And for any state employees who feel the Focus is too small, the Atkins diet is presumably in their future:
DAS spokesman Ron Sylvester said there have been a few grumbles from state employees about the need for more headroom and legroom than the Focus provides.
“People concerned about getting their girth from a midsize car into a Ford Focus - we may be helping them think about reducing their girth a little bit,” he said.
“I’m wondering, though, how well the Focus is going to hold up under fleet use compared to midsize cars like the Ford Taurus and Chevy Impala that are being used now. The Cleveland PD uses the Focus for their parking enforcement vehicles, and I’ve walked out of work on more than one occasion to see one broken down along the curb with a CVPI pulled up behind it running flashing lights and waiting for the tow truck. Is the state going to save money in the long run, or is the offset in initial cost going to be spent on repairs to keep these little cars on the road?”- PatrickAT
In other news, NY governor Spitzer announced he would replace all of the NY mid size sedan fleet vehicles with chevy Suburbans. When asked for comment, Spitzer said it would save money somehow if people just gave him a chance and then mumbled something about not getting illegals licenses and running the state into the ground in spite.
The Focus could be a much better car if Ford would do what is needed to make it a better car for us here in America.This was said by Metroplex on crownvic.net.I thought he raised some pretty good points,i felt were worth sharing.
"The Ford Focus is quite roomy for such a small car. Just as a comparison, I can sit in the backseat of my Mustang GT and the only problem there is the headroom (my head is almost up against the ceiling). My leg and knees were fine even with the front seat adjusted for a tall person. I actually found the rear seat bottoms to be quite comfortable.
The Mk 2 Focus / CD1 platform is a very good design. It’s unfortunate that Americans only get access to the obsolete Mk 1 Focus even in 2008, while EVERYONE ELSE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD has access to a Mk 2 Focus. Does it make any sense to have a POS design continue to sell in the US market, where Ford’s HQ is located, while other markets get a much better design? There’s a rather LARGE Focus ST club in Taiwan (of all places) where people were showing off their new Focus ST’s by video taping a convoy driving through the mountains. These ST’s have the 225 hp T5 engine from Volvo. Even Jeremy Clarkson has given his approval of the International Focus ST and even owns a Mk 2 Focus. These are praises for a Mk 2 Focus coming from someone who owns a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder and previously owned a Ford GT.
The 2008 North American Focus features Microsoft’s SYNC… Great, so rather than spend the money on porting over the CD1 platform for the 2005/2006 MY, they were busy working on some Microsoft POS and other junk like ambient interior lighting to entice younger buyers who will eventually just buy a Japanese car. Heck, even the 2008 NA Focus has an instrument panel layout that seems remarkably similar to the 8th gen (2006-up) North American Honda Civic. In that respect, the UK’s Honda Civic Type R has the same powertrain as the North American Honda Civic Si - VERY snazzy!
Ironically, the Mazda3 and Volvo C30 are built on the CD1 / Mk 2 platform and ARE available in the US. The C30 looks like a$$, and I am waiting for the new 2.5L DOHC I4 with direct injection to be available in the 2009 Mazda3. The Europeans already have the 2.5L DOHC DI I4 engine for their 2008 Mazda3 and Mazda6. The specs indicate 168 hp (2.5L I4) with 34 mpg on the highway. That is 12 more hp than the current 2.3L DOHC MPFI I4 and about 1-3 mpg better fuel economy. Rumor has it that the 2009 2.5L DOHC I4 in the US will get much more power. I can only hope!!!"-Metroplex
all very true but ford just doesn’t get it. The focus was a great car when it first came out and very well received by critics, now its an old and uninteresting design.
I have owned both zetec and duratec cars as well and duratec definitely > zetec.
Good move by ohio and lol at the guy telling the fat workers to lose weight.
I am not sure whether or not this is public knowledge yet.
I work for a government agency, and we are getting 40 brand new Toyota Highlanders powered by Hydrogen. We will also have the world’s largest Hydrogen station.
The cars are being provided at no cost by Toyota
I think its kinda neat, although I lobbied for plug in hybrids…
It says except “state highway patrol” that is probably their equivalent of the NYS Troopers
It dosent say anything about local or county police offices…
It “eliminates the Chevy Impala” which is probably refering to the Impala 9C1 or better know as a police package Impala which is commonly used by local PD’s
If the Focus’s are only being used for govermental use and not any police use, then who cares, however the story is not that clear on the concept
No bring them home to save a lot of money. But that’s OT. We could raise the tax rate on the wealthy to buy better things for the good of the public. Oh wait, that’s off topic too.
I agree with idea of letting the girthy people deal with it. And if the broken Foci make more work the the people who have to tow them and fix them and sell the parts What’s the problem?
Yes the STATE POLICE will be exempt from this movement,However ALL other PD’s in Ohio could be affected and find them selfs driving a Focus for Patrol.
imagine trying to do a pit Maneuver with a Focus LOL.