Anybody here own a Ford Focus....

[fatride]

I'm getting tiard of dumping $100 a week in the Jeep for gas. Was looking at a 00 or 01 Ford Focus for a new beater car. Nothing special just more of a work car. How are these cars? Any major issues or are they a pretty good car? What kind of gas mileage do they really get?
Thanks

 

[usetaboost]

I don't know about ALL the ford focuses but my sister had one and it was big pile of crap. HEad cracked without overheating, air bag went of in a 10 mph bumper rub, and of course like every other ford the ignition switch jammed up. If u buy one, buy it very cheap. Not saying theyre all like that but these cars just remind me of tempos, cheap. OH yeah, her car had just over 50,000 miles on it and Ford wouldn't cover the warranty on the head just because it was like 100 or so miles past. In the end of it all they paid for the head after my Dad called up some big man at "FORD" and screamed at him about it. Well anyways he still ended up paying 600 bucks for labor.

 

[Quiky One]

My mom's Expedition was having electrical glitches at 70k miles, the pedal was sticky, and it had no power.

Jason

 

[Rodney87GN]

Never had a Focus but 3 coworkers of mine have them and they all had problems with the brakes, among other things. One of them finally traded theirs in for a Camry. Seems like every week I hear them complaining about something wrong with their cars.

Bottom line...get something else besides a Focus.

 

[Pablo]

I have a couple of buddies with focuses (Focii?) and they are both into the canyon carving scene. I know you are just looking for a beater so I guess their experience and my experience riding around in one isnt going to help much other than to say that you can make those things handle very well for what they are

 

[BandAid]

give you 3K for the Jeep.....

 

[TurboDave]

My mom's Expedition was having electrical glitches at 70k miles, the pedal was sticky, and it had no power.

Jason

Expedition.... Focus.... ya they're the same

 

[forzav12]

I purchased a Focus ZX3 new in '01. Handled great, best steering feel of any car in it's class and a solid platform. gets over 30mpg and now has 80k. ZERO rattles,squeaks or clunks. Interior still looks new. Haven't had to replace/fix anything. Holds a ton of stuff with the hatch and has worked great as a mountain bike hauler and daily driver.
Also, Ford Motorsport had a killer deal on a complete SVT suspension kit for it-about 250. I recently installed it and this car handles fantastic. Two friends of mine both bought ZX3s after driving mine and have had zero problems except for a fuel pump recall.
They really are a great value in a small car as dealers discount the heck out of them.

 

[batmansbuick]

My wife had a 2000 focus before trading it in for a Turbo Beetle.

I remember reading lots of issues concerning water intrusion into the passenger floorpan ruining carpets, etc. and fights with Ford about fixes and replacement. We had the water problem as well, also some of the cheap interior pieces broke. Overall it was average, Ford service & customer care was below average.

Check out www.myfordfocus.com

Good luck