Ford Focus Brand Reputation: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2007 | 4dr Sedan 151-horsepower 2.3L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
I've always liked Fords better than most other brands, and this was actually the first Ford I've owned. see full Ford Focus review |
2004 | 4dr Sedan 145-horsepower 2.3L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
At first, there was nothing desirable about the Focus. I had to search and search for its potential and finally started liking it. Then it broke down... twice. see full Ford Focus review |
2002 | 2dr Hatch 130-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
young, trendly, cool see full Ford Focus review |
Ford Focus Brand Reputation: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 2dr Coupe 143-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Early Focus models has some problems. The Focus seems to be marketed almost exclusily towards the younger crowd. see full Ford Focus review |
2009 | 4dr Sedan 140-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD |
Ford is not exactly thought of as a premium brand. see full Ford Focus review |
2005 | 4dr Hatch 136-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD |
This is a very good car. However, people look down on Ford. It will take Ford years to regain the image of decent, reliable transport - which is what the Focus excels at. see full Ford Focus review |
2002 | 2dr Hatch 170-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD |
If you are going to buy a ford sports car why would you buy a focus when you can have a mustang. see full Ford Focus review |
Kia Sedona Brand Reputation: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
There aren't any strong reasons not to buy the Sedona. Yet when a friend recently bought a minivan his wife wouldn't even look at the Kia. Why not? Because it's a Kia. Some bases for this prejudice remain. Past Sedonas haven't been nearly as reliable as a Sienna or an Odyssey. Plus many Kia dealers have been with the company since its less illustrious days. Their showrooms can be small and shabby (though some newer ones are anything but), and they developed a culture that focused on buyers most other auto makers would not loan money to. I recently stopped into a Kia dealer to research how the seats operate in a lower level Sedona--and was kicked out. I'd folded and unfolded the seats a couple of times, and was in the driver seat when the sales manager informed me: "We're going to be showing this van soon, and can't have you slamming stuff around in here. So I'm going to have to ask you to leave." I've been visiting car dealers to gather information for my reviews for over 15 years. The great majority have been very helpful. This is the first time I've been bounced from one. Maybe the manager didn't have faith that the seat mechanisms could withstand a couple of folding and unfolding cycles? Whatever the manager's motivation--I still can't believe it happened--that dealer isn't doing much to improve Kia's image. see full Kia Sedona review |
Kia Sedona Brand Reputation: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2009 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 250-horsepower 3.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
It says "Kia" on it, and people still think that Kia means "unreliable" - Wife and I love driving the thing. see full Kia Sedona review |
2006 | 4dr Minivan, ext. 244-horsepower 3.8L V6 5-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Sedona and Kia have a reputation for low cost but also low brand image for quality. I think they have made great strides on the quality side and in improving the overall designs in the latest models see full Kia Sedona review |