2004 Ford Focus SE from North America - Comments

I bought this car brand New, and I have only had the car for a week. I have experienced few things that have gone wrong.

I have been getting worse gas mileage than expected, but its not broken in yet. So I will wait it out.

I have been having a hard time getting it started. It feels like the timing might be off.

However I wouldn't know, all I have ever owned is used GM & Volkswagen products.

I don't like the speakers being in the doors. I am working something out with my customs mechanic on getting box speakers installed in the trunk. Very tricky.

I was very skeptical about buying a Ford product. I was also comparing the Focus to a Tempo that my family owned. Which isn't comparable at all.

The Focus is generally fun to drive, in most cases its power equals that of my Buick Regal's V6. Except for when driving up hills on the freeway it has a hard time keeping speed, even when cruise is on.

I love being able to park where ever I want to. Its small compact size is great, especially when the interior is decently roomy.

I am glad I chose the Focus over the Dodge Neon or the Chevrolet/Geo Metro I was looking at.

Well Its been 8 months and I am loving every minute of my car. Its been snowy, had a little trouble, put some chains on didn't like the way they felt and took them off. Drives well on compact snow and ice I was surprised.

Doors have been locking automatically, just as I start the car and warm it up I leave and then come back to go to work and its locked. I don't know why!

Me again the writer of this review, It has been a whole year, no more snow in Eastern Washington. The doors do not lock on their own anymore. It seems to have cleared up on its own. Haven't had any problems <knock on Wood>! I just wish I would have bought a manual instead of an automatic. I had a ton of fun driving a Nissan Sentra today maybe that will be my next car.

Forget the Nissan Sentra! The only reason that felt quick is because of the manual tranny. If you get a new forcus st (it only comes with a manual) it has a 2.3 that puts out 155hp and 150lb/tq versus the Sentras 125 and 120? Plus the suspension is so much better and Sentras do not get amazing gas mileage by small car standars. Don't leave the family.

UPDATE: As of August 15th 2005.

Sold the Focus April 4th: (Don't know why)

Bought a Brand New '05 Dodge Neon SXT for $10,998 on a whim... Has everything except Cruise Control and rear power windows.

2004 Focus SE had: 2.0 liter DOHC engine, 4 spd. automatic, 4door, 4 speaker, Blaupunkt Stereo with MP3 player, Premium Alloy wheels retail at $275ea. PS, PW, CC, AC, Power Mirrors, in Sangria Red. Brand New Price $13,500.

2005 Dodge Neon SXT has: 2.0 liter SOHC engine, 5 speed manual, 4 door, 6 speaker basic stereo system, premium Alloy wheels, PS, front power windows, AC, power mirrors, spoiler (sport appearance package), in Electric Blue with pearl coat. Brand New Price $10,998.

Congrats on the Neon. Chrysler has AWESOME value in its cars, and for the money they are much better than anything Japan builds. We've owned a Focus and loved it and had not one second's trouble with it. We've also owned three Chrysler products: An '88 Daytona that went 110,000 miles without a hint of a problem, a '90 Omni that went an amazing 240,000 miles with only two brake jobs and two timing belts, and a 2001 Dodge Dakota that was totalled at 50,000 (I'd planned to put 250,000 on it). Be warned, however, Chrysler DOES NOT honor its warranty!!! Just pray you don't have any problems because you will be very much on your own. If my experience is typical you'll never see the inside of a service department anyway.

Well me again, I think its time to trade in the Neon and go back to the Focus... Trading in the Neon for a 2007 Ford Focus, one of the 3 door hatchbacks...

So what happens when you make too many trades with negative equity... you get a huge car payment, that the slightest change in job will cause it to be repo'd. It happened. ::all well:: I now drive ::don't laugh:: a '91 Ford Tempo. Now as I may have mentioned earlier my family owned an '89 with a trillion problems. So I was skeptical, however I found this car when I was at a wedding out of town. The ad said it had only 89,000 miles on it and they were asking $700. We went to check out the car, it actually only had 69,000 original miles on it, everything worked perfect, the car ran beautiful... no leaks, nothing broken including the cruise... the young girl selling it really had no idea what she had, offered $500 for it, she countered with $600 (we felt like we were going to lose the deal) We agreed and purchased the car on the spot. I have had to do basic maintenance, but this is one fine car. Defintely a diamond in the rough. I expect to have it for at least another 100 - 150 thousand miles, if I keep up the maintenance. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for listening.

Can you give us an update of the ford tempo '91.