4th Aug 2006, 15:56
The Focus is really a great car. We owned a 2001 ZX-3 and it was a fun, economical and very well built car. The build quality and reliability was much better than our Honda Civic, and the car was way faster.
22nd Oct 2006, 16:36
Hey, the Focus is a great car, but not because it's American; the whole design and concept is European. That's why it's economical, spacious though not too big outside, and very good handling. It's probably assembled for the American market somewhere in North America (hopefully not Mexico). That's the reason why we don't have the lovely new Focus, which is ruling European roads. There are other great Ford models that we unfortunately don't find in North America. As someone mentioned, the 'American' Fords are ugly as hell. Just visit ford.co.uk to get an idea what we missing.
Anyway, started to comment on this, since I have 2006 Focus wagon, I am very happy with it, but the cross bars for the roof racks? My local Canadian dealer estimated the price just for the cross bars $500, jeeeeze. For 2 silly bars and 4 screws probably. Any idea where to get good quality aftermarket crossbars? Thanks!
3rd Apr 2007, 17:00
FYI, the current Ford Focus is built at the Wayne, MI assembly plant. They use to be built at Hermosillo (sp) Mexico, but that plant now builds the Fusion. The VIN # will tell where it was built, 1 for U.S., 2 for Canada, and 3 for Mexico. Happy driving!
18th Mar 2008, 05:17
They don't put the cross bars on the Focus Wagon because it will cut the gas mileage with the drag they put on the vehicle and can often be noisy. Not enough people actually USE them so to make it a better performer they've made them an option. And if you don't mind adding a little touch-up paint, you might try a junk yard for a set of cross bars.
15th Aug 2009, 16:43
Not that there's anything wrong with the current Focus, but I think it will be getting a complete redesign in 2011 or 12. So you may get your wish on a sleeker, lower and more powerful engine.
1st Oct 2021, 09:06
As a European, I have owned two Fords - a Scorpio and a Fiesta. The Scorpio was a reliability disaster. Ford uses cheap plastics which start to break and fall apart with time. If you mean Fords are mechanically sound in their first 5 years of life, yes, you are correct. After this they are a disaster. Both the Scorpio's and the Fiesta's dashboards and door panels started to come off. The electronics always go wrong after a few years because of the cheap materials. Fords don't feel cheap. But they are. Their plastic parts are terrible. The engines, where there is metal, are very good. Anything made of rubber or plastic will start to leak or will break. I have owned an Opel Omega (Cadillac Catera, essentially an American car) and I have had no problems of the kind with it. And I have owned two Mercedes and these are the most reliable cars that I can imagine. Yes, they rust ('98 and 2000) but everything else just seems to last forever and feels like new. Perhaps American cars are more reliable in the US and European cars - in Europe, but comparing Ford to German cars is laughable in terms of reliability. Ford make beautiful and performing cars from cheap materials. Beware, folks.
25th Jul 2006, 13:10
I was so happy with my 2005 Ford Focus, that when our other car got old, we purchased a 2006 Ford Focus Wagon. Now we have two Focuses, and couldn't be happier. You can easily get the cross bars put on at any ford Dealership (~$133 in my area). But this car is perfect for my budget, and yet fits enough stuff inside to take camping trips, or move larger furniture :-)