6th Apr 2006, 09:15
My daughter (21) bought a 2003 Ford Focus and has had it since practically new. She has put 60,000 trouble free miles on the car without any major or serious issues.
The only complaint I have is her front rotors wore out (not even turnable) before her pads!! This was also the same case with our 2002 Ford Escape. It seems this is one way Ford has cut corners (cheap rotors).
So, count on your first brake job (including the expense of buying new front rotors) as part of the deal you are buying into. Other than that, she (and we) love the car.
P.S. Except for that loud blinker!
6th Apr 2006, 12:32
All your comment proves is that your daughter has a Focus built on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday and that by some miracle it actually has quality.
Focuses have HORRIBLE reliability in America.
6th Apr 2006, 20:11
P.S. Except for that loud blinker!
Do you mean that thing that sounds like a wood block being hit by a stick? I recently had a rental Focus (2006 model I assume). I liked it pretty well except I thought the brakes were a bit noisy – kind of a grinding type sound. I would want to know if a regular blinker would work before buying this car.
7th Apr 2006, 09:19
Just think. If you do end up buying the Focus you get to experience rental cars on a monthly basis since the car will be in the shop all the time.
22nd Jan 2007, 12:35
I've had a 2001 Ford Focus for just over three years now, got it used, and it has a very rough 120k miles on it... I got it with 35k. That's a lot of miles in the past three years. That said, it's also been the most dependable car I've ever owned. I just had the first major problem with it, and that was a long time coming. The only weird thing that I've had to get checked a few times are the brakes... not that they don't work, but they wear out easily and so do the rotors; then again, it has been brought to my attention that it could have to do with my driving habits. Those knocking the Focus must have had bad experiences, but compared to the Honda Accord and Chevy Cavalier I used to own (both had major problems way before 100k miles), I would DEFINITELY choose a Focus any day.
22nd Jan 2007, 14:55
Hello there, I have been the proud owner of my 2000 Focus since day 1... Let me tell all of you, it has had absolutely ZERO FLAWS!!! Always treats me 100% perfect, probably because that's how I treat the car... Regular services aside (oil changes, tire rotation, etc..) my focus has only been in the shop 1 DAY, in over 6 YEARS!!! Front brake rotors were squealing and needed to be replaced... That is it, for real... I think for the $11K I paid for it there is not a single car out there that could come close!!! If your having problems, DON'T USE THE FLOOR IT AND GO METHOD!!! You know what I mean, this would eliminate ALL of your problems... Focus is a super Buy, A+ for sure!!
1st Aug 2007, 18:38
Thanks for the those who are in favour of the Focus! It is quite a good car, except of its brakes, that wear out so soon - even with careful driving- and the wheel bearing that I had to change 2 to 3 times so far. No major faults! After 6 years and more than 300,000 KM driving, it still runs like a young horse, but with a lot of sounds and more fuel consumption...
8th Aug 2007, 23:44
I bought my Focus wagon in July 2000. I've had three or so recalls that amount to "piddly squat". I replaced brake pads at 35K plus miles. I now have 85K miles without once having turned the rotors. My brakes feel very smooth and even. I did replace the original rear shocks at about 75K. I hear a lot of whining about early brake wear and 600 bucks to change a timing belt. Brakes wear about as fast as you use them. My replacement pads are lasting longer, but in all likelyhood the rotors will wear in their stead. 600 bucks to replace a timing belt just means you were taken for a sucker who is too stupid to ask around.
Some people just ought not to own cars because they're stupid.
28th Apr 2008, 14:44
I have an 2005 Focus and up until now (70,500 miles and 3 years old), had NO problems with the car (except for needed new brakes not even new rotors. I just got back from Big O Tires and they said that I need a new "hub bearing" on the right front and a new "wheel bearing" on the right front. It will cost me about $150 for all the parts if I do it myself or $600 for parts and labor through a mechanic. Anyways, the care has been an EXCELLENT car. 70,500 miles with virtually no issues is great. couldn't ask for better.
10th May 2004, 14:05
I've got a 2001 Ford Focus with 104,732 miles on it. At 50K I had to replace an fuel sensor, it cost me $64.00. I had no other problems what so ever. I've had one maintenance item that I had to replace and that was my brakes, front only. I replaced the Rotors and Brakes, did it myself, and it cost me $145.00. Not to say you didn't get a lemon, all automakers have them, but to say all Focus' are crap is not a factual statement. I'm sure you won't post this on your anti-focus page, but I think you're barking up the wrong tree. One last thing, the Focus was Car & Driver "Car of the year" in 2000, it's been a 10 ten pick for the last 5 years to boot. None of the foreign crap can say that. Not Honda, Toyota, Nissan you name it. It is the best in its class hands down.