Hello, Im new here to the Focus forum. I need a cheap car that is good on gas and reliable. I need something that will run at least 150K miles and will hold up over that time. Gas prices are just killing me and I dont see any relief in the future.

I can get a Focus S model for 11995. Is that a good deal? It has AC but that is all. The only other thing I want is cruise control. Thats a 2007 model by the way and its a zx3. I will not mod this car and I only want basic transportation. Performance is not an issue but fuel economy and reliability is. My Mustang is for fun but this car will not be.

Are there any known issues with these cars? The car Im looking at has the 2.0 engine. Do they hold up over time? I have to do something because the cost of fuel is just unreal these days and its not going to get any better. It makes me sick to even think about it.

Does the 2.0 get the mileage that is on the sticker? I think its 24/34? I know the 2008 ratings are different to be more realistic. Sorry for so many question but the Focus is a new deal to me and the Toyotas and Honda are priced much higher. I just cant justify giving them 2 to 4 K more for a comparable car if the Focus is reasonably reliable and long lasting. Please feel free to add any comments. Thanks.

i would say that is a little high. is that new or used? i mean you could get an SVT for the amount. I know that isn't what you want i was just using it as a comparison. i have the SVT and it has held up really well for me. i have only ever had one problem with it but that was becuase of the guy that owned it before me. contrary to popular belief ford can make cars that are quite reliable depending on how you take care of it. so ya i would say that it is probably a good choise except for the price i would try and bring it down a little.

Sounds like he's looking at a new base '07 model in which case under $12K w/AC is a smoking deal.I'm assuming it's a 5-spd making it all the more fun.[thumb]

Hell yeah...good sound reliable car which should provide you with many years of carefree service...if taken care of properly.

Go for it man...

that is an amazing price, so good going there... epa standards just changed this year so gas mileage might look a little lower than what you may have seen last year. your actual gas mileage will depend alot on how you drive... so seeing as how you are focused on getting good mileage i would expect you get at least the miles per gallon that they advertise (and maybe a little better even once you break in the car a little)

i'm not sure if you are aware of consumer reports... but they test cars for reliability and what not independent of manufacturers (no bias)... and they say the focus if pretty reliable... i've never had any problems with either of my foci, and i drive them hard... extremely hard. keep in mind that there have been a few recalls, but that was for earlier models when the car was brand new... they've worked things out nicely since then, and the recalls weren't anything to serious to begin with... consumer reports has ranked the focus number one in small cars a few times i think over the years... it made car and drivers top ten list almost every year too i believe... don't quote me on that one though

the duratec 2.0 (or d20) is the engine that has been used since 2005 in our cars... its going in all the new 08' focus's and will probably be around for a little while longer... so the engine is proven... the 2.0/2.3 also been used in other ford vehicles as well if i'm not mistaken... its also more powerful and fuel efficient than the zetec which it began to replace in 2003...

but yeah, good gas mileage, good reliability, and a great community... [thumb]

Well my 06 has been great, I havn't had any issues with it and I drive all over the place, ussually racking up 320 miles a week in it. The fuel milage is great I only have to fill up once a week since I drive so much and all I have had to do sofar is the regular oil changes and such. I do plan on getting a Cold Air since I have read somewere it ads about a couple of more mpg's.

My '07 SES ZX4 is just turning 12,000 miles. I ordered mine so I could get the 5-speed. I've never had a tank under 30, with a high of 39.2. I'm averaging right around 34-35 in the weekday commute. A friend in my office also bought an '07 SES ZX4 after he took a good look and ride in mine. He thought it was a smokin deal, as Ford had the $2500 rebate, and he bought it during the auto show in Chicago, so got an additional $500 off the deal. He has the automatic, and does more stop and go than I do, but he says he hasn't yet gotten above 29 mpg. He has not done a road trip with it though, only using it to drive to work. His is close to 9,000 miles with no issues and I have only had the pedal assembly on mine replaced under warranty because the clutch was making a spring stretching noise as I let it out. No problems since. It's a fun to drive commuter car. I save my '08 Mustang GT for limited use.

Welcome...
You wont Be able to resist Modding a fofo... ONe you start driving it you will want to mod.. Make it out handle the Stang....

Yeah, its a new 2007 model. The only option it has is AC. Its a base car with a 5 speed. So is 11995 a pretty good deal? It doesnt even have a tachometer in it. I have checked around and cant get a Honda or Toyota anywhere near that price. Or a Chevy cobalt for that matter.

I did find a clean 06 model for 10K and it had 18K miles on it but I think I would rather spend two more grand and get one new that I know hasnt been beat on.

Yeah, its a new 2007 model. The only option it has is AC. Its a base car with a 5 speed. So is 11995 a pretty good deal? It doesnt even have a tachometer in it. I have checked around and cant get a Honda or Toyota anywhere near that price. Or a Chevy cobalt for that matter.

I did find a clean 06 model for 10K and it had 18K miles on it but I think I would rather spend two more grand and get one new that I know hasnt been beat on.

Smart move and smoking deal man...what more do you need for just under $12K?Full-on warranty too,sounds like a no-brainer to me.

Hello, Im new here to the Focus forum. I need a cheap car that is good on gas and reliable. I need something that will run at least 150K miles and will hold up over that time. Gas prices are just killing me and I dont see any relief in the future.

I can get a Focus S model for 11995. Is that a good deal? It has AC but that is all. The only other thing I want is cruise control. Thats a 2007 model by the way and its a zx3. I will not mod this car and I only want basic transportation. Performance is not an issue but fuel economy and reliability is. My Mustang is for fun but this car will not be.

Are there any known issues with these cars? The car Im looking at has the 2.0 engine. Do they hold up over time? I have to do something because the cost of fuel is just unreal these days and its not going to get any better. It makes me sick to even think about it.

Does the 2.0 get the mileage that is on the sticker? I think its 24/34? I know the 2008 ratings are different to be more realistic. Sorry for so many question but the Focus is a new deal to me and the Toyotas and Honda are priced much higher. I just cant justify giving them 2 to 4 K more for a comparable car if the Focus is reasonably reliable and long lasting. Please feel free to add any comments. Thanks.


Way high.


after tax my 07 with 0 miles in may was 15k. And mines an SES, nearly every option sans heated seats. And has SAP.


How are you guys saying 'LOL GREAT DEAL'? How many of you have 07s? There DIRT cheap and have been since april of this year.

My sticker price was almost 20k. Yet, "Crazy magic and amazing bang bangs" i left after taxes well under 16,000.




And the mileage? Laughable.

If you drive like most highway people and go 5 over (75 in 70). Gas mileage is pretty laughable. i see 26/28 to a gallon right now. On the highway. Nearly every tank of gas that goes in my car is 99% highway miles, yet i never see 30mpg? Oh right, if i go 55 in a 70 the whole way ill get 30+ -_-

Its still a great car tho. Dont get me wrong. lol. Just that sticker, is so situational its not even funny. I get better gas mileage in town anymore than i do on the highway. :P

And the mileage? Laughable.

If you drive like most highway people and go 5 over (75 in 70). Gas mileage is pretty laughable. i see 26/28 to a gallon right now. On the highway. Nearly every tank of gas that goes in my car is 99% highway miles, yet i never see 30mpg? Oh right, if i go 55 in a 70 the whole way ill get 30+ -_-

Its still a great car tho. Dont get me wrong. lol. Just that sticker, is so situational its not even funny. I get better gas mileage in town anymore than i do on the highway. :P

Really? [scratch] I get 30+ most of the time, and I'm usually doing 5 over in a 75mph zone, and I have an ATX. I'm also not known for having a light foot when the light turns green either.[burnout]

Really? [scratch] I get 30+ most of the time, and I'm usually doing 5 over in a 75mph zone, and I have an ATX. I'm also not known for having a light foot when the light turns green either.[burnout]

Yep no joke. I average well under 30 most the time.
Manual here btw. And no i dont race everywhere, so thats not it either.

Interesting.....

I wonder if the SAP bumper causes more drag?

Interesting.....

I wonder if the SAP bumper causes more drag?

Possibly. Id think they would change the window sticker. Tho, its ford. so prolly not.

Well, I've never gotten 34 mpg in my Focus, and that's what the window sticker reads.

My 1993 Escort GT was rated 32 mpg highway, There were many times I got better than that. In fact, I got 34+ mpg a few times.

I paid $14K for mine and I thought that was a great deal as the SES with auto was going for like $19K. Whats up with everybody owning only Ford cars? Focus and a Mustang is all I see on here.

i still think thats a pretty good price... i mean sure the new model is out and everything, but eleven and change for the base model compared to fifteen and change for the ses... still seems like a pretty big difference to me (of course i'm looking at it percentage wise) just my opinion though...

but i mean seriously, what other car of that quality and with those features is priced that low? ( ok maybe a kia or some other piece of "stuff", but seriously? )

Way high.


after tax my 07 with 0 miles in may was 15k. And mines an SES, nearly every option sans heated seats. And has SAP.


How are you guys saying 'LOL GREAT DEAL'? How many of you have 07s? There DIRT cheap and have been since april of this year.

My sticker price was almost 20k. Yet, "Crazy magic and amazing bang bangs" i left after taxes well under 16,000.




And the mileage? Laughable.

If you drive like most highway people and go 5 over (75 in 70). Gas mileage is pretty laughable. i see 26/28 to a gallon right now. On the highway. Nearly every tank of gas that goes in my car is 99% highway miles, yet i never see 30mpg? Oh right, if i go 55 in a 70 the whole way ill get 30+ -_-

Its still a great car tho. Dont get me wrong. lol. Just that sticker, is so situational its not even funny. I get better gas mileage in town anymore than i do on the highway. :P

hmm i avg 29 in town with a lot of spirited drives, and i get high 30's and sometimes i roll into the 40's??? best ever was 44mpg and that was from my house to chicago where speed limit is 65 so dunno

but i got my 07 with a few miles on it fro 12,9 out the dor for a se model last year, you should be able to get it down a grand

i still think thats a pretty good price... i mean sure the new model is out and everything, but eleven and change for the base model compared to fifteen and change for the ses... still seems like a pretty big difference to me (of course i'm looking at it percentage wise) just my opinion though...

but i mean seriously, what other car of that quality and with those features is priced that low? ( ok maybe a kia or some other piece of "stuff", but seriously? )

SES with SAP and nearly all the other optional crap for 15k.

My point is, Why buy bone base, when you can get some toys for nearly the same money?


Then again, i dont 1/2 ass anything. Even for a commuter car, i still get the "NICEST" one of the packages. Because its worth it.

oh... i thought the point was that he's just trying to save money on gas and this is the least expensive option considering the focus's quality... not to mention that the car is brand new

I got my '07 last December with 144 miles on it, a sunroof, all power options, and 5 speed tranny...for $13,900. Great deal IMO. But gas mileage? I average approximately 25-28. I do have a bit of a heavy foot, but in my 2000 Accord (which I drove worse than my foci) I got nearly 40 mpg. I think you should go for it, but try an get 'em to come down about $1000-$1500. Good luck! [thumb]

That is a pretty good deal, but if you go to the right dealership, you can get a killer deal. I drive a 2007 ZX3 SES, fully loaded except for moonroof, and we got it for $13,500. The same car stickered for $18,000 in my hometown. If you are wondering, it came from Long-Lewis Ford in Birmingham, AL.

Well, thanks for all of the advice. I could care less about looks or options in this particular case. All I want is AC, AM/FM radio, and cruise control. I can live with out the cruise though.

I have always been able to get what was on the sticker concerning gas mileage with various different cars and trucks. Its all in how your drive them and the route you take. Going 5 miles to work each day with stop and go is going to kill any mpg. I dont care what you drive. I take all of the figures with a grain of salt and just like any other car. You see figures all over the place.

Maybe I can get the price down some. I just wanted to make sure these cars are reasonably reliable in the long haul. Doubtful that I would ever beat on this thing at all unless I was trying to get out of someones way. LOL.