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Ford Focus: Prices Paid & Buying Experience

485 messages,  Last post on Jun 03, 2013 at 6:27 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Ford Focus SVT, Coupe, Hatchback, Sedan, Wagon

    

Messages Page 4 of 49

#30 of 485 2005 ZX4 SES by samshy

Sep 03, 2005 (2:59 pm)

Just bought 2005 ZX4 SES with following options:
 
  . Traction Control
  . ABS
  . Side Airbags
  . Heated Seats and outside mirrors
 . Auto. transmission
 
The SES comes with many standard features. Its not the best compact car out there, but at these price they offer a great value. The closest compact car with some of these features are Civic and Corolla and they run around $18K and still not get all of these features. I also looked at Accord EX-L which you can get around $21.5K and have all (except traction contro)l I wanted traction control, heated seats and ABS for safety and comfort during winter.
 
Ford MSRP: 19100
Ford Family Plan Price: 14723 (including 2500 case rebate)
                               - 523 additional discount
                                ======
                                  14200
                              + 299 doc. fee
                              ======
                                 14499
 
The dealer was Quirk Ford in Quincy, MA. I have bought from there before and I bought through their internet sales guy. We worked out the price via email. They tried to push the warranty, but I was not interested. I did not argue much about the doc. fee as they would have simply reduced the additional discount. Plus, at these price I just felt that this was a fair deal for everybody.
 
I really like the way it drives. It feels more sporty than Civic or Corolla. The engine is more popowerfulhan Civic/Corolla. The standard radio in SES is 6 CD-MP3 in dash changer with duplicate audio control on the steering wheel. There is no option to get power seats, but its kind of thing you adjust only once in a while. The back seats are comfortable for kids or adults for short ride. The trunk is big for a compact car. I will see if it gives 34 MPG as advertised. At high speeds (70+) you can hear the engine and road noise.
 
Overall this is a good commute car with decent gas mileage and fun ride.

#31 of 485 Prices I've been quoted for Mazda and Civic by pete22

Sep 03, 2005 (6:32 pm)

The Civic and Mazda price probable isn't as good as focus but not as bad as you think, I've been getting internet quiotes. The option I want Power (windows, doors) and auto. Anyway the quotes thus far for those options on a Honda was 14,900 and on a Mazda 15,800.

#32 of 485 Re: 2005 ZX4 SES [samshy] by creakid1

Sep 04, 2005 (12:22 am)

Replying to: samshy (Sep 03, 2005 2:59 pm)
"Its not the best compact car out there..."
 
Than what is?
 
The Accord may be a slightly better car overall, but who sez it's a compact? Except when comes to resale, it sure digs into your wallet in a rather compact way.
 
At under 67" width, the Focus evades Japan's wide-car tax, which should start at 170cm.
 
I bought the fun little narrow-&-tall BUT STABLE Focus ST b/c these wider Mazda3 & S40 actually got a narrower rear-glass visibility to offer instant safe passing to the right, plus the new electro-hydraulic steering assist hurts steering feel. Other "telephone booth" cars w/ high chair tend to feel tippy over high-speed corners b/c their platforms aren't German designed.
 
By the way, how many compact cars rides as smoothly as the Focus SES?

#33 of 485 Re: 2005 ZX4 SES [samshy] by pete22

Sep 04, 2005 (12:58 am)

Replying to: samshy (Sep 03, 2005 2:59 pm)
What was the additional discount for. Is there further discounts to be gotten over the Family price and the 2500 rebate. I know I pulled up a car that matches my needs on the Ford site. But it comes up to 13850 or so there. If I could add Traction Control
, ABS, and Side airbags for onl 700 more I'd do that.

#34 of 485 Re: Prices I've been quoted for Mazda and Civic [pete22] by samshy

Sep 04, 2005 (8:52 am)

Replying to: pete22 (Sep 03, 2005 6:32 pm)
I looked at Civic and to get ABS, you have to get EX trim ($17K), and you still would not get traction cotrol. Also, heated seats, 6 CD in dash changer and duplicate audio controls are not available in any Civic trim. I liked the quiet ride of Civic and interior quality, but I would be paying lot more ($3K) and get lot less in a Civic.

#35 of 485 Re: 2005 ZX4 SES [pete22] by samshy

Sep 04, 2005 (8:56 am)

Replying to: pete22 (Sep 04, 2005 12:58 am)
Some dealers would not go below the Ford Family Plan, but Quirk and few others I talked to were ready to discount below the Family price. In my opinion, dealers with huge Focus inventory (20+ focus on lot) were ready to discount below the family plan price, while others with little inventory (<5 focus on lot) were not willing to discount. In New England region, I did not find many 2005 Focus SES left over. Many dealres had the S or few SE trim, but only few had SES trim Add $150 for heated seats and you would get Family price of $14723.

#36 of 485 Re: 2005 ZX4 SES [creakid1] by samshy

Sep 04, 2005 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: creakid1 (Sep 04, 2005 12:22 am)
I should qualify my self when using the tem "best". Focus is "best value" in compact car and that is why I chose it. There are better compact car in terms of build quality and interior material quality. e.g the arm rest between front passanger is so small and fixed that you can barely rest your arm on it. Honda make it a sliding arm rest so that you can position it the way you like it. The ride is much quieter in Civic/Corolla. The hood and the trunk are both padded with insulation in Civic/Corolla while Focus leaves them unpadded. The sound of closing doors on Focus gives you "hollow" feeling, using the swicth for the front map light sounds like it is going to break soon.
 
What Focus lacks in the material and build, it make up in features and value. I looked at Accord EX-L because that was the next higher level car that offered everything I wanted in the Focus. Even in Accord, you get traction control in EX-V6 only. Even Focus' big brother Taurus did not offer all these options in a car. You would have to get the Ford Five Hundread to get them.
 
I could not believe that Focus offers all modern options except side curtain bags for front and rear. And you can mix and match options; only choose what you want. I did not care for sunroof and leather, so I got one without it. In Civic, you cannot mix and match many of these options.

#37 of 485 Re: 2005 ZX4 SES [samshy] by explorerx4

Sep 04, 2005 (3:30 pm)

Replying to: samshy (Sep 04, 2005 2:49 pm)
last year i bought a focus too. you are right about the materials and quality of build. it could be better. my wife and i still enjoy the heck out of it, although we don't have to drive it if we don't want to. it has tons of features. i looked at corollas/civics too. to get abs on a corolla, the only ones i found were 's' models which stickered at about 20g's.
based on what i paid for the focus, i could only get a 2 door civic 'vp'.
i have a moonroof and heated seats, so i'm happy no matter what the climate.
 
i just washed the focus and parked it in the street. a couple of people on their walks, were giving it looks that seemed like envy, to me. i know one of them drives a big buick.

#38 of 485 Re: Prices I've been quoted for Mazda and Civic [samshy] by pete22

Sep 04, 2005 (11:01 pm)

Replying to: samshy (Sep 04, 2005 8:52 am)
Yes your right about the Civic and ABS. also the same on the Mazda it's pretty expensive. I'm in Southern California so am willing to pass on the traction control and ABS. Also I don't care that much about the 5 disk CD. But still would go for the SES since I want the cruise control, leather steering wheel and 16 inch tires.
Anyway so far didn't find anyone willing to nogioate from the Family price + rebate.
In fact I get that price anyway because where I work gives me an x-plan price (i think thats whats it called) and was told that its the same as the f-plan price. Anyway been exchanging emails with an abnoxious Ford internet sales guy, went to the ford site found a car and emailed him to find out if he had a local discount above the Ford family and rebate. He emailed back and said he'll give me a special internet price and I can only get it if I see him. Then next email sends me an invoice with the same price the Ford web site gives you and says its his special deal and he's only around 3 days a week. When I mentioned I could get the same price by just walking in the door and seeing anyone, he emails back that he expected loyalty for all the work he did for me (an email giving me the Ford family price) and was outraged that I'd be so disloyal as to buy the car from someone elese there. Anyway I'm still waiting to see what happens with the Fplan after the 6th. I heard it's mostly will be extended. If not I wonder if they will increase the rebate, I which case I already get the X-plan so that would be to my advantage.

#39 of 485 Re: 2005 ZX4 SES [samshy] by creakid1

Sep 05, 2005 (12:51 am)

Replying to: samshy (Sep 04, 2005 2:49 pm)
You're right about the Focus' interior material. I got to warn all of you before buying an '05 Focus -- the air coming out of the vents of my charcoal interior kept giving me (& everyone else) a nauseating plastic smell, & I had this '05 ST since Oct '04.
 
I don't lower the seat all the way, so my right elbow feels just right & relaxing resting on that high center armrest while shifting the stick.
 
Other than that, the Focus' elastic ride & responsive handling is like a dream, & the Civic/Corolla can't even come close.

Messages Page 4 of 49

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