Iago's new wheels

Or, more accurately, Iago's wife's new wheels:

I got to drive it today for the first time since I test drove it at the dealer, and it is fun to drive. I read mixed reviews about Ford's MyTouch system, though it has had a firmware upgrade since it was released, and I was skeptical that I would use it much. But after getting my iPod and phone synched to it, I had a lot of fun using the voice commands to place calls, change tracks on the iPod, and use the navigation system. I might even be able to train Eve to use some of it.

Dang it lago stop ripping off my style

Nice focus... Now drop it some 2inches and mount some 20inch spinners....

Uh oh, East has a "MIB" car, ...Bastage, keep an eye on him.

mrblur wrote:Nice focus... Now drop it some 2inches and mount some 20inch spinners....

If it was up to me, we would have gone for the ST. But Eve does not like how the hatchback looks. The most important thing is keeping her happy!

ST FTW

http://jalopnik.com/5922133/ford-focus-st-the-jalopnik-review

Worth pointing out that Jalopnik reviews are biased low, so 69 is actually an excellent score.

And yes, that's what she said.

I bet she's glad that she doesn't have to drive that navy-blue car with the Pepsi logo. Would feel like a right tosser driving that around. BAG.

I guess you can scratch my comment from the other thread, though I think you're about 400 words short, and we need interior photographs too!

While the ST is nice, I think what you've got is more practical for everyday driving, especially once the white stuff hits. And you're in a region that gets plenty of white stuff. How has Eve found the space difference moving from the larger Chrysler to the smaller Ford? And do you still have your Buick?

The Buick is our backup car, aka "the car that I get to drive." And honestly, it is still an awesome car, even with 120,000 miles on it now. The Chrysler was a base model, while the Buick is a CXS with every possible option. I would much rather drive the Buick than the Chrysler, and of course with the lower miles we were able to get a much better trade in on the latter. If Eve decides that she needs something new in three years, then we will either have to trade in the Ford, or pay a lot more if we finally get rid of the Buick. We will cross that bridge when we get there!

She is perfectly happy with it the size. She is 5'2" tall, so a smaller car is a fine fit for her. I can get the driver's seat back almost far enough to be comfortable, but even though I would prefer it back a couple more inches, I can still drive it fairly comfortably. We rarely have passengers, though when we do Eve will have to sit in back behind the driver's seat, because there is not much room in back if I am driving!

Trunk space seems pretty good for the class. Nothing like the Buick or the Chrysler, but those are mid-sized sedans. For a compact sedan, I doubt that you can do much better. (The rear seats do fold down, though.)

And the blue Pepsi car has 160,000 miles on it, all put on by yours truly in the past five years. Frightening to think how much time of one's life can be spent in one vehicle!

A log of 120,000 miles is definitely starting to get up there, but is still fine if the vehicle is maintained and you have a second vehicle, which you do.

Glad that Eve is enjoying. As you said, that's what matters.

As for the Pepsi-mobile, sounds like your company will be trading you up soon. How high do they allow the mileage to go?

I am in the range for a new one, but I have not heard anything. Interestingly, the new sales vehicles are all Fusions.

Most of the driving that I do outside of the company vehicle is short hops like back and forth to and from the gym. Most of the miles on the Buick came from when Eve was using it to commute. I probably average no more than 25-30 miles a week in it. So it should have some legs.

I did take that Focus on a run down a twisty hairpin road nearby, and it does handle very well despite not being particularly powerful. Relatively limited body roll in corners. It does have a select shift with a thumb switch that you can use on the fly, so if it is upshifting when you want to downshift you just need to drop it from D to S and use the thumb switch (which is on the shifter) to run up or down the gears. You can do all that with the one hand on the lever while you steer with the other, so it is not too unlike driving a manual, even if the switch makes it a bit video game-like.

I like the new Fusions. They remind a bit of a baby Aston. If only Ford would fit their sport model with a true stick shift, I'd be interested, as that model would get you all-wheel drive, sport suspension, a turbo motor, upgraded interior and other toys. Not bad for a daily driver. But I dearly love my old-school manual transmissions.

I'm not surprised you like the handling of the Focus. It's one of the best-handling front-wheel drive economy cars out there. And being lower down on the power actually helps sometimes, as you can drive it closer to the limit without getting yourself in trouble.

I looked up the 2013 Fusion and it is indeed a looker. Small powerplant, even in the Titanium trim, but I am curious what the final specs will be. It really is not a huge visual change from the 2012, but what they did sure had an impact.


Good news about the seat on the Focus: Eve had it raised pretty high, and it looks like it moves at an angle rather than straight up and down. With the seat lowered, it goes backward a couple of inches and that gives me the extra legroom that I was looking for -- with the downside being that it gives even less for the rear passenger!

See! Who says an extra inch or two doesn't matter.

I thought that I had the seat farther back at the dealer. Must have been lower.

That's what she said.

Nice preview:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/1201_2013_ford_fusion_first_look/viewall.html

I'd still like to see an AWD 2.0-L turbo with a six-speed manual. That'd be nice and it's too bad Ford doesn't offer that configuration.

It probably will have a select shift option with the automatic like the Focus does. Not the same thing, I know, but it does work.

Iago, nice looking car. Congrats.

Thank you! By the way, Eve is running the TCM and Appleton in the fall, and is debating adding a third marathon, possibly Norwalk, so you may get to see it up close!

15 minutes away, need overnight lodging?

Want to party? Take a look at this Fiesta.