Ford Focus Ghia

[Gary A]

We have been looking around for a new car/truck for several months and today bought a new Ford Focus. I liked the looks better than the Honda Civic. I did like the Nissan Tiida because of all the room in the backseat but it is kind of ugly. Since I don't ride in the back seat and there are just two of us, it wasn't that important. The Ghia is the top of the line and has nearly everything as standard. The icing on the cake was 0 percent interest, a years free insurance and a 10,000 baht voucher for gasoline. I can keep my money invested and keep collecting dividends rather than paying cash. That's probably about a 140,000 baht savings over paying the 3.5 percent add on interest. I would have rather had a new Ford 4X4 but my wife won. I still have my Nissan pickup so another pickup didn't really make much sense to me either.

[Scenium11]

The Ghia model is 1.8 engine, right? Why not go to the 2.0l model?

[Gary A]

The Ghia model is 1.8 engine, right? Why not go to the 2.0l model?

The 2.0 liter was only offered in the Sport five door (hatchback). The 1.8 seems to have enough to suit me. I was used to driving a VERY doggy Toyota pickup. My Nissan pickup has more power than the Toyota did and the 1.8 Ghia has more power than the Nissan.

[North]

I have been looking at the Ford Focus too, and I think it looks great, my wife likes it too.

How about the fuel economy, how many km per. liter ??

North

[sendbaht]

Very nice looking car, drive her in the best of health!

[dvk1951]

Congrats Gary on the new addition to the family, here's wishing you many happy, trouble free KM's.

Good choice by the way, I liked them as well but needed a truck as my 'first born', delivery is due tomorrow.

[Gary A]

Actually we just took delivery today. The dealer told us we should get between 16 and 18 but you know how that goes. We're planning a trip to Jomtien over Christmas so that will be the economy test. I'll make a report when we get back. It drives and handles great. The ride is pretty firm and body roll and sway is minimal with the 16 inch low profile tires. I'm glad I bought the top of the line.

[dvk1951]

Happy Holidays , have a great trip, will buy you the missus a cup of holiday cheer if we should meet up.

[Jim's_a_Thai_Fox]

Hi Gary,

congrats on the new purchase. I have just test drove that very car (well, not the one sitting in your driveway but the 1.8 Ghia 4-dr...)

It did drive well, had a lot of umph and seemed overall a good car. however, for the same price, the Honda did strike me simply as the better car - mainly in terms of cabin quality, room etc... of course, looks are subjective and that's a case of 'each to his own' (where would we be if we aall went after the same lady!)...

just curious, why didn't you go with the Honda?

cheers, and happy driving,

james

[Gary A]

Hi Gary,

congrats on the new purchase. I have just test drove that very car (well, not the one sitting in your driveway but the 1.8 Ghia 4-dr...)

It did drive well, had a lot of umph and seemed overall a good car. however, for the same price, the Honda did strike me simply as the better car - mainly in terms of cabin quality, room etc... of course, looks are subjective and that's a case of 'each to his own' (where would we be if we aall went after the same lady!)...

just curious, why didn't you go with the Honda?

cheers, and happy driving,

james

Honestly I think the Honda is the better car although the equal to the Ford was more expensive. For once in my life I bought what I liked the best and didn't worry about which was the most reliable or which had the best resale value. I like the looks of the Ford much better and that's what I bought.

The Honda deal didn't include the first years insurance nor was it interest free. Financially the Ford deal was much better. My money is still invested and earning dividends while I make interest free payments. Had the deals been equal, being practical and conservative would have probably seen me buying the Honda. Since the Ford appeals to me much more I'm glad I had the financial incentive to buy the Ford.

[North]

Hi Gary,

congrats on the new purchase. I have just test drove that very car (well, not the one sitting in your driveway but the 1.8 Ghia 4-dr...)

It did drive well, had a lot of umph and seemed overall a good car. however, for the same price, the Honda did strike me simply as the better car - mainly in terms of cabin quality, room etc... of course, looks are subjective and that's a case of 'each to his own' (where would we be if we aall went after the same lady!)...

just curious, why didn't you go with the Honda?

cheers, and happy driving,

james

Honestly I think the Honda is the better car although the equal to the Ford was more expensive. For once in my life I bought what I liked the best and didn't worry about which was the most reliable or which had the best resale value. I like the looks of the Ford much better and that's what I bought.

The Honda deal didn't include the first years insurance nor was it interest free. Financially the Ford deal was much better. My money is still invested and earning dividends while I make interest free payments. Had the deals been equal, being practical and conservative would have probably seen me buying the Honda. Since the Ford appeals to me much more I'm glad I had the financial incentive to buy the Ford.

Hello Gary,

How much did you actually pay for the car then ?

When we visited Ford the other day we were looking at the model in the middle, the 1.8 Finesse. They gave us a price: 839,000 baht, and we had the choice between paying cash: discount 40,000 baht or downpayment 20% and the rest over 4 years and no interest. I am not sure though if they offered free insurance for the 1. year but I think so. But they were not talking about a free voucher for gasoline.

The 1.8 Ghia were quoted at: 939,000 baht, but, do you really get much extra for the last 100,000 baht?

By the way, you mention you were thinking of an Ford 4x4, did you mean the Ranger ?

I still haven´t decided, if I will have a pickup or the normal car, until now we only have a rather old Ford Aspire, so maybe I will go for the Ranger, I hear, that soon you can have it with an 5-speed automatic.

[Gary A]

Hello Gary,

How much did you actually pay for the car then ?

When we visited Ford the other day we were looking at the model in the middle, the 1.8 Finesse. They gave us a price: 839,000 baht, and we had the choice between paying cash: discount 40,000 baht or downpayment 20% and the rest over 4 years and no interest. I am not sure though if they offered free insurance for the 1. year but I think so. But they were not talking about a free voucher for gasoline.

The 1.8 Ghia were quoted at: 939,000 baht, but, do you really get much extra for the last 100,000 baht?

By the way, you mention you were thinking of an Ford 4x4, did you mean the Ranger ?

I still haven´t decided, if I will have a pickup or the normal car, until now we only have a rather old Ford Aspire, so maybe I will go for the Ranger, I hear, that soon you can have it with an 5-speed automatic.

It was priced at 939,000. The Ghia has some little trim and other small upgrades but the main items are the radio controls on the steering column, Dual zone air con, the CD player holds six CD's and has two extra speakers, The seats are leather, the seat position controls are electric and it has better tires on 16 inch wheels. Another biggie was the passenger air bag. Is that worth the extra money? I'm not sure. Nice 16 or 17 inch wheels could be added and seat covers can be found too. The six CD player could also have been bought afterwards. I do like the electric seat controls and the steering column radio control.

The 10,000 baht gasoline coupon was good only during the Bangkok Motor Expo. It finished Dec. 11. The no interest and one year free insurance deal is good until the end of the year.

My original plan was to buy a new Ranger 4X4 open cab. The five speed automatic is still not available. A pickup truck is pretty handy to have when you live in the boonies so if I had not had the Nissan pickup, I would have definitely bought the Ranger.

[dvk1951]

The 5 speed auto IS available in the XLT model but only in the double cab (4 door). The new Nissan Navara due out early next year is rumored to have a 5 speed auto as well, this is what supposedly prompted Ford to get theirs on the market now rather than later.

Ranger Double Cab 2WD 2.5 XLS 5AT Inline 4-cylinder DOHC 16V 5-speed automatic Retail price from THB 683,000

Ranger Double Cab 4WD 3.0 XLT 5AT Inline 4-cylinder DOHC 16V 5-speed automatic Retail price from THB 883,000