Focus sales are up

[Alec Brandon]

Sales of the Focus are WAY up for Ford this year, most of that can be associated with the high gas prices as sales of trucks and SUV dive.

Looks like ford got lucky that even the fugly focus is selling, imagine what sales would be with the European version!

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...014/BUSINESS01

[kimbo305]

Originally Posted by Alec Brandon

Looks like ford got lucky that even the fugly focus is selling, imagine what sales would be with the European version!

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a...014/BUSINESS01

Not as good.
Read JB-S1's analysis:
http://www.speedsportlife.com/2008/0...stra/#more-891

Sadly, we enthusiasts don't know the market for the Focus as well as Ford does.

[SVTEuro]

The harsh reality is the only reason ford sells the focus in the US is Cafe averages http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Average_Fuel_Economy otherwise it would have disappered a long time ago....

[kimbo305]

Originally Posted by SVTEuro

The harsh reality is the only reason ford sells the focus in the US is Cafe averages.

Focus sales are climbing. People want a cheap, decent compact, and the Focus delivers. The SYNC is icing on a cheap cake. Why would Ford turn away this growing market?

[ras50401]

its the greatest car on earth why wouldn't it

[SixFoFalcon]

Now why on earth did they kill off the hatch? 2008 is shaping up to be "the year of the hatchback" and Ford pulled one of the best bang-for-your-buck hatches off the market. The Fiesta won't hit until 2010.

[Focus Joey]

NICE- who needs the fusion anyways lol

[grbrgrnzx5]

Wow, that was an excellent article. I agree with it in many ways, although I do disagree with it in others.

I see that he is saying that the American car market is as good as the Euro car market. It's starting to get that way, yes, bit-by-bit. As the realities of the fuel crisis hits home, America is becoming much more car friendly and less truck and SUV friendly. So let's bring some of the cooler European market cars over.

So the Focus came, and unfortunately Ford decided that it would be better (for some reason) to build two separate platforms for the car, and have one of them in Europe and the other in the Western Hemisphere (Canada included). Doesn't quite make economic sense to me, but then I am no economist. I can understand that some of the car's differences come with the territory of being saddled with different roadworthiness requirements than the European roads require. But most of those differences shouldn't equate to the requirement for a totally different platform, would they?

And as for the hatchback, I love 'em. There is a great urge for the young American to own a sporty-image hatchback. But numbers don't lie, there were considerably more notchbacks sold than hatchbacks, since many of the buyers were looking for an inexpensive, reliable, economic means of transportation. A lot of American buyers didn't like the somewhat rounded, bulbous rear haunches of the hatchback Foci, and opted for the more staid styling that came with the sedan variants.

Now all we need to do is actually get Ford to take the Focus, expand the lineup slightly, and incorporate a Hybrid system into the Focus, something domestic to take on the Civic hybrid and the Prius. The technology is there (look to the Escape), why not use it to your advantage? That'd please the CAFE people...

[SixFoFalcon]

The thing is, the numbers from '05 and '06 versus the numbers from '08 and '09 are apples and oranges. You have to look at them in context--otherwise SUVs and trucks would still be the hot ticket.

I understand the move to drop the hatchback might have seemed financially sound to some people at the time ('08 model year mandated a remodel of the car, and the cost of incorporating a hatch in the lineup would have been a losing proposition looking solely at the sales figures from '05 or '06, which is when the decision was made). The sad reality is that historical sales figures have little significance with today's changing market. It stinks that '08 and '09 will see HUGE surges of hatchback sales in the US (the numbers are already there) and I think Ford is going to be showing up late to the party w/ the Fiesta in 16 months or so.

Someone at Ford should have seen this coming. The sagging economy and surging fuel prices didn't happen out of the blue--just about every economist has seen the writing on the wall for years now. I guess they (Ford stakeholders) are happy to see hatchback sales gains in Mazda3s and the new compact Volvos, but with consumer budget being as much of a factor as ever, the 'bang for your buck' of the Focus weighs in very heavily in the compact market. Even though people had no problem paying $20k-30k a couple years ago for their new car purchases, they aren't just looking for better mpgs now--a lot of us want a lower car payment as well. Heck I gave up a LOT of power and creature comforts when I went from my loaded-to-the-max SHO to my Focus, but at the end of the day, I'm happy about it. The Focus better suits my current needs, but a sedan or coupe just wouldn't cut it for me. If I was buying an '08 or '09, the lack of a hatchback means the Focus isn't even in the running. I'd be looking at Versas and Rabbits, most likely.

I guess what I'm saying is that the new Focus is a great car and Ford will sell lots of them, but they are missing a significant piece of the pie by only offering the sedan and coupe.

[Cameroon]

Originally Posted by SVTEuro

The harsh reality is the only reason ford sells the focus in the US is Cafe averages http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Average_Fuel_Economy otherwise it would have disappered a long time ago....

Mostly true, though imagine had there been no CAFE and the retards at Ford had been allowed to literally put ALL their eggs in the truck/SUV basket.

There would be no Ford now.

[ras50401]

the hatch back was the sweetest car on earth besides the sedan lol. but nothing could replace the hatch not even the festiva

[Full_Metal_Focus]

Originally Posted by ras50401

the hatch back was the sweetest car on earth besides the sedan lol. but nothing could replace the hatch not even the festiva

You mean the Fiesta right?

[mac66]

My son just graduated college, got a real job and was looking at cars. He was primarily looking at vehicles that he could by on X or Z plan, That means GM or Ford in our house. He kinda wanted hatchback Focus which of course Ford doesn't make anymore. He then looked at the Saturn Astra and the Mazda 3. He likes the Mazda but it is more expensive than the Astra. His biggest shock was the prices. Even the base models of these compact cars are going to run you $17-18K when you add desitination charges, accessory packages and tax.

So, he decided to look for a used car if he could find a decent one.

Along the way however I had looked at the new Focus with him. Despite the lack of a hatchback and having a rather ugly exterior was actually a pretty nice car. I have/had an 02 Focus which I commuted to work in every day. It has 120K miles on it and is still peppy and fun to drive. Never thought about getting rid of it until I saw the new Focus. Suddenly, things fell into place, my son bought the 02 and I bought a new Focus.

The new Focus is not just an updated version of my old one. It is a considerably better made and finished vehicle. The interior is much nicer and refined than I
expected. Been driving my Focus back and forth to work for a week now (62 miles round trip) and if I can believe the MPG gauge I am averaging 32.4 mpg.

I still get sticker shock when I look at cars but did get the SES model with the Sync. Don't really need it but it is kind of cool to play with. This car cost $18K and change out the door with 2.9% financing over 3 years. That is a lot of money for a compact car, though I will likely drive this one for the next 10 years or perhaps until my daughter graduates from college in 4 years. One never knows.

[Forcus 9]

Loved reading the column but the reason the Focus is successful over the Astra even though it is a butt ugly decontented whore is the following:

1) Focii are cheap ($10kish)
2) GM is spending about $0 on advertising, marketing, etc for the Astra. Never seen a car commercial for one.
3) The majority of people will not buy a Saturn, no matter how its marketed or how inexpensive it is. Ever.

My only issue with the 08 Focus selling well is the brainiacs at Ford who didn't think that people would eventually tire of commuting in 3 ton vehicles will think that the decontenting and ugly body style, and "Sync", are the reasons it's selling. The context is people are upside down on trucks and SUV's, fuel prices have doubled, nobody's homes are worth anything, so the most they are willing to put up is under $15k (and I'd wager, closer to 10k) because no matter what, you still gotta drive to work. Of all the strippers with discounts, the Kia Rio, the Chevy Aveo, and the Ford Focus are the closest I can think of to $10k... of those I'd pick the Focus. I think in that context the Focus is a winner but is by no means what I believe they should have done with it.

In my opinion they can ONLY move the Focus upscale (say, Mazda 3 / Astra territory) if they have something below it (which they do not). As soon as they have the Fiesta over here...

[kimbo305]

Originally Posted by Forcus 9

1) Focii are cheap ($10kish)

They're not that cheap everywhere across the country.

[fungusfocus]

One thing about the Focus, we have 3 all told between our sons. And, I can say this, the Focus is a small car that rides and drives like a car that is much bigger than it is. Two of our cars are the dreaded '00 models one Split port, one Zetec, both 5 speeds, one over 130K one over 150K, (with original clutch) both bought used, but overall they are relatively durable, and trouble free cars that are fun to drive!

I just don't get that warm fuzzy feeling driving a Civic! And yes, I've done the lock cylinders, Including one on my $30K '00 Ford F-150.
I still love the Foci, and would buy another!

john

[Forcus 9]

Originally Posted by kimbo305

They're not that cheap everywhere across the country.

They backed down the rebates since they obviously do not need them as much to move them.

The base coupe is around $14.3, rebate is $1k, and you can knock $500-$1000 off for the "invoice" price. So around $12k.