Handles well enough to scare the beejeebus out of Mrs. RR too...Scary fast little thing. More airbags than Pam Anderson Judging from the owner's manual. A Supercharged go-cart for when the big tank is overkill.
Posted on 06/09/2006 12:05:53 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
In May, an otherwise dismal month for Detroit, Ford Motor Co. (F ) sold more than 20,000 Focus subcompacts, the fuel sipper's best showing in nine months. That's great news, right? Not really. Ford lost an estimated $4,000 to $5,000 on each Focus it sold.
What irony. Just when the subcompact market is heating up, Ford can't make money on a car acclaimed for its taut handling and decent 26/32-mpg fuel economy. The auto maker's Focus problem (pun intended) is an object lesson in how Ford continues to be hamstrung by high labor costs and tired product design. By choosing not to remake the Focus for the U.S. when it had the chance, Ford misread the road ahead. Now the auto maker is working overtime to bolster the Focus, albeit not until 2008, with a face-lift plus three new small cars.
When it hit the U.S. in 2000, the Focus was widely applauded. Car & Driver magazine named Ford's zippy subcompact to its influential "Ten Best" list four years running. But by 2003 the Focus had suffered more than 12 recalls. And when Ford redesigned it in 2004, the new Focus appeared only in Europe, where Dearborn felt it could fetch a decent price. Meanwhile, the U.S. version received just cosmetic upgrades.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
Handles well enough to scare the beejeebus out of Mrs. RR too...Scary fast little thing. More airbags than Pam Anderson Judging from the owner's manual. A Supercharged go-cart for when the big tank is overkill.
How's that for head and legroom?
in all fairness i have owned a '94 f-150 since nearly new, and have yet to have any major mechanical issues with it, at 160k miles already. The automatic transmission has shuddered on shifting up since 80k, but that's it. I spoke to a guy who had the same vehicle/year, and he said the same thing. Amazingly reliable year for that model.
It's pretty ridiculous, comparing a Boxster with a Focus and expecting them to be comparable on fuel economy. But by the way, a Boxster S outweighs a Focus by over 300#, and has around twice the engine output.
And by the way, the P-car is a darn sweet ride. We got an '06 just before the first of the year, to replace our '01 non-S that had been rear-ended hard before Thanksgiving.
Sunlight can ruin a wiper rubber long before five years. You did well in any event but particularly since the dealer gave you a replacement.
I thought it was a nice car when I was in the market for one, but I say too many gay guys driving them.....
Hard to believe but I've had a friend who is 6'8" sit behind the wheel...comfortably. The driver's seat is adjustable in every way you could imagine. I'm 5'8" so there is plenty of adjustment to go around. A lot bigger inside than you would think at least for anyone in the front.
We don't have any little ones (yet). The wife has been in the back for long periods and loves it. MINIMAL legroom in the back but if you got someone short in the passenger seat there is SOME.
They have plans on introducing a slightly longer wheelbase version and a wagon version with rear suicide doors. I've been told that rear space/legroom has been increased.
I can tell you that I haven't had as much fun driving a car since I put a 350 in a Vega. The MINI handles like it's glued to the pavement. Having that little 4-banger supercharged is rather eye-opening when you hit 3rd or 4th gear and put it in the powerband. The plain-jane model is capable and quick but the blown one is a BIG difference.
From 2007-onward they're making them Turbo.
Don't hold out any hope for me. I had the car for two years before I learned how to open the hood. Had to look it up in the manual. I was not going to attempt any major repairs like replacing the rubber in the windshield wiper.
Yes, they are affectionately called "toasters", 'cause they look like one, and you can haul a lot of loaves of bread whilst burning not too much petrol. :-)
This is of no real importance since the reason for filling this niche was to allow the sale of popular trucks and SUVs that make big profits while the corp. maintains CAFE standards.
My wife almost bought one of those but she couldn't get her cell phone out when she carried it on her left shoulder.
I haven't really socialized with many other owners, so I don't really know if BMW is selling a lot of them to male persons in acute touch with their "feminine side". All the persons I see at the dealership look like they are into the car for the performance...the economy is icing on the cake. I do know a few VERY attractive young ladies that drive them .
I look at it as I don't really need a flash car as compensation for something.
It has been said that Lesbians favor Subarus and a LOT of Ultra-Libs I come in contact with drive blue Volvo 240's.
Good Point. In the industry - any industry, you name it - this is known as a loss leader.
"My Scion xB's ruined me for any other small car."
My XA gets better mileage... Na na na na na na!
I LOVED my little Focus. Unfortunately, when I went to trade in my 2001 Focus for a new one, in 2005, the FORD dealership wanted to give me $1200 for it. I said is THIS how you feel about your own vehicle??
I got a Nissan Altima instead.
Bad to hear you had a major crash, glad to hear you walked away.
I'm surprised mine has been relatively trouble free. My tach wend dead so they replaced it...otherwise, no complaints.
Can't say that my other vehicles from the UK have been trouble free. I'm constantly tinkering with my Triumph, my Norton and the BSA's but they're all at least 40 years old, so I expect some hassles. My Rover has high miles and I've beaten it mercilessly at times. It has a Buick motor in it, so I'm not too worried. Still, it has really odd things happen I've never experienced in any domestic or German car I've had.
I suppose they make it up in volume!.... :^)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.