Rachel, the Focus is actually quite a nice car. Build quality seems quite nice and blah blah blah... really what's the point in saying this?
If you are planning on doing modifications to your car, this car will take them well, the Zetec has a huge aftermarket, and even the ammount of bodykits available is insane. A focus can look however you want it too, even like a Mitsu Evo. As for performance bolt ons, turbo kits, intakes, exhaut, chips, nitrous, supercharger kits, headlights, taillights, the list is endless, unlike my wallet.
The thing is none of this stuff is unreasonably expensive, I just have a crappy job. Hell if you really want to go nuts there is a conversion kit that lets you put a 302 V8 in the car and go RWD.
With basic mods, like and exhaust, and intake, this car's speed increases dramatically. As for the handling, my ZX5 handles better than my 96 Contour SE did (yes it does). The Focus SVT on the other hand, has amazing handling, but won't hit 60 as fast as a Contour. IIRC you need a new car anyways? The FSVT is tops in it's class and even the ZX3 or ZX5 are great cars.
If you are worried about them being little cars they aren't. They have alot more room than the Contour did, not just headroom but width as well. It's all packaging I guess.
I will once again say that I've had a problem with the steering, but it was one of those things that has never happened and never will again, the rack and pinion was craced at the end which let fluid drain from the assembly.
Rachel get the Focus unless the styling really bothers you that much, but keep in mind that a new bumper fixes everything.
Nice choice, Rachel.
