Hey everyone. New guy here. I had my 06 f-250 stolen at work and am thinking about getting a 2010 Focus S or a Cobalt LS (manual transmission on both). I know the S is bare-bones but can anyone tell me if the 15 inch wheels on the S handles that much worse than the 16" wheels on the SE? And also does the S have the MPG computer like the SE? After reading many reviews from different sites I think I'm gonna buy the Focus this friday! Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks...

You won't regret buying a focus at all!

You won't regret buying a focus at all!
Cool. Just hoping buying the S (only option is satellite radio) won't disappoint me in the long run as compared to the SE. Need to save $$$$ any way I can!

honestly throwing in the extra money for more options is worth it. Just think about hopping in the car every time u go to drive and thinking to yourself... hmm for X amount of dollars id have this etc etc..... I Really like the new ses's with the black grille and euro wheels... I wonder how much more it is. And btw a sunroof is prob one of the best options IMHO

If you are aiming for a new Focus, I would really hold off for a 2011 if possible. So buy some clunker for a few hundred bucks maybe $1000 and use that for a year and sell/trade it when the '11s come out

But if not possible, Focus > Cobalt [thumb]

If you are aiming for a new Focus, I would really hold off for a 2011 if possible. So buy some clunker for a few hundred bucks maybe $1000 and use that for a year and sell/trade it when the '11s come out

But if not possible, Focus > Cobalt [thumb]
I would consider that but I drive 100 miles/day round trip to get to work and back and my wife nixed that idea. I don't think she wants to haul me when it breaks down...

Focus is most definently the better of your options there. Go for it, focus rules.

lol, just had the vision of the "O'Doyle Rules!" scene from billy madison lol

Generally speaking, most folks on a Focus site will probably recommend the purchase of a Focus over the Cobalt... [:p]

lol yea^^ like if you go to a cobalt forum they will say COBALT> focus

but yea get the 2010 focus!! iwould talk to dealer and try to get a deal on SE

Generally speaking, most folks on a Focus site will probably recommend the purchase of a Focus over the Cobalt... [:p]
True. But most folks and "expert" reviewers on other sites (consumer reports, edmunds, car and driver, autotrader, etc.) have recommended the focus over the cobalt unanimously! I'm buying a 2010 Focus friday.

howd the f 250 get stolen?? isnt there something in ur insurance that entitles u to money?

Hey everyone. New guy here. I had my 06 f-250 stolen at work and am thinking about getting a 2010 Focus S or a Cobalt LS (manual transmission on both). I know the S is bare-bones but can anyone tell me if the 15 inch wheels on the S handles that much worse than the 16" wheels on the SE? And also does the S have the MPG computer like the SE? After reading many reviews from different sites I think I'm gonna buy the Focus this friday! Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks...
Just bought my Focus and love driving it when my better 1/2 hasn't stolen it, lol. You don't want a nasty ass Cobalt, lol, I test drove one.
No trip computer on the S, The upgrade to the SE is worth it. If you plan to make your car a long term keeper you want to make it comfortable and a SE will do that with not much more $$. My advice is to buy the 2010 or even a 2009 (There are still a few still around especially the S). That body/engine combo has been out for 3 years and the bugs are mostly worked out. The 2011 will be a new body style which I'm sure will have it's own set of bugs as any car would.

True. But most folks and "expert" reviewers on other sites (consumer reports, edmunds, car and driver, autotrader, etc.) have recommended the focus over the cobalt unanimously! I'm buying a 2010 Focus friday.
Nice! You will love it, I love my 2009.

Hey everyone. New guy here. I had my 06 f-250 stolen at work and am thinking about getting a 2010 Focus S or a Cobalt LS (manual transmission on both). I know the S is bare-bones but can anyone tell me if the 15 inch wheels on the S handles that much worse than the 16" wheels on the SE? And also does the S have the MPG computer like the SE? After reading many reviews from different sites I think I'm gonna buy the Focus this friday! Any comments would be appreciated. Thanks...

I can answer some of this. If you get a Focus S:

No,it doesn't come with the MPG computer(in fact,the S trim level was phased out during the 2009 model year,leaving the SE and SES trim levels to soldier on for the Focus).

15 inch wheels aren't bad,but if worse comes to worse,if you wanted to,you could always upgrade to 16 inchers via aftermarket. The 15s would be lighter and better on fuel economy though.

Hope this helps![|)]

in fact,the S trim level was phased out during the 2009 model year,leaving the SE and SES trim levels to soldier on for the Focus. Exactly, and they don't have power anything either.

But hey I know that Olathe Ford had a blue S coupe spd when I went up there, and Bob Allen Ford has a Silver SE coupe 5spd.
[welcome] Which side of the state line are you on ?

I can answer some of this. If you get a Focus S:

No,it doesn't come with the MPG computer(in fact,the S trim level was phased out during the 2009 model year,leaving the SE and SES trim levels to soldier on for the Focus).

15 inch wheels aren't bad,but if worse comes to worse,if you wanted to,you could always upgrade to 16 inchers via aftermarket. The 15s would be lighter and better on fuel economy though.

Hope this helps![|)]

Not entirely true... If you build and price a 2010 on Ford's web site the S was phased out for coupe, but still remains for the sedan.

howd the f 250 get stolen?? isnt there something in ur insurance that entitles u to money?
edit

howd the f 250 get stolen?? isnt there something in ur insurance that entitles u to money?
Well, yeah. I had full coverage insurance and of course that covers theft.
I recently learned that the f-250 is the most oft stolen vehicle out there (percentage-wise). Hopefully my new focus will remain in my posession longer than my truck did...

Just bought my Focus and love driving it when my better 1/2 hasn't stolen it, lol. You don't want a nasty ass Cobalt, lol, I test drove one.
No trip computer on the S, The upgrade to the SE is worth it. If you plan to make your car a long term keeper you want to make it comfortable and a SE will do that with not much more $$. My advice is to buy the 2010 or even a 2009 (There are still a few still around especially the S). That body/engine combo has been out for 3 years and the bugs are mostly worked out. The 2011 will be a new body style which I'm sure will have it's own set of bugs as any car would.
Thanks for info Calvin. Unfortunately, cash for clunkers has wiped out a good selection of Focuss' on the lots. And I need a car quick. I will see if the dealer has an SE stick, but they are hard to find at the moment...

Exactly, and they don't have power anything either.

But hey I know that Olathe Ford had a blue S coupe spd when I went up there, and Bob Allen Ford has a Silver SE coupe 5spd.
[welcome] Which side of the state line are you on ?
They are all gone. Only 5spd they got is 2010 S...
BTW I live in Excesior Sprngs...

They are all gone. Only 5spd they got is 2010 S...
BTW I live in Excesior Sprngs... I'll drive by Bob Allen to see if they still have the one I was talking about. I'm over here in Overland Park.


Edit: Yeah that silver 5spd SE is gone.

Thanks for all your input guys. I bought 2010 S 5spd and I love it. Ford really listened to customer complaints from previous model years. This car includes mpg computer and abs/traction control on the base model! Ford also added a trunk release next to the drivers door and an overhead light in the back seat. Wow - what a concept to listen to complaints - and fix them!. I love this car it is beautiful inside and out. You actually hear a resounding "thud" when you shut the doors - as compared to the tin can sound you get from the Cobalt. For the money and quality (not to mention 35 mpg), this car simply can't be beat by any manufacturer out there. So long GM...

o.O Backlight for the rear?! I want.. :(


enjoy your new focus!

Enjoy! I also noticed how cheaply the Cobalt seemed to be made.

^^ That's what I was going to say ... the cobalt's though nice and quick aren't built as well as the focuses. I have driven a Cobalt (standard and SS) and both ride nice but feel less put together than the focus. Better built is more peace of mind when daily driving from work and back.

Congrats on your buy Railed ... and enjoy the car.

-Ray-

^^ That's what I was going to say ... the cobalt's though nice and quick aren't built as well as the focuses. I have driven a Cobalt (standard and SS) and both ride nice but feel less put together than the focus. Better built is more peace of mind when daily driving from work and back.

Congrats on your buy Railed ... and enjoy the car.

-Ray-
Yeah I drove the cobalt ls also and it just felt "cheap" as compared to the focus. Adding on the independent rear suspension, traction control, and better mpg made the choice pretty simple!!

the cobalt doesnt have independent rear suspension? wah?

well, if ur worried about performance specs for the rims, the 15's will acually perform better than the 16's. less inertia!

Thanks for all your input guys. I bought 2010 S 5spd and I love it. Ford really listened to customer complaints from previous model years. This car includes mpg computer and abs/traction control on the base model! Ford also added a trunk release next to the drivers door and an overhead light in the back seat. Wow - what a concept to listen to complaints - and fix them!. I love this car it is beautiful inside and out. You actually hear a resounding "thud" when you shut the doors - as compared to the tin can sound you get from the Cobalt. For the money and quality (not to mention 35 mpg), this car simply can't be beat by any manufacturer out there. So long GM... Congratulations on the new car. My 09 has the trunk release but not the lights in the back or ABS standard. [V]

I noticed your in KC too, perhaps a little focus vs focus action lol [burnout]



the cobalt doesnt have independent rear suspension? wah? Nope, it has a torsion beam rear axle. So does the Honda Fit. [thumbd]

Yeah I drove the cobalt ls also and it just felt "cheap" as compared to the focus. Adding on the independent rear suspension, traction control, and better mpg made the choice pretty simple!!

Yep. There's a reason why the Focus made the top 10 Cash for Clunkers list (http://consumerist.com/5345410/top-ten-new-cars-trade+ins-from-cash-for-clunkers) while the Cobalt didn't.

well, if ur worried about performance specs for the rims, the 15's will acually perform better than the 16's. less inertia!

I don't think so...if they were the same as the 16s but smaller then that would be one thing...but the 15s are steelies. The 16s are alloy wheels which are lighter then the steelies.

Congrats on the purchase. The trip computer is great to have, but I wouldn't follow the estimated mpg readout, they never really correct. Best thing to do is set your trip to 0 and fill up your car. Drive it to almost empty then fill it back up. Divide the number of gallons you put in from the number of miles on the trip meter. Example...250miles and you put in 10 gallons is 25mpg.

And if you ever want to change out the wheels, you could always just swap the 15s out later on and move up to some alloy rims.

Congrats on the ride and enjoy!!!
A couple of weeks back I went up to the dealer I bought my Focus from(AutoFair Ford-Manchester,N.H.)to do the 5K maintenance checkup. The salesman who sold me the car told me that ever since the C4C deal went thru they nearly sold every fuel efficient vehicle in their inventory. They had only 1 Focus(a blue 2010 coupe SE 5-spd),8 Fusions(3 were 2010 hybrids,4 regular 2010s and 1 2009 leftover)and 3 Escapes.I couldn't remember the last time their lot looked so "empty". Mind you,this dealer usually has over 200 new vehicles in stock!