First Drive: 2008 Ford Focus

Why is it a disaster?
 
I like this car quite a bit, and its good to see Ford bring along a coupe version, something the Focus line really needed. This sync system sounds really neat, a real trump card over other competitors. If I were in the market for a small car this might just be it, although I'm not too crazy about the front end styling.

It's a disaster because it looks and appears to drive horribly. The tiny wheels give the already vast surface area an exaggerated look. It's too narrow, giving it a sense of topheaviness (something difficult to do in the subcompact segment). The headlights (which I kinda like, but they don't fit) look like they came from a Nissan parts bin. And I can't help but think "Echo" when I look at it.

It's a compact, not a subcompact.

Have you seen the Focus in person? A lot of pictures are decieving, there is no real way to judge a car by looking at it. It looks and appears to drive horribly?? That dont mean anything. Read the first drive and you will see mainly positive comments about the handling, which has always been the Ford Focus's strengths. If you compare the width of the Focus to its competitors which I did, you shall also see it is right where it needs to be.
 
To me there's nothing wrong with this car, maybe the front end could be improved, but its pretty silly to judge handling based on its looks.

I've driven previous Focii and the handling has gotten worse and worse with each generation. The original Focus was a great ricer and I'm bitter that it has deteriorated into such a modest vehicle. No, I haven't seen the new Focus in person, but I don't feel that negates my perception of how it looks. If it does indeed look so different in person, I'll hold my tongue until I have seen one.

I totally agree with billt, this car is a disaster. Maybe "disaster" is a strong word, but disapointment is a very perfect match for it.
  
This car looks like what the Escort would have become if it were still produced to this day. The interesting and practical (not to mention popular) hatchbacks are gone; now replaced by a generic looking coupe that reminds me of a Saturn ION. The headlights look like they were lifted off of a 1998 Contour and the side scoops are a gimmicky add-on.
  
The sad fact is that the Focus was revolutionary in 2000. It set a new standard among compact cars in terms of style, comfort, room, performance, and handling. The sombering reality is that this "new" Focus sets no new standards and is trailing its competitors. In fact, as someone had mentioned, the origianl version seems more appealing as it was daring, different, and represented a time when Ford took risky (and in this case profitable) chances. The '08 version seems content on being bland, generic, and destined for rental car fleets. How sad that what was once an innovative and award-vehicle has been relegated to being average.
  
While overseas the Euro-spec Focus continues to push new limits to what the original had set. Each new version of the car handles better, becomes roomier, and is more stylish.
  
Disapointment doesn't even begin to descibe this car.

amen festiboi
  
This Focus is the perfect example of what's wrong with the domestic automakers. In 2000 Ford released an exiting innovative well engineered car. People took notice, however they didn't do their homework and the car was plagued by recalls and horrible reliability. Then instead of keeping the car fresh and up to the standard of it's competitors they let it stagnate and rot. This flashy refresh and gimmicky sync system isn't going to change the fact that this car is years out of date. This is just bad product management and it plagues all the domestic brands. The Cavalier was riding on a platform originally from 1982 and it's not like that was a good platform to begin with.

I think most people here are just upset that they can't get the Euro Focus. This vehicle from what Edmunds discribed is much more refined and still fun to drive. Sure it's not leading its class but I wouldn't call it trailing either. Okay the Mazda 3 is better. In the last compact comparision the Focus didn't trail the Civic by much so I suspect it's not too far behind the Civic now either. What else is really better than this car? With incentives an SE will probably run about 14K. If you want to spend 3K more for a better vehicle, get the Mazda 3. For the average person though, the Focus seems like a great choice.