SA (2018) Ford Focus

[dannyhilton]

Sat in one a week ago and then another today. Overall, I think the quality and look is quite good. The sunroof blind is only a partial blind though, and let’s through plenty of heat and light (the Escape has a much better blind). Haven’t seen one with the Design Pack, but to be honest the Titanium pretty much ticks all our boxes, bar being a few thousand dollars overpriced compared to the competition. Will hold out and see what Ford do with discounts, they sure as hell slashed the guts out of the Escape after I bought mine lol.

[LaserLikeFocus]

Focus Trend Hatch: $30,015

Outrageous.

The bottom of the barrel Audi A3 with ORC is 41k.

[CatonaPC©]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

Yes the stop start . . . can be turned off.

Turned off, yes, but you have to turn it off every time you start the car.

[CatonaPC©]

Personally, I'm holding out for the Active. This to me will be the version I think Ford will sell the most of.

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by CatonaPC[emoji767

;6240185]Turned off, yes, but you have to turn it off every time you start the car.

Of course yes that’s right as the stop start system is part of the meeting emission standards and economy targets.

[LaserLikeFocus]

The 2019 Mazdas with the you- beaut Skyactiv X might be a lot more - but a current, 2018 BN Mazda 3 Maxx (one up from bottom "Neo") sedan - automatic, with built in sat nav sells for 22.5k from the bigger dealerships in Sydney - with a shirt box trade in and some cash you could probably get under 20k as a price.

29 k for a CL trim Focus?

Ford have lost the plot, and I've come to have brand loyalty - KB Laser, LS Focus, XE, EA & BA Falcons in the family.

[dannyhilton]

Originally Posted by LaserLikeFocus

29 k for a CL trim Focus?

I'm in no way a supporter of the pricing strategy Ford have employed here, but the Focus Trend is more of an 'LX' spec. Ford have all but officially confirmed a base model Ambiente spec model, which would serve as a successor to the 'CL' model you've referenced.

I think Ford have a real chance to get the Focus back onto the sales charts here. It's probably not going to sell 3,000 cars a month, but if they could get 500 or so units out of dealers a month with minimal discounting, I see that as a huge win for them.

[marg99]

unfortunately bad reputations and poor customner support are easy to acquire and hard to loose. It takes a lot of work to get back up there.

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by LaserLikeFocus

The 2019 Mazdas with the you- beaut Skyactiv X might be a lot more - but a current, 2018 BN Mazda 3 Maxx (one up from bottom "Neo") sedan - automatic, with built in sat nav sells for 22.5k from the bigger dealerships in Sydney - with a shirt box trade in and some cash you could probably get under 20k as a price.

29 k for a CL trim Focus?

Ford have lost the plot, and I've come to have brand loyalty - KB Laser, LS Focus, XE, EA & BA Falcons in the family.

You can't compare pricing on brand new models vs ones close to being replaced. Of course cars about to be replaced are being cleared out with much lower pricing. Dealers need to cut the price to keep people interested with older product.

You can gaurantee that the next 3 will be priced higher. They are all moving up in price. The days of 19,990 drive away are gone, unless they are desperate to move a huge stockpile of unsold cars. The i30 , Astra and Corolla went up to the 22-23 k rrp area for the base models when they launched.

Ford no longer sell base model Ambiente's, the Trend which is middle of the road spec is not a base model in price or spec. Even though it is the entry level model for Focus.

[Fast Eddie]

This is where the Sales and Marketing Department of Ford Oz needs to be motivated to get these Focus MkIV's "back in favour" with the general public, I hope, marg99.

[wizamc79]

Originally Posted by dannyhilton

I think Ford have a real chance to get the Focus back onto the sales charts here. It's probably not going to sell 3,000 cars a month, but if they could get 500 or so units out of dealers a month with minimal discounting, I see that as a huge win for them.

If they would hurry up and get the cars out to look at it would be nice... I've got some money which is burning a hole in my pocket that I want to sink into a wagon but just keep getting told soon.... gets a bit fustrating.... at least here in the illawarra

[Craig@AUDI]

Originally Posted by wizamc79

If they would hurry up and get the cars out to look at it would be nice

Earliest showing has an ETA at the end of the month, and some early February, hang in there!

[Smoke Pursuit]

Some dealers already have them

[Craig@AUDI]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Some dealers already have them

Nothing showing as delivered in a wagon, was it a wagon or hatch?

[dannyhilton]

Originally Posted by wizamc79

If they would hurry up and get the cars out to look at it would be nice... I've got some money which is burning a hole in my pocket that I want to sink into a wagon but just keep getting told soon.

We've picked what we want (Magnetic with HUD & Active Pack 2.0, which is the only way to get front sensors) so for us it's a waiting game when we can look at one and what deal we can do. I'm sure the security footage from the local dealer must have me stalking them five times a week after hours looking for the Titanium

[LaserLikeFocus]

You know, Ford might get me back in the tribe with a wagon.

The wagon looks great. There is so much scuttlebutt on pricing you'd think we're buying diamonds from de Beers.

23,390 with sat nav (cheapest source I've found, might be nonsense). Not bad. The dealerships that are competitive and deliver nationally will probably pick up a lot of misers such as myself. Particularly with cash and a shirt box trade in.

However, the wagon looks like it will only be priced up at 35k or more.

6k off an Audi A3 Sportback.

Not good.

Why not a Trend/base wagon? I know they're trying to compete with the VW Golf Alltrack (which I've looked at too and they're fairly decent), but I don't get this marketing strategy at all. They've given up on fleet sales completely by the looks of it.

At least I can't find any information on what I want.

[stefcio007]

If Ford wants to advertise a quality product how about stop using low res pictures of the Focus on their website. It's 2019 not 2006. It just baffles me...

[KosCo]

Originally Posted by stefcio007

If Ford wants to advertise a quality product how about ---

I agree - the current website for Focus is terrible. If you download the brochure for the new Focus, you get a whole 5 pages - WOW!! It looks as if they really couldn't be bothered trying and just slapped something together.


Anyway have had a look at one and will be in the market for a Titanium later this year. I noticed that they are using a rotary dial for gear selection. Just curious, does anyone know what would happen if you are driving along and reached to get something and your hand accidentally knocked the rotary gear selector into another gear?? Is the gear selector locked once you are driving?

[dannyhilton]

Originally Posted by KosCo

I noticed that they are using a rotary dial for gear selection. Just curious, does anyone know what would happen if you are driving along and reached to get something and your hand accidentally knocked the rotary gear selector into another gear?

It'll go to neutral like any other gear lever, but won't jam the brakes on and go to reverse or park. If anything the rotary dial should prove to be harder to accidently knock into neutral that a standard gear lever.

[KosCo]

Originally Posted by dannyhilton

If anything the rotary dial should prove to be harder to accidently knock into neutral that a standard gear lever.

Thanks for your input - it makes sense that it would operate that way.

[CatonaPC©]

Originally Posted by wizamc79

If they would hurry up and get the cars out to look at it would be nice...

Yeah, I agree. I'll have to wait till March for the Active. When the LZ came out, I was one of the first to drive out with a Trend, but I could have driven out with any model, as they had all of them in the yard. This time I had to wait 2 weeks before I even saw one (an ST-line hatch) to sit in and it's the only one the dealer had.

[kevino]

There is only one Ford dealer on the Gold Coast (population 650000) and they also have only one new Focus -a blue ST line.

[dannyhilton]

Cars are starting to flow through to dealerships, in Brisbane Metro Ford have three on display (2 x ST-Lines and a Trend) and I'm sure more coming through. Other dealers I've driven past have a handful on display also. I'm told Titanium's will start hitting dealerships late this month, early next month.

[stefcio007]

Why does Ford advertise it as having a big infotainment screen? It's still only 8" big as before, am I missing something? or is it supposed to appear bigger now because it comes out of the dash?

Just marketing hype?

[kiwiinoz]

Any advertising yet....nah why bother. Ffs marketing

[Bossxr8]

Originally Posted by kiwiinoz

Any advertising yet....nah why bother. Ffs marketing

I did read an article stating Ford were going 2 ways with advertising, one using the Active and the other using the regular models. So it's coming. Probably just waiting till they get sufficient supplies first.

[Smoke Pursuit]

Cars are held up due to the stink bug outbreak. Some dealers have 1 or 2. Some have none.

[KosCo]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

the stink bug outbreak. Some dealers have 1 or 2. Some have none.

Why would the car dealers want 1 or 2 stink bugs? (Sorry, couldn't resist that).

[dannyhilton]

Originally Posted by Smoke Pursuit

Cars are held up due to the stink bug outbreak. Some dealers have 1 or 2. Some have none.

It's really hurting the dealership I work for (another brand), I didn't even think about Focus being effected but of course being German built. I wonder what number of Focus' are caught up in this?

[stefcio007]

Saw one on the road today.

Aftermarket parts are already showing up in China to customise the interior.