2008 Ford Focus: Joan Rivers and a Sable Wagon

I really don't like the Focus, but come on, guys...it's a key fob. With a trunk release. I guess the Versa did have "key-in-pocket" entry, and we know that the Focus isn't very loved, but this is kinda taking it too far.
 
You people at Edmunds are so spoiled!!!

Economy cars can have nice looking, convenient keys. The Lancer's is all in 1 (ie buttons are on the key - no fob). Or the new Mini, which just has a disk that slides into the dash and then you push a button...its like only having the fob!

And if you lose the combined key/fob what does it cost rto replace? Can you go to the hardware store and have a duplicate cut?
 
I can see some of the security benefits, but how much trouble is it really to have the separate remote/key in your pocket versus the large key-remote combo?

And this car starts somewhere around 15 thousand? There are FAR more attractive key fobs for Edmund's money.

All in 1 key fobs are annoying because if you lose the key, a duplicate is going to cost you a lot of money. I've heard as high as $125.

Agree, this is a bit nitpicky. Then again, one of their favorite features on the Fit was the blue dot over the i.

How about you NOT lose the key? Been driving for 10 years now and never lost the car key once. As matter of fact, I've never lost any kind of key throughout my life

125 is pretty damn low for a key fob, the switchblade one from Mazda with programming is about $300-400 dollars.

that and how do you lose a key taht is attached to the fob on a ring anyways... i'm thinking you have to replace both if you lose it. I think it does show a lack of caring to have that same key. How hard would it have been to make some new plastic molding to change the look of it. But that key and fob is standard accross the ford line i'm pretty sure. I drove a 08 f150 the other day and it had the same one.

I must admit that key and fob are unattractive. Even when I had my 04 Civic, the key struck up conversations due to the way it was cut.
 
If I had the key pictured and someone thought I was driving a Sable, I'd DIE!

Trying to decide if this post, or the one about fingerprints on the Aura trunk is the most asinine.
 
Decisions, decisions....

mnorm1, I'm going to have to go with the Aura post being most asinine, but this is a very close second. Is it attractive? No. Old? Yes. Does it spend 99.999999% of its life either in a pocket, purse, or bouncing around the steering column? You betcha. I wish I had a life where the style of my car key and fob was the most disconcerting problem to write about.

These are the little observations and thoughts that cars generate. My Volvo has a huge, chunky key. It looks modern enough, and works fine, but it's so big I don't keep it on a key chain any more. The keys to the Accord, with fob functions on the slighly enlarged base of a regular key, are way more practical, and still look modern. If only they'd stick the ignition up on the dash where it belongs...

http://www.fordpower.net/main/images/stories/NewsPics/key_fob.jpg
 
This is Ford's main key design found in their newer vehicles, including our Edge. The Focus and F-Series Super Duties (the ones I specifically know about) use the old-school one.

Maybe I just take a utilitarian view of these things, but key fob styling is very low on my list of items to look at when buying a car. Besides, it wasn't that long ago that cars weren't even offered with fobs. How ever did we survive?

Obviously a key fob doesn't make or break the car, I think the comment was just that it is an old style that doesn't reflect particilarly well on the car. The devil's in the details? A company thats trying to step back up to the plate, like Ford, needs every advantage it can get. If that necessitates a flashier key design, they thats how it goes.

"If I had the key pictured and someone thought I was driving a Sable, I'd DIE!"
 
A focus is better than an old Sable? And wow, your identity isn't tied up in what you drive at all :)
 
Just get one of the Ferrari keychains like they got for the 308 :)
 
" the switchblade one from Mazda with programming is about $300-400 dollars."
 
I know that the switchblade style ones are getting popular but I just don't get it. We had a rental with one and it seemed odd to add the step of pushing the button and folding the key back inside every time you get out of the car with it. Plus the big housing for it seemed clunkier than the key and remote shown above. All that for the fun of getting to push a button and make the key come springing out?
 
When it comes to remotes, make the buttons easy to hit and easy to tell which one you need to hit and are hitting. It is nice not to have to look down at the thing to see where and which button to push.

It seems dumb to post about the design of the key fob, but I think it actually has merit. I don't think style is very relevant, but design is. This is a very functional and user friendly design. The designs I don't care for are the integrated ones (makes for expensive key duplication) and the switchblade type keys.
 
This "old school" design (also look to GM for another version of "old school") works and works well. It isn't big or bulky, will be easy and inexpensive to replace if lost or broken and doesn't add bulk to the key itself. I don't like the switch blade kinds because after a while the spring gets loose (my bro-in-laws passat key) and won't pop open fully and the housing is dirt and grime prone. The integrated key and fob seem bulky to me (although even GM's fobs seem bulky to me).
 
The newer key fob are certainly looking more elegant and stylish, but after several years of use, that elegance doesn't look any better than that "old school" once it has seen several button presses, and lived life banging around in an ignition, purse, pockets and being dropped on the floor.

Will having an ugly key fob lead to an unhappy life and eventual death? No (excluding Lime).
 
But it is a valid note and it has certainly developed conversation. Not every blog must be about catastrophic flaws. Nitpicking is important too.

About a key and fob in an economy car? No.
 
Nitpicking about it in a caddy, maybe.

Edmunds criticizes the focus for not honking the horn when you unlock it. Many people prefer that.
 
Edmunds criticizes the focus for not having a bright enough dome light. Many people like a dimmer dome light when it's dark out.
 
Edmunds criticizes the focus for not having a modern key fob. No one cares.
 
If these are the flaws that Edmunds has found with this car, it must be one hell of a good vehicle.

It is merely a symptom of the bigger problem. The Focus is a car from the Clinton era, and it really shows. Have they added a light to the ignition, so you can see where to put the key? How come even cash-strapped Mitsubishi can have a one piece key/fob and a decent interior on a modern chassis. Ford makes the best small car in the world, it is called a Ford Focus, but this is not that car. The other automakers sell their small cars around the world, but Ford has given us a dumbed down car from 1998 which had been dumbed down for the US market already.

vbhoo
 
I agree.
 
None of the issues here are major but combined they all show Ford isn't trying.
 
If they were the only car maker then everyone would be happy with the Focus.
 
However there are a lot of companies out there that try harder to please their buyers.
 
Sure the Focus is good enough but everyone else is better.
 
Not a good way to run a company. RIP.

The Lancer suffers one of the worst interior's, the plastics are worst than that of the Focus, they're very thin and the overall design sucks. A pretty parts bin key-fob doesn't put it above the Focus.
 
The Lancer is awful in DE, ES trim.

drives good though

Have to agree with BRN as all of the issues discussed have seemed so irrelevant. Horn Honking. Key Design, Ugly shifter, No numbers on the gear selector (who downshifts an automatic anyways? - I drive a Fusion and it only has an L below drive. In the 2 years I've owned the car I have not once shifted to L) I guess the Focus must be a pretty damn good car if these are the so called issues that are being addressed. Just saw the sales for the Month of March and Focus retail sales are up 36%. Nice work Ford!

"The Lancer suffers one of the worst interior's, the plastics are worst than that of the Focus, they're very thin and the overall design sucks. A pretty parts bin key-fob doesn't put it above the Focus.
  
The Lancer is awful in DE, ES trim."
 
I think the Lancer generally gets pretty good inteior reviews. The overall design is very logical and clean, the plastic is maybe too hard, but it is definitely better then the Focus interior. Also, the interior of all 3 Lancer models is essential unchanged, except for seat fabric and a little bit of trim.

The plastic is thin, and hollow. The only reason why I said the Lancer is awful in DE and ES trim is because of how sparsely equipped they look, and how they are, and how softly they handle.
 
The GTS looks a lot better.

So back to the key...a single fob/key takes up less space in your pocket, and getting rid of the jagged edges means that it won't catch on other items in your pocket or purse. The newer designs seem better to me.

Hmm... well, my Yaris liftback doesn't have power anything, so I just have one plain old, old-fashioned flat key with a smallish, rubbery grip!
I kind of like the Focus's separate fob since I have a key ring with other stuff hanging from it anyways, like a mini flashlight. Otherwise the integrated buttons make the key just seem too huge...