2012 Ford Focus impression, mpg data

[tjts1]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I wouldn't consider lack of HID lights to be cutting corners

Who said anything about HIDs? Re read my post, i'm talking about PROJECTORs not HIDs. Projectors can have either halogen or HID bulbs. Most new cars (even very cheap ones) have projector headlights with normal hallogen bulbs. Reflector headlights on the Focus just screams of cutting corners. It was pretty easy to see the cost cutting when the jetta ditched its projectors for reflectors even on the high end models.

Kia rio low beam projector with halogen bulb


Scion xb


Smart

[DKaz]

Projectors with halogen bulbs SUCK. They don't put out as much light on the road as 9006 halogen bulbs in reflector housings. Projectors look pretty and have a nice sharp cutoff but my old Corolla had a pretty sharp cutoff.

The only thing with halogen projectors is that you can throw in HIDs with reasonably controlled glare, although the glare is still there. But my brother got HIR (halogen infrared reflecting) bulbs for his Mitsubishi Outlander which claim to pump out 2,200 lumens vs. 3,000 lumens in a 4300k HID bulb vs. 1,000 lumens in a typical halogen bulb. They don't look fancy and have the same colour temperature as a regular old halogen. It looks noticeably brighter than a stock halogen bulb for sure.

Anyway back on topic, I test drove a 2012 Focus manual, I loved the car. The shifter feels superb, but too bad it's only a 5 speed. My wife doesn't like it though, it's quite cramped in the back compared to Hyundai Elantra and even Mazda 3.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by tjts1

Who said anything about HIDs? Re read my post, i'm talking about PROJECTORs not HIDs. Projectors can have either halogen or HID bulbs. Most new cars (even very cheap ones) have projector headlights with normal hallogen bulbs. Reflector headlights on the Focus just screams of cutting corners. It was pretty easy to see the cost cutting when the jetta ditched its projectors for reflectors even on the high end models.

I was unaware that projectors were even offered with Edison bulbs, so thanks for pointing this out. Regardless, my overall idea stands, that what you might consider cutting corners is actually just a company trying to meet a particular price point.

I would pay extra to have HID projector lamps in my car, but many people would not. I trust that Ford knows what the average consumer demands and is willing to pay more than I do. Sometimes a consumers lack of interest in a particular feature isn't due to being unimpressed with the technology, but instead sheer ignorance of its existence.

Now, if many people don't know what a projector lens is, or they don't care to pay extra for the technology, is Ford to blame for "cutting corners", or are they just delivering what they believe the consumer demands.

Every single thing in life is a cut corner (compromise).