Every 2 yrs it happens. I'm 1 month away from having the Focus 2yrs. Been commuting my car a lot more lately. Used to only by motorcycle but going to the gym everyday after work is so much easier with a car vs suiting up in gear.....then taking it off/putting back on...it does get old....vs walking out the door in a short sleeve shirt

So now that I'm driving more.....yeah I'm wanting something faster and more fun and stick. Like my Focus but I got an auto...

I really want the 2011 Mustang GT but I got 2 decent sized dogs and putting them back there would be a pain in the butt. And no way will my fiance put them in her G35. I don't see how the Mustang will work.

So leaning toward a 2010/11 GTI....only b/c it's decently fun and has a back seat for my dogs. Plus it's lighter than the GT too and gets better mileage.
I'm about $3500 upside down on my Focus though.....from what I'll get on a trade.

Have some money saved..($88,000 half in CDs...half in savings), no debt other than mortgage and 13.5K that I owe on Focus. Should I just bite the bullet and keep driving my semi-fun and semi-slow Focus? Or test drive the GTI 4DR 6spd ($25K). Scared to test drive it b/c I may buy it.

No not interested in WRX or Mazdaspeed3.....drove both....WRX shitty shifter and not comfortable, Mazda way too much torque steer.

Thanks for any advice.

That depends on if the dogs will like the hatch then. [dunno]

You could wait for the 2012 Focus that is coming out very soon- DI, better fuel economy, very likely a dual clutch 6 spd with the best of both worlds. It would be nice if they would release what they are doing with the DC6spd so we'd know if there was a manual shift option instead of the L that just keeps it in the lowest possible gear for that speed. I have heard that is lots of fun when you have that lead foot feeling. It does upshift in L.

My dogs love back seats so they'd love the GTI. With the 2012 Focus...155hp and only a manual offered in the SE so far.....not interested. If the turbo comes out with a manual....that would be better.

That depends on if the dogs will like the hatch then. [dunno]

You could wait for the 2012 Focus that is coming out very soon- DI, better fuel economy, very likely a dual clutch 6 spd with the best of both worlds. It would be nice if they would release what they are doing with the DC6spd so we'd know if there was a manual shift option instead of the L that just keeps it in the lowest possible gear for that speed. I have heard that is lots of fun when you have that lead foot feeling. It does upshift in L.

SEL and Titanium trim levels will have a standard 6-speed dual clutch auto with selecshift capability. S and SE's have an optional 6-speed dual clutch auto without the selecshift mode. i think the SE with sport package will add the selecshift feature. a 5-speed manual is the standard transmission on S and SE trim levels

How about a 2011 Hyundai Elantra?
I've heard those are nice...

How about a 2011 Hyundai Elantra?
I've heard those are nice...

No.....way too powerful

The GTI is a SOLID machine. It's not exactly dominant, but VERY well-rounded (literally, too). Compared to a non hotted up Focus, you'd probably be more than happy with the balls. I think the '12 Focus ST may turn out to be even sweeter, but it's not here yet, so there ya have it...

My brother just got an 07 GTi and my buddy just got a 2011 GTi, they are sweet cars. They drive like no other and and decently quick stock. My vote is for the GTi.

gti ftw

deffinatly make the switch if you got that itch, im actually looking to get into the new 2012 focus

what always worked for me by just thinking of the car payments and the debt that always grounded my itch for a new car

buy american!

Posted via FF Mobile Why dont you pay off your focus first and try to make some money back on it. Your honestly going to buy a nice new car....and throw your dogs in the back? Probably the first time Ive ever heard something like that.

Go big and buy a Ford Raptor with a canopy for the dogs...I actually like the GTI alot.

Posted via FF Mobile Why dont you pay off your focus first and try to make some money back on it. Your honestly going to buy a nice new car....and throw your dogs in the back? Probably the first time Ive ever heard something like that.

Good advice. Keeping my '09 until at least till not upside down. Like the car enough not to go into more debt. I enjoy driving it and have no guilt putting my dogs in it. And I really wanna buy American. Maybe Focus turbo in a few yrs

I co-sign the new car feeling. I have a serious itch for something faster, and NOT FWD. I just can't afford anything..but I'm thinking around tax time I'm going to say goodbye to the ol' Focus, and pick up something more powerful. I love the MPGs, but it's just time..

I'm thinking Subaru. Or maybe a Mustang GT. I'm a huge Ford fan ever since I've owned the Focus, so we'll just have to see.

88k saved up?

Sounds like a perfect recipe for an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, or an 06 BMW M5?

88k saved up?

Sounds like a perfect recipe for an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, or an 06 BMW M5?
Now you're talkin'! It's only money right? :)
Not a car but I do for now still have my sportbikes for a speed fix....

not on topic: Blackbirds are FANTASTIC. i want 1 for my next bike. i used my buddies a couple times. so fast.

not on topic: Blackbirds are FANTASTIC. i want 1 for my next bike. i used my buddies a couple times. so fast.
Yeah and with vfr bar risers.....quite comfy too. Paid 3100 for my '98 with 14k miles and was mint. Smooth as silk with warp speed on demand....it's crazy.

Scratch the itch! Go for it!

That's what you wanted to hear, right?

buy american!

g37x 4 door? Genesis sedan? volvo s60r?

Every 2 yrs it happens. I'm 1 month away from having the Focus 2yrs. Been commuting my car a lot more lately. Used to only by motorcycle but going to the gym everyday after work is so much easier with a car vs suiting up in gear.....then taking it off/putting back on...it does get old....vs walking out the door in a short sleeve shirt

So now that I'm driving more.....yeah I'm wanting something faster and more fun and stick. Like my Focus but I got an auto...

I really want the 2011 Mustang GT but I got 2 decent sized dogs and putting them back there would be a pain in the butt. And no way will my fiance put them in her G35. I don't see how the Mustang will work.

So leaning toward a 2010/11 GTI....only b/c it's decently fun and has a back seat for my dogs. Plus it's lighter than the GT too and gets better mileage.
I'm about $3500 upside down on my Focus though.....from what I'll get on a trade.

Have some money saved..($88,000 half in CDs...half in savings), no debt other than mortgage and 13.5K that I owe on Focus. Should I just bite the bullet and keep driving my semi-fun and semi-slow Focus? Or test drive the GTI 4DR 6spd ($25K). Scared to test drive it b/c I may buy it.

No not interested in WRX or Mazdaspeed3.....drove both....WRX shitty shifter and not comfortable, Mazda way too much torque steer.

Thanks for any advice.

On the other side it'd be much more prudent to pay off the focus, pay off some of your mortgage and maybe invest some money in some bonds/ dividend paying stock/ and a little high risk stock.

I still have a little over 2 years to pay on my 08 F-150. I'm hoping by then the Focus will be available in some sort of sport turbo'd 3 door hatch version!

I still have a little over 2 years to pay on my 08 F-150. I'm hoping by then the Focus will be available in some sort of sport turbo'd 3 door hatch version!

I've got 3 years and 10 months on my 09 [bawling]

You know a 6spd M5 is the way to go.... don't deny.

"Look honey, it's got 4 doors and fits all the kids!"

Just take the badges off it LMAO.

I've bagged the WHOLE idea. Took my 2 dogs to a huge dog beach/island we go to sometimes. Seeing them so happy in the back seat slobbering all over my cheap plastic rear doors and leaving dog hair in the car (even though I have a big pet tarp that covers the rear seats and straps to rear head rests).........makes me so glad I have a Focus and not something I'll be anal about keeping spotless.

Not to mention gas is now $3.35 for 87 octane here in San Diego....and with the Focus....I don't care and I'll drive it anywhere. It just gets great gas mileage period.

Plus the Focus has its charm. I like driving it and it's fun if not a rocket. When it's paid off in 2yrs and there's a Focus turbo hatch, maybe I'll bite. I want to stay American...preferably Ford.

Thanks for the feedback though everyone! [wave]

C-Max-- Cross your fingers with me that these will have rear sliding doors and rear bench seats. Your dogs would really like that.

Ford is using the Frankfurt auto show to debut a very important model for the North American market. The racy 2012 Ford Grand C-Max seven-seat mini-MPV—think Mazda 5—is debuting alongside a five-seat sibling, both of which wear the intriguing styling of the Iosis Max concept from last year’s Geneva show. While Ford confirms that the Grand C-Max will be headed to the U.S. late in 2011, we do not expect the five-seater here. Like the Mazda 5, the Grand C-Max employs sliding rear doors. While it makes no attempt to mask its minivan-ness, the shapely sheetmetal suggests there’s no reason to. The higher glass-to-body ratio means it has a somewhat less sporty look than the Mazda, but the Iosis-derived surface treatments at least save it from the dowdy look of its only other real competitor currently on the U.S. market, the Kia Rondo.