| Author | Message | ||
     Dwardo |
I'm going out on a limb here, and if I'm posting this in the wrong place one of the moderators can kick me. I want to sell my 2-year-old Focus, basically because I don't like it. It does everything it is supposed to do, and gets an amazing (to me) 37+ mpg in my mostly highway commute, and I don't baby it. It is in very good overall condition with 53,xxx miles. Has nice Michelin tires with a good amount of tread left, and vent shades on the windows. I'd like to get $11,200 but I'm willing to be reasonable. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Dwardo, what in particular do you not like about the Focus? I'm genuinely curious. I have a 2011 SE 5-Speed, and while it's been a decent car, I do have a few complaints, but I'd like to hear yours. | ||
| Dwardo |
It's mostly just subjective stuff. On paper, it's a great car. Great mileage, great handling, best brakes I've ever had on a car, peppy enough. What I don't like is that I perceive it to be unacceptable on the noise, vibration, harshness scale. That must be me, because I've taken it back to the dealer and driven other ones and they all feel the same. It's a very popular car so apparently I'm over-sensitive. The other thing is that it has too many "computer-assisted" driving aids. Lots of folks like that but I find it annoying. And lastly, the biggest gripe is (and this applies to almost all late-model cars I've tried) the outward visibility is horrible. I'm a big guy (which is a lot of the problem; the car just doesn't fit me) and if I have the seat pushed back I have plenty of legroom but the roof pillars are very thick and having the seat all the way back puts them right where I want to look. I've almost been t-boned more than once because I lost a car behind the b-pillar. My 1953 Hudson has better visibility out the sides and that says a lot. That's pretty much it. It's a nice car and does exactly what it is supposed to do but it just isn't for me. BTW, I had a 2002 Focus hatch that I considered a commuting appliance rather than a car but I put almost 300,000 miles on it and was very happy. I just figured since I liked that I'd like this one but it's a totally different car. | ||
| Johnnylunchbox |
Dwardo, yeah I get it. It does everything pretty well, but it was definitely designed to a price point. It is exactly as you said, an economical way for my wife to get to work. I too find the noise, vibration, and harshness to be slightly subpar. Lots of little clicks and clunks. The fueling seems a little wonky to me, but that may just be the variable valve timing doing its thing. I don't have a problem with visibility, but I am not security squad proportioned. We are also on our second engine. First replaced under warranty due to a piston ring defect, that was causing it to burn 1 quart per 300 miles. Kudos to Ford and my dealer for being great about the whole thing. All thing considered though, we're keeping it until the wheels fall off, but that's just what I do. Best of luck on your search for a new car. There are lots of great choices out there. | ||
| Dwardo |
I actually already bought its replacement. I went in a totally different direction and bought a 2007 Mercury Grand Marquis. I haven't driven it too much yet but the fuel economy is outstanding for such a big car. it's not exciting but it's comfy and I can see out of it. I have had 3 Mustang GTs that I absolutely loved but the first one (1986) burned a quart of oil every 900 miles. The dealer told me that was barely acceptable. It was still doing the same thing when I traded it in for an '89 so I guess that was within parameters. | ||
| Two_seasons |
Dwardo, If your 2007 Mercury GM is anything like our 2007 Ford Crown Vic...good wishes to you. Ours had major electrical issues. And the plastics in the car were extremely brittle! However, the 4.6L engine is pretty bulletproof. I'll bet you have a 3.27 ratio differential and most likely get about 25 on the highway. Not too bad for a boat with a V8! The reason your Mustang used oil was probably because the valve stem oil seals (the little rubber umbrellas on the valve stems) became brittle. Ford has since remedied this in their 1998+ models.  | ||
| Dwardo |
Actually I bought it new and it used a quart for 900 miles from day one. I didn't mind. I beat the snot out of it. I'm hoping I don't get one of those lemon cars but it's always a crapshoot with a car. I found that every one of those cars I looked at had paint peeling and in fact I'm having the roof resprayed because the car is in such nice condition otherwise. Wish me luck! | ||
| Court |
I had both a 2010 SEL Focus and a 2012 Titanium Focus. Both got a solid 37.4 mpg on the highway and were excellent cars. I traded the 2012 on the 2013 Titanium Escape. . best car, bar none, I've ever owned. | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
Post some pics. I've been looking for a good gas mileage get'n car | ||
| Reepicheep |
1 quart per 1000 miles is a nice rate for a beater car... you never have to change the oil, just keep adding, and change the oil filter every 10k or 15k. | ||
| 86129squids |
On the visibility issues- I'm a firm advocate of the Wink mirrors, I've had one in every car/vehicle I've owned since I became old enough to drive. NASCAR drivers once used them. They come in 4 or 5 panel (mirror count) designs, and usually can be mounted with a pair of regular style mount-on-glass rear view mirror mounts- just be sure to use a very strong epoxy, marine usually does it. This mirror effectively eliminates blind spots- when I first used one, I almost rear-ended someone twice, because I was amazed at all I could see around me! The only downside is you might have to sacrifice your sun visors- I've managed to keep mine in my old Nissan hardbody truck. Given the MUCH improved visibility around the vehicle, I can live without sun visors. Good luck! | ||
| Dwardo |
Wolf - I will take some pix and I can either post them (if I can figure out how) or I can email them to you. I just had the car detailed and it looks nice. | ||
| Dwardo |
I agree about the wink mirrors, but they are actually built into the Focus by the factory. Part of the mirror is made convex. They work very well indeed in the daytime but at night with a lot of traffic and many headlights you better take a look around because they can be confusing. In any event, the side mirror situation is not bad at all. Straight ahead visibility is good too. Everything else is difficult due to the position I need the seat to be in due to my long legs. It's usable but you have to be careful in some situations and double check that there isn't a car hiding behind the pillar. | ||
| Court |
I'm not sure what model or color we're talking about . . . but here is what a 2012 Focus Hatchback looks like.          | ||
| Dwardo |
Mine is an SE sedan, metallic black. I will say one thing for Ford, the paint is gorgeous and has been durable. I'd like to have another car painted that color. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Here's a useful resource for the Mercury. http://www.crownvic.net/ | ||
| Dwardo |
OK, what's the trick to loading pictures.I'd like to attach some pix of the car. I know I uploaded pix to the website a long time ago but I have a different computer now and may lack whatever it was I used to shrink them. Also, can you load several at once? Thanks. | ||
| Dwardo |
Shameless bump. I put the car on both Car Gurus and Baltimore Craigslist. It's in White Marsh |
