I really love my ford focus. It is a low maintenance sturdy care, perfect for both short and long distance driving. It's not very fancy and it's not meant to go fast, but it rides smooth and gets great gas mileage. It has upheld through some minor bumps and one serious accident. It is little, but doesn't ride low. The car is comfortable and has cloth seats so they do not overheat in summer. It is roomy on the inside, but is not comfortable for people over 6 feet tall. It has not been to the shop very much. It is not noisy through acceleration, and accelerates quickly for a car it's size. While it handles well, it is bullied by other, big cars. It is pushed around the road during strong winds, but has never been pushed over into another lane as long as there is a steady hand on the wheel. Braking is smooth and quick, with ABS. Sometimes the key does stick while trying to turn the car on. It handles pretty well on ice and in snow, however it has been stuck in a snow drift more than once. The trunk is roomy, with a hidden compartment for an extra tire.

I bought the 2004 Ford Focus as a used car and have to say it has been a very good investment. I had a low budget to work with but didn't want to end up in the same boat as before, where you buy a low priced used-car thinking you're going to save money, but in reality you end up paying more on the back end with constant repairs and etc. This time I shopped around many different dealers, test drove many cars before settling on the 2004 Ford Focus. It ended up being a very reliable car and I loved the hatchback because people with much larger cars didn't have the storage capability I had with the Focus. It was fun, cute and reliable, with pretty good gas mileage. For do-it-yourselfers it has a very straightforward design that is easy to work on. Upkeep was easy and cheap. The design of the car is very intuitive and allows for a lot of customization for those who like to decorate. It was able to handle a lot of travel, even through the Rockies, several times. Treat her well and she'll give you many miles.