DRyanC

Well I'd buy a KA right now if I could. It would be a fantastic 2nd vehicle or in some cases a 3rd/4th. Now where do I put my deposit? Thats right NA sucks for cheap car choices. Anybody know whats involved importing a car from Mexico. I can find how to from the US on the net but not Mexico. DRyanC

I want the same mileage as my focus or better, preferrably better. Which is why a focus wagon would have been nice, or even a wagon with the 1.6 Ford has everywhere else. I don't need a 1/4 mile monkey car. I need a car that 99% of the time never leaves town, so it would never see above 60kph (40mph). So if it takes to the next light to go 60 then fine. It goes to the grocery store and back, to the mall and back, to the grandparents and back. It needs to be just a simple wagon that gets great mileage, 40+ mpg. My parents have a ranger and an Escape. Can't stand driving them, they sit to high. I don't like driving like I'm sitting at the kitchen table. A corolla wagon would be good, but we don't get them in NA. Don't want a ZX3, already have one. The 5 door Fiesta would be good but not sold here. Mazda3 wagon only has the 2.3, a mazda2 would hit hte spot. The "new" city golf from VW is a joke. A real city golf is what south america gets, check that out, then I buy one. The honda fit is to expensive, to get keyless entry a Fit would cost 20,000CND. I'm leaning towards the Versa from Nissan or a Yaris. The Yaris I'd get a 3 door and move the ZX3 to the wife but I don't really want to do that. Or like I said a sportKa and pass the ZX3. Oh the goodness of the internet, nowhere else could I rant and have people read it and not care. DRyanC

Anybody who believes (using Ford as an example) selling some one a focus to get them in the"family" to buy bigger and more expensive cars down there life line are contributing to why the automotive fields is going to crap. The Versa is the same size as my ZX3, so I wouldn't call the Versa a B-segment. It's just that auto companies would rather sell you a 40,000 plus vehicle that you don't really need than a 10,000 vehicle that would give you basic transportation. Now with the focus wagon being axed, I was waiting till Feb. to buy a second car for the wife, Ford has nothing that I want or anyone I know, who doesn't work for Ford, wants. I will only buy wagons, or hatches. Ford has several small cars to sell but not to the NA market. They need to over price the NA market to support selling vehicles around the world Still waiting to buy a SportKa in Canada to replace the ZX3, and have to wait for someone to sell a 35mpg+ wagon It's what I see and fell DRyanC

Well I already have a ZX3 and don't want the same car, unless I can get the diesel or the 1.6L I want better mileage. Mazda 5 - no to minvan, couldn't stand driving something that tall for more than a minute mazda 3 wagon - only comes fully loaded here and only with the 2.3 mazda 6 wagon - only come fully loaded, way more in price than a focus rabbit, no thanks rabbits are only mark1's and 2's, if VW brought the Lupo or Polo, then.... V50 - too much but very nice, would if I could afford it RSX - wouldn't touch them since I know what a TypeR is capible of Yaris - choice #3 matrix - would rather have a corrolla wagon, Runx Scion - is not avail in Canada, did see a XA last weekend on the 400, would be a choice Vibe - see above Hyundai - no thanks Dodge - no thanks, maybe if the dodge hornet was avail honda fit - to get power locks line installed will cost 20,000 for sport model Versa - choice #2 civic - no wagon or 5 door hatch Mazda 2 would be my 1st choice, you see why ford needs the Fiesta and/or ka avail smart - starts at 17,000, too much for too little DRyanC

I currently drive a ZX3 and I have told myself and everyone who asks, I will only buy hatch backs and wagons. I would have liked a focus wagon but I don't like the seats. If they could put the ZX3/ZX5 interior in a wagon then I would have. I was talking to a honda guy on the weekend who was in a prototype civic Si sedan. Looked good, better than the 2 door but I wouldn't buy it, no hatch and they have no plans on a hatch or civic wagon. I'm definitally not buying a minivan. I need something in six months time but what? I don't know DRyanC

Ya I've also seen BMW's and Audis have hook ups iin the glove boxes . I've also seen them in smarts with a dock between the seats. Honda has an iPod feature in there fit but it may just be a headphone jack like whats in the Versa's, and the american civics, but with deck's that play mp3's, which should be standard for every single automobile with a radio, I don't have a need for it. DRyanC

it may be low but I swear it's longer than my focus DRyanC

softened I mean springs, dampners, adding larger flatter seats. moving lights, changing trim pieces in and out Correct me if I'm wrong but was the Focus not availible with 3 different suspension in the UK (00-04 model), we got the 2nd with the SVT model. Sport compact did a suspensiom swap from a UK focus pre ST/SVT. My ZX3 seats are big for me. My dad had a sedan and they where awful. Might aswell bent a piece of card board at 90deg and called it a seat. Our 1st gen Focus still never looked as good as a UK, inside or out OT - I had a chance to see the Reflex up close at the indy. It's big and ugly for my taste well the HB echo sold great up here DRyanC

the fiesta we got for north americ was before my time for driving so I've never had a really go look at it. Was it "exactly" like the euro spec? or what ford normally does and farts around with a good car over seas and softens it up for the NA market? Brand loyalty is in my opinion a farce. People buy what they like or are told what to like. I like the KA and if it was "exactly" like he euro spec then I'd buy one. It's just Ford doesn't even give you a choice (B-segment) to buy something that gets great mileage. I can buy A-plan but that doesn't mean my next vehicle will be a Ford. And just because I bought a Focus doesn't mean I'm going to come in again for a Fusion or something larger because if the Focus worked for me why buy something that I don't need. I'd be happy rebuying a Focus, if my current one craps out but I don't want to have 2 at the same time. DRyanC

bring the KA or Fiesta from mexico. The festiva that they made for us was crap, what was it a hyundai? not even a 121 from mazda. Toyota brought the echo hatchback here for 1.5 years before the new model debuted and it sold great. DRyanC

Ford needs a B-segment car now. 4 years is no good. If b-segments are getting 30-40 mpg city now in 4-5 years I would like to have 40-50 city, non hybrid. So 4 years is no good, they need them in 4 months. DRyanC

What a loser. Answer me this. How does Mazda sell thier 3 for 16,000CND, which is what a focus goes for here before "incentives" and the 3 has 4 wheel disc's. Ford has dropped the read sway bars on the ZX3's removed the tach on ZX3's. Ford should have drop the power steering, not messing around with the suspension. When will Ford learn and cut the rear seat to compliment the 60/40 back? That article says a Euro Focus would cost 25,000US, but you can't take start exchange with the Uk, their cost of living is twice what it is here, which would put the C1 Focus about the same price as the C170. Alot of people already own a Focus, Ford needs something smaller or get better mileage with the Focus. Offer the 1.6 or duratorqs, just because you drop the final drive to get you 3mpg better does not help your city ford need a car that will get 40mpg (6 liters/100k) or better city and close to 50 highway (4-5liters/100k), I mean US gallons not UK. Making a cheaper Focus will not convince me to buy another focus when the one I have is better. DRyanC

They use to have commercials for the Mazda3 and 5 together. I see Mazda5 everywhere, up here in Canada that is. Alot less Maxtrix's, maybe evreyone jump there to get the extra seat DryanC

A Fusion coupe would be OK if it was a hatch like the newer cougars. If it is a trunk then no thanks. I think the Fusion is the best thing ford has at the moment in the NA market but it's to big for me. Maybe with a coupe we would finally have a stick with the V6, maybe even a 6 speed. I'm giving Ford till spring for a B-sement car otherwise I'm buying elsewhere. Ford NA does not meet my needs. I can't belive with the ability to buy A-plan there is nothing to buy from Ford. I alread own a Focus and don't want the same car for a second. Unless I can get the 6-speed diesel wagon that the rest of the world gets. DryanC

I have a 2000 ZX3 and I quite like it. It's not perfect but I got a good deal for it. I know the wagons done for 2008 but haven't heard anything for the hatchbacks. I hate sedans, the other day I went to the hardware store and bought some closet doors. Try and fit those in a Focus sedan. I was thinking of getting a focus wagon but I didn't really want another Focus. I want something that get better mileage. Plus to lease a wagon was almost a 100 bucks more than a ZX5 because of residual value. This is also on A-plan pricing. I am in need of a second car and in the coming months and ford has nothing to offer, no Ka, no Fiesta. The Honda Fit is to expensive. I was at a Nissan dealership and looked at a Versa. Lets just say I'm going back for another look. DRC

If the mexican Ka is the same as the Euro one than POS is completely the wrong term. Tiff Needles loves the car, at least thats the impression I get from watching 5th gear or even top gear. I would buy a Ka in a heart beat. A loaded Ka with a converted price it just under ten grand CND. Thats awesome. Slap 500-800 for freight and PDI and I want one. But we all know that Ford USA/Canada don't like to sell cheaper priced cars when they can sell you a more expensive car for the same amount of work. DRyanC

I've been looking in to getting a wagon aswell but I know the rest of the world gets the C1 with a 2.0 duratorq with a six speed, and disc, talk about a wagon. Just to let you know the 2.3 in the ST is not the same as the Mazda3. The 2.3 in the fusion is the same but not the focus. The Mazda 2.3 has variable timing on the intake side. Goes the same for the 2.0. Why Ford doesn't use it beats me? So I'm torn apart, get a wagon, wait for the C1 focus, which we probably won't get, or wait for a B-segment. I just don't know. DRyanC

The fit does get bettter mileage than a Mazda 5, and a little better than a 3 with the 2.0, but if you wanted keyless entry in a fit you need to buy the sport, then you are 500 bucks less than a 5. MSRP is 19,500, but at the dearler here in town I was quoted 20,800 for a sport fit with a stick. I laughed in his face and walked away. Again for 500 bucks more than a sport fit you can get a mazda3 sport but I want the 2.0 in the sport. I will never buy a sedan again. DRyanC

Yes but: yaris, no 60/40 split rear seat in the base models, 15,000 base too much Fit, 15,000 base 20,000 for the sport, too much accent, it's still a hyundai, 13,000 good price rio5, not that bad, 13,000 good price, but Kia? Wheres my fiesta, loaded one from mexico is 14,000 converted all before taxes, MSRP DRyanC

ABS i agree with but I could care less for traction control on my Focus. I would like to have a limited slip. For rolling explorers and such, these vehicles are large and truck like, make them ride like trucks, not cars and maybe people will stop believing that they are speed racers. Just my 2cents DRyanC

I agree. I've been waiting for Ford to come out with something, at least in Canada. I already have a Focus but it gets terrible Mileage around town. Alot of the time I don't even leave town and I end up getting 300-340 k to 40liters. This is terrible and this is the best Ford has for the NA market. I don't want a Hybrid, 1995 Civic VX's got 56MPG, then came 96, Honda has a new VX that would get 68MPG, and the American Auto industry got pressure from oil companies to ban the sale of this car because it got too good of mileage. So good mileage can be done and for relitively cheap. I would never pay 30 plus grand for a C-segment car and I don't want to pay more than 12,000CDN for a B-segment. Mexico has a KA for 9500 CDN, and a Fiesta for 11,500CDN I believe, both using the 1.6 liter Duratorq motor. Just my opinion, and just to let you know everyone else I know has this same opinion, everyone doesn't need to drive a vehicle that will carry drywall. DRyanC

Anyone have news on a B-segment from Ford? I see Mexico has a bas Ka for $9,500 CDN converted. Where are the cars like that for us. All I want is something small to drive around town. I am currently in the market for a second car and would like something cheap, small and very good on fuel. I already have a ZX3 but would like somthing that gets better mileage. I keep thinking about a focus wagon but I hate the seats in a non ZX3 or 5 focus, might as well be a piece of card board folded at 90deg. Then I would like to have the 2.0 duratorq diesel with the six speed that over seas get. The new Honda Fit comes out soon but too expensive, check the American prices. A base Yaris from Toyota doesn't come with 60/40 split back seats. I haven't been able to find any Canadian news on a Mazda2. So again I must ask, wheres my Ka? Thanks DRyanC