where is the 08 focus??

[630land]

I bet even if we got the C1, the car critics would have said 'it's too bland and safe looking, the Mazda 3 looks better, buy that'. And Borg would still miss the Escort ZX2.

 

Also, the C1 sedan does look b-l-a-h, almost like a 1991 Escort. The hype is for the AWD turbo hatch in EUR, but no way would that have ever been sold here.

 

Agree with post that said 'some people think the world ended when Ford USA didn't bring C1". Yes, it didn't come, get over it. Move on and go put down a deposit on the C2 coming in the early 10's.

 

Park the 2008 and the average compact car customer, who couldn't care less about European socialistic cars and 'driving in the twisties' will like the chrome.

Edited May 19, 2007 by 630land

[Hydro]

It looks fine to me. It doesn't set the world on fire, but neither is the target audience for these cars. They just want a clean looking, good MPG vehicle to get them A to B. If you want flare look into the Fusion or Mustang. I would not hesitate to get my child one of these as a first car.

Edited May 21, 2007 by Hydro

[LSFan00]

It actually looks ok to me.

[DCK]

My biggest problem with the 08 Focus design, is the lower front fascia.

Amen, it is like they ran out of money to design it, it is the same with the taurus. Who at Ford decided on that mess? To simply just ignore the lower fascia.

[goingincirclez]

Everything I've seen is that the chrome doodad behind the front wheel is either an extra cost add-on.

 

HUZZAH!

 

[RichardJensen]

"Focus SEL models feature a front fender appliqué integrated just behind the front wheel arch"

 

So if you don't buy an SEL, you don't get the appliqué.

 

http://media.ford.com/products/presskit_di...&make_id=92

[atomcat68]

The Focus doesn't look as strange in the picture on the thread. Maybe it is growing on me.

[2005Explorer]

I am curious how this will sell. It is certainly NOT a car that I would ever want to own, but then I am not at all the target audience, so I'm not predicting anything. As a dealer, what's your basis for predicting success?

 

It will sell just fine, provided...it drives well, is built well, and gets good fuel economy all for a decent price. Heck anything that gets from 35-40 MPG highway will sell well when fuel hits $4 a gallon. The Focus is really the only conventional vehicle that Ford sells that gets excellent fuel economy. The 4 cyl. versions of the Fusion and Milan do fine, but are not class leading.

 

Believe it or not, I think high fuel prices might be something that actually helps the new Taurus and Sable coming this summer. One of the big reasons that SUV's and minivans got so popular is because they offer a lot of room for a family. The downside is that they never do as well as sedans on fuel economy. The Taurus and Sable have tons of room and still get good fuel economy. Will consumers that need room start to move back to larger sedans over CUV's, SUV's, and vans? You never know. Ford might be thinking this because of features like a rear seat DVD system that is going to be an option on the new sedans.

Edited May 21, 2007 by 2005Explorer

[Sixt9coug]

i think it looks fine. the rear is Neon-y with the large fascia and weird taillights, but i like it from the other angles. if this was out a year and a half ago, i probably would have bought one. hell, i almost bought an Ion back then after all.

[shibashaba]

The new focus doesn't look cheap, at least on the outside. It looks like what every stupid fu*kin* import is gonna look like in 4 years.

[630land]

"Ethusiasts" or as I say "fanatics" think the Focus should be just be a loaded 'hot hatch' with AWD and twin trubos selling for $30K. But enthusiasts don't know business and what real working people want.

 

Room, low price, economy, and practicallity. Which means 75% sedans. Look at Honda Civic, no hatches at all, and now the Si [the definitive boy racer] is also a sedan. Oh, and the two titans of hot imprts, EVO and WRX are four doors also.

 

Some will dream of a VW GTi, but they end up getting an 'in its 6th year' Corolla.

[Blueblood]

"Ethusiasts" or as I say "fanatics" think the Focus should be just be a loaded 'hot hatch' with AWD and twin trubos selling for $30K. But enthusiasts don't know business and what real working people want.

 

Room, low price, economy, and practicallity. Which means 75% sedans. Look at Honda Civic, no hatches at all, and now the Si [the definitive boy racer] is also a sedan. Oh, and the two titans of hot imprts, EVO and WRX are four doors also.

 

Some will dream of a VW GTi, but they end up getting an 'in its 6th year' Corolla.

 

Please just stop already, I've never seen a poster on a message board who does nothing but attack straw men in every single post!

 

We get it, you think every new Ford should look, feel, and have the driving dynamics of a 1986 Tempo, most people get it, and know that selling old crap leads to bankruptcy.

 

I bet you also think the Ranger doesn't need a re-design.

[Misteredog]

"Ethusiasts" or as I say "fanatics" think the Focus should be just be a loaded 'hot hatch' with AWD and twin trubos selling for $30K. But enthusiasts don't know business and what real working people want.

 

Room, low price, economy, and practicallity. Which means 75% sedans. Look at Honda Civic, no hatches at all, and now the Si [the definitive boy racer] is also a sedan. Oh, and the two titans of hot imprts, EVO and WRX are four doors also.

 

Some will dream of a VW GTi, but they end up getting an 'in its 6th year' Corolla.

 

Practicality in a car that is as small as a Focus does not mean a sedan, it means a hatchback or wagon. I've have zero use for a Focus sized sedan in my daily life, losing the wagon and hatch and adding the useless coupe was inexcusable. I just hope my current vehicle doesn't get totalled anytime soon because I can't affford to replace my Montego with another one or a new Sable or Taurus and there really isn't any other Ford vehicle, including the Mazda 3 and 5, which interests me. The 3 and the 5 are decent vehicles but the 3 hatch is only available with the 2.3 which gets less than stellar mileage and the 5 has a rather odd dash design that limits my knee room to a very uncomfortable degree.

[J-150]

let's be careful before we all call it ugly.

 

Ford has introduced a lot of cars that took getting used to. Once people did, they bought them and they liked them a lot.

 

 

97 F150

2004 F150

Freestyle

Navigator

Edge

Fusion

shall I go on? There will always be people that do not like the look of a car. Then there are those that will. Unless we are all the buyers of the 2008 Focus, we should probably keep that in mind.

[silvrsvt]

Practicality in a car that is as small as a Focus does not mean a sedan, it means a hatchback or wagon. I've have zero use for a Focus sized sedan in my daily life, losing the wagon and hatch and adding the useless coupe was inexcusable. I just hope my current vehicle doesn't get totalled anytime soon because I can't affford to replace my Montego with another one or a new Sable or Taurus and there really isn't any other Ford vehicle, including the Mazda 3 and 5, which interests me. The 3 and the 5 are decent vehicles but the 3 hatch is only available with the 2.3 which gets less than stellar mileage and the 5 has a rather odd dash design that limits my knee room to a very uncomfortable degree.

 

Don't confuse what YOU want for what the market as a whole wants...far too much personification of what Ford should and shouldn't do here. What you want in a car and what I want and what Mr. Jones wants in a car completely different on who you ask....

[silvrsvt]

Please just stop already, I've never seen a poster on a message board who does nothing but attack straw men in every single post!

 

We get it, you think every new Ford should look, feel, and have the driving dynamics of a 1986 Tempo, most people get it, and know that selling old crap leads to bankruptcy.

 

I bet you also think the Ranger doesn't need a re-design.

 

But argument doesn't hold any water..the 00 Focus already blows away what the Tempo could already do....the new Focus isn't going to regress either. The sheetmetal changes are disappointing to some..but hey you can't fault Ford not changing it enough, unlike what they did in the past..

 

Drive the new car before bashing it just based on appearance first...

[BigBadBflo]

It looks a little busy up front, but I like it overall for a small gas sipper.

 

I always liked the front end of the Contour/Mystic though....

[Biker16]

Don't confuse what YOU want for what the market as a whole wants...far too much personification of what Ford should and shouldn't do here. What you want in a car and what I want and what Mr. Jones wants in a car completely different on who you ask....

good point but appealing to the masses and ignoring the more profitable Edges is a false choice.

 

the 08 focus will never make Ford money. it was a very expensive makeover that will never show a profit.

[silvrsvt]

good point but appealing to the masses and ignoring the more profitable Edges is a false choice.

 

the 08 focus will never make Ford money. it was a very expensive makeover that will never show a profit.

 

 

The Focus hasn't made any money for Ford in NA to start with...so whats your point?

 

Also, where is the tipping point for appealing to the masses and aiming for the more profitable edges? farther to get to the edge, the less consumers you have..not to mention Ford needs to sell X number of Foci to help with its fleet MPG ratings.

[inteller]

The Focus hasn't made any money for Ford in NA to start with...so whats your point?

 

Also, where is the tipping point for appealing to the masses and aiming for the more profitable edges? farther to get to the edge, the less consumers you have..not to mention Ford needs to sell X number of Foci to help with its fleet MPG ratings.

 

 

wow, like the poster on the 4wheelsblog said, I'm ashamed to drive anything with the Focus name on it now.

 

We go from the pinnacle of Focus design with the SVTF (RS/ST if in Europe) to this. I would be utterly embarrassed to be the person who signed off on this design.

 

I'm afraid if my car sees one of these on the road, it may steer for the nearest pole to put itself out of its misery....or at least cause the nameplates to suddenly fall off.

Edited May 21, 2007 by inteller

[Blueblood]

But argument doesn't hold any water..the 00 Focus already blows away what the Tempo could already do....the new Focus isn't going to regress either. The sheetmetal changes are disappointing to some..but hey you can't fault Ford not changing it enough, unlike what they did in the past..

 

Drive the new car before bashing it just based on appearance first...

 

 

I was talking about how people like him want every Ford to have the features of an old Tempo, not that the Focus is in any way similar.

 

I have a Focus with sticky tires and aftermarket suspension, I know what these things are capable of. The new Focus sucks because they made the exterior butt ugly, and got rid of the hatches, you can say "the market" wants seans until you're blue in the face, it doesn't change the fact that everyone from all corners of the universe thinks it was a terrible decision to cancel the hatches. Even if it really was only 30% of sales (I think most sedans were fleet sales though), why throw away that many sales when they need everyone they can get?

Ford even said with the 08 focus they are attempting to appeal to more people, well you don't do that by running off your most loyal customers, and reducing model variations from 4 to 2.

 

There's also no more 2.3, just the 2.0..

 

The only good thing about it is the interior (although the lack if rear headrests is unbelievable and a huge safety problem), nd that they lowered it's weight by about 40 pounds.. :reading:

[thegeneral]

I was talking about how people like him want every Ford to have the features of an old Tempo, not that the Focus is in any way similar.

 

I have a Focus with sticky tires and aftermarket suspension, I know what these things are capable of. The new Focus sucks because they made the exterior butt ugly, and got rid of the hatches, you can say "the market" wants seans until you're blue in the face, it doesn't change the fact that everyone from all corners of the universe thinks it was a terrible decision to cancel the hatches. Even if it really was only 30% of sales (I think most sedans were fleet sales though), why throw away that many sales when they need everyone they can get?

Ford even said with the 08 focus they are attempting to appeal to more people, well you don't do that by running off your most loyal customers, and reducing model variations from 4 to 2.

 

There's also no more 2.3, just the 2.0..

 

The only good thing about it is the interior (although the lack if rear headrests is unbelievable and a huge safety problem), nd that they lowered it's weight by about 40 pounds.. :reading:

 

 

2.3 will come latter

[Blueblood]

2.3 will come latter

 

Later? How much later, and in what?

[thegeneral]

Ford will sell the most commom trim first then as demand slows will add other options such as the 2.3 .

[Surgen]

Proof?

 

Ford has lost Billions in NA for years - i.e. their average vehicle loses money. Ford makes more money than average on it's trucks, and makes less than average on its small cars. Focus is a small car. Therefore Focus must lose a fair bit of money for Ford North America.