Rob
Columbus,#2Consumer Comment
Tue, July 11, 2006
I was in the auto business for many years. We used to have people call in about cars that were never there!!! You, unfortunately, are a typical profile customer. First, we loved when a macho guy comes in to show us how to do business so that they could impress their girls!!! We ALWAYS LAUGHED, sometimes right at them in their face and sometimes it was real easy to get the people to laugh also. Yes, we would have them laughing at themselves. This was at one of the biggest Ford dealers in the USA not some buy here pay here place. Never, ever think you have the upper hand in a car deal as you never will. If you turn out to know to much or act like a tough guy we will do many things up to and including overpricing the car to make you leave. We would rather have regular decent people than know it alls and macho guys running around the lot trying to impress others. We would put people, decent people, with beacons of 560 out in a new car at 2-3 points above our buy rate when we could have charged 10 - 11!! The point is....you don't have no power up front, period. Pricing is on the net everything is open if you don't like it leave. That's the way they look at it in our new globalised society....suck it up and drive on Marine!!! P.S. I was also in the Corps.
Mark
Baltimore,#3Consumer Comment
Fri, July 07, 2006
The first post says it all. A 2004 on a dealer lot for $8K, nice drop in value. Mike, you bought a 2006 Zx3 SES right? Edmunds.com says invoice with an automatic transmission is 16K, with the average price paid after rebate is $15254. The Manhiem Auto Auction report for Friday June 7th shows 11 of those exact cars went through the sale in PA today, all under 5K miles. All went for between $9,000 and $9300. If you wanted to trade yours to a dealer that is the most you would get, because they can go to the sale and get them at that price. Consumer Reports might rate them higher than a Honda, but the resale value is horrible
Leticia
Anytown,#4Consumer Comment
Fri, July 07, 2006
I think that you may be off by a long shot about the Focus. I am going on the fact that my husband HATES american made cars and calls all of the a POS. Except for the newer Ford Focus. And before you ask, yes he did his homework (except for the fact that we live in Germany right now and it has a safety that forces the car to slow down when you try to go above 107 MPH) and we have had NO problems with it.
Mike
River Edge,#5Consumer Comment
Fri, July 07, 2006
The Ford Focus ZX4 SES is ranked the 3rd best car under $25,000 right behind the Acura RSX and the Ford 500. It ranks higher than Honda Accord, Honda Civic, etc. I did a month of research on this prior to buying. As for your comments... "Sloppy build quality"..I guess we'll see over time, but it appears fine to me. "mismatched interior plastics" By design it has grey plastics on dash, with black stero and a/c controls. it looks great too. "inadequate storage and cupholders," This is patently false. The glove box is huge and since I have the ZX3 hatch, the seats fold down for plenty of storage. Also, there are 2 cupholders in the console and one in each door. To me, thats more than enough, no? "2.3-liter engine limited to ST sedan." - So? Most 4 cylinders are 1.8-2.0 (I got the 2.0 which comes standard on the SES model, and it's plenty) "Not as good as you think, is it. It's designed for the person without a lot of money or credit, it's an entry level car, trying to appeal to the younger driver." This statement is absolutely ludicris on his face value. Just because you think this car is beneath you doesn't mean that it's a bad car.
Robert
Jacksonville,#6Consumer Comment
Fri, July 07, 2006
You forgot to mention the passenger side motor mount that fails to hold up the engine after 20K miles. Then, the engine is left sitting on the frame rail and putting a vibration from hell throughout the vehicle. You couldn't give me one of these things if my only other choice was to walk. These are right there with the Contour in regards to reliability and function. Ford should have kept making Escorts.
Dave
Jacksonville,#7Consumer Comment
Fri, July 07, 2006
Edmunds, the leader in automotive comparisons, has this to say... (Copy and pasted) "Sloppy build quality, mismatched interior plastics, inadequate storage and cupholders, no rear head restraints, 2.3-liter engine limited to ST sedan." Not as good as you think, is it. It's designed for the person without a lot of money or credit, it's an entry level car, trying to appeal to the younger driver. They hold absolutely no retail value.
Mike
River Edge,#8Consumer Comment
Fri, July 07, 2006
Dave, You said: "However, if you are as 'highly intelligent' as you say, why are you looking for a Focus???? That is the worse piece of crap on the market, and has been since it came out 20 years ago." I don't know about any Focus's other than the 2006 modle I just purchased, so I can't speak for 2005-below. However, Consumer Reports ranks the Focus as a top 5 vehicle in its class, over the Matrix and other top selling vehicle.
Dave
Jacksonville,#9Consumer Comment
Fri, July 07, 2006
IF both of you are as 'highly intelligent' as you say, then you would've recognized that scam immediately. But to rag on about it is unecessary. I am sure 'Sunny' wasn't shocked when he saw your lady friend had a man with her. Get over it. It's a car lot. They pull this crap all the time. You leave and go somewhere else. However, if you are as 'highly intelligent' as you say, why are you looking for a Focus???? That is the worse piece of crap on the market, and has been since it came out 20 years ago.