Ford Focus Production Increased 30%

[soundmotor]

Focus +30% (http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200804150016DOWJONESDJONLINE000005_FORTUNE5.htm)

I think the above is very good news. Good news for the employees and good news for Ford. I cannot stand the way the current sheetmetal looks on the Focus now and don't understand why Ford went away for the original "Edge" style they pioneered. What do I know as that apparently does not matter. Extra shifts & ~250K US cars is pretty neat!

Here is another take on the Focus & domestic car producers in general. The writer comes off to me as having an axe to grind but he does make some interesting points -

Focus +30% is bad (http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/15/ford-focus-success-shows-change-is-happening-at-ford-but-its-s/)

[Bigerik]

Good news indeed!

[Ultra-Hog]

Yes, that is very good news! Having a domestic manufacturer (of almost anything these days) increase production stands in contrast to trends lately. It is exactly what we need.

My daughter had a 2002(?) Focus that served her very well. Her husband had one too. It was one on very few compact vehicles that he could comfortably fit his 6'6" linebacker frame into. She traded hers when her young but growing family outgrew it when her third child was born. I really liked the car. It was solid, quiet, reliable, performed well, and got excellent gas mileage. I would rate it right with the highly regarded Honda Accord that my wife drives and the Toyota Camry. Her experience with the Focus would support that statement. Frankly, after my last disastrous experience with my Ford Exploder (don't get me started on another rant! :gigglemad ), the Focus is the only Ford model that I would consider purchasing for myself. And that comes from someone that has reluctantly become a multiple Honda owner solely due to their proven reliability. I do think that Ford has begun to regain some of my interest lately with a few of their recent models and their (hopefully) increased reliability ratings.

The bottom line is - Kudos to Ford for doing what it takes to win some business back to this side of the pond! :thmbsp:

[slow_jazz]

Very good news there. They need some good news finally.... Their talking about the new Taurus being a home run....

[levensnevel]

Get the 2.5 20V Turbo ST version with standard 166 kW output: a real pocket rocket / B Road bruiser.
Not sure if they are officially imported into the US though.
Just to give you an idea
http://www.pistonheads.com/roadtests/doc.asp?c=125&i=13642

[jdrum1]

Even though I'm a honda driver/fan, I welcome more options.

I do think the 1st gen focus looks better. The new one looks quirky.

[mhardy6647]

I have a 2000 (first model year) Focus ZX3 (3-door hatchback) with a 5-speed and 142,000 miles and change on it. It's a nice little car.

I'll never buy another one, though, because they've done away with the hatchback. :-(

Wish I had a ZX5. Actually, what I'd really like to have was one of the SVT ZX3s with a 6-speed, etc., etc. Pretty cool little pocket rocket, at least by the looks of things.

[Cleve]

It's understandable - given current and projected gas prices - that a smaller car would be more 'in demand'.

[pioneernut]

From a Ford/Chrysler fan, its nice to see some gains. I think the Focus looks good from the side, but what I don't like are the way the head lights curve near the grill. If they took the curve out where the hood, bumper, grill and lights meet I'd say it would be a winner. Not sure who thought of that, but its not a styling que I want to see propagate like the Oval looking 96' Taurus fiasco. God every thing about that Taurus had ovals on it..... WTF

[wajobu]

I'll never buy another one, though, because they've done away with the hatchback. :-(

I just NEVER understand why American car makers stop making cars with hatchbacks. They are so versatile and work well on both 2 or 4 door cars. In general, cars with hatchbacks are also more aerodynamic. Sometimes they say it's the cost of the dual pneumatic lifts or glass shape.

I DO know that manufacturers have some trouble with getting the latch mechanism from rattling over time (Saab is a classic example of this with their original 900 series), but I won't even looks at a car without a hatchback.

That ZX3 is/was a sharp little car.

[mhardy6647]

Mine is quite rattle free at 8 years old.
I lugged a TV home from work in mine just tonight (long, and not terribly interesting story).

I am a big hatchback fan. At Casa Hardy we have an "SUV" (Escape Hybrid) and a (yes, I'll admit it) minivan, too. All pretty capable of schlepping stuff around.

[Eric Clark]

I just NEVER understand why American car makers stop making cars with hatchbacks. They are so versatile and work well on both 2 or 4 door cars.

Being a BMW fan I wish the new 1 came here as the 3 door. I'd like to get an American car but somehow they won't sell RWD car with a manual.

[wajobu]

My MINI Cooper avec hatchback is VERY handy. I've carried an entire drumkit in it plus two people (large bass, snare, two mounted toms, floor tom, hi-hat, all cymbals, stand and throne). Oh, and then there was the pair of ADS L-910s WITH the stands :banana:

[soundmotor]

I'd like to get an American car but somehow they won't sell RWD car with a manual.

:scratch2:

http://www.motordaily.net/2008%20mustang%20cobra-thumb.jpg

:thmbsp:

Also Dodge Charger & Magnum, Cadillac CTS & upcoming Chevy Camaro, Dodge Challenger, & Pontiac G8 too.