Well, if Ford had half a brain, they would be selling the real European Focus here in the states and not thet generic POS made in Mexico and sold here as the Focus.
I owned a 2001 Focus Wagon and it saved my life. It did everything well. I would have another Focus wagon today in lieu of my Honda Fit, if Ford had seen fit to bring the European Focus Wagon to the US. But no and I cannot understand why, there is no more Escort, there is no Fusion Wagon, what line in their brand does Ford fear the Focus Wagon will hurt?
America's auto makers have too long thought planned obsolescence and that folks need to trade-in every 3 years. That school of thought went out on the late 70s. And I have talked about SUV and big luxury pick-ups unril I am tired in the face, simply no purpose for them as a general family vehicle.
And when was the last time a construction worker or farmer could get a plain-jane pick-up, no frills; vinyl flooring, bench seats, straight drive on the column, no A/C, just heat and "maybe" an AM/FM radio. That's all that's needed for a working man darn it, you cannot buy a pick-up like that any more.
Americans themselves are to blame too, because they want it all and they want it now. Big expensive vehicles that root them out from the common man. We ask for it and Detroit gave it to you.
Both Chrysler and GM should be forced to declare bankruptcy, because even with all the bail out, they will still have to eventually, they simply cannot and will not meet the demand that the world calls for, they only wish to satisfy the demand for American customers, who do not have the affordable income to buy them anymore.
The age of dinosaur automobiles are over, time to rethink micro and get on with it. If you are so big that you cannot fit into a compact micro car, then that is another problem most American, you eat too much too!
Caz
Caz, have you actually been to a dealership lately?? Unless something has really changed since I left Ford in 2004, you could buy your Ford pickup in as baseline as you wanted it. All you had to do was mark DELETE on the options list. We had quite a few of those go thru our dealer for farmers and fleet pickups here in Iowa.
As for the Ford Focus US version v European version. Don't blame Ford for what they were/are allowed to sell here in the US. Blame the EPA and the Hiway Safety Administration. THEY set the rules! Ford WANTED to do exactly as you wanted, but COULDN'T, because the US GOVERNMENT said NO!
And why can't another American have a big SUV or pickup for their family vehicle, if they want it and can afford it?? As long as they don't ask you or me to pay for it, I thought that's what one of the great things about America was... Freedom of choice. You may choose not to drive them, that's your choice, but why force me not to? Maybe I have a real need in my life/work for one, but don't have any need/desire for a little micro mini. I shouldn't be forced into one I don't want, any more than you should.
I agree that GM and Chrysler should have gone into Chapter 11 bankruptcy right off the bat. They should have NEVER been given ANY taxpayer money. NONE! They would have emerged on the other side stronger, leaner, and better for it. Or, if they had to go out of business, the profitable lines would have been picked up by someone else. Think Jeep. Sure, some people may not have trusted them while in bankruptcy, but those people don't trust their own mothers, I'd be willing to bet. Myself, wouldn't have mattered. The infrastucture to take care of the vehicles was, and always will be, (IF government doesn't completely destroy THAT industry, like they ARE trying to do,) and it is possible to buy an extended warranty from private sources, (not from the manufacturer,) that would take care of all the possibilities. ALL extended warranties, even those sold when the car is new, are from outside companies. Basically mechanical insurance policies is all they are. BTW, when the airline companies go into bankruptcy, people don't stop flying, so...
Yes, there were, and will be, a LOT of stupid decisions made over the years. The old Dinosaurs are dead, thanks to modern engineering. But man still wants to fast, and far. And Americans are NOT the only ones who think this way. You want expensive, fast, big?? You can find EVERY ONE of these characteristics in at least one vehicle line from EVERY country that manufactures vehicles. (Except, perhaps, Russia.) But, the MICRO MINI IS NOT the vehicle of the future in America. There will always be a market for them, just as there will ALWAYS be a market for the big and expensive. We are to diverse a people for there not to be. That is, IF we don't go Communist/Socialist first. Then, when we've lost ALL our freedoms, we'll all be just as rich as the poorest of countries. Is that what you want???? It's not what I want. I want EVERYONE to be ALLOWED to TRY to be the best they can be. And fail if they must! Failure is part of the learning curve! The old addage "If at first you don't suceed, try, try again." is only part of the complete thought. "But try it ANOTHER way!"
I'm getting off track, here, and longwinded, so I'll stop, for now.
(No offense meant towards you, Cazzie, and I hope none is taken. If it was/is, I'll apologize right here, in public.)
Don H
from the time she bought it new in '79 until it accrued 100,000 miles in 1988, and we thoroughly enjoyed owning it, because, other than routine maintainance, it never was any extra expense, and it was a really sporty car in its own right. It was not a bad investment at all.