Faults:

Worked great for 2 weeks.

General Comments:

I rented a Focus SE Wagon for 2 weeks and in some respects was very surprised how good it was, and in other ways it did what I hoped.

The handling was very crisp and it went well, very well for an auto. I think I could live with one!!!

The interior is HUGE, the clear 45" wide cargo bay will fit 2 pinball machines.

Well the time has come to replace the Audi quattro, will it be an A6 Avant with 60,000 miles or a new Focus Wagon?

Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong so far.

General Comments:

First of all, I had an excellent dealer experience - they even found me cheaper insurance than I had originally!

The exterior styling is unique and some say it's ugly, but it has way more character than similar Japanese vehicles.

Inside, it's as impressive - plenty of space and legroom (I'm 6'3"), nice interior styling too - comfortable seats, touchy-feely knobs and dials.

It has one of the best factory-installed stereos I've ever heard.

The engine is peppy, but I think it could do with a little more power at lower torque, and maybe about 30 horses more, as there's quite a performance-hit with the air conditioning on. However, it's deceptively fast, but very quiet and smooth.

The car idles so silently, there's very little road noise, no squeaks or rattles. It feels very solid, and the ride feels like a much bigger sedan.

The handling is great, maybe it's the chunky 16" tires, but it can be thrown into corners at speed happily.

It came with some nice extras like remote keyless entry, power windows, electric mirrors, etc.

A few cons: blind spots take a while to get used to (needs an extra head turn compared to my old Integra), the indicator click is sometimes a little quiet. The elevated driving position is great for comfort and keeps you alert, but you can't see the front of the hood when parking, and may not feel 'sporty' enough for some. But driving the thing makes you realize it is very sporty.

Overall, I love my Focus! For the price, it is one of the best in its class. I just hope it holds up in the reliability stakes. The 2000 model was a first-year model, so had its problems, but so far the 2001 model has been immaculate.

Faults:

Only a recall for the replacement of the rear folding seat hinge.

General Comments:

In my opinion, this car is great value. It offers considerable features and performance for the price. The engine and drivetrain are pleasing to operate every day with handling to match. The "unique" lines of the hatchback not only get you noticed, but provide for a generous cargo and rear passenger area. I'm 6'-1" tall and can sit in the rear seat comfortably with room to spare.

Faults:

The tires have blown on me. And that is pretty much it. Many oil changes (as expected). Broken windshield was fixed and makes noise now. Transmission (5-speed) doesn't engage in to gear all of the time (maybe my fault).

General Comments:

This car is a really good vehicle. Reliable and fast. Many people don't think it is fast, but it is better than those Honda Civics. It has proven much to me. I can't wait until I have finished with the engine upgrade after-market parts. It is an adrenaline rush to drive this car. It has run the 1/4 mile in 17.953 seconds at the Rocky Mountain Raceway. That was factory, no modifications to the engine nor to the body. A must try automobile.