" wrote in message
...
>
>On Sunday, January 13, 2013 9:13:35 AM UTC-6, dwight wrote:

>snip<
>
> > On November 10, 2012, I dumped BOTH Mustangs at the local Ford
> > dealership
> > and picked up a 2013 Focus S sedan. Some would say that I took a beating
> > on
> > the trade-ins, I would say that I instantly saved a boatload of money.
>
> Can't say I blame you. At some point either you go into full restoration
> mode or
> you cut your losses. Your decision was easy -- you need to use the car on
> a daily
> basis, so you cut your losses and bought new.

I wouldn't say easy, but, yeah, easier.

> > For Patrick - I wanted a black Focus, base model, no options. The
> > dealership
> > actually had two, but both had one option - Ford SYNC. I took one,
> > anyway.
> > Immediately, I had to modify - the car came with 15" wheels and plastic
> > wheel covers; I ordered a set of actual wheels to replace them (even
> > though
> > it's a lease, I couldn't live with plastic wheel covers). The car has no
> > cruise control (an option), and although it has power windows up front,
> > it
> > has window cranks in the back.
>
> I would have done the same with the wheels, and needless to say the [lack
> of] options.

I was also thinking about shelling out another $30 for the smoker's package,
but decided not to. The interior is solid black black black, and the car is
NOT smoker-friendly. The wind comes blasting in sideways through the driver
window, and there's no way to not get ash all over the place. I don't mind
vacuuming out the interior, but not every other day. )

> > My only complaint, really, is that the dashboard has two display
> > screens - one showing MPG and trip meters, the other for the SYNC
> > system,
> > and I find no way to turn either one off.
>
> SYNC, from what I've read, is out of sync. As for the Focus, it's a sharp
> car.
> I like it! I want to test drive an ST version, perhaps with my son when
> he visits again.

No problems with SYNC. Handles my phone and iPod just fine. Voice commands
remind me a lot of Siri. No, it doesn't understand every command, but not
for lack of trying! Little things - like calling my daughter (listed as
"Emmy" in my phonebook) sometimes results in a call to my niece Ileen. I
actually have to pronounce it as "ee-mill-ee" to get it right. Otherwise, no
problems.

Every review of the ST has been super-positive. The almost always compare it
to the VW GTi, another car that I have no experience with. I'm really
pleased with the suspension and handling on this base model sedan, and I
can't imagine how much better it is on that tweaked out hatchback, but all
reviewers are mightily impressed.

> > I can see why the Focus is now the best-selling car in the U.S., and a
> > leader globally. It is a well-built, fun to drive automobile. And, while
> > I've driven many cars since, this is the first new car built since 1993
> > that
> > is mine, all mine. Two months in, and I'm still getting used to that.
> > It's
> > still weird when I open the garage door and see a Focus sitting there.
>
> I found it odd too to be out of the Fox world. But, life goes on.

Hah! You know me, but you don't know me. This is a fundamental,
earth-shattering change for me. Life goes on, sure, but life today is
nothing like what it was yesterday. The last time my life was shaken by so
monumental a change was when my kids were born. And maybe the day Jean
brought a dog home...

> > I have to point out that my wife, having had three successive leased
> > Escapes, traded in her 2010 Escape for a 2013 Focus SE (with all the
> > trimmings) at the end of October. Playing with her SE helped make my
> > decision easier. The only change I would make today is in the wheels -
> > where
> > she has the 17" wheel/tire combo, my base model sedan has 15" (my John
> > Deere
> > has bigger tires) wheels with general "touring" tires. I don't want to
> > spring for a new wheel/tire combo on a leased car, but I'm trying to
> > burn up
> > those tires, so I can order a somewhat better performance set.
>
> Or, one day when she's not paying attention, swap her wheels and tires
> onto yours. <grin>

And you KNOW she wouldn't notice. Nah, I'll wait. Shouldn't be long now -
already 3,000+ on those puppies.

> > * Three year lease? Yep. I was really considering a V6 Mustang, not a
> > Focus.
> > Problem is, I would want to BUY that V6, then I'd bond with it, then I'd
> > want to keep it for the next 20 years. That's my history. But I'm
> > looking
> > ahead to 2014 1/2 with great anticipation! I'm hoping that Ford really
> > does
> > put out an all-new Mustang, dropping the whole retro thing, a Mustang
> > that
> > looks forward, not back. I have a hunch that I'm really really really
> > going
> > to want to get back into a Mustang at that point.
>
> Not a bad plan.
>
> You know I'm locked into the S197 for the next couple decades, it'll be
> nice if you
> pick up a new one -- you can give us/me a full report.

Hoping to. All I've seen so far are "artists' renderings" and doctored
photos of that EVOS thing. Ford's keeping a tight lid on the redesign. Even
so, after three years with this FWD 2.0-liter fuel sipper, I'm going to be
in real need of speed. Or maybe not. I'll be an even older fart then, so
maybe an EcoBoost six would be just fine. We'll see.

dwight