Drove my girlfriend's Focus after a week and a half and 700+ miles on my MSP

[jersey_emt]

I've had my MSP for almost two weeks now, with a bit over 700 miles on the odometer. Before I bought this car, I always loved driving my girlfriend's 2001 Focus SE because of the great handling it had for a low-cost car. It indeed handled much better than my old car (a '96 Chrysler Cirrus), and I always loved how much more confidence I had in taking the Focus around curves at higher speeds.

Well, we drove up to the Mountain Creek Waterpark in Vernon, NJ, today, and took her car. There's a lot of winding back roads on the way. She drove there, and I drove home.

Let me say that, after driving the MSP for a while, the Focus's handling feels sloppy, the suspension is sloppy, and there's body roll galore. I actually felt scared driving the Focus like I used to. The ride is only a tiny bit smoother in the focus (and that's mostly due to the 15" wheels and regular tires opposed to our 17" and low-profiles), but gives hardly any feedback from the road.

Driving the Focus used to be a treat for me; now that I have my MSP it's more like a chore. I can definitely say that I'm 100% happy with my decision to buy this car.

 

[Matthew]

DOWN WITH THE FOCUS!

 

[MSP Chris]

jersey_emt, I agree but remeber it is just a SE. A guy at my job has a SVT focus and everyday me and him get on it on this off ramp. I can say that he will stay with me but mainly because his balls are alot bigger than mine.

 

[jersey_emt]

jersey_emt, I agree but remeber it is just a SE. A guy at my job has a SVT focus and everyday me and him get on it on this off ramp. I can say that he will stay with me but mainly because his balls are alot bigger than mine.

I understand completely. But I still think it's pretty cool that my MSP has made my opinion of the Focus turn completely around. What I thought was a great handling car was actually only marginally better than my old car; nothing else I drove (except a late-model M3) came close to the Focus's handling.

I test drove an SVT Focus (I test drove over two dozen cars before I bought my MSP) and I have to say I was impressed. But it still didn't quite match the handling prowess of the MSP.

It just makes me even more sure that I've made the right decision when buying this car.

 

[mspracer21]

i had a focus b4 the msp... it wasnt to bad.. it just starts braking down on you after a while...but this is what it look like b4 it became i pos.


(msporange

 

[Dr.Sound]

^ nice drums man

i'm just messing

 

[mspracer21]

its all good.....and those puppies have recalls after recalls on those drums. thats why they look so bad.

 

[mdaj]

Looks sweet dude!

Yeah, a nice set of mods can easily remedy that situation as it can any car...but remember it was an SE. Body roll from hell. Floaty ride....felt unsafe. Yes, I knew all about that. So H&R got my money and now Koni will too

Congrats on your ride man!!!

 

[mspracer21]

i traded the focus in apr for the speed and totally for got about the focus the next day....they are totally 2 different cars in performance and handels by far..

 

[unwrittenLaw]

I saw a commercial for the Focus SVT, and it has a car and driver quote that says "its in a handling class all by itself"....so where does that put the MSP? lol

 

[mdaj]

i traded the focus in apr for the speed and totally for got about the focus the next day....they are totally 2 different cars in performance and handels by far..

Oh yes I know....I in no way am trying to compare the two. I try to forget about mine daily.

Im just trying to save money by not trading in for a speed.