- sedan 155,560
- 4,250 high price
- Vernon, CT
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- autoshopper.com
2004 ford focus review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Smooth and comfortable with sporty performance. introductionford focus continues to be one of the most enjoyable compacts in its price range. Overall, it feels cushier than other compacts, both in terms of its comfortable seats and its soft suspension. It's fun to drive, however, with agile handling. It's comfortable on long trips and stable at high speeds. The focus is among the best of the compacts in terms of ride quality and has been lauded by the enthusiast publications for its handling. For 2004, ford has revised the steering and suspension to further improve the ride and handling. ford's new edge styling has helped the focus stand out from the crowd. It comes in a wide variety of body styles to meet many different needs and lifestyles. It's a versatile car, particularly the three-door and five-door hatchback models with their flip-down seats that provide lots of cargo space. the 130-horsepower engine that comes on most models delivers brisk acceleration performance and was revised for 2003 for improved response and quieter operation. For 2004, a larger, 2. 3-liter engine is also available that produces 145 horsepower and lower emissions. The 170-horsepower svt versions offer thrilling acceleration performance, sporty handling, and excellent brakes, yet give up nothing in terms of practicality. Lx comes with wind-up windows and does not come standard with air conditioning. The sporty zts 15,535) is equipped with the 145-horspower 2. 3-liter engine, driver's lumbar support, aluminum wheels, speed control, a tilt-telescoping steering wheel, and nicer trim. zx3 12,725) is a three-door hatchback equipped as a sport compact car with the 130-horsepower twin-cam engine, 15-inch aluminum alloy wheels, fog lights, and a cd/mp3 player. The zx5 15,035) comes standard with the 130-horsepower zetec engine, 15-inch alloy wheels, fog lamps. Also standard is a cd/mp3 player. Zx5 premium package 1755) adds the 2. 3-liter engine, p205/50r16 tires on 16-inch alloy wheels, rear stabilizer bar, dual power mirrors, fog lamps, am/fm/cd/mp3, power windows, power locks, map light, body-color trim, speed control, and leather-wrapped tilt/telescoping steering wheel. wagons are available in se and ztw trim. The se wagon 17,130) comes standard with the 130-horsepower dohc zetec engine and a choice of manual or automatic transmission. The ztw wagon 17,745) is an enthusiast's sport wagon with 16-inch alloy wheels and a six-disc in-dash cd changer. Leather seating surfaces 695) are optional. svt versions are available in three-door hatchback 18,590) and five-door hatchback 19,090) models. Both feature the ford special vehicle team's 170-hp version of the 2. 0-liter engine. Focus svt models boast a getrag six-speed manual transmission, svt-tuned suspension, and special trim, including a rear spoiler. A new european package 3,410) includes black leather recaro seats, special wheels, the audiophile system, the cold weather package, high-intensity discharge headlights, and a moonroof. Competition orange and screaming yellow are among the new colors. walkaroundford focus features edgy styling with sweeping arcs and crisp creases. Large pie-section headlamps give the front end a distinctive appearance. Several models have fog lamps in the grille opening below the front bumper. There's a similar, but smaller opening above the bumper that houses the turn signals. Both are outlined by arcs. The front and rear fenders are highlighted with geometric curves creased into the sheetmetal. the roofline is highly arched, particularly noticeable when parked next to another car. The roofline is truncated just aft of the rear axle line. Wedge-shaped tail lamps set in the c-pillars enliven an otherwise plain rear end of the zx3 and zx5. Lower bodyside pvc coating provides protection from stone dings on all models, and the underbody gets pvc coating as well. Clearcoat paint is standard across the board. zx3 and lx have black rather than body-color bodyside protective molding, but this is offset on the zx3 by black rocker panels. The door handles on all models are black as well. The door handles on black cars blends in, but black also masks the distinctive lines of the focus that are accentuated by the brighter colors. High-series models get new body-color decklid trim. interiorford designed the focus from the inside out for maximum interior space within the confines of a compact body. The high roofline provides lots of head room and makes entry and exit easier. the front seats are comfortable, cushier than those in other compacts, and are bolstered well with side support. The seats have an exceptionally high hip point, providing a better view down the road and more leg room front and rear. Manual height adjustment allows almost everyone to find a comfortable position behind the wheel and an easy arm's length away from the manual shifter. Leather upholstery is also available. the dash is a collection of arcs, a theme that reinforces the exterior design. The instrument panel is covered by an asymmetrically curved and sharply creased bezel. High series models feature a silver instrument cluster. A 7000-rpm tachometer flanks a 140-mph speedometer in the zx5. Both instruments are round and easily readable, clearly marked with white numerals on black, though the tach has no redline. the center dash panel is formed by an arc that sweeps upward across the dash to the right side of the car and an inverted parabola. In the zx5, zts, and ztw it's finished in brushed aluminum instead of black. The radio fits into the top of this area. Zx3 and zx5 models come standard with mp3 players. Also available is a six-disc cd player. Snuggled into the top left is a 12-volt power outlet and trinket tray. Circular ventilation controls feature the edgy styling with buttons styled to fit the room available. The trunk release, on the left end of the dash, is triangular as well, shaped to fit into the intersection of the arcs outlining the instrument panel. with its asymmetrical design, the interior looks both informal and rich at the same time. Control knobs all have distinctive shapes for easy identification. Rotary controls are rubberized for pleasing soft-touch operation. The steering wheel on the zx5 is leather-covered and satisfying to touch. Even the plastics used on the dash and door panels have a finger-friendly soft-touch feel. Once there, rear-seat riders have lots of legroom, thanks to widely spaced runners under the front seats, plus adult-sized head and shoulder room. Rear-seat air ducts add comfort winter and summer. fold the back seat of the hatchbacks and there's 18. 5 cubic feet of cargo space. Access to this area is easy through the big rear hatch. The versatility of the hatchback design is lost on many americans, who prefer the more formal sedan profile with its conventional trunk, but the hatchback design is hugely popular among europeans for its practicality. The sedan's trunk, on the other hand, can hold two standard-size suitcases and comes with 60/40 split fold-down rear seats. Fold the rear seats down in a focus wagon and there's 55. 8 cubic feet of cargo capacity, or 37. 5 cubic feet with the rear seats in place. driving impressionbehind the wheel, the ford focus is an enjoyable car. All models are fun to drive. The focus is smooth and stable at high speeds with responsive steering and excellent brakes. The focus feels softer and smoother.
4,250 Vernon, CTVernon, CT at autoshopper.com