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2012 Ford Focus

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

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

Messages Page 11 of 132

#96 of 1316 The thrill is still... by iluvmysephia1

Feb 23, 2011 (9:30 am)


 
Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot! Hot!
 
Ummmm.
 
The girls that sing that song really do the Hot! Hot! thing accurate and fast, was it Sista Sledge that did that song? Look at the hatch in silver. That's what's caught me, is the European-inspired looks of the 2012 Ford Focus.
 
I want to see more consumer driving views of this car, and it's not out yet. I read mid-February it will be in dealer lots. Hey, it's February 23, 2011, people! Anybody seen a '12 Ford Focus in a dealer lot yet?

#97 of 1316 Nothing's changed by baggs32

Feb 23, 2011 (10:33 am)

All good points on the competition guys and gals but they're off topic in relation to the start of the conversation. The question is will the OP's current choice of the Focus be swayed by a competing model in the next two years? I still say no because:
 
1. The new Elantra is out and the OP picked the Focus.
2. The new Civic has been unveiled and still the OP picked the Focus. It's just a refresh, and a bad one, anyway.
3. We all know the Corolla will be the same old melba toast car with a pointier nose. yeah, it'll still sell and we'll all continue to wonder why.
4. The next Forte will probably be a refresh because I doubt Hyundai/Kia is now in the business of developing new platforms every 4 years (which is shared by the new Elantra BTW).
5. The Mazda3 is the wildcard to me here. It could at least sway me from the Focus if Mazda gets back into the game with their styling but I just don't see it happening based on their showcars. The new Mazda5 is probably a good indication of what the 3 will look like soon.
6. Does Mopar even make a small car anymore?
7. Oh, almost forgot about the Cruze. Point proven for that one then.
 
I'll keep an open mind as the years go by too but I'm not seeing anything great on the horizon that would change the OP's mind.

#98 of 1316 Re: Nothing's changed [baggs32] by m6user

Feb 23, 2011 (11:52 am)

Replying to: baggs32 (Feb 23, 2011 10:33 am)
As far as the OP goes, you assume he has done a solid comparison against those other cars. I don't. It's possible he has but I try not to assume things. He may just not like the looks of the others which is a totally subjective matter.
 
I would probably agree that the Corolla will not challenge but again, do "we all know"? No, we don't. We can guess like you but we don't know.
 
Regarding Forte, I don't believe the only way you can drastically improve a car is by completely changing platforms. What if they substantially upgraded the suspension/handling and put in the 2.0T with 270+ hp. Probably would create a lot of excitement along with tweaks to the exterior and interior. Not a whole new platform but a lot different car. I'm not suggesting it would happen but, again, an open mind.
 
Glad you agree on the possibilities that Mazda3 may present in the near future.
 
Like it or not, Mopar is doing some good things right now with their new bosses from Fiat. Things are changing and Fiat has said they will introduce a new compact/subcompact models to Mopar.....no timetable though. I wish them the best as competition is a good thing.
 
Nothing wrong with the Cruze. Nice interior, decent looking and handles well, good mpg. Not quite as many pluses as the Focus IMO but still a nice car that could be made better given two years time.
 
As far as knowing whether the OP will change his mind over the next two years? I'll let someone with a crystal ball do that.
 
I will give you this though, IMO it is better than even odds that no better compact car will be available within the next couple of years.

#99 of 1316 2012 Ford Focus by leesw

Feb 23, 2011 (8:16 pm)

CD’s short-take road test on the 2012 Focus is up. Their tests showed the 0-60 is 7.6 seconds with the automatic, which is darn good for a car that gets 37 mpg. I think unheard of for the C-segment. CD seems only mildly warm on the Focus, yet they raved over the current Mazda 3, which the Focus meets or exceeds in almost every category. Go figure.

#100 of 1316 Re: Nothing's changed [m6user] by baggs32

Feb 24, 2011 (12:05 pm)

Replying to: m6user (Feb 23, 2011 11:52 am)
"As far as the OP goes, you assume he has done a solid comparison against those other cars. I don't."
 
I don't either. The OP said the Focus was his/her choice and no assumptions are necessary as that is a plain fact. The rest of my post did contain my assumptions on why the OP may have come to that decision. Since those are my opinion they really have nothing to do with the fact that the OP chose the Focus already. I was just providing food for thought.
 
"Regarding Forte, I don't believe the only way you can drastically improve a car is by completely changing platforms. "
 
I agree with you and Kia could do something drastic to make it an excellent car out of it. One thing keeps me from believing that will happen though. Hyundai/Kia still like the role of the bargain, bang-for-the-buck brands and it's getting harder for them to do that. For example, the new Elantra is a really nice car I have to admit. But A/C is an option on the base model (one of the two available trims). Really? In 2011 A/C is optional? Their cost cutting methods are getting more deperate so they can keep the quality of everything else on par with the competition and still keep prices down. An Elantra Limited is nearly identical in price to a 2012 focus SEL sedan all things being just about equal wiht features and specs.
 
Upping the game would hurt the bargain pricing they like to offer and I just don't see it happening in two years.
 
"He may just not like the looks of the others which is a totally subjective matter. "
 
Subjective, but totally relevent. However that is the one thing that does change through the years and is probalby the one thing that could make someone change their mind on what to buy over time especially if it is their only criteria for choosing.
 
"Like it or not, Mopar is doing some good things right now with their new bosses from Fiat."
 
I agree with you there. They still have too many "new" models that are the same old same old with new interiors though. A compact Fiat would probably be a worthy adversary to the Focus and its like given their European heritage.
 
"Nothing wrong with the Cruze. Nice interior, decent looking and handles well, good mpg. Not quite as many pluses as the Focus IMO but still a nice car that could be made better given two years time. "
 
There's also nothing really right about it either. It sits in the middle and knowing GM will stay there until it's time to change the name again. Cavalier, Cobalt, Cruze... The saga continues. Reminds me of Freestyle, Taurus X, Flex... (I currently drive a Flex BTW)
 
"As far as knowing whether the OP will change his mind over the next two years? I'll let someone with a crystal ball do that. "
 
That's one way to go about it. I don't think anyone cares if the OP changes his/her mind but I can see how one would think that way. Obviously you and some others didn't and that's a valid argument too. I don't think it's right to say the OP should keep an open mind though because we don't know the criteria his/her choice was made on or what other factors may have been involved in the decision. Know what I mean?

#101 of 1316 Re: '04 Focus ZTS [markus5] by creakid1

Feb 24, 2011 (5:56 pm)

Replying to: markus5 (Feb 22, 2011 1:30 pm)
Is yours w/ the Mazda developed 2.3? That's the only 2.3 Focus available w/ auto tranny, which is also made by Mazda.
 
Think about it. Like the Mazda3, it's got the Control-blade German-designed platform coupled w/ reliable Japanese-designed drivetrain -- can't think of a better car out there b/c the Mazda3 rides rough.
 
I don't consider the new Focus as a small car anymore, not w/ that 6-ft overall width. Too bad the Fiesta got no multi-links.
 
The Mustang is no comparison -- it still got Pinto's rear suspension...
 
I'm gonna keep my excellent '07 Focus ST 2.3 stick for a very long time. The only thing I don't like about it is the smelly dashboard when exposed to sun or heater.

#102 of 1316 Re: Nothing's changed [baggs32] by backy

Feb 24, 2011 (6:07 pm)

Replying to: baggs32 (Feb 24, 2011 12:05 pm)
An Elantra Limited is nearly identical in price to a 2012 focus SEL sedan all things being just about equal wiht features and specs.
 
How do you figure that? An SEL sedan with leather, 17" alloys, and moonroof (all standard on the Elantra Limited) comes up as $23,380 MSRP in Edmunds' pricer. The Elantra is $20,700. This is without nav or the upgraded stereo on either car. Those don't look like nearly identical prices to my pocketbook.
 
As for the Cruze... I think there's a LOT that's right about it. Great interior quality, very quiet, economical, good blend of ride and handling. About the only demerits I see are vanilla styling (but not offensive), not a lot of power, and not the roomiest back seat in the group (but I don't know how roomy the Focus is in back).

#103 of 1316 Re: how roomy the Focus is in back? [backy] by creakid1

Feb 24, 2011 (7:29 pm)

Replying to: backy (Feb 24, 2011 6:07 pm)
Disastrous! Forget about stretching your legs out. At least the sedan does not have the head room problem found in the Fiesta
 
The Golf VI, even the base 3-dr, got both comfy seating & room in the back.
 
The new Jetta got even more leg room in the back, but w/o a comfy chair (too low).
 
And as far as having a nice wide rear visibility for lane change, the upcoming chopped-top Golf VI might be the only car today...

#104 of 1316 Check this 2012 Ford Focus review... by iluvmysephia1

Feb 25, 2011 (7:56 am)

This ain't your father's Ford Focus, gentlemen. I have both eyes and both ears wide open and perked up for this 2012 Focus.
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp3MU92WURo&feature=player_detailpage

#105 of 1316 Re: Nothing's changed [backy] by baggs32

Feb 25, 2011 (10:56 am)

Replying to: backy (Feb 24, 2011 6:07 pm)
"How do you figure that? An SEL sedan with leather, 17" alloys, and moonroof (all standard on the Elantra Limited) comes up as $23,380 MSRP in Edmunds' pricer. The Elantra is $20,700. This is without nav or the upgraded stereo on either car. Those don't look like nearly identical prices to my pocketbook.
"
 
It's easy when you look at features the Ford has that the Hyundai doesn't. I see one thing the Hyundai has that you can't get on the Ford and that's heated rear seats. The Ford has things like dual-zone climate control, MyFord, more power without much sacrifice at the pump, automatic headlights, etc. You also had to add the SEL Premium pkg to get to the price you quoted and that added rain sensing wipers, reverse sensing system, and an auto dimming rearview mirror that the Elantra doesn't have. Those little things add up and, I would guess, keep the prices pretty even if all were equal. Everything isn't black or white right?
 
So yeah, you can't get an equally equipped Focus for the price of an Elantra. That I won't argue. But each offeres different features at the same price and it's all up to the buyer to decide what they want at that price. I have two small boys so heated rear seats are useless to me unless they can somehow heat booster seats too. I avoided that option in our Flex for that very reason.
 
"As for the Cruze... I think there's a LOT that's right about it. Great interior quality, very quiet, economical, good blend of ride and handling."
 
OK, so yeah, that stuff is right about it and I should have chose my words better. But is any of it unexpected in this class of cars now? Did Chevy overwhelm you with any of those aspects of the Cruze?

Messages Page 11 of 132

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