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Ford Focus Owners Tell Ford What you Want! - READ ONLY

136 messages,  Last post on Nov 21, 2010 at 11:56 PM

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Messages Page 9 of 14

#79 of 136 Tried to help Ford, but they don't want it by fordwagon67

Sep 21, 2006 (7:03 pm)

Replying to: mikus (May 26, 2006 11:56 pm)
I have been trying my best to buy American, and to buy a Ford. I would like to help them in a time of need.
I'm pretty easy, too, I like plain cars.
But if Ford thinks they can sell a car in 2007 without rear head restraints or even an option for Head curtain airbags they are clearly not in touch with reality.
Driving to work today in my soon to be gone Corolla, I looked at each car I passed to see if there were no rear head restraints which would hopefully make me feel better for getting a 2007 Focus ZXW SES wagon without them.
Guess what, the only cars I saw without them were Crown Vics and Tauruses!!!
Suzuki Reno: got 'em
Hyundai Elantra: got 'em
Kia whatever: got 'em!!!!?!?!?!?!?!?
This is insane, so my alternative small wagon is the Chevy HHR but why buy an American car if they are gonna make 'em in Mexico???!!!
Hello, Honda? I'll see you tomorrow with my checkbook.

#80 of 136 Tried to help Ford, but they don't want it by rapidrick

Sep 24, 2006 (7:32 am)

"But if Ford thinks they can sell a car in 2007 without rear head restraints or even an option for Head curtain airbags they are clearly not in touch with reality."
 
Back in 03 I went through the same thing--the VW Golf/Jetta Wagons were edging out the Ford. However, got a smokin' deal on the ZTW and it has been perfect since then, no regrets.

#81 of 136 Premium small car by basiliskst

Oct 19, 2006 (7:27 pm)

We own a fully optioned 2005 Focus ZX4 ST. It has some real strengths in drive train, handling and interior packaging. In my ST everything I touch (the leather seats with perforated suede, the door grip, the leather-covered steering wheel and gear shift knob) feel and look great. But the look and sound is still economy car. For example, road noise (primarily tire noise and not wind) is intrusive at speed. The trunk lid is not lined or finished on the underside.
 
Someone is going to recognize that with the public's changing taste in favor of small cars that there is room for a premium small car that is sporty, efficient and luxurious. You can find a sporty premium (Mini and maybe the Mazda 3) and an efficient premium (the Prius), but so far no one is really doing luxury in an efficient, sporty package.
 
Saturn may be poised to gab this sophisticated space, but the next Focus should do so. When the Focus was first introduced to the US it was a standout car. The next generation has to be a standout as well. An average or me-too car won't work. The next Focus has to up the refinement level even if it is more expensive. People will pay for excellence. Elements to be included: five-star safety with full-boat active and passive safety features; independent suspension; variable valve timing; 5 or 6 speed automatic; dual zone automatic climate control; perfect power seats with every adjustment possible; and great sound isolation. Navigation has already been suggested by many and is appropriate for a car tailored to the urban environment by ease of parking. And finally, the next Focus has to avoid early recalls and deliver a reliable, failure-free ownership experience. I've been very happy with my 2005 but the early years' track record tarnished the great reviews like C&D's top ten rankings.
 
Hit it out of the park, the transaction price will follow. Decontent a superb car for the entry level, but the top of the line must be the best sport luxury choice in the small car space. Consumers are desperate for the luxury they've come to expect in a smaller, more efficient package.

#82 of 136 Service Departments are Horrid by rwgreenberg

Oct 21, 2006 (5:49 pm)

I have something to tell Ford. Tell your official service departments that they will be arrested if they try to sell brakes that don't need replacing. And tell them that they must not charge a $50 service fee if I have my car towed to them (at only 4 months old) because it won't start and then they could not replicate the symtom. Did they think that I some kind of disease that forced me to imagine that my car would not start?

#83 of 136 UPDATE on 04 focus ZTS by markus5

Oct 29, 2006 (10:50 am)

My basic 3 yr warranty is over next week. I am considering the Idea of one of the ESP packages that ford is selling.
I bought new and used FORD products for many years. I like them or obviously I would not come back. One of the things that ford has done extremely well historically was to find or create a market. Except for the Edsel just about any car they introduced into a market segment was extremely successful and ussually class leading in sales. The latest examples were the Taurus and the Explorer.
 
I read in a very good article in the NY Times yesterday, about the Taurus as " a remarkable success in the late 80's will be a " footnote in Ford history" . Last Friday was last car off production line.
 
I think that the Focus may soon be doomed as I see in these posts. Back in the late 60's I had another ford, an English Cortina GT that also went extict although that one was planned as they waited for the arrival of the much inferior Pinto.
 
It is ironic that it was the memory of that Cortina that came to me so strongly on the unplanned test drive of the Focus 3 years ago. Ford should market this car to people who really like to drive. Even "Consumer Reports" magazine which is not philosophically oriented to be enthusiastic about driving, mentions in their reviews of that elusive quality of ride and handling dynamics. ( It is if nothing else a factor in safety they recognize)
Ford is not without fault: They did not back this car up or take responsibility but chose to save money in certain design aspects, one of them being the Side Mirrors and some of the other soft molding pieces. I had to replace my Front rotors at 25 K and I should have insisted that they pay for it. Pirellis were crummy but that is not their fault. However one of those assymetrical tyres was incorrectly mounted at the factory. ( The dealer said after 25,000 miles It could not be proven.
Bottom line, If I see a nice 04 station wagon (I hate the dash treatment on the 05 models), it just might be the replacement for my wifes' 95 Explorer.

#84 of 136 2008 Ford Focus revealed at Detroit Show by basiliskst

Jan 07, 2007 (12:21 pm)

www.autoweek.com
 
The revised 2008 Ford Focus was revealed today (01/07/2006) at the Detroit Auto Show (North American International Auto Show for purists). www.naias.com
 
I haven't seen any interior shots or driven one, so my comments are tempered. The changes on the outside are mostly cosmetic to make the car look longer and leaner without much more than surface detailing differences. The roof line appears unchanged. The wheel arches are less of a separate architectural detail, losing the hard circle edge and instead blending smoothly into the fenders. Commentary claims substantial improvements in noise control and sound deadening with different glass employed among other strategies. The 2008 Focus body doesn't wow, but neither does it offend. The back side and rear three quarters views have a bit of the Subaru Legacy. The front end and front fenders seem busier and a bit less refined. As the current Focus looks better in person than in photographs, I'll reserve final judgment.
 
It's still an open question. Is a revision of the current Focus platform enough to be competitive or is it a false economy? I'm sure the development costs are less than an all new model, but ultimately it is sales, growth and profitability that Ford desperately needs. Can this restyled and mildly re-engineered Focus regain sales momentum and increase transaction prices? I drive a Focus and am a fan, but I'm reserving judgment. The exterior of the 2008 is not enough to make me run out and replace my 2005 with a new Focus.

#85 of 136 Current Focus Platform by mschmal

Jan 09, 2007 (9:34 am)

The only compacts with Driving dynamics equal to or better than the current Focus are the Mazda3, the Civic, and the new Rabbit and the Focus is still competitive and way outshines the Corolla, the Cobalt, the Caliper, the Koreans, and the new Sentra. The Corolla and the Sentra do not even offer 4 wheel independant suspension.
 
Focus costs significantly less than a Mazda3, Civic, or Rabbit. After rebates, a Focus SE 4 door Auto is under $14,000!
 
Photos of 2008 Ford Focus

#86 of 136 2008 Focus enough change? by basiliskst

Jan 11, 2007 (8:02 pm)

Replying to: mschmal (Jan 09, 2007 9:34 am)
The pictures of the newly refreshed 2008 Ford Focus interior look to be a promising upgrade. The simplification of the model line down to two body styles and only two engines (both 2.0 liters) probably makes business sense as complexity is expensive. The simplification unfortunately means the enthusiast focused 2.3 liter ST sport model is dead.
 
The Focus does have great driving dynamics. (It's why I own a Focus ST.) But the styling has to get people into the car to experience the difference. My question is not about driving dynamics (which should be even better with a stiffer chassis), but about whether a mild re-engineering and reskinning is enough to grab consumer attention and revive sales.
 
I'm not thrilled with the new exterior, but the new interior may just have the style for people to notice.
 
The expected all-new 2010 model will have to contend with the new Saturn Astra that will almost certainly be more of a driver's car than the Japanese and Korean competitors. 2010 is too long to wait for a total redesign, but it's too late now for Ford to change.
 
It does sound like a new B-class (next size smaller) will be coming to the Ford line-up in 2008 or 2009.

#87 of 136 help reintroducing key code on cd by negrea

Jan 13, 2007 (1:08 pm)

Hello!!! I have a Focus and recently I change a light, and I deconnect the batery. After that I cannot use the radio-cd. I have the key code for that but I do not know how to enter it. Can you help me, please?

#88 of 136 Re: 2008 Focus enough change? [basiliskst] by explorerx4

Jan 19, 2007 (8:45 pm)

Replying to: basiliskst (Jan 11, 2007 8:02 pm)
not much buzz here on the new focus. i have a 2.3 zts, and think it is a great engine, very torquey.

Messages Page 9 of 14

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