Ford vehicles are generally very reliable, heck, the Focus is the best selling car in the world for 2012.

The dealership here in Malaysia is a different story...

Ah, got it sorted. Heard news that my car from SDAC is arriving very soon. Will just wait and see by next week

Same here. Just waiting and poisoning myself every day by reading more about the car.

Hope it arrives next week.

3 months?! Where did you get yours from?

SA told me car coming on Friday. In Puspakom now.

Heading over tomorrow to settle my downpayment and car registration etc.

Hope all goes well.

If you pay a 10% down payment with a 9-year tenure, the interest is about 2.4%, repayment of RM1.3k a month.

It depends. If you have some spare cash at hand and intend to use this car for a very long term, of cos it is.

Got RM1k discount for my 2013 Sport+.

Heading over to SDAC PJ at 4pm later to settle the down payment and choose car registration number.

Car should be arriving on Friday!

Hey dude, just want to ask. The DRLs you installed, do they come in just the strips of lights or does it come with the triangle black panel as well?

Does it void the warranty?

Not just Europe, the new Ford Focus is the best selling car in the world 2012.

Getting my Midnight Sky Sport+ tomorrow!

Where are you getting yours?

Yup, might send it to SierraGlow for coating.

SDAC PJ

Received my Midnight Sky Sport+ yesterday. The amount of tech in that car is mindblowing. Every few minutes I discover small little features that put a smile on my face.

No problems discovered so far. Going for 3M tinting later!

I waited about one and a half months for my Sport+ (Midnight Sky), booked it on the 8th of March.

If you just booked recently, expect to wait at least 2 months because the demand for this model is really high. At least that's what I heard.

Join FOCM on Facebook, someone is selling there. RM380 per pair.

Nope, it's plug-and-play.

Guys, just get it from SDAC PJ.

Here, let me share my opinions with you.

In March, I impulsively decided to sell my 5-year-old Toyota Vios and switch to a continental car. My budget was between RM120k to RM150k. That time, my options were the VW Jetta, VW Golf MK6 (slightly above budget), Ford Focus Sport+, Peugeot 408T, Audi A4 (2nd hand) and a Toyota Prius (!).

After doing some research, I finally bought the Ford Focus Sport+ and I have been driving it for 3 weeks now.

Why did I choose the Focus? Simple. 9 out of 10 reviews I read said that it's the best car you can get for that money, and for that segment. If I wasn't convinced then, the Focus went ahead and erased all my doubts by being recognised as the Best Selling Car in the World for 2012, overtaking the Toyota Corolla for the first time.

Then, I read that Sime Darby Auto Connexion has some pretty dubious reputation regarding their sales and after-sales service. However, after joining the Ford Owners Club Malaysia, I found out that the Manager of SDAC PJ, Edward Lim, did a great job in revamping the whole system in SDAC PJ and their service is so much better now. To top it off, the Ford Owners Club Malaysia is really great and they have weekly TTs to help you understand more about your car.

Right, now to the car itself. What I love about it? I'm a tech guy, and I (and a lot of other car reviews) honestly think this is the most technologically-equipped car in this segment. Nothing else comes close to this. The sheer number of buttons on the dashboard and steering itself might be intimidating at first, but they put a smile on my face whenever I open the doors of my car.

I have no problems with the build quality of my car. In fact, I think it's as well-built, if not better, than my mum's Ford Focus MK1, which was known for its uncompromising build quality. When I sent my car for coating at SierraGlow, the boss of that place was so impressed with the paintwork (according to his expertise, he said it's a very good paint used) he actually considered buying the car for his wife.

Driving-wise, the car produces 170hp and 202nM of torque. It might not be as fast as a VW Golf but I can tell you, it won't be too far behind. If I'm not mistaken, the Golf MK6 takes 8 seconds to reach 100km/h from 0km/h, and the Focus takes 8.2 seconds. Handling-wise, it's just a joy. One FOCM member actually gave me a tour around with his Focus, and he maneuvered a bend at 100km/h, yet the car felt planted on the road and the best part of all? The ESC warning light didn't even come on.

The only drawback of this car is the relatively tight rear-legroom space. This wasn't a problem to me as I'm still single and most of the time only my girlfriend is the (lucky) passenger.

At RM128k, this car gives you:
- 6-speed Dual Clutch Transmission with Sport mode (semi-auto)
- 2.0 engine (170hp, 202 nM torque)
- Auto Park Assist (first and only one in this segment)
- Active City Stop (first and only one in this segment)
- 6 airbags, ESC, Hill Stop Assist, ABS and many other safety abbreviations
- Rain sensing wipers, auto Xenon HID lamps
- Ford Sync (it's like a Siri in your car, you can use voice commands to play music and to control your phone. I love it!)
- Sony sound system with 9 speakers
- Ford's signature handling
- Leather seats (Titanium+) or semi-leather seats (Sport+)
- Active shutter grille (grille manifold opens and closes automatically at specific speeds to control air intake)
- Electronic sunroof
- Blind Spot Assist (Titanium+)
- Electronic driver seat (Titanium+)

My advice is, go for a test drive and really learn more about the car. I was skeptical at first but now I'm loving every moment of it. Why didn't I choose the VW Golf? Honestly, I think the Golf/Jetta are really, really good cars. They are just too damn common. Every street I turn into, I tend to see a few Golfs and a number of Jettas. Plus they are more costly and under-equipped for the price, you are basically paying for the gearbox (which is a problem, I heard) and the engine. I'm glad the Focus turns some heads on the street, and people still go like "hey what car is this? Looks damn cool!", if you know what I mean.

Hope that helps!

This post has been edited by blinky: May 14 2013, 03:31 AM

The VW Jetta/Golf definitely trumps the Focus when it comes to the engine and gearbox, there's no doubt about it. I'm actually a VW fan myself. However, I decided not to pursue with the VW models because firstly, I do not drive fast all the time and I find that the Focus is good enough to reward me with the occasional "spirited" driving. Secondly, the DSG problem. Just because it can be replaced doesn't mean I'd want to go through the hassle after paying +- RM150k for a new car. Thirdly, as I've mentioned before, VW cars are just too common for my liking. I even see more VWs nowadays than the old Proton Wiras haha. Just my opinions though, different strokes for different folks.

I'm not too sure actually. After 3 weeks I think I ferried rear passengers only twice. However, no complaints so far, although I do admit that the rear space is smaller than what the Toyota Altis, Peugeot 408T and Honda Civic are offering. Probably about the same as a Golf? Rear space was the least of my priorities in buying a new car so I didn't give it much thought. A friend actually commented that the rear space is "surprisingly large", but maybe that's because he already had a certain mindset after reading the reviews.

This post has been edited by blinky: May 14 2013, 01:41 PM