FordBuyer Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 I saw another 2008 Focus being driven on street. This was a production model as it still had shipping tape hanging from it......looks like they are batch and testing them out of Wayne Assembly. This one was ink blue, four door, and didn't have chrome vent. As it went by, and stopped for light, I noticed third mounted brake light in rear trunk was all LED all the way across. Looks to me like 4 door model will be good selller for them. Time will tell on coupe, as would be surprised if they sell more than 50,000 coupes/year. Since this Focus was going through downtown Plymouth, the guy driving was kind of far from Wayne and must be doing extensvie testing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biker16 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I just drove one, it is nice. To me it is what the 2005 should have been. interior is good, textures are good, tons more storage. The Seats were great, 100% better than the 2000. NVH Was good, engine still a little coarse At mid to high Rpm. We Also had the plant tour. my 1st car plant tour. They finally : replaced the 2000 Focus seats Added some decent door seals Replaced the ancient electrical system, with a new CANbus system ( shared with th Escape.) Flow thru center console Cons: nice looking plastic, hard plastic, there was only one piece of soft touch plastic in the car. Absence of interior trunk release. NEW steering wheel does not tilt and telescope, just tilts. steering wheel is too big. conclusion, finally an update to the 2000 Focus. P.S. The build Quality is Top notch, It will Score best in class in reliability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
range Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackHorse Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 They got a lot riding on this. Hope it works out for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordBuyer Posted September 7, 2007 Author Share Posted September 7, 2007 Great looking pics and car. Thanks for them. The new Focus doesn't look like compact car anymore, but an upscale car that happens to be smallish. It looks to me like Ford is trying to go a little upscale with this car in order to make room for the new Ford Fiesta. Btw, I notice the remaining 2007 Focus are really starting to move off of Dealer lots now as Ford clears them to make way for this all new vehicle except for drivetrain. You buy a new Focus with heated seats, ambient lighting, and new sync system, and you have a nice, little car that is quieter and safer with standard 6 airbags plus high 30's gas mileage at Freeway speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I just drove one, it is nice. OMG has hell frozen over? From that angle, it looks pretty decent...almost reminds me of the new Taurus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firedude26 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Last i heard you can get in trouble for taking pics in a assy plant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PREMiERdrum Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Just as I thought... another car that looks MUCH better in "real world" photos than press pics. This is a *sharp* looking car, Biker is right: THIS is what the 2005 redesign should have been. First the "terrible" Escape redesign, now this? Looks like a hit to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
range Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Last i heard you can get in trouble for taking pics in a assy plant. WAYNE, MI. September, 6, 2007--Fifteen Ford Focus enthusiasts from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and North Carolina got an up-close look on Thursday at the 2008 models - inside the Wayne, Michigan plant where they are built. The group, participants of two Focus owners' Web sites (FocalJet.com and FocusFanatics.com) was invited by Ford Motor Company to tour the plant, watch the 2008 Focus being built and then drive the car on the plant's new "rough-road" track. Photo by: Sam VarnHagen/Ford Motor Co. (09/05/07) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SVT_MAN Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 (edited) I still am not sold on the styling, but it looks somewhat love-it or hate-it which seems to be good. It isn't ugly, just kind of odd actually. I wish the rear of the car mimicked the odd angles of the headlights in front. The rear looks too much like a Toyota Echo. Eww. I feel like the rear lights make the car look smaller than it should. The rear lights need to be wider. Too late now, but I wish they'd do something about it. Nonetheless, I'm glad Ford is finally into polarizing styling now. Before they were just "bleh" ... Edited September 7, 2007 by SVT_MAN Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wescoent Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Very good looking little car. I still prefer the Lancer's looks, but this is just a night and day improvement for the Focus. It won't embarrass itself in comparison to the Civic and Corolla by any means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Hee hee. Range, Biker, did you meet each other? No interior trunk release? That's weird. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Last i heard you can get in trouble for taking pics in a assy plant. You can, if you don't have it approved. My father and I followed his F-150 through DTP Final and I took about 80 pictures of it. Since we had prior approval, we had no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackHorse Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Hee hee. Range, Biker, did you meet each other? No interior trunk release? That's weird. I wonder if that's getting to be like a Ford thing because there's not one on the Mustang either unless they've added it since the 05 model. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I wonder if that's getting to be like a Ford thing because there's not one on the Mustang either unless they've added it since the 05 model. its kinda pointless with keyless remote...dont you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 its kinda pointless with keyless remote...dont you think? Well, kinda, but there are times that it's handy. Keys in the pocket, for instance. Parents got a new Taurus, I noticed it had no keyhole in the decklid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Well, kinda, but there are times that it's handy. Keys in the pocket, for instance. Well 99% of the time if your the driver of the car, the keys should be in your hands or in the ignition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardJensen Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 (edited) Well 99% of the time if your the driver of the car, the keys should be in your hands or in the ignition I suppose part of it is being used to the release, but part of it's just kind of handy if you're trying to load up an unlocked car (keys in the house, say, car in the garage) I still want to know if Range and Biker introduced themselves to each other. I mean it's not like me or Michael Reynolds (or even NickF1011) where you'd have a reasonable shot at recognizing the person by the name.... Edited September 7, 2007 by RichardJensen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlackHorse Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Then factor in that eventually your keyless remote battery will go dead at the worst time becuase let's face it, murphy lives in your trunk. Then you gotta go hunt for that other remote you put somewhere a couple years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Who cares if there is a button on the inside of the vehicle. As long as you have the keypad on the door, you can open the trunk with that. Screw the key fob and it's dead battery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcsario Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 its kinda pointless with keyless remote...dont you think? Well since the cost cutting is getting out of hand anyway, why stop there? Lets go with what was surely Bill Ford Jr's initial proposal: I'm amazed the FuckUs didn't end up like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LincolnFan Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Well since the cost cutting is getting out of hand anyway, why stop there? Lets go with what was surely Bill Ford Jr's initial proposal: I'm amazed the FuckUs didn't end up like that. You can always customize your ride you know... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukoner Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I really want to say something nice about the look but I can't. That front just says UGLY to me. Makes Kia look tasteful and well proportioned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ford-150 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 Ford is really implementing a side vent onto some of there cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpc655 Posted September 7, 2007 Share Posted September 7, 2007 I saw another 2008 Focus being driven on street. This was a production model as it still had shipping tape hanging from it......looks like they are batch and testing them out of Wayne Assembly. This one was ink blue, four door, and didn't have chrome vent. As it went by, and stopped for light, I noticed third mounted brake light in rear trunk was all LED all the way across. Looks to me like 4 door model will be good selller for them. Time will tell on coupe, as would be surprised if they sell more than 50,000 coupes/year. Since this Focus was going through downtown Plymouth, the guy driving was kind of far from Wayne and must be doing extensvie testing. Looks good. but my god ford, sell the convertible in the states! i saw one at the bank the other morning and that thing looks good. i'm sure it'd sell over there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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