Congrats DJeffer. Auto or manual?
manual...it will eventually be a "2nd car" when i replace the Taurus in the not too distant future (with a Sonata 2.0T Limited w/Nav).
I definitely considered white when we were looking at ETs, but my wife kiboshed that idea. We're both OK with our carbon grey ET (used, so no choice on the matter), but the white does look good.
i hadn't considered white, but my wife really wanted a white one...the last 3 Focus' we bought were silver and dark grey, so she wanted to get something different...i have never owned a white car before, but they do look nice...i have heard they aren't too bad for keeping clean (as lighter coloured cars usually "keep clean" better).
Best part of the ET for us so far - got the cargo cover, torque wrench, emergency blanket, donut/jack/ first aid kit, flashlight, tow hook, jumper cables, assorted screwdrivers/wrenches - all underneath the cargo floor, and there's room for more. Dog has lots of room in the hatch, even with the dog barrier up.
yea, after researching various cars, the ET has by far the most amount of space compared to ANYTHING else available (aside from the Kia Rondo perhaps)...but comparing it to Mazda 3 Sport, Toyota Matrix, Ford Focus hatchback, Kia Forte5, Honda Fit, etc, they just don't come close...the ET has almost as much space as most "wagons" do (93% of the size of a Golf Wagon) and compact SUVs (similar in size to a Ford Escape)...it is deceptive, because it doesn't look that big (doesn't really look that much bigger than our Ford Focus we returned).
tell me about this dog barrier, where did you get it, how much was it?...we have 3 dogs we like to take to the dog park and while they don't hop the seat, it might be nice to "box them in".
I wish the tranny had a 6th gear, and I may be wanting more power when it's fully loaded and passing on the highway, but overall it's a nimble handler in town (great turning radius) and fun to drive (for a 2.0L compact wagon). What's your thoughts on the drive? Anything standing out for you now, good or bad?
95% of my driving is in the city anyway, so the 6th gear isn't a deal breaker for us...i too noticed it "average" for power (as in, not a race car), but really, it essentially ends up being a commuter car, with utility if we want to drive to Ikea or somewhere and need some storage capability.
in terms of the drive, i suppose it is tough to say...not because there is anything wrong with it...it handles reasonably well, i find the 15" tires are great for going over broken pavement/potholes which is quite common here in town...the engine is a bit noisy, but not something i would consider overbearing or even an issue, as it isn't a luxury touring car, and i haven't driven it on the highway yet, so i can't comment about cruising at 115 km/hr speeds...steering seems easy and direct...the audio system is average (i am somewhat of an audiofile though, so, to be honest, it isn't that great, but most cars in this class aren't, unless you spend a small fortune, which wasn't an option here)...fit and finish is great, no squeaks/rattles, gaps and seams are tight...lots of space inside (headroom, legroom, etc)...overall, a very good practical car...i have only driven about 120 km so far, but i am averaging about 8 liters/100 km in strictly city driving, which i think is rather decent considering it is brand new.
