Only knock on the exterior design is the door handles are a little wonky. So far it has been the best car I have ever owned and I have owned many cars in my life time. Microsoft sync is a great touch, makes everything easy switching from phone to iPod is a breeze. Only let me down once when the water pump let go at 99,000 miles. I have had many minor problems occur.
Our Take on the 2008 Ford Focus When Ford's Focus burst onto the small body-type scene at the beginning of the millennium, it was a revolutionary small car. I love the heated seats and side mirrors, just wish the seats were fabric, not leather. It's been a rare small-car success for a domestic automaker, as usually this segment is dominated by import brands. It may look daunting, but the buttons are easy to reach and use. On the other hand, in the preceding 315 miles of mixed highway and city driving, our test car had recorded an average mileage of 22. I quickly became addicted to it and heartily recommend it. I have owned it for about 2 years now and it was used before I purchased it.
Ford replaced a lot of sheet metal on the new Focus, but the overall effect looks like a patch job. Compacts from Mazda and Toyota also add to a competitive landscape that is quite daunting. It works as a Bluetooth connection for your phone as well as a voice command interface for digital music players. Frontal impact scores rated a top score of Good, but neither side- nor rear-impact tests have been done. Introduction When the Ford Focus debuted for the 2000 model year, it was heralded as an American compact that offered European driving characteristics in an edgy and stylish package.
Engine runs very well and is perfect for driving to work or school. For our test of the voice-dialing feature, we decided to enter into our cell phone six names with similar spellings and pronunciations to try to catch the system out. My 2008 Focus presently has 32,500 miles and I follow the factory maintenance schedule as stated by Ford. On the occasion that it did struggle calling Andrea instead of Andreas , we enunciated more deliberately the second time, and the system dialed the correct contact. But the most significant upgrade for 2008 has to be the addition of the Microsoft-developed Sync system.
The engine has just enough power to make it fun to drive and it is a very comfortable highway cruiser. I have been getting 42. My mileage just around town, is 28. Other than it's reliability, it gets great gas mileage, has features like a great sound system, comfortable, etc. Its biggest news is Sync, a connectivity system developed in concert with Microsoft. New for the 2008 model year is Ford's Sync system. But the outside was sharpened up while the interior got a major revamp with improved quality, better soundproofing and a neater design.
Also, there is a consistent problem with the lock actuator on all the doors where it randomly decides to stop working - in the lock or unlock position. I have had nothing go wrong with it yet and just keep up on oil changes, etc. Five-speed automatics are increasingly common for this segment, but the Ford must do with a four-speed. . Also, I live in Wisconsin and we have really harsh winters.
With the phonebook transferred, Sync automatically indexes all of the contact names, which are then accessible to dial by voice command. We were comfortable, were averaging 36-37. Had the 2008 Focus for about 6 months now. Well-done and my hats off to Ford. Powertrains and Performance Just one engine is available in the Ford Focus for 2008. The new Focus is just. I would recomend this car to anyone on a budget but still want an awesome car in every way.
Unfortunately, Ford has done little with the car since then to keep it in contention with the strong import players in its segment. If I need to pass a slowpoke car, of which there are plenty on the roads I travel, my pretty little red Focus jumps into action and gets me past the car and back into my lane without worry. It manages to pass at highway speeds only with a harsh downshift and limited power afterward. I wish I never sold it. Still, compared to other small cars, the Focus' interior is nothing special in terms of design and materials, even with the optional aluminum-like trim highlights. When the moon roof is open it is fairly quiet. The interior remains quiet on the highway, as there's little wind or engine noise.
This is equally true of the head unit controls, which comprise a mixture of hard black plastic buttons and dials. I'm not big on the look of the squared off front, nor the fin on the trunk - but those are minor. Don't really know where noise comes from, I'd guess the suspension system. I had the stabilization bar replaced about a year ago and just had the front brakes done. It retained some of its agile handling, plus the composed ride and roomy interior. Great on gas and good for travel to work or school. Out go the hatchback and wagon body styles of the previous generation, replaced with a more bulbous and curvaceous European design reminiscent of a squished Ford Mondeo.
One of the most remarkable things about our Sync-enabled 2008 Focus was the fact that, at first glance, the car's cabin looks extremely threadbare in terms of luxury appointments and tech toys. Test the tech 1: The telephone game The two standout functions that Sync offers are control of Bluetooth hands-free calling and control of digital music via a combination of voice command and a hard-button control interface on the car's central column. We put 70k more miles? With Sync, the whole process is a lot more straightforward and intuitive. Fuel tank is a modest 11 gallons. In profile, though, there is less to like, especially on the new coupe. Driving Impressions No one will mistake the 2008 Ford Focus for a Mazda 3, but the car is reasonably fun to drive thanks to quick steering. But there was one big drawback - the list price.