2008 Ford Focus Consumer Reviews

Best decision I've made in a while

Written by: Laurabel on 06/10/2009

Vehicle

2008 Ford Focus SES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I purchased my Focus in June of '08, after driving a gas guzzling minivan for 5 years. After looking at Toyotas, Hondas, Chevys and Mazdas, the Focus was just the best idea for cost and reliability. I'm at 17,500 miles and have no issues. The gas mileage got up to 41mpg highway, but also as low as 27mpg city. Being a musician and a sort of music junkie, it's just amazing how seamlessly my Zune works with Sync. It's a good looking car with lots of options and features; it just gets you where you need to go - in style.

Favorite Features

Sync, controls on the steering wheel, reliability, gas mileage, supportive seats, auto dimming rear view mirror, defrosters in the side mirrors, lots of pep...it's just a great car.

Suggested Improvements

Dome lights for the back seat, interior trunk release and a little more legroom for the back seat.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Not bad for the price! Focus SES 5 speed

Written by: Jesse on 05/17/2009

Vehicle

2008 Ford Focus SES 2dr Coupe (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

First Time Ford/American new Car Buyer! Ford's Fuel economy/reliability record w/ Focus/fun to drive vehicle caught my attention! With the Focus SES, I got a fully loaded car w/ leather seats! Great combination of sytle, electronic gadgets (sync, 6 CD w/ bass box, Sirius, Sunroof,etc.), sport handling/comforable ride, solid car feeling, smooth engine, fuel economy, and it's been a pleasure to drive w/ a manual transmission. Exterior fit and finish could use a little more refinement (the front hood alignment is a little off w/ the body). Overall, not bad for the price. ney. 8+ months later, the Focus is still a thumbs up.

Favorite Features

Heated Leather Seats, Sync, Ambiance Lights, fun to drive, Remote control trunk release, good performance (for a 4 cyln engine), sports suspension combined with a comfortable ride, solid feeling (as compared to light and airy Japanese models), heated mirrows, safety features, etc.

Suggested Improvements

The interior is not bad, and I'd like to see Ford reach the levels of refinement that the Japanese have (Scion TC, Mazda3). Sun Visors, quality of interior panals, and trunk carpeting, better resale value (like the Japanese). When Ford brings the Euro Focus/Fiesta to US, it will be even better!

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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08 Focus SES

Written by: Vic Epps on 05/09/2009

Vehicle

2008 Ford Focus SES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Purchased this car for my son in college. Wanted something new, safe with good gas mileage. The vehicle handles well. The build quality ( Exterior panel alignment) is a little off. At 17k the car began making a loud noise from the drive train when accellerating on a freeway. Took it in for service. There is a TSB which addresses the problem. A foam insert on the air intake tube becomes loose. The problem was repaired by ford. They also reprogramed the ECM due to air defroster issues. ( Another TSB )

Favorite Features

Gas Mileage Sync

Suggested Improvements

Build quality Better fabric on the seating surfaces

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Good Starter Car

Written by: JPH on 05/08/2009

Vehicle

2008 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

My dad bought this vehicle for me as a graduation gift and for college. It drives great and i don't spend much on gas, which is great for a college kid. It has great handling and decent acceleration for 140 hp.

Favorite Features

Love the usb port for music and SYNC, and mileage is great.

Suggested Improvements

While accelerating from 40 to 60 to enter a highway the engines exaggerates, but its expected from a 4 cylinder. If i had a choice in buying i would have liked a Scion tC or a Jetta..

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very satisfied

Written by: bockman on 05/02/2009

Vehicle

2008 Ford Focus SES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Seeing the ever rising gas prices forced me to get rid of my 15 mpg averaging Equinox. I was going to look at the 4 cylinder Escape but the Focus caught my eye. I love the car overall. I took it for 2 long trips already. The gas mileage is phenomenal. The engine is smooth during acceleration and is barely audible at cruising speeds. It also has enough power to keep up with traffic whether it being with one or 5 passengers aboard. Great car overall. The SYNC system is awesome. It's the best feature Ford ever came up with especially with a new cell phone ban while driving law that is coming to Ontario.

Favorite Features

- SYNC system - smooth engine and automatic transmission - dash lights at night (nice blue hue) - gas mileage - great long distance cruiser - traction control and abs work great

Suggested Improvements

Only a few: - dome lights only shine the front section of the car, terrible if you're unloading things from the back seat at night. - no interior trunk release, always need key fob.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Absolutely wonderful little car!

Written by: lovemyfocus on 04/30/2009

Vehicle

2008 Ford Focus SES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

First, I want to thank everyone who put a review for this car online... when I was looking, I really wanted a hatch (Honda Fit). However, after driving the Fit, I was very disappointed and decided to keep looking. We drove home past a Ford dealership, and I remembered all the rave reviews of the Focus (I wanted something small for gas mileage). They had 3 Focus-es on the lot, and we test drove the SES. I absolutely loved the car - it handles better than the Fit, turns more smoothly, accelerates faster, and is very easy to drive and understand. (Sadly, no hatchback or "magic" seats - figured those were not things I'd actually use on a daily basis.) 1 year later & I still LOVE this car!

Favorite Features

Synch (almost didn't get, but glad I did), gas mileage, handling, pep - love just about everything to do with the car.

Suggested Improvements

Interior trunk release (maybe this was fixed in '09?). Noticed the 2009 got rid of the large triangular "thing" by the front wheels. Other than those - a 4 door hatchback!!

7 out 7 people found this review helpful

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08 Focus SE

Written by: Justintime on 04/28/2009

Vehicle

2008 Ford Focus SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

Gas milage is great getting 35 to 40 mpg with mostly hwy driving. Sync software works great for the cost of the car its very impressive. Great Daily driver!

Favorite Features

gas milage, sync and overall performance.

Suggested Improvements

Rear sway bar on all models not just SES. its not that expensive of an item or hard to install.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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still very tight

Written by: rfruscel on 04/28/2009

Vehicle

2008 Ford Focus SES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I've owned this 2008 focus since june 2008. I have 11k miles with absolutely no problems. No rattles or anything..still very tight. I can achieve 40mpg on highway trips if I keep the speed at or below 65mph. The automatic transmission is nice and smooth. great quality all around for the price.

Favorite Features

fuel economy, handling, sync

Suggested Improvements

back seats need more leg room. would be nice to have a trunk release inside the car.

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I love my Focus - ex 250 truck owner

Written by: BBro on 04/14/2009

Vehicle

2008 Ford Focus SES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

I had to do something, diesel fuel was over $4 a gallon and I was only visiting jobs to check them out for bidding, no more hauling materials so I couldn't justify spending the $ on fuel for the nive luxury big mans man truck. So my daughter was learning to drive and we went down to Ford and drove all the small to mid sixe vehicles and we loved the Focus and it's been a year now that we've had it. If my daughter ends up taking it I will have to decide on getting a second Focus.

Favorite Features

Fuel mileage, easy to park or manuver whereever you want to go and if you need quick acceleration it's will go. The look is very sporty and I likie the hands free blu-tooth and the music download options.

Suggested Improvements

It's really everything I would thing you'd need in a smaller car. I actually look at homes for remodling bids and I fold down the back seat and put my folded gorilla ladder in that extends out to 17 feet and I'm off to the jobs. The first month we saved over $300.00 just in fuel cost.

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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In the shop

Written by: cornbreed on 04/04/2009

Vehicle

2008 Ford Focus S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)

Review

My focus has 8000 miles on it. I take care of my cars. Face it you need a car to get you back in forth to work. while i was driving my foucus started making this popping sound? Then it sounded like the front drive train was going to fall out from under the car so i pulled over to check it out an the engine was viberating the hole car. took it to the shop to find out both motor mounts had broken. besides that its been a good little car.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

1 out 2 people found this review helpful

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