2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe: Trunk Has a Big Mouth

I'm surprised they used some sort of insulation for the trunk. Most cars in this budget kind of avoid it.

Is that 13.8 with the sub?

I don't think Ford's 2.0L has balance shafts.

"I'm surprised they used some sort of insulation for the trunk. Most cars in this budget kind of avoid it."

That was my first thought when I saw the photo. I know that the Accord LX doesn't have a trunk liner, so +1 for Ford.

big trunk, disposable drivetrain. Makes for a perfect Avis fleet car.

The rear angle on this car is its best. The thing about trunk space is I'm less likely to get excited about ample trunk space as I am to get angry about poor trunk space. IMO, all 4 door passenger vehicles should have a decent trunk size - being able to fit a golf bag or piece of luggage in should not be a surprise, it should be a given.

I was just thinking that this cheap focus that is constantly under attack by the auto press and civic/corolla fans has trunk struts and a lined decklid which you wont even find on some midsize top sellers costing thousands more. Maybe Ford isnt as inept as we've been led to believe.

"disposable drivetrain. "

Isnt the drivetrain similar to whats in the civic and corolla? The corolla only has a 4 speed auto BTW.

"Isn't the drivetrain similar to what's in the civic and corolla?"

If you mean they all have engines and transmissions, then yes. Drive them (or at least read some reviews) to see what makes them different.

"The Corolla only has a 4-speed auto BTW"

And so does the Focus - I'm not sure I understand your point.

".... has trunk struts and a lined decklid which you wont even find on some midsize top sellers costing thousands more. Maybe Ford isnt as inept as we've been led to believe. "

trunk struts are a negative to me. When the car gets a little older they will stop working in cold weather and need to be replaced (or be one of the millions carrying an old hockey stick it the back to keep it open)

^^ agreed on the struts, but most people here in the states use a broomstick. Not many people down here own a hockey stick, let alone an old one.

Actually, cars that have the struts can open beyond 90 degrees, so even if the struts give out, most of the trunk's weight will be directed forward, holding it open.

"If you mean they all have engines and transmissions, then yes. Drive them (or at least read some reviews) to see what makes them different."

Havent read much about the Focus' drivetrain being unrefined. Have you? The main problems with the focus (according to reviews) are a)its not the Euro focus and b)its not as sporty as the 3.

the focus' performance and mileage is comparable to other compacts. Not sure what makes it "rental grade" vs the corolla or civic.

"And so does the Focus - I'm not sure I understand your point."

Let me help you out. If both cars have similar hp and 4 speed autos I dont get why the focus has a disposable drivetrain and the best selling corolla does not. Double standard.

"trunk struts are a negative to me. When the car gets a little older they will stop working in cold weather and need to be replaced (or be one of the millions carrying an old hockey stick it the back to keep it open)"

It gets pretty cold here in the winter. I have seen nor heard any evidence of this. My parents ex car is almost 11 years old and the trunk struts still work.

"It gets pretty cold here in the winter. I have seen nor heard any evidence of this"

Then it doesn't get very cold there. Almost every hatchback/ SUV I've know over the years has had this problem sooner or later.

Today with the temp right about freezing, the struts on my Legacy work fine. Last month when I was in Kamloops, it was -22 deg C and I had to hope the hatch open with my head (forgot my hockey stick).

I even seen new cars where the struts won't hold at -40 deg.

Thanks, Erin, great post!
I was actually thinking about getting a Focus as a daily driver, and was wondering about the luggage capacity.
Do you think you could tell me about how much the trunk holds?
Thanks in advance!

"Today with the temp right about freezing, the struts on my Legacy work fine. Last month when I was in Kamloops, it was -22 deg C and I had to hope the hatch open with my head (forgot my hockey stick)."

I'm talking US cold. Most Americans live in a part of the country where this is a nonissue. I'm pretty sure Honda and Toyota arent using old school hinges just because they are worried about performance when its -20 outside. They use them because they are simpler and cheaper.

Simpler, cheaper, never wear out and work fine.

Sounds good to me.

As for US cold, I have some friends in the mid-west who might have a few words for you.

I'm guessing you live in California? Centre of the world?

"big trunk, disposable drivetrain. Makes for a perfect Avis fleet car."

Really? Excessive noise and vibration under light throttle deems a drivetrain disposable? Some of you really should think b4 you post.

Anyhow a friend recently bought a Focus coupe, and I have to be honest I sort of felt sorry for the guy up until I had a chance to ride in it. It was well assembled, comfortable and did what it was supposed to for a vehicle @ this price. It's not like the Sentra, Elantra, Corolla, Cobalt or Spectra outperforms the Focus.

kinda, yes i do think those attributes make for a poorly designed drivetrain. Erin had posted in the past that the engine wasn't too bad with it's midrange, but that the 4 auto seemed inadequate. so it's not entirely bad, but it just makes me think that hte car was designed without particular attention to engineering something nice, but rather something to fill a market. And am I wrong? we've heard over and over that trucks and SUVs brought profit while compacts lost money for domestic makers.

btw, i never made any mention that cars like corolla were any better. I honestly don't like the corolla, or sentra, or elantra, or cobalt or whatever. but i do think that mazda's 3S and scion's TC prove that compacts don't have to be an after thought.

"Simpler, cheaper, never wear out and work fine.

Sounds good to me."

Interesting. That thinking never seems to apply when certain brands are the ones applying it to products. Its called cost cutting if Ford or GM or Hyundai does it. Nice to know simple is best as long as its Toyota or Honda keeping it simple.

07mx5,

First of all 4 speeds are used in Hyundais, Toyotas and Scions. Dont tell me that ford is cutting corners unless you agree that the imports are doing the same thing. The tC is not competitive in any way, shape or form. The chassis is not stiff, the car is not sporty and its gas mileage is terrible for a four cylinder car. Scions are full of hard plastic and have OK dynamics. The xB doesnt even get great gas mileage anymore. How are they representative of Toyota's superior commitment to small vehicles?

"And am I wrong? we've heard over and over that trucks and SUVs brought profit while compacts lost money for domestic makers. "

Small cars are either barely profitable or unprofitable if they are produced in the US. this is why most small cars sold by Nissan, Honda and Toyota are imported. The Yaris, Scion models, VErsa, Fit, etc. are not made in the US. Trucks are profitable for every automaker, not just domestic ones.

"kinda, yes i do think those attributes make for a poorly designed drivetrain. Erin had posted in the past that the engine wasn't too bad with it's midrange, but that the 4 auto seemed inadequate. so it's not entirely bad, but it just makes me think that hte car was designed without particular attention to engineering something nice, but rather something to fill a market."

That still doesn't make much sense. Being disposable would indicate that it is unreliable, which we know isn't the case with this vehicle. Having said that I agree the Focus' powertrain could use a bit more refinement.

The Focus is a safe, fairly reliable and economical vehicle. Assembly isn't poor, and the interior offers a few extras (i.e. SYNC) and does not deserved to be billed as the perfect rental car.

For all intents and purposes how do we know the long term Focus that Edmunds' has isn't a fluke?

"Being disposable would indicate that it is unreliable, which we know isn't the case with this vehicle. "

I don't think being disposable has as much to do with reliabilty as it does with how much you care about a car. A lot of economy cars are just crude transportation so when they get older, people just dump them rather then fix them.

The Focus isn't a bad car but I doubt anyone will get too attached to it.