2012 Focus EV as my next car?

[MetroMPG]

The low sales numbers would be my main concern.



- Smaller/less useful owner community (assuming there is a dedicated group).


- Less info about common faults & failures to watch for, and how to recognize & deal with them.


It seems Leafs can be had for similar money. Though they may not come up frequently in your neck of the woods.

[ldjessee00]

Maybe start the negotiations at $4,500? Or even lower?

Just point out the lack of trained mechanics and how the car is 7 years old. Stuff will break and if the local stealership does not have a trained mechanic, getting it fixed right would be an issue.

But for that old of a car, it does not look bad. If he just commuted it, then probably lots of life left on the powertrain... but maybe not in the other things...

I would definitely give it a test drive and check the standard stuff.

[MetroMPG]

Another downside: with the EV drivetrain, you won't get to be part of the impending award from the class action lawsuit over the Focus PowerSh*# dual clutch automatic transmission.

[redpoint5]

Price sounds excellent. I'd probably buy it. Of course, I'd see about talking the price down even further.

[Hersbird]

I've been looking in my area for a deal like that, it's better than anything I see. My best price on something similar would be $2000 more AND I'd have to drive 500 miles with and empty trailer and tow it back home as it would take a week to get it home under it's own power.

As fast as working on it, I would think the vast majority of that car is standard Ford Focus and if anything goes wrong with the motor or battery it would be out of warranty and cost more to fix than the car is worth anyway.

[Daox]

Thats pretty much what I've found too. The cheapest Leaf I've seen was probably 7k and it had a few too many bars gone off of the life-o-meter. The Volts are all 10K+. The I-mievs are also 7K+. Other compliance cars I really haven't looked for.

[redpoint5]

I don't know how those MiEVs sell for so much, granted I have zero experience with them, but they are old, charge slow (if I recall correctly), have short range, and look like a (talented) 3rd grader designed it.

The Ford EV should probably last a long time and should have 8-10 years on the battery and motor warranty, which means it still should be under warranty.

Still think that's a great price considering what I've seen for those Fords, and considering it has active thermal management, and considering it looks like a normal car.

[vskid3]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I don't know how those MiEVs sell for so much, granted I have zero experience with them, but they are old, charge slow (if I recall correctly), have short range, and look like a (talented) 3rd grader designed it.

I don't know what L2 charger they had, but they could come with Chademo, which is better than the Focus.

Spark EV with DCFC would be my cheap EV of choice. I haven't seen anything bad about the Focus EV, I would just prefer having fast charging.

[oil pan 4]

It's got ccs for DC fast charging.

[Daox]

I think I'll take a look at it. Of course I leave for a week of vacation tomorrow morning, so it'll have to wait until I get back. Hopefully it's still there. If not, the Mirage gets some more time in the stable.