legacycentral bbs

Actually, I did it a couple weeks ago, but it will be around another 7 weeks or so until it comes in. Because of all the pansies, nobody stocks a stick shift 2012 Focus, so I had to order it. The Mazda has been bullet proof, more so, even, than the Legacy (though it wasn't as abused and is much younger yet), but it's got over 140k and the time seems right to where I can get the maximum value out of it before 30 mpg is considered a gas guzzler for this type of car and impending expenses become an annoyance (rust repair, antiroll bar bushings, tires, brakes, O2 sensor issue—I replaced 2 days ago with a Bosch German-made POS and it still throws the code and is now sucking gas, plus a water pump, alternator, or something has got to be coming due). So with the trade and my excellent credit, the payments on the Focus, an update of the Mazda's platform with better interior and mileage, will be $50 cheaper than the Mazda's were. This time, I recognized my laziness so I got it in is-it-dirty-or-just-gray silver with dark gray wheels. Strangely, I'm thinking the resale will be better for the manual as, if my dealer experience holds, they will be very rare. I doubt many other people getting a hatchback would want to wait so long for it and the ones that will be ordered by dealers will be strippers to get people in the door, yet since I'm ordering nearly the sportiest version possible (until the ST is for sale), it might be in a little demand when I move it on. I got the SE hatch, 5-speed, sport package, sunroof, and 17" wheels. And I got a removable Thule roof rack as I got sick of being a cheap prick and tying my kayak to the roof on top of foam blocks. That especially won't do when I build a wood kayak. Feels good to buy something American made in America. I hope I don't regret it. But then, I can't think of anything but American cars and the Lotus Elise that I find remotely interesting now. Damn Mazda had to put that stupid Joker face on the 3, otherwise I'd wait for the Skyactiv version coming out in the fall.

Anyone else ever order a car? How long did it take?

Good pick on the Focus. I used to work at a Ford dealer ten years ago. And the Focus was a great little car. I would think they only improved it. Did you get the Sync?

No. The only criticisms I've read were things I didn't want—the Sync and the automatic (though I had to test drive one and I thought the dual clutch was much nicer than an auto, but I guess if someone actually likes slush boxes outside of an old Cadillac, it would seem harsh). I'm not big on gadgets and stuff anyway. The base stereo with the SE runs an ipod, so that's all I care about and all I'd ever use. I also like the console better on the cheaper SE (the highest trim level they offer the manual with), as the higher end versions have the parking brake where it could hit your knee to make room for bigger cup holders. I do like the Titanium's darker headlights, though. I MIGHT take mine apart and paint the chrome gun metal. I hate the taillights and the tiny rear window (every car's a fucking pill box from Iwo Jima now), but I think the big grilles don't look as bad in person. As usual, the wheels definitely make a difference. With the sport package, I hope it handles close to the Mazda. Strangely, there's a discount for the sport package, which I would think would be more popular as it's not expensive, comes with much nicer seats, 16" alloys, and rear DISC BRAKES. Seriously, I can't believe drums are still offered on any car (though I know Ford isn't the only one). 1990 Legacy L—4 wheel disc brakes.

A friend of mine has the first generation Focus and this is a much nicer car.

Let us know how you like when you get it and post some pics.

evolutionmovement wrote:Anyone else ever order a car? How long did it take?

6.5 weeks from order to delivery. That also including shipping from Japan (car was the last shipment before the earthquake).

My closest-to-new-car purchase was when I was a senior in high school, in 1998... I bought a "Triple Black" 1996 Chevy Impala SS... CASH. I walked into the Chevy dealership, and the sales guy said, "what can I help ya with, son?" I said, "first of all, y'er not my dad, so don't call me 'son'... second, I'm taking that big black bitch home with me today." He laughs, and says, "how about we look into getting you into something more realistic, like a Cavalier." I said, "maybe you didn't hear me... I'm taking that Impala home, TODAY." He asked me how I was gonna pay for it... I pulled out my checkbook. He laughs, and I told him that if he wasn't gonna sell me the car, I'd go across the street, and buy the one they had on the lot. Wrote one check for it, and drove it home. A year later, it got a T56 6-speed swap from a wrecked Camaro SS, and then 6 months after that, I hit Bambi at 140+mph. Vaporized the deer, and totalled the car.

Damn, that sucks! I really liked those Impalas. With the 6-speed, it must have been awesome.

They had a black Mustang GT with red leather interior on the lot. I've never been a Mustang guy, but I would totally have bought that instead if I didn't need something more practical. Then again, if I were going to pay that much for something impractical, I'd get a used Elise or C6.

6.5 weeks?! Dammit, Ford's building these things in friggin' Michigan! I realize they're trying to meet demand, but still.

Ford was actually help up quite a bit by the earthquake... a lot of their paint comes from Japan.

Link

I'm surprised you didn't like the SYNC. I've been in a ton of rentals lately and overall I like the SYNC system. Easy to use, simple and effective. I especially like streaming Pandora over bluetooth from the phone.

Now, the SYNC upgrade (called MyTouch or MyFord or something) is horrible. Over engineered, attention grabbing shovelware that doesn't really add any new features. It just repackages the SYNC features in a fancy screen setup.

I didn't try it, but I don't think I read a positive review of it. I'm sure it's a good idea for someone, but it's nothing I'd ever use. All I need is an ipod connection and some speakers, preferably with the controls as ergonomic as possible. I don't listen to the radio be it terrestrial, satellite, or internet (I even remove my radio antennas for reduced drag and I've never used bluetooth for anything in my life). Every electronic thing I own seems to have 50 functions I have no use for (yet not enough memory or ergonomic enough design for the things I do use them for). I also talk to myself all the time and I wouldn't want the car taking that as commands to do something. When I'm behind the wheel, I'm either driving or thinking to music (which helps me think) and nothing else. SYNC costs money too, and I'm also a cheap prick so I really weigh out the benefits of every dollar I spend. I even checked to see the price difference of tires between the 16" and 17" wheels and it turns out to be minimal. Going with the 17"s was me really splurging. Not the sunroof, though, as I consider them a necessity and I use them all the time.

I generally like Sync, as I think it's one of the more user-friendly entertainment interface systems out there. Of course, it is essentially a computer with Microsoft software... I can overload the system pretty easily if I run everything all at once. Also, you have to press a button for the system to listen to voice commands on most cars nowadays.

MyTouch is horrible though, I agree. Consumer Reports gave it a scathing review and took the 2011 Edge off their Recommended list because of it. Way too intricate and bewildering.

As they say, the worst car today is usually better than the best car 20 years ago, especially since these new cars are requiring less and less maintenance. Mitsubishi as well as Subaru are going to the blue 10-year coolant exclusively; I wonder if your car will have the same. So I don't see why the Focus shouldn't last at least as long as your Mazda.

Sent from my HTC Droid Incredible using Tapatalk

The problem isn't the running (the MZR 2.3 almost makes the EJ22 seem like a Colombo V12 in reliability, though I suppose it is still young in comparison), it's the body. The plastic and metal damages and dents easily and the rust protection is disappointing to say the least (much worse than the old Legacy). Unfortunately, that seems to be the standard for most of the makes now. The automakers are adding content and using more expensive materials, yet hardly raising prices. I guess they have to make up for it by saving money on the rust protection that most makes seemed to be much better at 20-10 years ago and that sends a car to the junkers regardless of whether it runs (which is how my GLs went).

I am satisfied to read that the 2.0 DI in the Focus is based on the MZR built under license. Now I wonder what it would be like if they had offered a 2.3 version. I suppose someone could maybe build one, were they so inclined as the only difference was the stroke. I'm guessing, but I would think the rods and crank would swap in, which would keep the special DI pistons. But, then, it probably wouldn't be worth it with the ST coming, though the $27k I read it will sell for is way too much when the Mazdaspeed3 is almost $4k cheaper. Dammit, I need to keep repeating: I need the mileage, I need the mileage. . .

But I still haven't even gotten my damn VIN yet. I have a roof rack with kayak mount waiting and I just had to drop $400 on brakes for the Mazda, which is one of the things I was trying to avoid. This isn't a Pagani, they must build 25-35 of these an hour. They are selling like crazy, though.

Finally got an ETA on the car for the car to be here on August 15. Around 10 weeks. I figured it would be a little over and that's not too bad.

Of course, I just had to replace my rear pads and rotors on the Mazda and buy a wideband O2 sensor (which was a real PITA as it's a CA emissions sensor, specific to that emission spec, yet the rest of the car is Federal in that it only has 2 sensors instead of 3. I had to call 2 dealers—the first of which, the one I bought the car from originally, gave me a bogus part # so I couldn't order it elsewhere for $120 like I finally ended up doing instead of the anal rape $300 they wanted—and talk to the cheaper wholesaler ((oxygensensors.com)) and an engineer at the sensor manufacturer to sort this out. That was after changing out the sensor with a Bosch narrowband AutoZone said was the match, ditching the connector it came with and replacing it with crimp ons when OBD2 said it couldn't read it, then having to buy another VOM meter since my old ones' probes got broken and the replacements I bought after trying 3 places didn't friggin' fit! Finally, the 2.7 V I got told me I had a 4-wire wideband for the top one, which was CA-spec only for 2006. Almost like owning a Eurotrash car except this is the first thing I've had to touch on or near the engine besides spark plugs at about 130k miles). Oi.

Picked up the car today. Was built July 26 and scheduled to be delivered Aug. 15, but got here early. I like the shifter up higher and it doesn't have the stupid ^&%$ electronic throttle programming of the Mazda where it would only accelerate off the line if you launched it, but if you babied it off the clutch and hit the gas hard, it would hesitate BAD until it figured out what you wanted it to do. However, it does have less bottom end being a 2.0 vs. a 2.3. Quieter ride, one-touch closed sunroof, and no key release button are all improvements. Shifter action isn't quite as good as Mazda, but not bad and nowhere near the notchy monster the Legacy is (even if I like that because it fits the car's character).

One touch sunroof close is almost worth it on its own. Having seen a few locally, I'm not completely sold on the styling, buy at least 'domestic' car makers are making progress.
Let us know what kind of mileage you get.

Picture is so tiny. Straining my eyes. *..*

Yeah, I use FB as a photo host and they fucked with their settings so I couldn't find a way to link to it as anything but a thumbnail, but really, it's just a Ford Focus anyway. Drove it to Montreal. Averaged better mileage than my Mazda on its first tank. There's a ton of them up here, mostly top of the line Titaniums. No other stick shifts. Tons of Fiat 500's, but I saw a Fiat Coupe, which was a cool spot since I haven't seen one since I went to Italy in 1997.