There are a few of us here at the office who have been around long enough to remember Edmunds' first long-term Focus, a 2000 ZX3 hatchback. In our September, 2000, update for the car, I was quoted as saying:
"The ZX3 has all the typical versatility of a small hatchback ... you know, haul the groceries, park at the mall to see a movie, stuff like that. But what you don't expect is how Ford has made the car fun to drive. [The] steering is quick and responsive and the suspension does an excellent job of providing a comfortable ride and sticky handling."
Here's the thing about our new 2008 Focus SES coupe: to me, it's less versatile and seemingly less fun to drive.
Ford discontinued the hatchback body style in 2007. And while it's been a long time since I drove an earlier Focus, I distinctly remember our first Focus being more fun to drive than the current car. Another long-time editor agreed with this observation.
Ford says that it revised the suspension tuning for 2008, giving the car softer springs and a bigger front antiroll bar. So it likely rides better and is more stable, but in terms of steering and handling response the new model feels heavier and less eager.
The 2008 Focus is certainly a better car overall, but in regards to handling and driving enjoyment that old orange ZX3 will be more fondly remembered.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor, Edmunds.com @ 3,198 miles
7driver says:
11:49 AM, 03/ 3/08
"...the new model feels heavier..."
It probably is (too lazy to look up the specs).
karjunkie says:
11:53 AM, 03/ 3/08
The ZX3 looked a lot better too. The new focus has a rear end only a momma could love!
estreka says:
12:40 PM, 03/ 3/08
I appreciated the ZX's far more than the new Focus. ZX models are always at your local SCCA events, whereas you'll never see a new Focus on the track.
bromans says:
01:00 PM, 03/ 3/08
I got off my (lazy) butt and looked up the base curb weights. :) Not as much as I would have thought: 2551 lbs for the ZX3 and 2558 (manual) for the '08 coupe. -- Brent
cruiserhead1 says:
01:42 PM, 03/ 3/08
the old one looks much better than the new one. The new Focus got hit with an ugly stick really, really hard.
joefrompa says:
02:01 PM, 03/ 3/08
In 2000, this car had an amazing chassis and a strong engine. For 2008, it's chassis is decent but connected to a looser suspension and it's engine is no longer inspiring.
Our experiences, in the meantime, have steadily increased in expectations of fun from this car class.
Why is it surprising that it's no longer as fun?
Joe
festiboi1 says:
02:04 PM, 03/ 3/08
Forget about the ugly stick, the new Focus fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.
Actually, the new Focus looks fine, but compared to the old one, appears dull and conservative. The other day I drove a friend of mine to the local Ford dealer to look at a Mustang for him in my 1995 Ford Escort 2-door hatch. Parking it there near the new Foci on the lot, the Escort looked so similar to the coupes in style and size that the new ones looked like updated versions of my car. Sadly though, the coupe doesn't offer the versatility of the Escort's hatchback and I think Ford should've given the coupe a notched hatch, along the lines of the Focus or the Elantra GT. But the idea that the new Focus resembles the old Escort more than the original Focus is a bit troubling.
That said, the 2000 Focus was a revolution in small cars at the time. It was daringly styled, roomy, funky, and handled admirably. The new one still has a lot going for it and after test driving one recently, I can agree that it just doesn't have the appeal and "magic" of the original
clarkma5 says:
02:14 PM, 03/ 3/08
The fact of the matter is the original Focus's suspension was the result of one man's passion for driving: Richard Parry-Jones, Vice President of Ford Europe's Product Development Group. He brought in Jackie Stewart to help tune the car's suspension, not just the typical factory drivers, since Stewart was able to communicate with the engineers better. Under Parry-Jones's direction, Ford worked to separate every little piece of the suspension and make them work as a whole. Thus, it was a brilliant little car to drive.
Once the second-gen Focus came out in Europe, the US version has been revised using generic committee thinking and without anywhere near the passion that was originally bestowed upon its design. The result is a car that still has some of its original luster but has basically been monkeyed around with by ignorami.
redliner says:
04:58 PM, 03/ 3/08
The Focus is was ok 8 years ago. Now we have the Mazda3, Honda Civic, and Mitsubishi Lancer. Much more fun to drive, and usualy, much better looking too.
moparbad says:
05:36 PM, 03/ 3/08
I'd rather have an Astra at a Focus price.
No problem with Ford adding the coupe as long as they would have kept the 5 door hatch OR the wagon, eliminating them both is really dumb.
Focus was a class competitive product in 2000, now in 2008 it is the class dunce held back to repeat 1st grade twice.
sreed1 says:
05:46 PM, 03/ 3/08
I thought they did a very nice job when I saw the redesign but have read many negative comments here. Just read an article on February sales and Focus sales are up 36%. I guess Ford knew what they were doing after all!
greenpony says:
06:43 PM, 03/ 3/08
When the Focus first came out, I called it the Ford Ugly. A funky shaped car with bulbous parts and creases and curves and angles that never seemed to mesh, at least to my eyes. I never would have bought one. Then they restyled it, kind of smoothing out the rough edges, making it look more mature, and it looked good for an economy car. And now with the second restyling -- I'll admit the coupe looks fine, but the sedan's styling has gone the wrong direction. I think, in trying to appeal to younger buyers, Ford may have erred.
Also. It's weird that the current Focus "seems" to be less peppy than its 8-years-older brother, despite having 10 more hp and 6 more ft-lbs.
firstwagon says:
07:57 PM, 03/ 3/08
"Focus sales are up 36%. I guess Ford knew what they were doing after all!"
Not really, it just shows that even a mediocre redesign is better then continue to push the same out of date old design.
With no wagon or hatchback and only a bland sedan, the Focus doesn't have a chance competing with Mazda3, Civic etc.\
Like I said before, Ford isn't even trying.
redliner says:
08:19 PM, 03/ 3/08
Ford isn't even trying.
you can say that again...
honorsystem says:
12:57 AM, 03/ 4/08
The '08 model is something like 36 or 37lbs lighter, according to a ford news release I read. Losing weight is something of a rarity these days, but doesn't make up for the lack of fun if its not put to good use.
moparbad says:
12:04 PM, 03/ 4/08
Ford Ranger sales were up 27% last month, does that equate to Ford getting it right?
redliner says:
12:15 PM, 03/ 4/08
moparbad,
No, it means gas is expensive and the economy is in a recession.
sreed1 says:
05:46 PM, 03/ 4/08
Just checked the sales figures for February 2008:
Focus - 16302
Mazda 3 - 7893
Who is winning?
firstwagon says:
07:05 PM, 03/ 4/08
I haven't found Feb numbers yet but last year Mazda sold 47,933 Mazda3s in Canada vs Ford selling 27,718 Focuses.
Yeah, Canada has better taste in cars, eh!!!
hondacura4 says:
06:03 PM, 03/ 6/08
Sreed, Im sure a lot of the Focus sales were fleet sales.
sreed1 says:
07:13 PM, 03/ 6/08
How do you know? The numbers I found on the net were true sales numbers. You are just guessing that a high percentage of them are fleet sales. Have you never seen a rental Mazda 3 or Honda Accord? Ford has drastically cut their fleet sales. I'm sure there are Mazda 3's out there that are from fleet sales also. Chrysler according to statistics has the highest fleet sales now. Why is it so hard for North Americans to admit that one of their own companies has done something right? You should start taking some pride in your countries own abilties to build something well. The days of the Vega and Pinto are long gone. The Focus stands up very well among the competition and the public must agree as sales are strong.
greenpony says:
11:33 AM, 03/ 7/08
hondacura4, those were retail sales figures, not total sales figures. To clarify, retail sales + fleet sales = total sales.
moparbad says:
02:26 PM, 03/ 9/08
Local dealer has 2008 Focus (new) advertised for $8995.00. Low price = Sales