Minnesota Focus Owners Club

This "company car" thing is just a bitch to figure out. The company will pay me $550 a month to buy a new car every 3-4 years. Great, right? So the deal goes, the car has to hit an MSRP of $19500. I can go above that, but not below. The actual purchase price has no effect.

The dilema....
1st...I own the car, so if the company ever were to cut me loose, I have to pick up the remaining payments (if any).
2nd..I'm pretty confident I can achieve a $250-$300 ish per month note, which will leave me with $200-250 to keep (I keep the difference).
3rd..I could go out and pick up something with a $450 a month payment....and have a few $$ to spare.
4th..gas is reimbused via a variable amount per mile driven...could be 20cents...on average.

Now, I'll be driving alot, so I'm tempted to go the quiet, comfortable cruiser route (lower mpg's too). But these put me in the upper payment range, with less to pocket.
Or, I could pick up a new Focus and have a good amount to keep (higher mpg's too).

This is driving me nuts. The right thing to do is to grab a low payment and keep the larger balance. I will probably end up doing this. If I'm still around for the next car, my situation will be much improved (financially)and I can get me a nicer ride.....

IMO you can sell honda's faster than average ford's so if they were to cut you loose and have to release the car you might be able to sell em off quick and get something else. for high miles driving, i would consider honda since they have good gas mileage and higher resale value.

Why not go buy a brand new Focus ST? It's a VERY comfortable car, is right at that $20k mark, to get you in where you need to be, but still be at the bottom end, for more $$$ in your pocket. It is honestly relatively quick out of the box and looks great. Thats what I would do!

Go out and buy yourself a MazdaSpeed 3 263hp and still room to haul

Words simply are not neccesary,

ST & 3 = 5spd only. Wifey no drive da manual...so hubby gotta get the autotragic.

Honda...yes, good points. Outside shot...never wanted one for myself...wife has a civic now (her choice).

And Mr. Steve....um dude, you ain't making this any easier

I already covered the MS3 with the wifey...nnnnot gonna happen. Could go regular 3 though...might do this.

I swear, I have never been so damed indicisive about a vehicle purchase in my whole freakin life

I'd go with a Mazda MS3, MCS(mini cooper S), or a VW GTi.

HotRodWagon wrote: And Mr. Steve....um dude, you ain't making this any easier

How can you say no to that? Thats like finding Angelina Jolie waiting for you when you get home and telling her to go away

A new Mini (upcoming next generation) wouldn't be bad, I hear it'll have a real BMW engine instead of the Chrysler unit they are running now.

GTI would be good as well and I believe both the Mini and GTI can be had with paddle shifters so the wife could drive it.

BTW-tell the wife to get her own car yeah, right. Didn't work for me either.

FORDSVTPARTS wrote:

HotRodWagon wrote:
And Mr. Steve....um dude, you ain't making this any easier

BTW-tell the wife to get her own car yeah, right. Didn't work for me either.

I'd be all over the MS3 otherwise. Oh well..

Mini's are too small...and DSG GTI's will be a pretty healthy note. Plus, the GTI does nothing for me at all. 10 years ago maybe, but not now.

Maybe I can bargain w/the wife & talk her into an auto SAP ZX3 SES, loaded w/ the upcomming 06/07 FR suspension, a cat back, and a FS turbo kit....I'm just asking for trouble....

just get a Ford Fusion or spring for the Volvo C30


http://youtube.com/watch?v=wcLZPTzNgsc

Another car that would be fun. A new Audi A3 2.0T. It's a blast, the auto is a normal auto, but comes with the paddle shifters also. The little thing screams and looks awesome. Relatively priced. Around 25k if I remember.

Eleanor Focus wrote: Go out and buy yourself a MazdaSpeed 3 263hp and still room to haul

ditto, and that will have a good resale value

either that or maybe a 3 sedan with the 2.3 as to not rack p the miles on a sweet car



I would also suggest just getting a low payment and do double payments each month, that way if you get cut loose from the company you will atleast be way ahead on payments

Eleanor Focus wrote: just get a Ford Fusion or spring for the Volvo C30


http://youtube.com/watch?v=wcLZPTzNgsc

Nice choice, I forgot about that. You can have your 2nd gen Focus after all.

FORDSVTPARTS wrote:

Eleanor Focus wrote:just get a Ford Fusion or spring for the Volvo C30


http://youtube.com/watch?v=wcLZPTzNgsc

Nice choice, I forgot about that. You can have your 2nd gen Focus after all.

he could with the Mazda 3 also, Just not the 2nd gen ST

I like the DSG MKV GTI, have you driven one? As a regular auto they are fast, but with the paddle shifters or putting the stick in S mode that thing becomes agressive, sounds good stock as well and handles like a dream.