Is A Focus For You? Ask Your Austin Ford Dealer

The Focus is a great American success story. The compact Ford made its debut in 1999 for the model year, 2000, and questions and complaints of its reliability plagued the car for the first four years. Ford had to recall certain models, and the car was called "glitch ridden." Here's the good part, though! Ford didn't give up on its little car; improvement after improvement increased the Focus's reliability and popularity. It went on to win over 60 major awards, including Best Family Car Ever by Autocar UK. Today, it is one of the most popular cars in the country and around the world.

Buying a new or used Focus is a great choice, and each has its benefits. A new 2010 Focus typically has a sticker price of about $17,000 for a Sedan S, and it increases for upgraded models. With this, you will get a warranty covering 3 year/36,000 bumper to bumper; 5 year/60,000 powertrain; and 5/60,000 roadside assistance. Make sure to stop by TrueCar.com to see what people in the Austin, Texas area have been paying for their 2010 Focuses. According to this source, if you are paying sticker price, you are paying much, much too high. The average for your area is about $13,983. This will give you an idea of what you can expect to pay, and it can be a good bargaining chip if you are quoted a higher price. You'll know that people are buying for less at other area dealers.

A pre-owned Focus can also be a great buy. As with finding the right dealer for a new car, finding the right dealer - and the right car - is essential when buying used. Before you even step out onto the lot, arm yourself with information. Take a look at Kelly Blue Book and see how much different Focus models are worth based on their condition. Besides looking at the condition of the car, the mileage, and the model year, it is also important that you make sure your Austin Ford dealer is selling you a certified pre-owned Focus. This tells you that it has passed a rigorous 169 point inspection. To be on the safe side, have a mechanic look the car over before you make your final decision.

To be certified as a pre-owned vehicle, the Focus must be under 5 years old and have less than 60,000 miles on it. With this certification comes a 6 year/100,000 mile warranty for the engine, transmission, and more and a 3 month, 3000 mile comprehensive warranty. A good warranty makes a huge difference when you are car shopping, especially when you are choosing a pre-owned vehicle.

Shop the dealers in your area and see what they have in stock, as well as what their prices are, what types of incentives they may have ($500 cash back, for instance), and what type of financing they can offer you. Do this for five or six Austin Ford dealers and compare rates. The days of going to a lot on a whim and driving off the same day are largely over, and salesmen rather expect customers to compare prices and options. Say no to temptation - or to pressure - and visit several dealers.

The Focus is a great choice: fuel efficient, reliable, and fun to drive, you'll love driving off the lot in your new Ford - just make sure you drive it off the right lot.