2000 Ford Focus SE Wagon review from North America

I only have four negative things with my 2000 Focus SE wagon.

1. AC is a gas and power hog for the 2.0 Zetec, but living in Texas AC is a must.

2. The transmission does have a tendency to slip at low speed when changing when over drive is on. I found that if I turn off the over drive I do not have this problem, which works well for me since 90% of my driving is in town at 35-40 mph. In addition this gives the transmission more torque, therefore better acceleration.

3. There is a rattle in the rear of the car which I have determined to be the upper control arm bushing, which means that you have to replace the entire control arm (dealer item only). I already replaced the rear shocks, I was able to locate on the Internet.. That brings me to item 4.

4. Lack of parts availability other than from the dealer.

My brother bought this car new for his wife and children. He sold it to me this year with 75,000 miles on it. He did have about 12 recalls done, but the brakes lasted to 69,000 miles at which time the rotors were replaced also.

I really enjoy the room in side and the fact that you sit higher up, my last car was a 1990 Toyota Corolla and was low to the ground, which is not good at when it rains a lot and floods.

I had to buy special racks in addition to the factory rack for me to be able to take my canoe on camping trips.

Even though the AC causes more gas consumption, it gets really cold!

Kudos to the rest of you, as for being treated poorly by the Ford dealer or service department, It appears they just want to sell the cars and not repair them. They refused to acknowledge the rattle, brushed it off by saying they could not find it!