first year '86 Taurus (anyone interested in this sure-to-be valuable future antique?), but I was won over by the Focus' tight ride and sharp look. I've only just passed 3000K, so I'll catch all the possible recalls at the 5000K servicing, but no problems so far. My kids like the soft, wood-like turn signal sound, which somewhat off-sets the startling auto lock noise. And the first time the seatbelt alarm I thought the Enterprise was going down in flames. Of course, the real test is how well it keeps starting and running, and what kind of shape it's in in three years. Best to all.

Messages Page 5 of 201 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ... 201 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Hatchbacks Ford Focus Ford Focus Sedan