"Rosco458" (Rosco458)
09/15/2014 at 10:21 • Filed to: None
5
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"Rosco458" (Rosco458)
09/15/2014 at 10:21 • Filed to: None | 5
| 4 |
( FULL DISCLOSURE: Ford wanted me to drive the 2012 Ford Focus so badly that they offered a Focus to the most dangerous demographic of driver alive right off a college campus for $12/hour. . .like ownership but with much less of the responsibility. After painfully applying online and receiving a bright green Enterprise card in the mail, I was able to book either, a. a silver Toyota Prius or, b. a blue oval blue blue Ford Focus (a delightful shade of blue). Then it was just tapping my card over a sensor on the windscreen, waiting in anticipation for the LED light to turn green, and get in. Let's do this.)
First off: no, it's not an ST. I, fellow reader, am as disappointed about this fact as much as you are. It's not a manual, neither a hatchback nor the color of an exotic fruit from the West Indies. That said, I would peg it as a vastly greater option than those of airport rental agencies, which will offer you either a powerless econobox *cough Aveo/Spark cough*, a tree incinerating luxury SUV, or a gross and still very undesirable combination of the two (use your imagination for that one). With that, let's take a look at my choice of automobile, starting from the outside. . .
Exterior - 7/10
Stunning by nobody's standards but impressive compared to many of its competitors, the Focus has a futuristic thing going on complemented by smoked rims. Many of the accent lines are well executed and provide a techno feel without being too obnoxious. Originally a 8/10, I docked a point for the all too noticeable Enterprise Car Share stickers. I realize that this isn't my car, but can't I at least hide inside driving it making myself feel that, for just a few hours that it is? I suppose not, which brings us to. . .
Interior - 6/10
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Silver plastic, notably not aluminum, inlays most of the buttons on the dashboard and steering wheel, providing enough aesthetic to look modern and not much more. The wheel is covered in pleather and the dash by hard plastic. My dive into Ford's SYNC infotainment system left me bewildered and scared within a few mere submenus, so I chickened out and got out of there as quickly as possible.
The two stacked columns of buttons on the dash are overwhelming and confusing at first, a la Porsche Panamera. The worst feature of the interior is easily the paddle shifters or, rather, the paddle shifters bluetoothandtripcomputercontroller(s). Not only am I denied the ability to control my own shifts across the rev range, I am mocked by these paddles that, despite their appearance, are far from shifters.
Acceleration - 7/10
Compared to other cars of this segment, I can say the acceleration is solid. It won't rip your face off like a Huracan, and it's no 2CV either. The 2.0L straight four kicks out 160 hp, pulling all 2,907 pounds of American Muscle Low-End Segment at a pace slightly below what I would call "rushed." This was pretty disappointing until, below the innocuous D on the gear shifter, there was the letter S.
Does this improve the 0 to whatever time? Doubtful. But the much lively-er and precise steering, rougher ride, and significantly improved throttle response give the illusion that maybe, just maybe , some ST goodness splashed over from the ST Tank of SPEED in the plant in Wayne, Michigan. Keep it in this sport mode and you'll be good.
Other Performance Things - 6/10
Very mushy handling when not in sport, sharper handling and really good throttle response when in sport. Like, wiggling your toes will affect the throttle good. I admit I have driven many sports cars, but I imagine this is the best throttle response in this segment.
Brakes worked.
The 6 speed auto is borderline schizophrenic in stop-and-go driving when in sport, but at higher speeds will generally hold the revs at three to four thousand rpms. This adds to the sportier feel not only in performance but also the allusion of performance, making things in the cabin marginally more exciting.
Toys and Audio - 8/10
Satellite radio, an in depth trip computer, and SYNC (when functional) all make the '12 Focus a competitor, but nothing more, to its competitors. Stay clear of SYNC when you can avoid it. That said, it can control the radio, which according to my half hour of listening to somewhat staticy alt rock is mediocre. Fine. Meh.
Dropping the pedal to the floor rewards with a deeper whine than any Hyundai's I've ever driven (I'm looking at you Elantra Touring). This is no 6.2 L (not 6.3!) AMG V8, but its a modest reward for your hooning regardless.
Value - 10/10
For $12 an hour, including gas and insurance, I believe this is a no brainer. You can probably rent vehicles for cheaper from other places, but the convenience of being directly on the campus of my school makes it completely worth it for me. I won't be autocrossing it next weekend, but this 2012 Focus provides more all around than most other bottom-of-the-range rentals. That, and the ability to escape from college food to pick up some Five Guys. It's worth it for that too.
44/60
KirkyV
> Rosco458
09/15/2014 at 10:24 |
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I keep forgetting that Focii without hatches are a thing.
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Rosco458
> KirkyV
09/15/2014 at 10:42 |
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If you're not renting that's totally understandable.
duurtlang
> Rosco458
09/15/2014 at 10:46 |
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I doubt I've even seen a sedan of the current generation. The vast majority are wagons here, with the hatch a distant but significant second. I do live in Europe.
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KirkyV
> Rosco458
09/15/2014 at 10:58 |
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I suspect it's more to do with no Focus sedan/saloon having been sold where I live since the Mark 1—and even Mark 1 saloons are so rare as to approach minor unicorn status. Here, it goes hatch, then estate, then convertible, and then - a long, long way back - saloon.