Any experience or thoughts on the 1.0 3 cylinder Ford Focus? I'm thinking about taking a look at this one The price is actually $10,995 according to the person I spoke with yesterday. I've yet to drive it because it's 30 miles away. Anyone drive one or own one?
That's a steal!!
In reply to The_Jed: It appears they have 6 that are sitting there rotting, the other 4 that just hit the lot are $2k more, so I think this is just some stock they're itching to get rid of. The price point made it very hard to overlook.
Singleslammer should be chiming in eventually. And I think there's another 1.0 owner...
Dang, that is quite low for a brand new midsize that knocks down 40 mpg
I wonder how long til the slowness would drive me insane.
$11k for a new car? That's a steal!
Somewhat related - SWMBO has had 2 coworkers travel from MS to TX in the past 6-months for new car purchases because they were substantially cheaper(like $10-$20k on a Land Rover & BMW). Is there something specific about this, or did they just happen to catch these dealers at the right time?
That's the 1st 1.0 sedan I've ever seen. All others have been hatchbacks.
If you like trunks, that's a bargain.
edit: on wait, that's a Focus, not a Fiesta. I've driven a 1.0 Focus hatch. IMO, there's too much weight (with just me and salesgeek) for that engine. It would scare me with 5 people in it, and I've owned a 67hp Mercedes.
As noted above I have heard that the 1.0 is great in the Fiesta but not so much in the Focus. Depending on your commute it might be acceptable though. I have to deal with a few on-ramps where speed must be accumulated very quickly so I wouldn't want one.
I have a 1.0 fiesta and I average 41 mpg commuting from I40 exit 24 to exit 55 in Asheville, Nc 5 days a week which is like 1500 ft of elevation change. I prefer the 1.0 to the 1.6. my first has 41k miles on it now trouble free.
While 120,(123 in the 1.0) is adequate in the Fiesta for DD, I had my doubts for the Focus when I heard about it with 600 lbs. or so more weight.
On the other hand I heard that a juiced up 1.0 is going into the new Fiesta ST with more power than the present 1.6.
I would drive it and see what you think about the weight vs power issue. I think it will be fine in a base sedan (lightest trim), especially at that price. I just sold mine (yeah...) because the wife got a van and the Saab was worth less money than the Fiesta. If you need a car though, that is the best deal I have seen on damn near anything for a LONG time. Since you could get a Chrysler Crossfire for $16k long time.
It's truly like pulling teeth getting a response from the dealer, which is driving me nuts. My commute is pretty easy, 40 mile round trip, mostly speeds under 60 MPH. It's also just me and on the weekends about 50 pounds of detailing gear. I will definitely drive one, I am currently in a Versa sedan with a manual so I'm not super concerned about the power, I look forward to having a little bit of low end torque from the Focus though.
I have an (advertised) 115Hp VW Golf, 123Hp sounds wonderful. It's all relative.
FWIW, you can get a significant power upgrade on those engines with a reflash. I think that Ford performance even has an in-house, in-warranty version. Edit: Not to mention that they're underrated from the factory:
from 2012 " Superchips reflash of the ECU, which comes with a 12-month/30,000 mile warranty, ups the horsepower by 22 horsepower, an almost 20% increase. The real increase though comes in torque, which gains 42 ft-lbs for a total of 167, nearly on par with Ford’s own 1.6 liter, 4-cylinder EcoBoost engine that debuts this year in the 2013 Ford Fusion.
Believe it or not, this Superchips tune gives the 1.0 liter EcoBoost a power horsepower-per-liter rating than even the venerable Bugatti Veyron, while still returning awesome fuel economy. This is the future friends, you better get ready for it."
Sweet Zombie Jesus, what a price. I'm tempted to do a fly and drive myself.
Also, the Focus is a great commuter car. The seats are quite comfortable and the ride is very good.
I'm very intrigued by these power numbers. What started as a half ass "let's look at it because it's cheap" is now becoming very temping. I'm working on getting the dealer to commit to an out the door price now.
There's even a guy quoting 200 HP, but that's an expensive trip, with a new turbo, intercooler, et cetera. Buyer beware. At that point you've got a comparable output/displacement ratio as a 1200 HP LSX.
In reply to Kreb: That's mildly horrifying and impressive. We had a '14 Focus but it had the DCT so I hated it, but I loved the car itself, handled great, was easy to commute in and was comfy enough for long drives. I'm now waiting on the lackluster sales person to get me some numbers.
The 1.0 chipped seems like a great Locost motor
That seems like a great deal in commuter car. At that price, you just drive and drive w/ no worries. If I was due for a new commuter, I'd be all over that!
FlightService wrote: The 1.0 chipped seems like a great Locost motor
My thoughts exactly !
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