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"Used Ford Focus Overview And How To Buy At The Best Price!"
Introduced for the 2000 model year, the Ford Focus has won a solid reputation for its appealing combination of style, decent handling for an economy car, fuel efficiency and value for the dollar. The bottom line is that it's one of Ford's most popular cars.
For those possibly interested in buying a used Focus, here's a general overview, starting with the most recent models:
While there's only been one generation of Focus in the United States (two globally), there was a fairly significant refresh for the 2008 model year which has carried through to the current models. This included the introduction of the coupe body style, updated interior and exterior styling, a more powerful engine and new safety features.
Initially, the trims included base S, midgrade SE and sporty SES models for both the coupe and sedan. This was changed for the 2009 Focus, with the sedan being available in S, SE, SES and SEL trims, while the coupe is offered as the SE and SES. In addition, some of these used Focus models can be found with the newly added stability control option. The coupe also received a minor exterior revision.
Under the hood of all of these newer Focus models is a 2.0 liter inline four-cylinder engine that pumps out 140 horsepower. Shoppers in California-level emission states can find the cleaner, PZEV-certified version of this engine that produces 130 horsepower. Transmission-wise, all can be found with either the standard 5-speed manual or the optional 4-speed automatic.
Gas mileage performance for a manual transmission Focus is very good at 24 mpg city and 35 mpg on the highway. So is the automatic, actually, with the same in the city and losing only 2 mpg on the highway. And overall, they both provide a rather engaging driving experience for a car in this price range.
While the interiors of these Focus models are reasonably attractive, they may be a little inferior to some of the segment leaders when it comes to materials quality. They do, however, compensate with the addition of Ford's Sync system (developed with Microsoft) which allows for voice-controlled cell phone, PDA and MP3 devices.
Prior to the 2008 update: The Ford Focus was introduced for the 2000 model year and offered as a two-door hatchback ZX3, a ZX4 sedan and a ZXW wagon. These used Focus models can be found with either a fairly unenergetic SOHC 2.0 liter inline four-cylinder good for 110 horsepower, or a quite capable, and therefore preferred, DOHC 2.0 liter engine (the Zetec) that was rated at 130 horsepower. Transmissions were again either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic.
Used Ford Focus shoppers should be aware that there were a number of significant changes in the earlier models. From 2000 through 2004, the trim levels were usually base LX, midgrade SE and uplevel ZTS. Optional front-seat side airbags and antilock brakes (ABS) can be found in some of these vehicles, as can stability control which was offered for several years beginning in 2001.
For 2002, the four-door hatchback ZX5 was added. Beginning in 2004, a 2.3 liter inline-4 that generated 145 horsepower and cleaner emissions was made available. In addition, the quite hard to find and short-lived (2002-2004) Focus SVT hatchback featured a 170 horsepower four-cylinder engine and a 6-speed transmission.
There was also a mild update for 2005 which included some exterior cosmetic changes, a redesigned interior control layout inside and new engine choices (a 136 horsepower, 2.0 liter four-cylinder or a sedan-only 2.3 liter, four-cylinder that produced 151 horsepower). In 2008, both the hatchback and wagon were dropped and the trim levels were renamed S, SE and SES.
Overall, we believe the Ford Focus has a lot going for it as a used car purchase due to its value pricing, appealing design, decent handling and very good fuel economy.
How To Get The Best Price On A Pre-Owned Ford Focus:
There are actually several ways to buy a used Focus at the lowest price, even at wholesale.
ONE - Car Auctions:
You can go to Public Car Auctions in your own geographic area ... no license required. While this will take some additional time and effort on your part, there are indeed some truly excellent opportunities for those who shop these events.
Another excellent method involves getting several used car dealers to compete for your business. See the details in this Used Car Buying Guide. It's just amazing what happens to prices when you force dealers to fight for your sale.
Also ...
If you're interested in a "Brand New" Ford Focus, there are truly some outstanding deals to be had right now if you know how.
People swear by the interesting method in this article on how to get the absolute lowest price on a new Focus, especially given the current slow economic environment.
