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2012 Ford Focus

1316 messages,  Last post on Feb 25, 2013 at 4:53 AM

You are in the Ford Focus Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Ford, Car Buying, Future Vehicle, Coupe, Hatchback, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 65 of 132

#637 of 1316 Re: the Ford Focus. [puffin1] by shipo

Jun 25, 2011 (9:04 am)

Replying to: puffin1 (Jun 25, 2011 7:36 am)
Regarding the rear suspension issue; I don't get all hung up about the engineering detail, I drive them and determine if they'll do the job I want or if they won't. Multilink, I-Beam, trailing link torsion beam, I've driven good and bad examples of each.
 
Regarding the Mazda3, 2011 isn't the model year to buy as the new 2.0 liter SkyActiv-G engine doesn't make its debut until the 2012 model year. Depending upon when "Buy" time comes for me, a 4-Door Golf TDI 6-Speed and the 2012 Mazda3 5-Door SkyActive-G 6-Speed will be at the top of my list. Depending on a few other factors (such as which of our current cars we decide to keep, and whether GM decides to offer a manual transmission in the higher line Cruze models), the Focus and the Cruze may also make my final short list.

#638 of 1316 New SEL Hatchback is here by akirby

Jul 05, 2011 (7:48 am)

My daughter's Ingot Silver SEL Hatch arrived yesterday. Less than 5 weeks from order to delivery. X plan with $1250 rebates ($750 personal rebate plus $500). Dealer got me 3.0% financing on a 60 month loan so we just kept the down payment in the bank.
 
So far it's fantastic. It has myford but not MyFordTouch. The left 5-way controls the display in the gauge cluster and the right one controls the one in the center of the dash.
 
Ambient lighting is ho-hum - guess I was expecting something more dramatic.
 
It isn't super roomy but I fit just fine in both the front and rear seats and I'm not small. I don't understand all the complaints about interior room. It's a C class vehicle for goodness sake.
 
The transmission is quirky at low speeds but it's not bad - just different. Put it in S mode without hitting the selectshift buttons and it's more responsive but still shifts automatically. Tried it in manual mode a little and it seems to shift very quickly and crisply as I expected. Much better than a regular automatic.
 
I may seriously consider a ST next year for myself. I averaged 37 mpg on a short test trip compared to the 17 mpg I get now in my 3.0L Fusion. It's very tempting.

#639 of 1316 Re: the Ford Focus. [shipo] by griswald

Jul 05, 2011 (10:06 am)

Replying to: shipo (Jun 23, 2011 11:00 am)
There is considerably more room for tall drivers in the front of my 2012 Focus compared to my wife's Mazda 3, girth wise probably the opposite due to the excellent side bolstering of my Focus's sport seats.

#640 of 1316 Re: the Ford Focus. [griswald] by shipo

Jul 05, 2011 (11:52 am)

Replying to: griswald (Jul 05, 2011 10:06 am)
How do you have the seats adjusted for height? I ask because if you don't have them set the same, then an incorrect impression of the relative headroom will be made.
 
FWIW #1, my own impression of the Focus, the Gen 2 Mazda3, and the Gen 1 Mazda3 (my current ride) is that the Gen 1 Mazda has more head room than the other two (which I could discern no difference between).
 
FWIW #2, the headroom numbers bear out what I've personally observed:
 -- Front/Rear -- 39.1/37.4 -- 2009 Mazda3
 -- Front/Rear -- 38.3/37.9 -- 2012 Focus
 -- Front/Rear -- 38.1/37.7 -- 2011 Mazda3
 
So, per the numbers, the Focus has 0.2" more front and rear headroom than the Mazda3. Given that the headroom appears to be generous enough in each of the above cars for all but the tallest of drivers, the headroom number is a bit moot. That said, the legroom numbers (where the Mazda3 has a whopping 3" more legroom than the Focus) are very much an issue for anybody transporting teens and adults for any distance in the rear seats.

#641 of 1316 Re: the Ford Focus. [shipo] by griswald

Jul 05, 2011 (1:19 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jul 05, 2011 11:52 am)
I'm 6'2" with long legs and relatively shorter torso, no problem with headroon in either though I do set the Focus seat low. I was referring principally to the Focus being more comfortable by it having more front legroom than the wife's 2009 Mazda 3.

#642 of 1316 Re: the Ford Focus. [griswald] by shipo

Jul 05, 2011 (5:49 pm)

Replying to: griswald (Jul 05, 2011 1:19 pm)
Ahhh, now I see where the disconnect is; while the previous generation of the Mazda3 (out of production for over two and a half years now) does indeed have less front leg room than the new Focus, the current generation of the Mazda is sporting one tenth of an inch more than the Ford (and three more inches of rear leg room).
 
As a qualifier for the various statements I've made in this thread, unless otherwise specified, all comparisons between the Focus and the Mazda3 are between "like generations" (i.e. 2012 Focus vs. 2011 Mazda3).
 
Off topic (sort of), my son managed to not set the parking brake in my car well enough a week and a half ago, and my 2009 Mazda3 rolled away, down a hill, across a (thankfully empty) residential street, down the front yard across the street, and into a rock wall. Not only was the lower grill area obliterated, so too was the bottom of the A/C condenser and the radiator, and the oil filter mount was literally ripped from the engine. Needless to say I'm driving a rental these days. Funny thing, my rental is a 2010 Focus; go figure.

#643 of 1316 Re: the Ford Focus. [shipo] by gambit293

Jul 05, 2011 (11:11 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jul 05, 2011 5:49 pm)
About two and a half years ago, I forgot to set my parking brake in a garage when I went to take a test on a campus. After the test, I found my car had rolled from its space, about two car lengths out. It was just sitting there in the middle of the garage (with a ticket warning me to move my car by the end of the day). Another four feet or so and it would have hit the garage incline and things would have gotten very, very ugly. I got really lucky, though other drivers probably thought I was a total jack***.
 
No Focus tie in -- Doh!

#644 of 1316 Re: the Ford Focus. [shipo] by robr2

Jul 06, 2011 (8:20 am)

Replying to: shipo (Jul 05, 2011 5:49 pm)
...my 2009 Mazda3 rolled away...and into a rock wall...the lower grill area obliterated,
 
An upgrade!!
 
May I ask why the car wasn't in gear as well?

#645 of 1316 Re: the Ford Focus. [robr2] by ivan_99

Jul 06, 2011 (8:26 am)

Replying to: robr2 (Jul 06, 2011 8:20 am)
...and...I was always taught to turn the wheel towards the curb down hill, away from the curb up hill.
 
So if the car rolled...the curb would stop it.

#646 of 1316 Re: the Ford Focus. [robr2] by shipo

Jul 06, 2011 (9:12 am)

Replying to: robr2 (Jul 06, 2011 8:20 am)
I asked that question; he looked kind of sheepish and said, "I thought the brake would be enough."
 
Oy vey!

Messages Page 65 of 132

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