Archive for the ‘Focus’ Category

The Ford Focus has been extremely popular with Cash-for-Clunkers buyers. With an MSRP starting just above $15,000 and an EPA-rated fuel economy of 24/33 mpg -- not to mention the new luster of attractiveness Ford has acquired in light of its refusal to accept bailout dough -- the Focus is tailor-made for American buyers looking to cash in.

Of course, in order for customers to purchase the vehicles, Ford has to have enough of them on the lots, and apparently the company is struggling a bit to keep up. At the end of July, Ford had only a 25-day supply of the focus, which is definitely on the slim side for an industry that prefers to keep 60...

U Haul has just reduced prices for its U Car Share car-sharing service, and added more fuel-efficient EPA SmartWay vehicles, the company reports. Vehicles being added to U Car Share's fleet include the Toyota Prius, Ford Focus, Toyota Yaris, MINI Cooper, and Ford Escape Hybrid.

Up until now, the Chrysler PT Cruiser has been the most common vehicle in U Car Share's fleet.

The one-time registration fee to join U Car Share has been cut in half, to $25; the service has no annual membership fee, and cars now start at $4.95 per hour plus 59 cents a mile, with a rate of $8 to $12 per hour with 180 free miles included for longer trips. The company...

Want American-made and fuel-efficient? A small car, too? You don't have many choices.

Shoppers are valuing fuel efficiency more than before, especially now that they might be able to take advantage of a $4,500 Cash-for-Clunkers incentive. While there are plenty of stars-and-stripes-waving larger vehicles, the list of smaller, frugal American-made cars is very limited.

And at a time when you're likely wondering how you can do your part to support the economy—whether locally or nationally—chances are the dealership salesperson will be of little help to some nagging shopping questions like "Where is this car built?"

Luckily, you'll find...