Focus Wagon Post-Mortem thoughts and the vehicle candidate list

"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich)
09/16/2018 at 03:52 • Filed to: None

(not my actual car... my car looked like that, but with a shorter replacement antenna and more rust on the rocker panels)

So... some post-mortem thoughts on my 2005 Focus Wagon SE....

I bought it 2.5 years ago for an all-in price (included safety and e-test) for CAD$2000. At that time it had about 236,000km on it. At the time of death, it had about 299,000km on it.

Over that time, when I include ALL costs (vehicle registration, maintenance,repairs, depreciation, insurance, fuel and one parking ticket), the Focus’s average cost was about CAD$475/month... or 24.1 cents/km.

The suspension on the Focus doesn’t age as gracefully as on other cars, like the PT Cruiser. The Focus apparently has a ‘passive rear steering’ feature to the rear independent suspension. Problem is as the car ages and the bushings get worn, on certain curves, the rear end can feel unstable.

If I get another Focus Wagon, I’ll want it to be an SES model... not the crappy SE model I had which had manual windows.

I was tempted to replace the driver’s seat with one from an SVT Focus... because Ford installs cheap seats where the seat back gradually bends to one side with age/use

Parking brake cables on these are a pain in the ass

With the Duratech engine that came in as of 2005, there is a difficult-to-diagnose/Fix issue where you usually have to try starting 2-3 times. This can be due to a number or combo of issues... worn plugs, ignition coils, spark plug boots/springs, crap that builds up in the intake due to the EGR, weak ground, weak battery and maybe a couple of other things. I replaced my plugs, coils, spark plug boots/springs, battery and cleaned the ground wires and used dielectric grease on them. It helped a little, but the problem still persisted

The thermostat is a pain in the ass to get to... as is the PCV.

Replacing the rear wheel bearings is not hard. And actually, on Focii with rear drum brakes, if you have to service the brakes, spend the extra few dollars and get the brake drum that already has a new bearing pressed into it. I got the rear brakes serviced and I suspect the mechanic didn’t do that... so I looked up how the bearing replacement was done, bought the parts needed along with an axle nut socket and did it myself

Ford cheaped out with the fluid in the manual transmission. If you want the transmission to last, you go to a Ford SVT dealer and get their synthetic manual transmission fluid. I did that on mine as I found it was difficult to get it into first at times... particularly when cold. And 5 gear liked to pop out every so often

If you ever run into a situation where you push down the clutch on one of these and it won’t even turn over, let alone start, feel around under the dash for the neutral safety switch and press on it down further while trying to start. They wear out over time. And the way Ford designed the tab on the clutch pedal, it only pushes on the switch a little. Replacement switches stick out further, making the problem less likely.

And now onto more fun stuff... Below is the raw list of candidate vehicles so far. And the leading candates are a black 2008 Honda Fit for $4000, a 2005 Focus Wagon SES for $1500 and a 2003 Suzuki Aerio for $1000. And that 2007 Saab 9-3 Wagon for $2000 is tempting as well.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/mazda/mazda5/milton/ontario/5_40389698_20180807151937302/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=2_15_16&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=50

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/volkswagen/jetta%20sportwagen/toronto/ontario/19_10783537_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=5_15_16&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=50

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/pontiac/vibe/north%20york/ontario/19_10664605_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=8_15_16&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=50

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/subaru/impreza/mississauga/ontario/19_10785705_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=9_15_16&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=50

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/volkswagen/jetta%20wagon/oakville/ontario/19_10814816_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=11_15_16&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=50

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/subaru/legacy/toronto/ontario/19_10807635_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=15_15_16&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=50

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/chrysler/pt%20cruiser/north%20york/ontario/19_10812571_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=16_1_16&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=50

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/toyota/matrix/markham/ontario/19_10768515_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=13_15_16&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=50

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/Toyota/Prius/OAKVILLE/Ontario/19_10719784_/?ncse=no&orup=2_15_15&pc=M8V+3L6&sprx=100&ssoa=Internal

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/toyota/prius/brampton/ontario/19_10666816_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=1_15_15&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=100

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/toyota/prius/north%20york/ontario/19_10691042_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=5_15_15&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=100

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/toyota/prius/etobicoke/ontario/19_10736051_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=8_15_15&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=100

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/toyota/prius/etobicoke/ontario/19_10800635_/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=9_15_15&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=100

http://wwwb.autotrader.ca/a/volkswagen/golf/toronto/ontario/5_39815313_20160318135057909/?showcpo=ShowCpo&ncse=no&orup=14_15_19&pc=M8V%203L6&sprx=25

DISCUSSION (17)

Future Heap Owner > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/16/2018 at 04:40

I am really starting to think about turning my C orolla into a Fit. When I’m a passenger, I love the visibility and surprising roominess. Plus, hatchback . Need to take one for a drive.

Nom De Plume > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/16/2018 at 04:50

Practicality is overrated. Buy something reliable that fits none of your criteria. This something should not be duller than anything found on the incredibly long list of mediocrity you just posted.

Tl;dr Congratulation on your new Honda Jazz! So mpg. Much adulting.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/16/2018 at 05:21

go the Foz

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/16/2018 at 07:22

Fits, Matrixes or that Corolla wagon are my votes. The Aerios could be decent choices, but not sure on their reliability and parts could be an issue considering Suzuki isn’t in North American anymore.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Future Heap Owner
09/16/2018 at 09:07

My wife has had her 2010 for 3, 45,000 miles years now. We love it. Good little car, kinda of tossible. Probably really fun with a manual, but her’s auto. The only repair it’s needed is a blower motor, and now the hatch handle doesnt work occasionally, I’ll have to look into that, not bad for 83,000 miles.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Future Heap Owner
09/16/2018 at 10:56

Also the Fit is the closest modern car to the Honda Civic Wagon/Wagovan of the 1980s and early 1990s. I had one of them... it was ugly, but had a lot of inner goodness and practicality.

The Fit, of course, has the benefit of being nicer looking, having more power, better fuel economy, more features, better safety, etc.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Nom De Plume
09/16/2018 at 11:01

Nah... practicality is beautiful... particularly when I go pick up large pieces of furniture and the person says “I dunno if this couch will fit in a little Focus”... and lo and behold, it fits easily into that large hatch opening once the seats are folded down.

I’ve fit couches, book shelves, assembled BBQs, Ikea stuff and lots of other things that most people these days believe a van or SUV is needed.

On top of that, something like a Focus, as long as it has a manual, isn’t bad to drive. And you can drive them hard and not worry about license endangerment... nor would you feel bad about driving a car like that hard or damaging it when hauling stuff since it isn’t rare, special or expensive.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > pip bip - choose Corrour
09/16/2018 at 11:03

What’s a Foz?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/16/2018 at 11:09

The Fit is rated higher in my book than the Matrix because it actually has a little bit more space than the Matrix. The one Corolla wagon is tempting, but the problem is that it already has over 360,000km and when you get into cars over 20 years old, you start running into wearing out stuff that you wouldn’t expect. Also some parts availability starts to become more difficult... particularly when it comes with a rarer version of a given model that are specific to it... like some body panels and glass.

I’m tempted to get the Aerio as they’re kind of quirky and the one for sale is cheap. And while they’re not as common, getting parts and service isn’t impossible. Rock Auto still stocks parts for them. And Suzuki is still technically in business and still provides parts and support Aerios sold all around the world .

boxrocket > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/16/2018 at 11:57

Escape Hybrid would be my top pick, followed by the Mazda5 , followed by the Mazda3 , then the Focus wagon (especially since you’re already familiar with it), then a toss-up between the Priuseseseses and the Fit. Check for rust on all of them, of course (I don’t think the 5 has the same rear quarter issues like the 3 does), and on the Fit check the roof rails and inside the lift gate area - RCR made a video about this on their Fit camera car.

boxrocket > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/16/2018 at 11:57

If you like the Aerio, it’s worth looking at the SX4, which IMHO is better in every way.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/16/2018 at 11:58

The new-quite-as-logical side of my brain says go for the Aerio, they were always uncommon around here even when Suzuki was still in Canada, but I always sortof liked them!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/16/2018 at 13:12

Forester

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > boxrocket
09/16/2018 at 14:53

I have it on my ‘eligible’ list even though the trunk on the SX4 is a little smaller. It comes down to what’s available locally to me.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
09/16/2018 at 14:56

I test drove this Aerio:

https://www.kijiji.ca/v-cars-trucks/city-of-toronto/suzuki-aerio/1375961687?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

I may end up buying it. Just have to get temp permit from the MTO and have a mechanic check it to make sure it doesn’t need anything major.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
09/16/2018 at 14:56

I like the Forester, though the fuel consumption will be higher than the Focus Wagon... and note I’m paying Canadian fuel prices.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly
09/16/2018 at 17:47

Awesome, keep us apprised! :D