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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

#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!

#647 of 1316 Re: the Ford Focus. [ivan_99] by shipo

Jul 06, 2011 (9:15 am)

Replying to: ivan_99 (Jul 06, 2011 8:26 am)
I was taught that as well, however, there are two issues in play here:
 
 1) There are very few curbs here in New Hampshire, and none where the car was parked, and
 2) apparently Driver's Ed no longer covers that subject. In fact, when I first explained to him the concept of turning the wheel he looked at me like I was nuts.
 
Hopefully I'll get my car back this week so that I can lose the Focus (among other things, I hate driving a car with only two pedals under the dash).

#648 of 1316 Ahem by pf_flyer HOST

Jul 06, 2011 (9:54 am)

Focus

#649 of 1316 Re: Ahem [pf_flyer] by robr2

Jul 06, 2011 (11:09 am)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Jul 06, 2011 9:54 am)
If you get a manual Focus, remember to leave it in gear and use the parking brake.
 
Better??

Messages Page 65 of 132

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