So with all the other reviews popping up, I'll do one for mine. No recent pictures, I really need to hit the car wash after the rain last week. 3600 Miles in 2 months. Lotta driving. About 75% Highway, 25% City/stop and go I've averaged about 28mpg (computer overestimates by 2mpg) which isn't bad considering that I cruise at 75mph, and I have 6 different merges everyday from slow on-ramps.
Comfy front seats. Leather wrapped steering wheel is excellent (though I'd prefer a 4 spoke to the 3 spoke). I have the base stereo with sync. Sync is definitely nice to have, and the hands-free phone part is very nice. Being able to call up a song or artist, or album or pre-made playlist without taking your hands off the steering wheel is a VERY useful feature. For a stock system, it sounds really good. Bass is nice, and it doesn't really start getting distorted till I turn it way up, and by that point it isn't getting any louder anyway.
The stock Kumho solus tires are so far excellent. Ride on the highway is smooth and composed. They have fantastic dry traction. I can take on ramps at 50mph if I want to. They just grip. Wet isn't quite as good, but still not bad. I tend to spin the tires out of a stop if I'm not careful, though the Traction control kicks in right away. The Stabilitrak thus far seems to do a good job. There is no wind noise, but a little bit of road noise gets into the cabin. I have them inflated to 37/37 (35 recommended). No comments on winter traction yet, though not expecting miracles.
The engine is one of the strong points here. It is very refined and smooth. Free revving, and it pulls for a 2.0L. It isn't bad at low RPM, but it doesn't really start to "go" until about 3400-3500RPM (See 0-60 at the bottom). It will never be confused with a V6 or V8, but it purrs nicely enough. Hasn't burned a drop of PP in the 2800 miles or so it's been in the car.
Transmission is overall very good, for a 4 speed. Shifts are smooth and well spaced. It turns 1500@45, 2000@60, and 2500@75. Torque converter will NOT lock up until exactly 45mph. And it will not lock up when cold until the engine is halfway to NOT, which does bug me a little. And if I let completely off the gas, the torque converter unlocks and the rpm drops, which does engine brake pretty good, I just sometimes wish it wouldn't, because it doesn't immediately lock back up upon touching the gas again.
The climate control is good. A/C is a tiny bit weak in 90 degree sunny weather, but not horrible. And the nice thing is I can't tell it's running like I could with the cavalier. You KNEW the A/C was on with that one. Heat is oven-like. If you leave it on max heat, it will cook you. So I don't recommend that, lol.
The one thing I cannot praise enough are the brakes. I love these brakes. They are very, very linear feeling, and quickly grow in power with pedal travel. Initial bite is strong, and pedal feel is the best I have ever, ever experienced. Ford nailed the brakes on this thing. Braking distance is great, with front disc/rear drum. Way to go ford!!
Trunk is huge, with a good opening. Rear seat room is about average for a small car. Unless the front seats are all the way forward, the rear passenger has their knees in the back of the seat. But there is a large air gap inside to allow for this without becoming very uncomfortable. When we go places as a family in it (rare but does happen) I sit in the back, and we are pretty comfortable.
I only have a few minor gripes.
1. No power seats, but I knew that when I got it. Would be nice to have.
2. No telescoping steering wheel, again, knew this when I got it, but seating position is a trade off between leg comfort, and arm comfort. Which brings me to #
3. 4 spoke steering wheel would be great. That is a personal thing, but I'm so used to 2/4 spoke (Cavalier, expedition, Jeep) that it just feels strange.
4. There is a little bit of wind induced wander on the highway which I am not used to. I've seen a few others mention this too with the SES model, something to do with the tires I guess. Not a big deal but if it's windy you can definitely feel it.
Cold start coming soon. For now, here is the 0-60 from the other week. I timed at 9.5 seconds. Not to bad, but not great either.
Comfy front seats. Leather wrapped steering wheel is excellent (though I'd prefer a 4 spoke to the 3 spoke). I have the base stereo with sync. Sync is definitely nice to have, and the hands-free phone part is very nice. Being able to call up a song or artist, or album or pre-made playlist without taking your hands off the steering wheel is a VERY useful feature. For a stock system, it sounds really good. Bass is nice, and it doesn't really start getting distorted till I turn it way up, and by that point it isn't getting any louder anyway.
The stock Kumho solus tires are so far excellent. Ride on the highway is smooth and composed. They have fantastic dry traction. I can take on ramps at 50mph if I want to. They just grip. Wet isn't quite as good, but still not bad. I tend to spin the tires out of a stop if I'm not careful, though the Traction control kicks in right away. The Stabilitrak thus far seems to do a good job. There is no wind noise, but a little bit of road noise gets into the cabin. I have them inflated to 37/37 (35 recommended). No comments on winter traction yet, though not expecting miracles.
The engine is one of the strong points here. It is very refined and smooth. Free revving, and it pulls for a 2.0L. It isn't bad at low RPM, but it doesn't really start to "go" until about 3400-3500RPM (See 0-60 at the bottom). It will never be confused with a V6 or V8, but it purrs nicely enough. Hasn't burned a drop of PP in the 2800 miles or so it's been in the car.
Transmission is overall very good, for a 4 speed. Shifts are smooth and well spaced. It turns 1500@45, 2000@60, and 2500@75. Torque converter will NOT lock up until exactly 45mph. And it will not lock up when cold until the engine is halfway to NOT, which does bug me a little. And if I let completely off the gas, the torque converter unlocks and the rpm drops, which does engine brake pretty good, I just sometimes wish it wouldn't, because it doesn't immediately lock back up upon touching the gas again.
The climate control is good. A/C is a tiny bit weak in 90 degree sunny weather, but not horrible. And the nice thing is I can't tell it's running like I could with the cavalier. You KNEW the A/C was on with that one. Heat is oven-like. If you leave it on max heat, it will cook you. So I don't recommend that, lol.
The one thing I cannot praise enough are the brakes. I love these brakes. They are very, very linear feeling, and quickly grow in power with pedal travel. Initial bite is strong, and pedal feel is the best I have ever, ever experienced. Ford nailed the brakes on this thing. Braking distance is great, with front disc/rear drum. Way to go ford!!
Trunk is huge, with a good opening. Rear seat room is about average for a small car. Unless the front seats are all the way forward, the rear passenger has their knees in the back of the seat. But there is a large air gap inside to allow for this without becoming very uncomfortable. When we go places as a family in it (rare but does happen) I sit in the back, and we are pretty comfortable.
I only have a few minor gripes.
1. No power seats, but I knew that when I got it. Would be nice to have.
2. No telescoping steering wheel, again, knew this when I got it, but seating position is a trade off between leg comfort, and arm comfort. Which brings me to #
3. 4 spoke steering wheel would be great. That is a personal thing, but I'm so used to 2/4 spoke (Cavalier, expedition, Jeep) that it just feels strange.
4. There is a little bit of wind induced wander on the highway which I am not used to. I've seen a few others mention this too with the SES model, something to do with the tires I guess. Not a big deal but if it's windy you can definitely feel it.
Cold start coming soon. For now, here is the 0-60 from the other week. I timed at 9.5 seconds. Not to bad, but not great either.