Originally Posted by
revchuck38
I bought a base model 2016 Focus SE hatchback in early '17 as a leftover. The deciding factor for me was the ability to fold the rear seat down and fit a road bike with the front wheel removed into the back. It's got 76k miles on it so far. Overall, I like it and I'll probably keep it until it dies. It handles really well, is comfortable on long drives (to Tucson twice and Colorado Springs once from south LA) and typically gets in the low 30 mpg range in and around town and about 40 mpg on the highway. The engine is decently peppy and handling is good, though I don't push it like I used to. At 6'1", I fit comfortably with the seat all the way back; it'd be too small for someone taller. The sound system is decent and the Sync works well. The downsides are the automatic transmission which shudders occasionally when accelerating - a known issue which has gotten better; it rarely happens anymore - and the OEM Contis, which were LOUD on concrete pavement. This is one of those cars which, disregarding the issues with the automatic transmission, would be much better with a stick. Since I'm an old retired guy, I kept the Contis until they hit the wear markers about a thousand miles ago and replaced them with a decent set of Michelins, which are a big improvement in terms of noise. I run it on regular and it idles smoothly.