RIP: Ford Focus Wagon
While you may be able to successfully argue that station wagons have made a comeback thanks to such hipster sleds as the Dodge Magnum and SUV-inspired Outbacks from Subaru, the love hasn't spread to the Ford Focus Wagon, which has always been the black sheep of the Focus lineup holding down around 8% of the small car's sales. Thus, Ford announced on its fleet website that it will be discontinuing the Focus Wagon in December. While Ford is actually increasing Focus production as a whole to meet the U.S. market's newfound demand for small cars, it's decided to spend its resources on the high volume Focus sedan, 3-door and 5-door hatchback models. Though the Focus lineup will now be down to three models by the end of the year, soon enough the heavily revised 2008 Focus will appear and a two-door coupe will join the ranks in place of the discontinued wagon.
[Source: Ford Fleet via LLN]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
charles nordholm 9:36PM (10/19/2008)
I have a 2002 ford focus stationwagon and I just love It. I would like to get a newer one, but I have been looking in the want add's and nobody has one for sale. that ought to tell you that they are good. so why did you quit makeing them? I am averageing 29 miles to a gallon on mine. the reason I like my wagon is that I fish a lot and it is idea to haul my fishing rod's. If anyone has one for sale I would be interested. thanks
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kayaker 7:17AM (8/25/2009)
I have a 2005 Focus wagon and love it. Recently I was kayaking and in the parking lot were 4 more focus with kayaks. As we talked everyone said they wanted to purchase a new Focus and now they don't make they. They could give the Subaru a run for its money because kayakers are looking for a reasonably priced wagon low enough to let us get the kayaks on top of the car, good mileage, and good appearance - everything the Focus wagon had. I tried to buy a new Focus last year - guess my next car will probably not be a Ford.
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Jason_801 10:34AM (10/03/2006)
I assume the percentage is higher in Canada, as I see Focus wagons on a regular basis.
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Bill 10:41AM (10/03/2006)
It's a shame because it's a nice wagon. Too bad Ford let it die on the vine. AWD would have been great, or a "soft road" package like an Outback or XC70.
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D-Dog 10:48AM (10/03/2006)
I always wanted an SVT Wagon. This is too bad.
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doug 10:55AM (10/03/2006)
Who can tell me when the 2008 Focus will be released? Will it be a Fall 2007 or come early in Winter or Spring?
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Shawn 10:55AM (10/03/2006)
Well, you can still go out there and buy one today if you want one. The problem is that no one bought it. Ford didn't let it "die on the vin;" it never sold. As for SVT, no one bought the SVT Focus and it died too.
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Marcus 10:58AM (10/03/2006)
A real shame - I have been planning on buying a Focus wagon w/ a 5 speed next year. Unfortunately, although I would be one of the mere 8% who opt for the wagon, I don't have much of an interest in any of the other choices. (I wonder if Ford is going to lose those people as customers now as well...)
The Mazda3 wagon's trunk seems a bit cramped and I'm not sure that the HHR is as car-like as I would prefer... Any suggestions?
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Kowell 10:58AM (10/03/2006)
Most Focus related problems are due to the fact Ford keep selling us an outdated focus that just doesn't stand up to the competition when their is a golden little focus just sitting in Europe... Either bring us the Euro focus (wich won't happen anytime soon) or drop the price on the current focus caus clearly, for the price of the competiton, it doesn't hold up to it...
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Elliott 11:04AM (10/03/2006)
I'm guessing that the majority of the people who would have bought this will gladly settle for the 5-door. I would have never driven it, but I did kind of like the idea of Ford having some of the only wagons on the market (Volvo XC70, Mazda 6 Wagon, Ford Focus Wagon).
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Doug 9:02PM (10/04/2006)
Check Mazda 5, it is based on C platform, spacious and pricing is somewhat higher than these bottom feeders, but still competitive.
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D-Dog 11:16AM (10/03/2006)
Ah, the 3/5-doors are going the way of the wagon with the redesign in 2008. See...
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/02/spy-shots-2008-ford-focus-coupe-and-sedan/
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Kowell 11:18AM (10/03/2006)
I actually liked the size.... I need more space than a Htachback can offer but I don't feel like paying for an SUV... the Wagon market sucks lately.. it'S weither the Mazda6 wagon, the Legaxy wagon or the Magnun.... at least the old Escort wagon was affordable...
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John B 8:09PM (10/04/2006)
I agree with #1 Jason. From what I see in Ontario, the Focus wagon seems to be selling at better than 8% of sales.
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RaslDasl 11:44AM (10/03/2006)
I just bought a 5-door Focus. Ford is aware of the pricing issue relative to the competition. That's why they have been offering $2500 cash back on the 2007 Focus since the day it showed up on the dealer lots. I cross-shopped all the relevant competition and would have had to pay 3 to 4 grand more for anything from Asia.
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pauln 12:10PM (10/03/2006)
It's surprisisng this wagon sold so poorly, because unless I'm missing something, it has very little direct competition, given its roominess, price, economy and good handling. It's also kinda funny, because there's so much clamoring here for Euro style cars, yet in Germany, among other countires, sedans are "out", and wagons outsell sedans 3 to 1.
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David 12:10PM (10/03/2006)
Oh, Ford...what are we to do with you fools? Surely, this is one high on the list of idiotic moves.
Have a little confidence Ford. Many of your customers who bought or leased Expeditions might still want carrying capacity with reduced fuel consumption when it comes time to trade or turn in.
Please Ford, stop shooting yourself in the foot! I am cringing with almost every move you all make these days...yet I am still pulling for you.
Now, go the the corner and think about what you have done.
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Steve 12:20PM (10/03/2006)
"Ah, the 3/5-doors are going the way of the wagon with the redesign in 2008"
I sure hope not. The 3/5 doors are the only ones that are remotely appealing to me. Which is why I just bought a 5 door.
But I really hope Ford doesn't just try to compete with the Civics and Cobalts by offering only sedan and coupe body styles. Hey Ford, be different! Bold Moves!
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Robert Aitchison 12:27PM (10/03/2006)
The SVT FOcus sold well, though it was hated internally and within the dealer network because it was seen as dilluting the SVT brand. The death blow to the SVT FOcus was when Ford shifted all Focus production to Wayne, MI. The SVT Focus was built in Hermosillo, Mexico where all other Focus hatchbacks were made from 2000-2004, Ford knew that Wayne wasn't up to the task of making a car that was up to to SVT buyers quality standards so they killed it off.
As for the Focus wagon, it's a shame to see it go though it was a tad redundant with the 5 door.
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Ferguson_McSqueege 12:30PM (10/03/2006)
The numbers don't lie. I'm glad they're moving production to the more popular sedan versions.
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