They say it's the little things that kill. I started with a 68 Dodge Dart, then a Ford Tempo, then a Pontiac Grand Am all years ago. After the Pontiac I swore off American cars and for the next 15 years I drove only Japanese cars with the exception of the 2012 Jeep Liberty I had for about a year (hated it).
The Japanese manufacturers all give much better warranties than American ones. Companies like Toyota set up plants here employing Americans and paying much better than their American competitors, and support our economy with taxes and sales. I noticed things like they pay attention to the most important detail to me that driving's about the experience, not getting from point A to point B like almost every American manufacturer seems to focus on. The styling seems to me to be much more classy, and the appointments: they pay attention to every want a consumer has.
Take the Rav4: it has 10 cup holders. I don't know why you need 10, but it's nice they have it. There are the two in the center, each of the four doors has a true cupholder, the armrest in back has two, and in the very back there's two more. They have a power outlet in back and front. They have two storage compartments in the center armrest in front and two glove boxes. Plus, they have functional storage spots next to the steering wheel and by the radio and above it. I'm really not sure what the Focus thing to the right of the steering wheel is supposed to hold. It can't hold a phone, a box of cigarettes, or even a mini LED flashlight. In the very back of the Rav4 you have a huge storage compartment and a smaller one, a little net storage thing on the back door, and side storage compartments that are functional where you put the tire jack and all. And you can stow gear under the back seats. They have multiple aux plugs, USB, and so forth. And the V6 version of it's faster than an F150 Raptor and gets 27mpg, better than my Focus.
I realize that's an SUV and it's not really fair to compare, but I've had two Eclipses that paid closer attention to the little details, a WRX that paid better attention, and even a Toyota Corolla. My 2005 Corolla had a 60/40 split back seat with a center armrest. My 2012 Focus SE doesn't. The WHOLE back seat has to fold down so no back seat passengers and longer gear. My 2005 Corolla had cruise control, but for some reason Ford decided the Focus didn't need it. And have you tried to shut off traction control? What a pain using that menu system is. A button like everyone else does was too hard? And what's with having a rain light setting that only works occasionally? I had an Escape for a few days and the SUV was nice, really nice even though it was only 2WD, but the sync computer navigation thing was unnecessarily complicated.
I love the color of my car. I have the racing red. I love the sound especially with the K&N filter, but it ends there. The more I drive it the more I want to pay it off quick and get something Japanese again. The only American car I've driven recently that seems to be paying attention to what younger people, or people in touch with reality in general want is Chevy. I hate the way Chevy's look and their engine's pretty much suck unless it's one of their muscle cars or the Vette, but sit in a Sonic or Spark and look at all the details they paid attention to. Did you know new Honda Civics come with standard bluetooth radios and steering wheel controls to answer the phone? They also come with a standard rear camera and I believe backup assist. HID and nav would be nice standards, too, but some companies get it and some don't.
The Japanese manufacturers all give much better warranties than American ones. Companies like Toyota set up plants here employing Americans and paying much better than their American competitors, and support our economy with taxes and sales. I noticed things like they pay attention to the most important detail to me that driving's about the experience, not getting from point A to point B like almost every American manufacturer seems to focus on. The styling seems to me to be much more classy, and the appointments: they pay attention to every want a consumer has.
Take the Rav4: it has 10 cup holders. I don't know why you need 10, but it's nice they have it. There are the two in the center, each of the four doors has a true cupholder, the armrest in back has two, and in the very back there's two more. They have a power outlet in back and front. They have two storage compartments in the center armrest in front and two glove boxes. Plus, they have functional storage spots next to the steering wheel and by the radio and above it. I'm really not sure what the Focus thing to the right of the steering wheel is supposed to hold. It can't hold a phone, a box of cigarettes, or even a mini LED flashlight. In the very back of the Rav4 you have a huge storage compartment and a smaller one, a little net storage thing on the back door, and side storage compartments that are functional where you put the tire jack and all. And you can stow gear under the back seats. They have multiple aux plugs, USB, and so forth. And the V6 version of it's faster than an F150 Raptor and gets 27mpg, better than my Focus.
I realize that's an SUV and it's not really fair to compare, but I've had two Eclipses that paid closer attention to the little details, a WRX that paid better attention, and even a Toyota Corolla. My 2005 Corolla had a 60/40 split back seat with a center armrest. My 2012 Focus SE doesn't. The WHOLE back seat has to fold down so no back seat passengers and longer gear. My 2005 Corolla had cruise control, but for some reason Ford decided the Focus didn't need it. And have you tried to shut off traction control? What a pain using that menu system is. A button like everyone else does was too hard? And what's with having a rain light setting that only works occasionally? I had an Escape for a few days and the SUV was nice, really nice even though it was only 2WD, but the sync computer navigation thing was unnecessarily complicated.
I love the color of my car. I have the racing red. I love the sound especially with the K&N filter, but it ends there. The more I drive it the more I want to pay it off quick and get something Japanese again. The only American car I've driven recently that seems to be paying attention to what younger people, or people in touch with reality in general want is Chevy. I hate the way Chevy's look and their engine's pretty much suck unless it's one of their muscle cars or the Vette, but sit in a Sonic or Spark and look at all the details they paid attention to. Did you know new Honda Civics come with standard bluetooth radios and steering wheel controls to answer the phone? They also come with a standard rear camera and I believe backup assist. HID and nav would be nice standards, too, but some companies get it and some don't.
this is too political of a reason to really deal with. OP simply bought a car without features he wanted. Plain and simple.
