Alex D.

There are no fender vents on the S. However, the vents are standard on the SE and SES. It is listed on the Ford Focus build and price website under the standard features. I did see one S without the vents and I must say i did prefer the Focus sans the vents; the side profile looked more clean and uninterrupted without them.

And Ford is requiring a good amount of training for their sales reps. in regards to this Sync system. All ford sales personnel are required to take 2 full days worth of classes on the Sync system. They are then expected to take an exam on the system and are required to pass the test. They're also given a booklet on Sync with the details on all of its functions. And they have to learn all of this in the next couple of weeks so many sales personnel, especially some of the less tech-savvy are a bit intimidated by this. But in any event it's clear that Ford wants the sales personnel to have a good bit of knowledge about this system so that they're prepared for customer's questions upon launch.

I checked with my dealer yesterday and they have four invoice receipts. So they're expecting theirs as early as next week. They've got my name and number and are supposed to call me as soon as one arrives.

Just drove the 2008 SE I4 with the appearance package today and i loved it. The seats felt great with tons of lateral support and good bolstering and the cornering is top-notch. I took a 25 mph exit ramp at 55 and she was planted without even a hint of tire squeal. Quite Impressive. I also liked the brushed aluminum parts on the dash. Gives it more of an upscale look.

I asked my local Ford dealer's sales manager last Monday and he said they're expecting their first 08 in the last week of September. This dealer is located in mid-Michigan so i'd imagine we'll be one of the first to get one since the car doesn't have to travel too far from its point of final assembly at Wayne.

My Dad's '02 XLT had that very same problem. The plastic broke after about a year. And I did notice the same problem on an '05 just last week. So I'd have to agree I think this issue is widespread, especially in northern climates with frigid winters. The plastic just doesn't seem to hold up to the elements.

What is really good to see on the '08 Escape is all of that unpainted black plastic cladding is gone. This is what I disliked most about the '01-'04. (Except I think there was a midnight black appearance package in '04 that addressed this) Personally, I like the more muscular exterior styling, especially the black limited with all that chrome. The new corporate switchgear is nice and I'm a fan of the ice blue lighting as well. My only complaint about the interior is that the front seats seem to have lost some of their comfort. They seem too short, like my legs are propped up instead of resting on the seat. Is it just me or has anyone else noticed this too?

I'd wait until the 2008 comes out. Test drive both and get a quote on both. I was torn between the Focus and the Mazda 3 like you. Went with the Focus because it is $60/month cheaper than the 3 I was looking at despite nearly identical sticker prices . Although the Mazda 3 is superior to the Focus in many ways, the Focus is still a fun car to drive and I've had zero problems with mine. If you do get a Focus, I'd recommend replacing those Pirelli P6 tires though. The car is worlds better with the Kumho tires that I am rolling on now.

I had high hopes for April since we just saw that Q1 results that were better than expected. It will be interesting to see what happens to F-150, expy, and other large vehicle sales this summer with gas already at $3/gallon here in mid-Michigan and it's not even May yet!

Prophetic response lincolnfan! If you check out the 2008 Fusion order guide, you will see that the SE sport appearance group includes a sport suspension upgrade. Not sure what the details of that upgrade entail (larger diameter sway bars, stiffer springs?) but it appears a sport suspension upgrade is indeed finally an option.

I've got to say the interior is the best looking I've ever seen in a Ford vehicle. I can't wait until it hits showrooms so I can get in there and see if the feel of the materials lives up to my expectations based on how the materials look visually. There just seems to be a rich quality about the materials that has been significantly lacking recently, especially compared to the rock-hard plastics in my '05 Focus. It also looks like windshield glare will be non-existent as well as the dash doesn't look like it reflects light as readily as the Focus, Edge and Five Hundred, or should I say Taurus. Those gauges look really classy. Also, does any one have any guesses on what MPG will be? I'd have to say they'd be comparable to the Edge, but we'll have to wait and see how this thing tips the scales. Plus, this vehicle doesn't exactly have an aerodynamic profile.

My best MPG for a 2005 SES automatic was 36.6, and about 90% of that tank was observed on country roads averaging 55 mph. My average mpg after 20,000 miles is 30.2. Keep in mind I drive very conservatively to try to achieve the best mpg possible. My lowest mpg on a tank was only 17.7 but that was in near zero temperatures combined with getting stuck in the snow several times. Needless to say all that excessive wheel spin certainly killed my mpg!