What’s the logic behind these actions? Ford was in big financial trouble but still had one thing going for it - versatility and versatility alone - so it gets a new CEO and the following happens to the Focus line INSTANTLY:
Goodbye wagon; goodbye hatchback; and (worst of all) goodbye towing capacity.
As for the new 6 airbags standard, I submit that this is the last thing we want if we do our own maintenance.
And don’t broadcast the fact that the Focus still is high enough to permit easy entry and exit for us old folks. If the CEO hears this, we’ll lose that feature too.
The Ford Focus had towing capacity? That must be a joke. If you want to tow anything, you should have a car with at least a V-6 engine, and that is the bare minimum in my opinion. Nobody should have been towing anything with a car that small anyway.
As for the six airbags, I would not want to drive a car that small without them and having them would not keep me from doing my own maintenance.
On a serious note, the Honda Civic has gone in a similar direction. It was never meant to tow, but Honda has done away with its Civic hatchback and they did away with the wagon years ago. I think this is because new technology allows them to make a two-door coupe that is just as light weight as the old hatchback with more cargo space. Also, demand for the wagon has fallen now that you can get a car-based SUV that gets decent fuel economy and is a more attractive vehicle that has a broader appeal. I say good riddance to the hatchback if they can make a two-door coupe that is just as fuel efficient. As for the wagon, if fuel prices continue to climb, you might see it come back, but the Focus and the Civic are popular cars for young people and young people don’t want a station wagon. As for the six airbags, that is progress. Roll with it. It won’t stop you from doing your own maintenance.
“The Ford Focus had towing capacity? That must be a joke.”
Where are your calculations, based upon the fundamental laws of physics, to back up this scoff? Per Consumer Reports Cars publication of 2007, the Focus would tow 1185 pounds - equivalent to a Home Depot’s assemble-it-yourself trailer loaded to ITS capacity. Look in the remote past and see what 30 HP engines have towed coast to coast.
“and having them [6 air bags] would not keep me from doing my own maintenance.”
Then where would you be getting your maintenance manuals. Today’s commercial maintenance manuals do not show how to do anything wherever an airbag might be in the way, or even nearby. Instead, such manuals plainly tell you not to attempt it.
“now that you can get a car-based SUV that gets decent fuel economy”
Which vehicle; and where are your statistics to back THIS up? Certainly none was listed in the aforementioned Consumer Reports publication.
You’re complaining about airbags keeping you from doing maintenance? You do a lot of maintenance in the roof pillars and seat backs?
I don’t need statistics to back up my opinions. My opinions are all that I offered. Personally, I would not tow anything with a four-cylinder economy car. It simply isn’t designed to tow enough appreciable weight to justify the cost of the hitch. If I had to haul 1,185 pounds, I would either buy a small truck, which is designed to tow (if it was going to be on a regular basis), or rent a more appropriate vehicle.
The newest Toyota Rav 4 and Honda CR-V’s EPA estimates for highway mileage are both 27 MPG. But again, since I called it “decent fuel economy,” it is just my opinion that 27 MPG at highway speeds is decent. You can’t really back up an opinion with statistics. It is just an opinion. Keep in mind, I didn’t call it stellar.
Do me a favor. Explain to me exactly how an airbag system will interfere with maintenance. I have air bags in my Civic and I change my own oil, transmission fluid, air filter, and spark plugs. I also do my own brake jobs. I have never once worried about setting off an airbag while doing any of these maintenance tasks. Adding more air bags isn’t going to make these jobs any different. Just don’t mess with the air bags. This is a no-brainer. I don’t need statistics to back-up a no-brainer.
Now, if you meant “repairs” when you wrote “maintenance,” that is another story. I would never work on the blower motor for the climate controls. It is under the dash right near the passenger air bag. I would farm that job out. But that is a repair item, not a maintenance item and I assume your vocabulary skills are good enough to know the difference between “maintenance” and “repair.”
Those 30 HP engines that towed from coast to coast were inside vehicles that were designed to handle that weight. Horsepower is only a single consideration. I am actually more concerned about the vehicle’s frame and rear suspension. I would not want to load the tongue weight of the average trailer on the rear end of most front-wheel drive cars, let alone an econobox like the Ford Focus. I don’t have statistics to support my opinion that this is unsafe…because it is an OPINION! This is based on years of experience RVing and working as a professional driver. I would prefer a safer setup, you know, one that isn’t loaded to full capacity. Excess capacity will give you a safety margin. Whether it is a semi towing a fully loaded 53’ trailer or a Ford Focus towing 1,185 pounds, loading any vehicle to full capacity requires special handling and should be avoided whenever possible. Really, if you want a tow vehicle, you are better off with a Toyota Tacoma. How do you know you are not exceeding that 1,185 pound capacity? Are you weighing every piece of cargo and doing the math? Do you take it to a truck stop and weigh it every time you load it? I am pretty sure you estimate, and if that is the case, you should keep a safety margin with any tow vehicle.
the Focus would tow 1185 pounds - equivalent to a Home Depot’s assemble-it-yourself trailer loaded to ITS capacity.
I wouldn’t tow anywhere near that much in a small fwd vehicle…unless it was very flat and only 2 miles from my house…then MAYBE I might do it. If you’ve done a lot of towing like I have FWD’s are NOT very good for towing…A good RWD is best.
Then where would you be getting your maintenance manuals. Today’s commercial maintenance manuals do not show how to do anything wherever an airbag might be in the way, or even nearby. Instead, such manuals plainly tell you not to attempt it.
I’ve had airbags in the last 5 vehicles we’ve owned, they’ve NEVER prevented me from doing ANY maintenance on my vehicles. This includes oil changes, brake jobs, timing-belts, tune-ups and the odd part failure. What jobs do you see airbags preventing you from doing???
Which vehicle; and where are your statistics to back THIS up? Certainly none was listed in the aforementioned Consumer Reports publication.
Toyota Highlander and the Highlander hybrid. But you seem to like Fords…How about the Escape Hybrid.
Window cranks break often. Dings in doors occur often. Side windows are broken often, whether by collision, stray gravel, or vandals. 6 air bags in a vehicle without a third bench would mean that some would be in the doors.
Horn switches and turn light switches break often, and the steering column typically is loaded with other switches as well. Any vehicle with even one air bag has one in the steering wheel.
All of these items are repairs. If you fix things like that so much that you consider it maintenance, good riddance to the Focus!
The term “maintenance” should be limited to things that you do on a schedule. Things that break are fixed by repairs.
I agree with you madmilt! There are things like a lawn mower, a camper, a small boat or maybe a golf cart that you can haul with a four cylinder vehicle. Your Focus can probably pull the heck out of those things!
Also, don’t let the folks who analyze your sentences for possible semantic errors (who cares about the difference between repairs and maintenance?)get you down. You meant air bags and other high tech equipment makes working on your car at home nearly impossible.
It isn’t just about the simple word choice. It is about irrational love for a car that is evidently plagued by a need for constant repairs. My car is nine years old with 175,000 miles and I have never had to repair a window crank, a side window, a horn switch, or a turn light switch. These are not normal wear items. They are expected to last the life of the car. Planning for the event that they need repaired is just plain silly. If I ever get to the point where I am willing to forgo the latest safety features because my car is that poorly built, I will look at other brands.
I own a ford focus zx5 2003 and i have a hitch every 6 months we take it and the four wheelers and tow it all on my little car i have 3 kids and it has plenty of room for them and plenty of trunk room so i dont know what all the complaining is about i have great gas mileage 11 gallon tank and 300 plus miles too it so i think that for ford it was a good decision
Focus’s only purpose is to make sure their average CAFE (fuel mileage) standards have a lower # to keep the their average down so other gas suckers can exist. Its not even close to a profit maker for them a likely a loser.
The problem is that they are only going to sell vehicles that are in demand and make a profit. I suspect that a high percentage of the focus sales are for fleet (rental car) service. Don’t worry about the new ones, just find the vintage car you like and buy a good example. Keep it in good condition and drive it forever. Let the new car buyers deal with all the air-bags and other crap.
What about fleet (maid service), fleet (computer service), fleet (light courier service), etc. I see enough Ford Focuses used in commercial fleets to doubt thoroughly that the hatchback and wagon are losers.
You meant air bags and other high tech equipment makes working on your car at home nearly impossible.
How??..Could you please explain??? What repairs or maintenance does AirBags or other high-tech devices prevent you from working on???
Ford analyzed the market for the hatchback and wagon. They found that it was not in their best interest to continue manufacturing those particular body styles. Any time a manufacturer makes this decision, it will anger someone. I know someone who was very disappointed when GM stopped selling the HUMMER H1 in the USA. He has an older one, and wanted another. But GM does still sell the H1 in certain parts of Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Just not here.
[quote] I know someone who was very disappointed when GM stopped selling the HUMMER H1 in the USA.[quote]
I actually knew someone who was upset the AMC stopped making the Gremlin.
I’d be a bit nervous about working within the passenger compartment in the vicinity of one of the airbags or its wiring. I don’t know if shorting any of the wires could detonate one, but I don’t want to be right there when it pops out. I can understand why repair manuals would CTA by simply telling you not to fool with them. Even if you’re not hurt, a replacement airbag can be quite expensive. That said, if you’re a braver man than I, go for it!
You know the Lime Guy in the eBay commercial? ;^)
My Mom was unhappy when AMC went under. She had an AMC America. You know, the overweight, well-rounded Gremlin. I couldn’t believe it when she bought it. But everything else about her made up for that peccadillo.
“Ford analyzed the market for the hatchback and wagon. They found that…”
But do you KNOW that? Did Ford analyze the market before coming out with the Edsel?