Stop trying to save money here. Go for the Corolla and save yourself the headache.
Please make sure to do your research before buying. The Focus has known issues, so don’t skip a pre-purchase inspection.
Because it’s a terrible car.
The transmission problems have been well-known for years, and this article finally exposed them to a wider audience: Ford knew Focus, Fiesta had flawed transmission, sold them anyway
I’m in Belgium, and even manual Focus models are cheaper than VW Golfs. I’m considering a Fiesta manual because they’re so affordable compared to other brands, but I’m not sure if it’s a good idea.
It’s because of the PowerShift automatic transmission. Avoid them at all costs. Manuals are fine. Stick to Corolla or Civic and get a pre-purchase inspection—it’s worth the money.
Because it’s a ‘Ford Fuckus.’
If it hits 100k miles, expect problems.
Plenty of cars don’t need major work at 100k miles. I’ve owned Civics, Accords, and even an old Camry that made it well past that mark without issues.
My ‘99 Corolla is still going strong.
True, but that thing is so old it probably lacks modern safety features. If you crash, at least you won’t have to worry about fixing it!