2005 Ford Focus 2.3L from North America
Summary:
Sporty, Fun, But Reliable?
Faults:
- From the dealership, the driver window was built to allow window to go down lower then normal. When window is down, door makes rattling sound. Extremely loud and noticeable. Dealer says it's in the design.
-About 10K, noticed the doors don't automatically lock anymore. And sunroof one touch button would close, then suddenly and automatically re-open the sunroof. Got it re-programmed.
- Small black plastic underneath door handle which accents the handles came loose, then fell off.
- Paint chipped at corner, fairly noticeable, by the rear side, where the added body kit is installed. (factory). Paint peels when pulled back.
General Comments:
The ST focus is a really nice sport car. It's unfortunate, that great quality isn't put into every part of the car like the Japanese automakers do. If you don't mind random buzzing, rattles and clicks here and there, and some parts that just don't seem right, then the overall package is fantastic.
Just about every drive-through I pull into I get compliments and people don't even know it's a focus.
The good things about the ST focus is the performance. at only a 151hp it is miles ahead of cars like the RSX, Scion tC and even the new eclipse. Base models of course. The looks don't leave much to be desired as everything is very well designed and put together.
My main complaint about the car, is the fit and finish and the quality of the materials used.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 6th December, 2005
17th Sep 2006, 18:25
The Mazda 3 is an awesome car BECAUSE it's a Ford. We owned a pre-Ford Mazda and it was absolute garbage. Actually, the Focus is an altogether different car than the Mazda 3, but both are great cars. We owned a 2001 Focus ZX-3 and loved it. It was a great little car with nary a problem.
21st Nov 2006, 20:03
Mazda is part of Ford, but there are still many differences in the two lines, some good, some bad. The bullet-proof 3.0 V-6 in the Mazda trucks are cheapened and their reliability compromised by the use of aluminum heads instead of the cast-iron heads used in the Ford trucks. On the other hand, while Ford has dropped the absolutely awesome SVT Focus, leaving Ford buyers with no real performance option in their small car, Mazda has come out with the incredible 150mph+ Mazda 3 turbo.
28th Dec 2005, 22:00
I totally agree. I have on 05 ST and could not have written this review better. The car handles well, shifts great (manual) and cruises 80 effortlessly. The gearing in this car is wonderful, I never downshift on the freeway. It is always in the power band. The 2.3 is a good size motor for this lite little car. The fit/finish is another story. I keep my car detailed and mirror like and notice every imperfection. The paint does have chips where the body kit rubs the body and the interior is nice overall, but a few pieces look like they were glued on by a drunken, careless monkey. My brother bought a new Mazda3 (which Europe got as a new Focus this year) and it has the same motor and I cannot believe the difference in build. That car would give a BMW cold sweats in the quality dept... if not the performance dept. I just didn't want to spend an extra $4k for a Mazda. I think the this Focus will last just as long (the engine was designed by Mazda) it will just have a few more squeaks and rattles.