2012 ford focus
 

how would yall rank the new ford focus compared to all the other new cars?

Well its slower than my new Lamborghini but its got 3 more seats. Its hard to judge.

i meant to say all other cars in its class,mpg's,cost,realibility,driving impression

Its pretty new, I doubt many have driving impressions. IMO its a nice car, decent mileage, but there are better options.

As has been tapped its a little new for people to judge things like MPG, reliability and so on.

The press reaction seems positive though. Here in the EU we got a completely new Focus when you got the facelifted 1990s one the last time, but the new one seems to be an improvement on that model so compared to your previous one the new version will be a revelation. :thumbup:

I would wait maybe 18 months and see what the residuals look like and what problems the early buyers have to deal with. Here these will be company fleets and hire companies. After that you will be sure anything you get will have had the launch 'bugs' removed.

All that tapped Ford seem to be on their game at the moment, certainly here in Europe. This launch has closely clashed with the new Astra (GM) which looks spookily similar - interesting fight maybe.

Astra
http://lethistorylive.com/wp-content...-ES-Tech-1.jpg

Focus
http://www.carvente.com/wp-content/u...ocus-20102.jpg

Joesgot4, there is a thread on the higher fuel economy version: 2012 Focus SFE.

That one's easy: Look at the wheels!:p But true, they are very similar.

Add in the new Meganne and we are back to all cars looking the same again...

EDIT - Its almost like the time in the early 1950s - both Ford and Vauxhall (UK GM) launched new 4 and 6 cylinder cars at the same time - Ford Consul / Zephyr and the Vauxhall Velox / Cresta. They looked very similar and their engines had exactly the same capacity.

The fact an engineer had moved from one to the other during the development period ? Hmmm...

^^^ Thats a photochop. The real focus looks nothing like the astra.
http://fordnewsblog.files.wordpress....hatch-rear.jpg

I agree on the 'chop - my old internet skills shine through yet again :D

I disagree on the fact they don't look the same - you need to see them parked next to each other. :thumbup:

It seems to be a nice car (haven't driven one yet) but it's unfortunate that ford doesn't bring the wagon in the north american market.

Some pics of the wagon
http://www.xs4all.nl/~fhu/focus/trendsport.jpg
http://pics.livejournal.com/ffocused...wt36g/s640x480

If only ford could make the average suv owner understand that this car have the same cargo space than their suv while getting around 2x the milleage while being 5-10k cheaper they would sell a ****load of them.

If the 5 door does well they might bring it over. It seems hatch backs and wagons are catching on again. VW isn't having any trouble selling Jetta wagons these days.

I would seriously look at an Elantra, it gets 40mpg has a great warranty, great reliability on previous models, and has 3 cuft more trunk capacity and 4 cuft more interior volume, the focus is a small car. I was really bummed at how small the hatchback was, particularly the rear cargo area under the shelf, I don't think it would hold more than 2 large suitcases. They list the capacity as 23 cuft, but that is filling the whole back with potatoes to where you can't see out, dangerous on many levels. Both cars are aerodynamically sick. (as in good) The Ford will run circles around the Hyundai and is probably a bit better built, but is also $3,000-$6,000 more cash. My 2¢.

Except that Ford sells SUVs and doesn't have to pay for the gas that you use. An ****load of SUVs sold makes Ford an ****load more money than any five ****loads of small cars. Now if FE becomes a higher priority in our market, high MPG cars can demand a premium in the showroom and replace pickups and SUVs as the industry's focus. Until then FE is a $500 gimmick that features slightly different wheel covers and an "SFE" nameplate.

[QUOTE=Arragonis;241469] Its almost like the time in the early 1950s - both Ford and Vauxhall (UK GM) launched new 4 and 6 cylinder cars at the same time - Ford Consul / Zephyr and the Vauxhall Velox / Cresta. They looked very similar and their engines had exactly the same capacity.
[QUOTE]

I had two 1958 Vauxhall Victor Supers. The Pontiac division of GM imported them for a while, but big Pontiacs, Buick, and Cadillacs won at size. The popular small car was the VW Bug. Sadly; no more Vauxhalls.

Truthfully, I would rather see Vauxhalls available in the US since they have had small car experience.

I have rented several Focus-es in the last year or two, and I rather liked them. I started a review for the EM Blog a while ago and stalled-out on the project so it never got published -- but here it is.

That was about a year or so ago, so the competition has changed. New and used vehicles with good FE have retained their value.

Before we can recommend a vehicle, you have to ask yourself what you need, then let us know. Especially the following (and rate how important each of them are to you):

* What is your Budget?
* What vehicle style do you need -- 2-door, 3-door hatch, 5-door hatch, 4-door sedan, convertible...?
* Is there a particular brand that you prefer or avoid?
* New or Used?
* What is your Fuel Economy target?
* Transmission: Manual or Auto?
* Drivetrain: AWD necessary?
* Performance -- is it high on the list?
* Predicted Reliability important?
* Can it be serviced in your area?
* Are Union-Made vehicles important to you?
* Resale value?
* Warranty?

With these questions answered, our team of experts can point you in the right direction :thumbup:

Just a quick question.

VW, Audi, Mercedes and BMW sell Diesels in the US, a restricted few only though I think?

GM (Opel / Vauxhall) and Ford both make Diesels in the EU. These meet the same emissions limits as the those models above do.

So do Chevrolet EU (aka Daewoo), Kia, Hyundai and even Honda and Toyota.

So why not in the US ?

If nobody wanted them, VW, Audi, Mercedes and BMW wouldn't bother.

Or am I missing something obvious ?

EDIT - BTW those GM and Ford diesels are really quite good, as good as the TDIs really.

VW, Audi, Mercedes and BMW all make money without selling a lot of cars in the US. They focus on niche markets, and diesel is a niche here. In the EU it's a huge part of the market so everybody sells diesels.

Diesel engines in europe don't meet the same emissions limits as the US. The engines VW/Audi and MB sell in the US have additional emissions equipment and slightly higher fuel consumption than the same engines sold in Europe. Factor in that gasoline costs $4.00/gallon and diesel is 10% more expensive and diesel is kind of pointless for most people. The cheapest diesel sold in the US (Jetta) costs exactly the same as a Prius. The Prius has a much lower cost per mile and a bigger interior. You can get a Honda Insight for $4000 less than a Prius or a Jetta.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/compx...Field=Findacar

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/2008c...f.jsp?id=30656

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/2008c...f.jsp?id=30843

Yup think tjts1 just said it all,

I look at the European Diesels that get these great mileage and t was not just the emissions that cause the problem it is a safety factor as well. There are safety restrictions that would add hundreds of lbs. to a car to meet the standards and also kill that desirable super high MPG many of us here want.

For past 5 years Tata has wanted to get a cheap and fe car to the North American market but it fails time and time again.


I do dig the focus but it seems to be par for its class it is not super, but not bad at all it is better than its last generation in specs but time will tell. I would buy a Ford as a more reliable better put together car well before Hyundai. I see many old seriously abused focuses on the roads than accents that is just my opinion though.

Yes, emissions are different, but not by much.
I think that the reason more emissions equipment might be needed is because of the fuel - Europe was the first to switch to ULSD.

But safety requirements in the US and EU are very close, if not the same. It's the Third World that has catching up to do. Safety is the reason that Chinese and Indian cars have a hard time getting getting a foothold on the American and European markets, which is understandable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D827IxEJVS4.

Interesting. Mrs A is about to get a Prius to replace her Octavia (same as Jetta, different badges) - she thinks the interior will be smaller and is having second thoughts...

You wouldn't want to though, have you driven a new Insight ? Also that interior compared to a Jetta - uuurgh :D

Its the other way round here - the Prius is a good £2-3K more than the equivalent Diesel and gets similar mileage, and is slower.

I get that and question it at the same time. A lot of the models from Hyundai, Kia etc. are exactly the same models, just with a Diesel option. We even get Diesel Chevrolet Cruze's. The Toyota models are on similar platforms, the last European Honda Accord was also known as the Acura TSX in the US.

Emissions maybe - not insurmountable though and the same unit can be used in other markets like the EU. Or maybe it is just a niche as has been tapped.

Still seems odd from outside the US. :confused:

EDIT - The question was inspired by this list on TDIClub. Note the number of models sold on both sides of the pond. :)

I don't know what the octavia is like but the US jetta has the same passenger volume and much smaller trunk than the prius. The Jetta has become a bit of a joke. For the 2011 redesign they brought back the 2.slow 8 valve engine and drum brakes. I'm sure they'll have type 1 air cooled option soon.
Several through Zipcar. The interior quality puts the jetta to shame. Early 2010s had issues with the start/stop response but 2011s are much better. I think the dealers have a software update for the 2010 insight.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...6/IMAG0013.jpg
Thats the price of the additional emissions equipment to meet EPA and CARB standards. There is no way the 140hp TDI is going to match the Prius 50mpg city on the US cycle. It can barely do 30mpg. Then you have to factor in the 10% premium of diesel fuel over gasoline and you end up with a lot of cheaper non hybrid gasoline fueled cars like the Focus, Civic, Elantra etc that make the TDI pointless. VW would be better off selling a fuel efficient gasoline engine instead. If everybody else can do it...
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...son/index.html

http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezfl...cd_gallery.jpg

vs

http://www.hondadesplaines.com/media...nt-Console.jpg

Horses for courses I suppose ;)

[QUOTE=tjts1;242058]For the 2011 redesign they brought back the 2.slow 8 valve engine and drum brakes. I'm sure they'll have type 1 air cooled option soon. [/IMG]

I can't see it on the website, just the 4v 2.0 140 - exactly same hp & lb/ft figures as our 2.0.

The Prius gets good urban all the time, but the stop-start Diesels are getting very very close just now.

I wonder if European buyers are financing the lower cost of the Prius in the US compared to Europe ? At its current cost its a niche thing, although as I tapped Mrs A is getting one. We have an estate to the boot space is pretty good.

We shall see.

As I tapped in my original question I just wondered. For the US Diesels are a niche, for Europeans that niche is Hybrids - at the moment.

Yeah the Insight is much nicer. Same for Prius too.
http://www.hybridcars.com/files/2010-prius-dash-610.jpg

And while we're at it Elantra
http://0.tqn.com/d/cars/1/0/1/O/2/AG_11elantra_dash.JPG

Focus
http://0.tqn.com/d/cars/1/0/Q/S/2/ag_12focus_dash.JPG

I think VW has realized that they can't compete on quality in the US market so they've decided to dumb down all their products. Too bad because everybody else is upping their game.

Even the Chinese are at it.

http://www.newstechnologyautomotive....ew-600x375.jpg

As for the Insight, they could have decided where to put the Sat Nav before arranging the shape of the panel it fits into - it looks like an add-on.

As I tapped - we all have different tastes...

...and I hope Mrs A is into grey a lot for her Prius. :eek:

PS - a Honda 'liker' has an Insight on loan.

Another driver likes it.

A fun read about diesel Jettas in America.
2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI joins Autoblog's Long-Term Garage — Autoblog

Or indeed from the same report, about the changes...

We could swap stories all night. But I'm 7 hours ahead so I'll be in bed first :D

EDIT - But hang on a minute....

So letting potential bodgers at your product means its unreliable for everyone ? Hmmm.

Like I tapped we could go on forever.

Lets just agree to disagree.

Otherwise someone will come in with politics :(

Count yet another. I've owned one for over a year now and love the interior. It sets it apart from the competition in a good way -- controls and gauges are well placed for the driver. I don't have the sat-nav, which is what you will generally find at manufacturer websites to flaunt the high-end models.

The Whole Review

I filled the tank for the first time, today, in our 2012 Focus SE Sedan, with Sport Package, and 6spd autotrans. We've only driven it around town, but it continues to impress me every time I get into it. Even with the 16" alloys, the car is just so well connected to the road; the torque vectoring system really does seem to reduce understeer, and I can't wait to try it in the rain (and snow, but I can wait for that), and the engine is strong enough. But everything about the car is just so positive: turn the wheel, the car turns; touch the brake to transfer some weight, flick to a lower gear, or two, crank the wheel and nail the gas, then upshift... What a fun, pointable car.

Light on the gas, getting started, it quickly and quietly upshifts to 4th at low speeds, but there's good pull from the engine. I've gone around the block a few times at night, with the auto S (Sport mode, instead of Drive), which holds onto the gears, and toggled up and down - I was having a great time, and was not trying to save fuel, at all, except that I kept it to no more than 20 over the limit.

The entire family agree that this is one impressive car. And visibility out is great, and the seats are comfortable enough, regardless if you're 6ft or 5' 2", but it's the suspension that is so wonderful.

Btw, 8.9L/100km city only = 26.5 US mpg, except we haven't been trying.

We looked at the new 2012 Civic EX, but couldn't believe how cheap the interior was. Since there are often a few of us plus luggage in the car, the Civic's lack of torque, combined with the 5 spd auto really put us off - on paper anyway, because we didn't even bother to drive the thing, the memory of the sloppy suspension in a 2010 model still fresh enough in our minds. The strength of the Focus engine and 6 spd auto is a real plus.

I liked the Elantra, and the backseat and trunk were larger than the Focus or the Civic, but the showroom was too busy for us to find a ride and, more importantly, my wife had reservations about the brand. I admire Hyundai bringing important things to market, for incredibly low prices: direct injection, rear disc brakes (Sorry, but I'm not buying a 2,800lb car, loading it up with 800lbs of people and stuff without 4 disc brakes!), air, heated seats (Hey, it's Canada), and 6sp autotrans.

I drive a TSX, and purposefully not a TL, but if I want to go fast I know how to, although the rest of the family just don't have that option, and I want it that way. The Focus, however, is just so easy to get into and go. Way to go Ford. Finally, a great, affordable small car - I LOVE $4 GAS, and what it's done for the automobile.

You must've missed the part about low oil light never turned on. Typical VW quality.

Well, thats what the guy who had charge of it when it failed says.... :cool:

This guy has 457K on his which seems pretty good. He has the same (well similar capacity) engine to mine so I'm going to stick with Helga ;)

Over lunch today I got to look at a coworker's 2012 Focus with the SFE package. Overall, it looks like a very nice car. The active shutter system is pretty cool and the open grill area is actually quite small. Below is a picture showing the the front bumper cover. The green areas are where air can actually enter and flow through the radiator. In addition to that, the lower grill has the shutter system, so it can almost completely block off airflow to the radiator which has to be good for warm up time.

http://tercelreference.com/downloads...ew-610x404.jpg


The trunk was also quite spacious which I was a bit surprised by. You can't tell from looking at the outside. The interior styling is also very nice IMO. The coutoured dash is a little flashy, but looks good.

The only disappointing thing I saw was the rear seat room wasn't that great (less than my 04 Prius).

Overall though, a very nice car.

It is a much bigger car than the old focus which makes the 40mpg all the more impressive. I didn't have a chance to sample the back seat. Hopefully the wagon is on the way.

I had my first chance to drive our 2012 Focus SE in the rain last week. The "torque-vectoring" system really does a wonderful job of letting the drive wheels hook-up, to get the car going, when you, for example, start a left turn into traffic from a stop sign.

This is wonderful technology, which makes the car safer, and reduces the annoying and useless spinning of the inside front tire on a fwd car, in similar situations. I rented a Toyota Corolla a couple of years ago, and had the speedo reading 200kph, although the car was hardly moving; that car was dangerous, a waste of time, and wasted gas. [I found out later that the real culprit, however, was the OEM Goodyear Integrity - now there's a laugh - tires, the same tire which came on my Dodge Caravan, although Toyota knew what they were doing, I assume, when they specked that tire for the car].

Anyhow, way to go Ford. This "traction control system" is clearly superior to that on my 06 Acura TSX. Perhaps people considering a 4wd SUV might find the Focus is a viable option. I am impressed every time I get into the car, and drive it.

We have the same car. It works well for the average driver, but it seems like the traction ECU (or the hardware itself) takes too much time to switch torque between the two wheels for me, personally.

But for me, I disable it, use a higher gear on the auto-manual selector, and feather the throttle. I'm not a big fan of traction control thus far, but it sounds like the Focus has a superior design to what exists.

I look forward to renting a new Focus (I keep getting the Fusion, which is an excellent mid-sized sedan -- probably my favorite fleet vehicles right now).

-RH77

My mom is visiting with a rented one only a few thousand miles on it, wheel tracks straight and it does have the look and feel of one abused yet. I am not impressed, The ride seems excessively harsh for a 4 door family car perhaps they were going for "sporty" but I found it to be more along the lines of tiresome. You practically have to slam the trunk (I am the type of person who has to try and be gentle with things like that). The back doors you have to "double tap" the opening latch from the inside to get it to work (was tested repetitively and on both doors, perhaps the child lock?). I am 280 lbs and 6 foot 4 the back seat was adequate, though I don't know how I would have fared on a long drive.

When the doors are locked automatically, you have to pull the lever twice to open the door.
It's the same on my Volvo (ex-Ford ;) )

It's not the child lock - kids are too smart for such a simple scheme to work ;)

GM to sell diesel Cruze in U.S. | StarTribune.com

Cruze diesel coming to America!