Used 2005 Ford Focus Consumer Reviews
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Love to drive
Janice, 04/18/2006
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I had a Ford Explorer and with the gas prices going up I wanted something that was better on gas and also something smaller. At first I was not sure about the leg room in the back for 2 teenage girls but turns out it has plenty of room for them. I love the way it handles. I love to drive it. My girls are learning how to drive and we disagree on who gets to drive.
Focus Saleen
Scott, 05/29/2006
2005 Ford Focus ZX3 SES 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car is so much fun.I am getting decent mileage but had hoped for better. The interior is tops and the exterior gets looks everywhere I go. Bigger drink holders would have been nice but may have lost some of the look. This thing hugs the road and acceleration is amazing.
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I wish I had bought one too!
mboulis, 06/25/2006
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 ST 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My husband has been a diehard Ford Escort fan for years. He drives 135 miles to work each day and his 1997 Escort (288,000 miles) finally started to give out. He had been extremely reluctant to get a Focus but decided to test drive two of them on the way home from work. He was completely impressed with this car! He bought the ZX4 ST right then and there and drove it home. The handling is smooth, steering is tight and the shifting is close geared and smooth. We cannot say enough good things about this car. The car is a lot of fun to drive! Personally, if I had known what driving a Focus ZX4 ST would be like, I'd have bought one of these instead of the Grand Am GT I bought!
I love my car, but be careful
Jolee, 08/26/2006
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My mom had a Focus, and when my Escort died I needed something safe for our new baby, so we go the Focus. It's a good size, I feel safe in it, and it's fun to drive.
Good car from Ford
Dave, 11/20/2006
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SES 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Nice car that handles well. Exterior appearance is good for a domestic and looks better than its Asian rivals. Powerful engine, good features inside. Weakest link is engine noise, and squeaks from the interior.
Piece of junk
Jak Pine, 12/24/2006
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the Focus in June of 2005 brand new. The car rides, drives and handles great. The seats are a little uncomfortable when you're in them for a while, it also lacks leg room. The car has 49,000 miles on it and has been in and out of the shop since the 15,000 mile mark. Extremely unreliable! I can't afford the repair bills anymore and just traded it in. I paid $18,000 for the car a year and a half ago, the most any dealership would give me for it is $6,500. I DO NOT recommend a Ford Focus to anyone.
Bang for the buck competence
BasiliskSt, 01/04/2007
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 ST 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Ford Focus ST (mine is a 2005, but the 2006-2007 are essentially identical) is an affordable driver's car. It delivers a surprisingly good blend of driving prowess and economy. The ST features a 2.3 liter fuel-injected four cylinder engine mated to a five-speed manual transmission. This combination is extremely flexible, offering plenty of torque at lower rpms. The handling and steering are class leading, beating much more expensive cars. The car offers power on demand and economy. My Focus ST delivers 38 mpg at 55-60 mph, 30-32 mpg at freeway speeds of 70-75 mph, and 26-28 mpg in city, mixed driving. All good, but not class leading. The Focus's balance is skewed towards sport.
Watch Out!
Matt, 02/01/2007
2005 Ford Focus ZX3 SE 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car new in 2004 to replace my ailing 94 S-10 with 240k miles. I am less than happy with my car. Things that went wrong under warranty. CD Player - dead within weeks, replaced. Heater Core - dead within 18 months and leaked all over interior. Replaced part but not interior. Wobbling - found no problems, but I paid to rebalance, still wobbles. Unfixed issues - starting, the car just sometimes will not start. AC - varies from cold to warm randomly. Interior stinks, as one person mentioned "rattlebox". Engine seems loud, and I've been told it's just injector pulse. Interior can get loud on highway. Currently, blower on level 3 does not work. No leg room, tilt wheel stinks.
I hate Fords but this car is....
Josh5m, 03/22/2007
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I hate Fords but this car is amazing. I love the fact that it idles smooth, rides good, and the seats are comfortable. I bought the car in Feb. of 2007 with 39,699 miles on it (roughly). I've already put 5,000 miles on it in 6 weeks. Changing the oil is easy; it's nice that it is in the front. The transmission is smooth. The engine is pretty powerful for a 4 banger. The headlights aren't bright at all and a lot of the interior is horribly built. but it doesn't stop how fun it is to drive.
Mike's Focus
mike raymond, 04/12/2007
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
It's good on gas. Holds a lot. It makes me feel safe. Great handling, good suspension and quick.
Ford Focus ZX3. my first brand new car.
mini-pearl, 07/10/2007
2005 Ford Focus ZX3 SES 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
There is nothing bad about this car. Good mileage, economical operation, fun to drive. It has a 5 speed manual transmission. This car gets 27 around town and 30 mpg highway.
Nice littler car
Nice little car, 09/13/2007
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
With a few little tweeks I can get About 38-40 mpg on the highway at around 65-75Mph. It's not the fastest car but It's absoulutely the best car for fuel economy and reliability. I put over 33,000 miles on it in 24 months, and it still run great. Road noise is a problem but $350 or less if you do it yourself will fix the problem (Road noise foam or strips).
Fun basic transportation
Jim Schaffer, 07/30/2007
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 S 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've waited two years to write this review because often times first impressions are not accurate. But in this case they would have been because I'm as happy with the car now as I was when I first drove it off the lot. The 2.0 motor has lots of pep. The suspension has you thinking your driving something thousands of dollars more than what you paid for it. The fuel mileage is excellent (35 mpg on the interstate). The interior and exterior design is contemporary and very apealling (in my opinion anyway). Overall, an excellent little car!
'05 Focus after two years
htw, 06/20/2007
2005 Ford Focus ZX3 SES 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
A six-speed auto tranny would boost mileage. Seat belt for driver hard to snap into holder due to console. Auto up/down on both front side windows would help as would rear disk brakes. But, somehow, it's great fun to drive!
Love my car
susan, 10/23/2007
2005 Ford Focus ZX5 SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Focus was my first brand new car. I have not had one single problem with it since I've bought it. My husband has a Honda Civic and my car is by far more comfortable, roomy, handles better and less noisy. I commute almost 2 hours a day and my car has been perfect.It even took me through my entire pregnancy comfortably. The car is quite fuel efficient - I only fill up once a week. The stereo system is very clear as well! Have spent many long hours on roadtrips and it has been comfortable and great on the highway! A great car. The only thing is the dashboard is kind of cheaply done and is getting worn looking. Some difficulty in bad weather.
2005 Focus
Robo, 04/12/2008
2005 Ford Focus ZX5 SES 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I leased this car for 3 years. It has been pretty reliable and is good balance between practical and fun. Manual transmission gives good mileage (30mpg mostly highway). Engine has decent power, except when the A/C is on. Road noise is loud. Ride is stiff, but comfortable. Reliability is average. I have had an ABS issue, and a tank/gas cap seal problem. Both covered under warranty. I will warn that I have had major annoyance with engine starting. Sometimes it doesn't start right away and this has happened since I bought the car. It has gotten worse and dealership claims it is a flaw with engine design (this is from Ford, not the dealership)
Found a good one
drivealot, 04/25/2008
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have owned this car for more than a year. Purchased used. The front disc brake rotors need to be turned. They were like this soon after I purchased. Other than that it has only had normal needs; new tires, wiper blades and oil changes, it has been low maintenance and trouble-free. I get 40MPG highway and close to 30 in the city. I drive with fuel economy in mind. Mine has an auto transmission with a overdrive button on the shifter. I use overdrive for any driving over 35 MPH and it helps the in-town fuel consumption a lot.
Great Car!
indichick88, 04/27/2008
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 ST 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
From buying this car 3 years ago, I've been very pleased. I've never had to take it in for servicing and it's never caused my any major problems. I love how roomy the interior is, and how the car is the perfect size, not too large, and not too small. I've also been able to go on one tank for 2 weeks! Perfect for students and people just looking for an affordable, reliable car. No complaints!
Reliable
Andrew, 08/21/2021
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car was pretty fantastic for the duration of time that i used it. Only had one breakdown regarding the alternator (74000 miles) and it was pretty inexpensive to repair. Otherwise it drove perfectly fine and started in ridiculously cold temperatures without being plugged in on many occasions. Tight steering and never any engine or transmission problems. Got about 32 mpg which i consider very good. Lastly, it had a shockingly great sound system. It really caught me off guard. Cons; Wasn’t a fan of the manual windows. the dial to change where the ac and heating went, was basically permanently stuck on the windshield defrost mode, and near the end (around 85000 miles) the ac and heat were both pretty weak, so i suppose it was having some rad troubles. Overall, on the noisy side.
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Good little beater!
GranMom, 09/12/2023
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Car been in family since 2009. My sister had it, she allowed my son to use it, she allowed my daughter to use it and I used on rural paper route of 100miles a day. Good solid dependable little car. Not much in the way of fancy a base model but a good little beater!!
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luv my Focus
Braswell, 08/23/2005
2005 Ford Focus ZX5 SE 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 2 people found this review helpful
I had a 2003 model, and I traded it in on a 2005 Focus. No other car was good enough for me. I tried the Honda Accord, and the Civic, and I just didn't like them. With the roominess of the Focus, and the way it handles, it won hands down with me. My fiancé is 6 foot 7 inches tall, and most small cars he does not fit in, but in the Focus he has room to spare. I LOVE MY FOCUS!
It is almost a garbage.
dianbo, 07/21/2009
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought a 2005 ford focus. The plastic material is so cheap that many small parts are broken in 3 years. Comparing to my wife's corolla, it is much higher gas consuming. Now the back door remote contral failed to lock, and need spend $300 dollars to fix it. I really regret I bought it.
ZX4 ST
john mcalliter, 09/13/2005
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 ST 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Very pleased with the vehicle so far. I took her out for a ride some nice back roads with some hills and a lot of curves. I was very impressed with its handling capabilities; it sticks to the road like glue. Acceleration is not a problem and going through the gears is quite easy. The ride is a bit stiff, but the car's handling makes up for that. The steering is incredibly responsive and the independent rear suspension makes cornering a breeze. The seats are comfortable and the interior has plenty of room. The seats are comfortable and the interior has plenty of room, at least for the driver. All in all a good little car for the money.
Exceptional Small Car Value
Jay Hartfield, 07/25/2004
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 ST 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
The 2005 Focus ZX4 ST model is an exceptional small car. Fun to drive, powerful 2.3 liter four, tight 5-speed shifter, and great handling with sport suspension and 16" low profile Pirelli tires. Only option on mine is side curtain air bags. Comes well-equipped with 4 wheel disk ABS, good base sound system w/6 disk in-dash CD changer, cruise control, keyless entry, etc.
Poor
Jeff Moses, 08/30/2004
2005 Ford Focus ZX3 S 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Just bought it mom and dad got it for me they bought it saterday night at 9 pm i drove it for 2 hours the next morring i washed it and drove it down the street and the clutch went out on my they will not alow us to get a nother on it only had 144 miles and we had it less then 12 hours and had to get it tow and they are fixxing it for free but this is the only one this happen to and the first one they are fixing should i be worred email hellfire3929@msn.com
Ford Focus 2005
blan49, 03/22/2006
2005 Ford Focus ZX3 SE 2dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
The ride is sporty and the road handling is very good. The car is practical in layout and function. Ford has been okay about service. The gas mileage is a flat out lie. City driving is about 21.5 mpg, no where near the 26 mpg claims. I believe fuel accuracy is important in selling an auto. They blow it on this point.
Very peppy car
Slimm, 05/20/2007
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 ST 4dr Sedan (2.3L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I love my car. I have no regrets of buying this car since day one. It has a great amount of power for such a little car. I love everything about this car. I would recommend the Focus ST to anyone that still needs a sedan but also wants a little power
Ugly and won’t die
Ford Mustang lover, 07/24/2022
2005 Ford Focus ZX4 SE 4dr Sedan (2.0L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 5 people found this review helpful
I think this car is pretty ugly. I downgraded from a 2015 mustang convertible to this thing. It’s a silver 2005 focus sedan. Paid $2,500 for it and it had 153k miles. Well exactly a year later it is at 158k miles. And it hasn’t died yet. I’ve put new brakes, tires, alternator and engine mounts on it. The CD player doesn’t work which I guess is a common problem. I was told by a mechanic when I first bought it that the transmission fluid was burnt and it needed a new transmission and the speedometer didn’t want to work. Well I took it to another mechanic and they changed the speed sensor and since then, the car runs perfectly and the speedometer works now. So I’ve had the car for a year, originally bought it as a temporary car while I save up for a new mustang but still no new mustang. This car in my opinion is hideous. The back end is way too short and the front is so flat. I like big cars like Lesabres, crown vics, Lincoln town cars, classic cars, coupes, convertibles, not this thing. But it does do everything I want it to do. No leaks, no dash lights on, and I’ve put about 5k miles on it even after being told it had bad transmission fluid though I’m not sure if they were telling the truth. This car still comes back to life. I thought about turning it into an art car, you know those sharpie cars, just to make it less boring. I mean it’s cute in the front but the rest is gross. There are no aftermarket parts for this car. No fun modifications. You can’t change out the cloth seats for leather bc no one makes them. This is why I love and recommend ford mustangs.
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