[NefCanuck]

For me the trick is whether I can actually use the car's controls safely and whether the thing is fun to drive (I had to work on the Fusion to get it there and still have some work to do)

I've never gotten a clear shot of the steering column in the new Focus yet to know whether Ford has kept to the single stalk for the wipers and turn signals on the left side which works out perfectly for me (MyFord Touch is a given for me in any new Ford product I buy at this point and the push button start is likely bundled in with that anyways) The suspension seems to be only set up for maximum fun on the Titanium model anyhow. As to the RS, no manumatic option so I'm SOL

Scary to think though that the Focus will cost as much loaded to the gills as the Fusion did when I bought it in '08 before the markets crashed (also loaded to the gills minus NAV)

The Fiesta is a non starter for me, it was like squeezing into a rubber wetsuit so unless the Focus is much better, I'd probably end up having to stay in the Fusion size class (which as is likely will grow again when it is redesigned in 2012/13)

NefCanuck