We had to replace the ignition lock cylinder after the key could not be removed. This was a $350 repair which Ford reimbursed us for (after we got far enough up the customer service chain) even though the car was long out of warranty.
Alternator went out at 133,000 miles. Not cheap at $750.
Upholstery on the seats is getting a little thin in spots.
My Focus has been a tremendous value. I've never owned a car that was this cheap to run. Even at 147,000 miles I'm still getting 32-35 mpg. I burn no oil. I've only had to do one brake job. The transmission shifts like it's brand new. It feels like it has lots of life left in it.
It's a fun (but not fast) car with lots of room for four people.
The only thing I haven't loved about my car is the absolutely dreadful AM radio reception. I get lots of ignition noise. The FM reception is great.
32-35 mpg? I don't think so. I drive a 2000 Focus SE with a manual transmission. The best, and I mean best mileage I've ever obtained is about 32 mpg involving lots of highway driving.
Believe it. I've gotten a high of 36.4 MPG.
Sorry, but you're calculating something wrong.
He didn't necessarily calculate wrong, one of my family members has 2004 Focus SE with the 130 hp. Zetec 4-speed automatic, and on a recent highway trip they got MPG figures even slightly higher than the 36.4 stated by the 22nd of May commenter. Just because you don't believe Focuses can get that kind of mileage doesn't mean they don't.
Actually the above poster is correct. You're NOT going to get 36.4 mpg in the 2000 Focus SE with manual transmission. I've recently returned from a 500 mile round trip with the cruise control set at 70 mph... and got 32 miles per gallon. Pretty good, but NOT 36.4 mpg. Sorry.
I have a 2000 se with manual trans. Until it reached over
185,000 miles, it would consistantly get about 35 mpg on hwy
trips. Around town mileage however seemed like that of a pickup. now the best I can get is around 32, that could improve if I replaced the original spark plugs.
I get 32 MPG hwy out of my 06 Impala with the cruise set on 70. It's all in the way you drive the car. I have always met or exceeded the EPA ratings on all of my cars with the exception of my 06 PT Cruiser, which couldn't break 25 MPG hwy to save it's life.
I bought a 2000 SE (2.0 Split port) in March for C$1,500.00 with 206,000 km on it. It runs great after replacing the basic components:
Timing belt, water pump, replaced the plugs and spark plugs with NGK brand. It ran so well that my summer trip to Maritime Canada from Toronto (about 6000km round trip) is worth the money than rental.
Right now it is at 225000 and runs better than my 2003 Focus ZTW.
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