When you see a Focus (factory) coming down the street or sitting in a parking lot, what is the first thing that you see on the outside that tells you it's a Focus? For me, it's always been the headlights (on the '00-'04 models). The very first time I saw a Focus, the headlights popped out at me. They seem unique to the car.

agreed.... it's the headlights and also the fenders that do it for me. on model specifics, it's the taillights that give it away for both the hatch and sedan [thumb]

I remember when I bought my first Focus, a '00 ZX3 Kona. I pulled into the guys driveway, and I saw the front end. Ohhhh those headlights, that bumper and those fogs. It was lust at first sight, and I fell in love after I drove it.

So to answer your question, it was the entire front end (on both the 00-04 and 05-07 styles).

agreed.... it's the headlights and also the fenders that do it for me. on model specifics, it's the taillights that give it away for both the hatch and sedan [thumb]

Speaking of which, I think Honda took a cue from Ford on their tail lights.

2000 Focus Sedan (First year in U.S.)
http://www.federalwayautosales.net/image.php?w=500&ar=1&imgurl=uploads%2Ffiles%2Fuf3o6z0iju%2F7613c.jpg

2001 Civic Coupe (first year of seventh-gen Civic)
http://www.importtrenz.com/v3/catalog/images/T/KAMINARI/K099740U.jpg

^^WOW, I never noticed that

i have and thought about maybe doing a swap if it was possible

i have and thought about maybe doing a swap if it was possible

Swap identical tail lights? [scratch]

^^^^ good point. haha. i would say that for the hatches it is just the general shape of the car. it looks like an egg from far away. the sedans i don't notice very easaly.

-headlights

-the US grille I can spot from a MILE away.

-tails on the hatch at night (droopy eyes)

on the interior, that swooping cut in the dash on the first gen ones. Together with that and the center cluster.

From the front, the Focus looks like any number of small cars......very hard to identify, except up close. From the rear, the hatch models are distinctive, because of the tail light location. That look is what caught my eye long before I bought a Focus.

From the side.....without the high tail-light, the shape is similar to a number of newer hatch-backs. So I guess I bought my car because of the location of the tail light.....[scratch]

i can always tell it is a focus by the 00-04 grill at night...

Swap identical tail lights? [scratch]

they arent exactly identical and they are from a civic. different style and im pretty sure no one would notice unless u told them but it would be cool

Sometimes the wheels, but most time the headlights, it can be pitch black and i'll be like mmm focus.

my radar usually picks a fofo up before I do...It's like I can smell sexxy. For me it's the whole front end. Can usually tell what model year it is too from the front. My g/f gets sick of it.

I think for me it's the head lights and the long ship mast antena .

front especially headlight, and the rear tails especially hatchbacks :)

headlights def

i can always tell it is a focus by the 00-04 grill at night...

i agree 100%

the heads and tail's give it away every time, especially on the hatchbacks

For me, the 00-04 focus is defined by its overall looks. A far departure from anything had been doing at the time, it was bold and diffirent. The same can be said for the 05-07, but but IMHO those years have a more mainstream look, but I actually still like it. The 08's seem to bland in with the crowd a bit more, though I can always spot one in traffic. To me there is a certain ironic twist that by the 08 changes, the futuristic look of the 00-04 had somehow become outdated.

my radar usually picks a fofo up before I do...It's like I can smell sexxy. For me it's the whole front end. Can usually tell what model year it is too from the front. My g/f gets sick of it.

haha, same here.
but sometimes she joins on the guessing game. lol

Sometimes I mistake ZX2's for 00-04 Focus's from far away until they get closer at night.

It's usually the taillights that do it for me for the hatches.

More than anything else, for Me anyhow, is the 00-04 grille. Of course, the hatch tails are a dead giveaway at night, I can usuall tell a sedan by how far the tails are from the ground!lol. I don't have that problem anymore, which is probably why I notice...

Can I admit (with much shame) that the Dodge Neon has fooled me on more than one occasion? [:I] Usually at night, because the headlight/parking light placement is similar. But yeah, like everyone else said, the headlights or taillights are usually a dead giveaway. Even on the new Focus, the headlights still give it away, because they are a weird shape. That and all the chrome.

Can I admit (with much shame) that the Dodge Neon has fooled me on more than one occasion? [:I] Usually at night, because the headlight/parking light placement is similar. But yeah, like everyone else said, the headlights or taillights are usually a dead giveaway. Even on the new Focus, the headlights still give it away, because they are a weird shape. That and all the chrome.


Agree with the Neon thing.

I can identify the tails of a Focus hatchback from a mile away..
Both me, and my cousin (both SVT owners) have mistaken a Pontiac Sunfire for an SVT at night.
http://www.automedia.com/NewCarBuyersGuide/photos/2005/Pontiac/Sunfire/Coupe/2005_Pontiac_Sunfire_ext_1.jpg

Check out the front turn signals in the grille, and the fogs. They look remarkably similar to an SVT's at night.

the biggest thing for me are the tail lights..

Definitely the tails, especially on the hatch. The hatch is also easy to spot. There isn't another that looks like it. It's also the best looking hatch ever, until the Euro Focus comes to the U.S. and Canada.

The fogs on the '00-'04 Foci are also easy to spot.

headlights, taillights, overall looks

though i have been tricked a few times by neons and zx2s at night.