RIP Ford Focus - 1998 - 2025
Discussion
The end is nigh for what was once one of the most popular cars on the road.
https://uk.motor1.com/news/593846/ford-focus-produ...
With the Fiesta falling out of the best seller list, and now the axing of the Focus it seems to be Ford really has lost it's grip on the UK car market (Puma aside).
https://uk.motor1.com/news/593846/ford-focus-produ...
With the Fiesta falling out of the best seller list, and now the axing of the Focus it seems to be Ford really has lost it's grip on the UK car market (Puma aside).
Minimoto said:
Also, the fact Ford UK can't be bothered setting up a configurator online for the Focus is quite telling.
There is also a big sign saying no new factory orders for the Focus, little point in a configurator for a vehicle you can't order to be fair. There was one when we ordered Mrs geeks earlier in the year but to be honest not much need for it, very few options were available ontop of the standard kit which was pretty good in the first place.Things move on, people want more premium products nowadays, there is less appeal for bread and butter cars like Focus and Astra and Mondeo and Insignia. They have connotations of being less than flash. Even 18 year olds want a Mini or an A1. Hence there will be new names and more suv types around. I do think Vauxhall missed a trick not renaming the new Astra, it looks amazing in design.
A Winner Is You said:
A500leroy said:
Is there going to be anything for the normal guy to buy new soon? What are Ford doing?
Don't worry, there will be plenty of 2 tonne electric SUVs to choose from in our glorious green future.As EVs are more like buying a TV or a phone, I think more and more manufacturers will move to the online ordering model and do away with dealers so they can keep all the money for themselves.
The oft-repeated narrative is that nobody wants this kind of car any more, yet the Golf has sat consistently in the top 10 (mostly in the top 5) best selling cars in the UK for years now. It's hard to envisage VW killing it off.
I suspect the bigger issue in the UK market is the badge rather than the type of car. In general, people won't have a Ford when they can have something German for the same or less a month.
I suspect the bigger issue in the UK market is the badge rather than the type of car. In general, people won't have a Ford when they can have something German for the same or less a month.
Export56 said:
Things move on, people want more premium products nowadays, there is less appeal for bread and butter cars like Focus and Astra and Mondeo and Insignia. They have connotations of being less than flash. Even 18 year olds want a Mini or an A1. Hence there will be new names and more suv types around. I do think Vauxhall missed a trick not renaming the new Astra, it looks amazing in design.
Which arent actually Premium really, people do like a badge though. Plenty arent bothered and realise that like for like there isnt much difference these days.Suppose the next thing will be a Focus sort of sized EV with a different name.
As somebody who is not at all bothered by believing that I've bought a "premium" car, it seems a shame that Ford cars are disappearing.
I, and various family members, have had a number of them over the years.
Bought at 2 years old, even the non-"sporty"ones typically drive really well, well-built, well-equipped, practical and are cheap and painless to own.
The VAG cars, which - along with Hyundai/Kia- will soon be the only option remaining, I've had have been inferior, even if the VAG dashboard was softer, in the case that I ever needed to fondle it.
I, and various family members, have had a number of them over the years.
Bought at 2 years old, even the non-"sporty"ones typically drive really well, well-built, well-equipped, practical and are cheap and painless to own.
The VAG cars, which - along with Hyundai/Kia- will soon be the only option remaining, I've had have been inferior, even if the VAG dashboard was softer, in the case that I ever needed to fondle it.
A Winner Is You said:
A500leroy said:
Is there going to be anything for the normal guy to buy new soon? What are Ford doing?
Don't worry, there will be plenty of 2 tonne electric SUVs to choose from in our glorious green future.They're crossovers. Smaller cars on stilts. All about that elevated-cum-4x4 look.
It started with the Mondeo - Ford cited it was ditching the large hatchback / saloon as the European market was shifting towards crossovers.
Same in the US. The traditional US sedan ships on wheels and their station wagon equivalents have all but vanished as the trend, manufacturers say, has shifted towards the crossover market. Even the Taurus has gone from there after a brief period despite it supposedly having picked been relayed the torch from the Crown Victoria.
I would have thought the Focus was a staple and would stay.
I'm personally not a fan of crossovers or seeing the Focus morphed into one.
captain.scarlet said:
Same in the US. The traditional US sedan ships on wheels and their station wagon equivalents have all but vanished as the trend, manufacturers say, has shifted towards the crossover market. Even the Taurus has gone from there after a brief period despite it supposedly having picked been relayed the torch from the Crown Victoria.
What do US Police drive as cruisers nowadays? Export56 said:
Things move on, people want more premium products nowadays, there is less appeal for bread and butter cars like Focus and Astra and Mondeo and Insignia. They have connotations of being less than flash. Even 18 year olds want a Mini or an A1. Hence there will be new names and more suv types around. I do think Vauxhall missed a trick not renaming the new Astra, it looks amazing in design.
With the new Astra still looking fairly uncrossover-ish, perhaps the Focus replacement will be similar. Looks like the first Vauxhall since the mid 80s to have the dash canted towards the driver.
MC Bodge said:
As somebody who is not at all bothered by believing that I've bought a "premium" car, it seems a shame that Ford cars are disappearing.
I, and various family members, have had a number of them over the years.
Bought at 2 years old, even the non-"sporty"ones typically drive really well, well-built, well-equipped, practical and are cheap and painless to own.
The VAG cars, which - along with Hyundai/Kia- will soon be the only option remaining, I've had have been inferior, even if the VAG dashboard was softer, in the case that I ever needed to fondle it.
Ditto, I buy the car I fancy, preferably with plenty of power but not remotely bothered about the badge, it just so happens that the "Premium" stuff tends to have bigger power outputs.I, and various family members, have had a number of them over the years.
Bought at 2 years old, even the non-"sporty"ones typically drive really well, well-built, well-equipped, practical and are cheap and painless to own.
The VAG cars, which - along with Hyundai/Kia- will soon be the only option remaining, I've had have been inferior, even if the VAG dashboard was softer, in the case that I ever needed to fondle it.
Having had a BMW for three years and put up with the hilarious, highly original indicator related humour, I quite like not having that driving a Ford.
Are people that arsed any more ? Nothing says you have made it more than an diesel A class, made it to supervisor in the call centre maybe, just not really a reliable indicator (like BMW...) of anything these days.
Remember when folk used to produce an Iphone fro their pocket like they had freed Excalibur ? Nobody does that now as everyone has one on contract, same deal with cars really.
Export56 said:
Things move on, people want more premium products nowadays, there is less appeal for bread and butter cars like Focus and Astra and Mondeo and Insignia. They have connotations of being less than flash. Even 18 year olds want a Mini or an A1. Hence there will be new names and more suv types around. I do think Vauxhall missed a trick not renaming the new Astra, it looks amazing in design.
Why is an SUV more premium? I thought the (very well selling) Puma was basically the same level of 'premium' as a Fiesta?757 said:
MC Bodge said:
What do US Police drive as cruisers nowadays?
Dodge's when I was last over there, Chargers, or Ford FusionsFusion (Mondeo) and Taurus have been dropped, although the 2021 Taurus does exist in China where its manufactured, and in the Middle East.
Possible the Charger as a 5-door sports car will go on for now though. Chevrolet did eventually drop the Impala, let's not forget, and the Chrysler 300 is believed to only have a couple more years left.
However your Lincoln Town Cars, Chevrolet Caprices/Malibus, Cadillac Fleetwoods, Devilles, Sevilles etc bit the dust a long time ago.
A handful still in the CT range of Cadillac Fleetwoods however.
In Europe, without the Passat (also discontinued) and the Honda Accord, it seems like the Peugeot 508 is one of the few remaining ordinary man saloons left, leaving saloons from only the more premium brands like Lexus, Volvo, MB and BMW.
How much longer the 508 can survive given its pricing is another thing. I can't imagine that it is that in demand, likewise the Toyota Camry as the replacement for the Avensis isn't a regular sight on the roads in the same way as the Corolla hatchback and saloon are.
Again, sad to see the daily Ford range reduced to crossovers. The excuse of the market trend going that way is because the market sees that that's what is on offer and is largely just going along with it.
Limpet said:
I suspect the bigger issue in the UK market is the badge rather than the type of car. In general, people won't have a Ford when they can have something German for the same or less a month.
I suspect you're probably right - snobbery/ keeping up with the neighbours. Utterly depressing......Gassing Station | Ford | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff