2000 Ford Focus

The 2000 Ford Focus is a steady and maneuverable highway cruiser. This car is great for the back-and-fourth to work and for general excursions. It has some problems, but all in all, I considered it a joy to drive.

The car is relatively short and thus is easy to maneuver. Backing out of a parking space was relatively easy in a Focus for this reason. It turns on a dime, and feels stable at any speed. It was a wonderful car to drive through the countryside, winding down the forested roads of my home state.

If driven carefully, it is possible to squeeze decent mileage out of the vehicle. By using some (safe) hypermiling techniques, watching my braking and acceleration very carefully, I was able to get my mileage above 30 miles per galleon. When I was not being so careful, usually the car averaged about 26 mpg. The car seemed most efficient at speeds between 55 and 60 miles per hour. This makes it ideal for cruising on the highway. Its acceleration was good, excellent for passing slow moving vehicles hogging the right lane on a crowded interstate.

The vehicle is reliable enough. The main problem I had was with the starter, which deteriorated over time. I had difficulty getting the engine to turn at first, but later, the problems compounded. I once accidently pulled the key out the ignition while the engine was still running, and it was extremely tricky getting the key back in and shutting the engine off. In the all years we have owned the vehicle, I believe we have had to replaced the starter twice.

There was also a persistent problem with the car stalling if the gas tank was under about one third full. In tight, ninety degree, uphill turns, the engine would bog down and even stop, sometimes never to start again. I have never driven a vehicle before which retained over one quarter of its total fuel capacity, and would behave as though it were running out of gas in a tight turn. I do not believe our mechanic was ever able to solve this issue.

A final problem with the car is its lack of backseat space, which makes the four seat car feel like two-seater. On outings, my friends would offer to drive for no other reason then that they would not have to ride in the back of the vehicle. It is quite tight back there. The hatchback trunk is also small, but the backseats fold forward. I was able to achieve a relatively high cargo capacity as long as I did not have more than one passenger. However, the car was perfect for picnicking with the misses, feeling like a two-seater, and having more than enough storage space for lunch.

Despite these occasional issues, I still consider the 2000 Ford Focus to be a reliable vehicle, and worth the money we paid for it. I miss driving the car, (now that I have relinquished it to another family member) because of its easy handling and sleek feel.