Article Comments - 2008 Ford Focus First Drive

27 messages, Last post on Nov 12, 2007 at 10:56 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Ford, Sedan

First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus - There are some improvements hidden beneath the revised sheet metal. The structural bar that crosses the chassis between the A-pillars has more rigidity, and there's been some improvement in the way everything fits together. Some acoustic measures dramatically reduce wind noise and others isolate road rumble. But basically everything here is familiar in function as well as form. (more)

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#12 of 27 Re: Huh? [briancam] by drive571 Oct 03, 2007 (2:07 pm)
Replying to: briancam (Oct 03, 2007 9:57 am) Nope, it doesn't. Which was no liability in 2003, but it seems like the kind of thing they could have added as a running change without too much cost.
#13 of 27 PLUS don't under estimate Ford Dealers. by mschmal Oct 04, 2007 (4:53 pm)
The Power Sales Satisfaction Survey measures how happy people are with the buying process. According to the 2006 Survey (07 should come out next month), Lincoln came in 3rd after Jag and Caddy, tied with Porshe and 2 points ahead of Lexus. Mercury came in seventh, 3 points behind Lexus. Ford was 15th overall but still eight points above average. Toyota dealers came in 24th! 15 points BELOW average and one place aheady of Kia. Mark.
#14 of 27 Re: Article Comments - 2008 Ford Focus First Drive [KarenS] by mikon Oct 08, 2007 (10:04 am)
Replying to: KarenS (Sep 28, 2007 7:14 am) A quick check of the Toyota website clearly indicates that Toyota will unveil their redesigned Corolla and Matrix vehicles on Halloween with a big fanfare. Does anyone doubt that the new corrolla will leave the competition in the dust? .....I don't think so!!! Replies to this message: theman123 (Oct 16, 2007 6:57 pm)
#15 of 27 Re: Article Comments - 2008 Ford Focus First Drive [mikon] by theman123 Oct 16, 2007 (6:57 pm)
Replying to: mikon (Oct 08, 2007 10:04 am) A quick check of the Toyota website clearly indicates that Toyota will unveil their redesigned Corolla and Matrix vehicles on Halloween with a big fanfare. Does anyone doubt that the new Corolla will leave the competition in the dust? .....I don't think so!!! I DO !!!!!!!!!!! Toyota is starting to fall from grace. They are losing top execs left and right. There's probably a good reason why. Today Toyota got some very hard news. MSN announcement Oh and Edmunds had something to say as well Edmunds (notice the Fusion and Milan are some of the most reliable cars you can buy) And from what I've seen of the 09 Corolla it's nothing more than a mild reskin. It looks like an old Camry on a current Collora body. Oh how exciting I don't want to sound like a Ford commercial. To be perfectly honest I was a little cold towards the 2008 Focus myself. I always had my heart set on the Fusion. However, the coupe is starting to grow on me. If Ford can reproduce what they have been able to do with the Fusion with the 2008 Focus they will have me. And probably a whole bunch of people. Also, from Initial reviews that I've seen of The 2008 Focus it's looking like a great little car. Allot of people like it and have very few complaints. Amongst the common complaints are the sunroof, that kills some head room. Like any sunroof will do in a car. The rear seats don't have head rest to protect rear occupancy from whip lash in a rear collision. Other than that. Other than that allot of people seem to really really like it.
#16 of 27 2008 FOCUS brochure\website error? by orbit9090 Oct 17, 2007 (3:56 am)
---------------- Hey! The 2008 Ford FOCUS brochure indicates that cruise-control is available on the Focus S, but the Ford website will not allow selection of cruise control when building a Focus S. Is the FOCUS brochure wrong, or is the Ford website broken? I want to build a 2008 FOCUS coupe with automatic and factory cruise-control, but not SYNC or ugly white-face gauges. Orbit ----------------
#17 of 27 Cruise control by mschmal Oct 17, 2007 (7:38 am)
According to the latest Order Guide, a 2008 Focus S will not be available with cruise. I have not seen a brochure. Cruise is available on the SE as part of the drivers' group which requires Sync. For Job 2 (unknown date), cruise will be a stand alone option on the SE. You can always have after market cruise installed. Mark Replies to this message: orbit9090 (Oct 18, 2007 8:25 am) markus5 (Oct 19, 2007 6:44 am) hommelion (Nov 12, 2007 10:56 am)
#18 of 27 Re: Cruise control by orbit9090 Oct 18, 2007 (8:25 am)
Replying to: mschmal (Oct 17, 2007 7:38 am) I want "factory" (steering wheel mounted) cruise. I DON'T want SYNC or white-guages. Cruise control maintains a predictable, constant speed, which optimizes fuel economy and improves traffic flow by keeping the vehicle at a constant speed, so as to not annoy other drivers by speeding-up and slowing-down while dialing a cellphone or putting in that new Chaotica CD. Cruise control should be a required safety feature on all cars. Standard cruise control would be a much more useful feature than the government mandated tire-pressure monitoring system. Replies to this message: markus5 (Oct 19, 2007 6:44 am)
#19 of 27 Re: Cruise control [orbit9090] by markus5 Oct 19, 2007 (6:44 am)
Replying to: orbit9090 (Oct 18, 2007 8:25 am) I agree that Factory units are better than add on for the reason that you cite. I have been happy with units on most modern cars, the Ford units have been particularly easy to use and precise. I don't agree that it is valuable in a safety related sense, however. I do see tire pressure monitoring as possibly nessessary. It is a good time to bring this up. I will not use cruise on slick roads or when going fast (15+ mph over limit). It may even be advisable to not use the cruise if your objective is trying to achieve max. MPG when you are driving in hilly or rolling conditions. In conditions like that, if it is prudent to do so , I may even slow up on long up hills, maintaining close to the prevailing traffic, to save fuel. The cruise does not have this priority programmed into it.
#20 of 27 Don't want Sync? by mschmal Oct 19, 2007 (7:48 am)
If you are concerned with safety, why would you not want sync? Mark Replies to this message: drive571 (Oct 29, 2007 2:46 pm) markus5 (Oct 30, 2007 6:04 am)
#21 of 27 Re: Don't want Sync? [mschmal] by drive571 Oct 29, 2007 (2:46 pm)
Replying to: mschmal (Oct 19, 2007 7:48 am) Because they probably don't intend to futz around with cell phones and MP3 players when they're operating a moving vehicle. If only more drivers were like that... Regarding the Corolla "mild re-skin," again, we're talking about all-new engines, transmissions, and a new suspension, in addition to the exterior and interior restyle. I don't even like Corollas, but calling it a "mild re-skin" is just not accurate. Replies to this message: markus5 (Oct 30, 2007 6:04 am)