what do y'all think about the new Focus?

[Doppel]

Looks very nice in hatch form but the Elantra is the best car in this bracket right now. I'm sure the Ford has a nicer interior in its $27k version, but...

I still think $27k for a 160 horsepower little car is nuttier than squirrel turds.

 

[Mermaidman]

The only think I don't like about them is the funky tail lights that sweep forward over the rear wheels.

Same here. And I'm not a fan of the snout either. I think the Focus exterior will get tired quickly. Still - a very good car.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Looks very nice in hatch form but the Elantra is the best car in this bracket right now. I'm sure the Ford has a nicer interior in its $27k version, but...

I still think $27k for a 160 horsepower little car is nuttier than squirrel turds.

How about 38 mpg highway and not requiring premium fuel? Lexus sure sells a crap load of IS250s and those are over $30k, heavier, only 205hp, worse gas mileage, and not much bigger.

 

[Doppel]

How about 38 mpg highway and not requiring premium fuel? Lexus sure sells a crap load of IS250s and those are over $30k, heavier, only 205hp, worse gas mileage, and not much bigger.

But they are a Lexus, and badge whoriness is worth thousands.

 

[The Stigenator]

love the 5door version of the focus.. so sexy!!! I test drove one a few weeks back. mmmmm I think I'll wait for my leaf, i got a gasoline engine already (TSX).

I love teh sync, wish my TSX had its integration but whatever I got works!

 

[SandEagle]

dont see what the love is for the focus. i absolutely hate it. i saw a new mazda 3 motorspeed hatch and that was swweet. focus....no

 

[exar333]

dont see what the love is for the focus. i absolutely hate it. i saw a new mazda 3 motorspeed hatch and that was swweet. focus....no

Throw a Honda badge on the Focus and you would be crowing about it all day...

 

[7window]

I think it is a nice car but I don't understand the name

focus
fiesta

 

[Anubis]

i like it but the fact that only the base models (S & SE) come with a MT is annoying as fucking hell

 

[LTC8K6]

The Titanium is $22K not $27K. You have to add a lot of options to get it to $27K.

 

[endlessmike]

I could be wrong, but I believe the difference between a standard SEL and a standard Titanium is around $1600, which gets you MyFord Touch, HD radio, push button start, and 17" wheels. Anything beyond that is optional equipment, a lot of which I think you can also get on the lower models.

It would actually be cheaper to get an SEL optioned to have the same equipment as a Titanium with the premium package, you'd only be missing push button start.

 

[dpodblood]

The Forte is from my understanding the Kia equivalent of the elantra, and I can't really imagine why you would want to get one over the Focus. The interior was a mess, the quality felt ok but it was poorly designed to use the space. Terrible rear visiblity, awkward front visibility because the dash is long and very far from the front, and the side windows are small. Had an awkward seating position as well.

I've had a Forte for about 6 months now and it's a decent car. You are right about the rear visibility, It's not great. Otherwise it's a decent car. The Focus is probably a better car overall, but Ford's warranty is nowhere near Kia's.

 

[PricklyPete]

The car seems pretty solid with good fit and finish. I like the exterior for the most part, but am not a huge fan of the center stack...but I could easily get over that. I have not driven one yet, but I have now heard from several people who have had them as rentals that the transmission is far from good. I'd likely buy the manual...but it is too bad that Ford didn't do as well with the Powershift as VW has done with the DSG. Hopefully it will improve with Gen 2.

 

[Demo24]

The car seems pretty solid with good fit and finish. I like the exterior for the most part, but am not a huge fan of the center stack...but I could easily get over that. I have not driven one yet, but I have now heard from several people who have had them as rentals that the transmission is far from good. I'd likely buy the manual...but it is too bad that Ford didn't do as well with the Powershift as VW has done with the DSG. Hopefully it will improve with Gen 2.

I heard somewhere, and it might not be true, that Ford tweaked the programming on the DSG a bit. Perhaps the ones on the lot now are better in this regard. Having not driven one I can't say though.

 

[Vetterin]

Next up is the Cruze Eco...

Make sure you drive the 6 sp manual......you might just be suprised.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The Titanium is $22K not $27K. You have to add a lot of options to get it to $27K.

MSRP on the Titanium is $22,700. Add the Rapid Spec 401A and the handling package (typically found on the Titanium models I've looked at) and you've added almost $2,000, add NAV ($795), and moonroof ($795) and you're at about $26k. You could probably get them to knock a few hundred or maybe even $1,000 with discounts etc.

Still, a bargain for what you get.

 

[MiataNC]

Make sure you drive the 6 sp manual......you might just be suprised.

I only drive manuals.

The only exception was the Jetta TDI/DSG, because the wife insisted.

 

[LTC8K6]

MSRP on the Titanium is $22,700. Add the Rapid Spec 401A and the handling package (typically found on the Titanium models I've looked at) and you've added almost $2,000, add NAV ($795), and moonroof ($795) and you're at about $26k. You could probably get them to knock a few hundred or maybe even $1,000 with discounts etc.

Still, a bargain for what you get.

$22,200 for the sedan...

You don't need all that other stuff.

 

[Anubis]

$22,200 for the sedan...

You don't need all that other stuff.

lies all cars need moonroofs

least ford only charges 800$ for it, its like a 1500$ option on Nissans

when i priced one out it was 27 ish after the packages and such. basically what was listed as well as the cold weather one

heated seats are a godlike

 

[JulesMaximus]

$22,200 for the sedan...

You don't need all that other stuff.

I wouldn't get the sedan. Nor would I get the Focus without "all that other stuff."

I did get the moonroof in my Maxima.

 

[ElFenix]

lies all cars need moonroofs

least ford only charges 800$ for it, its like a 1500$ option on Nissans

when i priced one out it was 27 ish after the packages and such. basically what was listed as well as the cold weather one

heated seats are a godlike

heated seats are meh. air conditioned seats are godlike.

 

[Arkaign]

dont see what the love is for the focus. i absolutely hate it. i saw a new mazda 3 motorspeed hatch and that was swweet. focus....no

This is supremely ironic, considering the new Focus and Mazda3 are products of the same platform (C1.x Global). Also, it's MazdaSpeed, not motorspeed, and the Focus variant of the same thing is coming with the EcoBoost ~250hp Turbo ST model Focus.

I like the Focus and the Speed3, and like some things about the GTI, but I would never on any planet pay ~$25k for a turbo FWD vehicle when things like the WRX are out there that are so much more capable, particularly with the mod ceiling so high. A WRX with 350whp or higher will drive like gold, a FWD vehicle with 350whp is just a damn handful. You get super understeer, no throttle oversteer correction possibility, torque steer, it's not my idea of a fun time. You can still do some nice rolling runs though. I drove a Cobalt SS that had a little over 400fwhp, and it was absolutely nuts. Handled pretty well honestly, but it was pretty uncontrollable at anything near full throttle unless already up to speed in a straight line.

 

[LTC8K6]

I wouldn't get the sedan. Nor would I get the Focus without "all that other stuff."

I knew that, and I agree.

My Jeep has all that other stuff in it, and I can't imagine driving a vehicle without...

 

[Arkaign]

Heh, I'm so opposite, I just want air conditioning, a decent stereo, and three pedals. Everything else is fluff to me, though I do see how it could be nice in some ways.

 

[MiataNC]

Heh, I'm so opposite, I just want air conditioning, a decent stereo, and three pedals. Everything else is fluff to me, though I do see how it could be nice in some ways.

^I'm with him....

With one exception....Keyless Entry/Push button start.

Once you get used to not having to deal with keys every time you get in and out of your car, it is really hard to go back to using them.