Well, you'll find plenty of people to tell you how great the SVT is, and I wont disagree on any points. But if you're thinking of a new vehicle, any vehicle, you should know what there is NOT to like first and formost, in my mind.
Reliability issues x2, tho I've had good luck with my 04. The gearing makes the car feel even slower than it is. The kind of instant-on response that makes tighter-geared cars feel quick isn't there in the SVT, 1st and 2nd are almost ridiculously tall (1st revs out around 42mph, 2nd @ almost 70). From a stop, the car feel slower than it is. From 20 to incredibly-illegal-anywhere-in-the-USA, it moves much better.
Also, I moved from a first gen Neon. I'm not sure how the gen2 sightlines are, but my Neon had great visibility at all corners- the Focus 3dr is a cave by comparison, over the shoulder and rear visibility is poor and the A-pillars are thick, which can make hard cornering, well, guess work honestly. The backing lamps are weak, with a tinted rear window I can't see spit at night backing up. It's almost like a game, but if I lose I back my car into something.
If I had to pick some more gripes, the shifter is 4" too low and 2" too far forward, the pedals need to move back or everything else needs to move up, unless you have really long arms. The car sits pretty tall, stock suspension anyway. I don't like the OEM clutch engagement, its at the very top of the (somewhat longish) throw, although the TSB clutch is apparently completely opposite, and I imagine most aftermarket clutches are too.
You may be used to this from the SRT, but we tend to chew through brake pads and clutches real fast. Average brake pad life seems to be around 25k miles, with clutches running the gamit from 15k to 60k+. The clutch is probably due to the deep first gear, and the brakes, well we stop on a dime so I feel like thats justified.
The steering is out of this world responsive, very tight and very direct, the car turns in on a level I couldn't have expected. However, the power assist, I feel, is over-boosted, and the feedback I get through the wheel is insufficient. It's not bad, its just not genius.
Take that all for what you will. I love the SVT, it's faster than I could ever need it to be, and it handles so good I'm almost scared to get even 9/10ths out of it. But it doesnt fit like a glove. Ergonomics are a big pet peeve for me, and if I can find a car with similar handling limits and power, but more of a cockpit interior (versus a delivery van), I'll think hard about trading in.
Good luck.
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