Though the reviews were stellar when it first came out, my 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 Kona Mountain Bike Edition or Ford Fukus as the dealer mechanics affectionately referred to it, spent more time in the shop than on the road. I think I got more road time with the Kona Mountain bike that came with it, than I did with the car. Even with the extended warranty and guaranteed loaner car, the aggravation of each recall and mounting cost after warranty expiration, made the Focus ZX3 not worth owning anymore. And I finally got tired of DiBlasi Ford in Corona Queens taking me to the cleaners.
But in February when I came across Zanetti Chrysler Jeep Dodge Presidents Day Sale on the internet I figured it was time to try my luck with a Dodge. I live in Bayside, Queens and Zanetti is over the Throgs Neck Bridge in the Bronx, so they had to have something worthwhile for me to make the trip. And the deal on the internet and subsequent phone call to the dealership made it seem so.
But when I got there, the sales person assigned to me "Bait-n-Switched" the car. According to Julie, the sales person, the car I called about had supposedly just been just sold 2 hours before. Even though I told them I was coming over to potentially buy it just 45 minutes prior to getting there. Her supposed replacement was nothing compared to what was originally promised to me. But the owner, Richard Zanetti stepped in and made good by selling me a comparable model, sans moon roof and MyGig Nav system.
The original model I saw on the internet was a LHD/FWD model and he sold me a SXT (LHD/AWD) 3.5L, High Output V6 24V MPI model instead.
Now here's how Richard Zanetti came through for me. The MSRP sticker price was $27,885 which came with the Customer Preferred Package 28T (Convenience Group 1 & Premium Convenience Group). Zanetti gave me $4,000 for my Fukus trade-in (I COULD ONLY GET $2,000 MAX FOR IT AT FORD), $1,000 discount for taking an MCU loan, $2,000 Employee Plus Plus discount, and a President's Day Discount of $2,889. Total cost before taxes & prep: $17,996. I was totally sold! Thank you Richard Zanetti and screw you Julie and DiBlasi Ford.
Zanetti also upgraded the radio to a MyGIG REN for $750. I paid $1,990 plus $166 tax for the Zurich extended 7 year/100,000mi warranty, and $695 plus $58 tax for the Guidepoint GPS vehicle tracking system.
When I looked back at what I paid almost 10 years ago for my 4cyl Fukus, my new 6cyl AWD Journey cost me about $15,000 less. Even with the radio and Lockpick V2 module upgrade, the two 7" headrest clip on screens, front cam, dragon embroidered leatherette seat covers and Michelin XD 950 Premium slush mats, my Journey is still a better value.
But the best part is the car itself. With all of the luxury features and options that came with it, I have to tear myself away after I park it in our garage. The ride and built-in features make it a real joy to drive. My wife still can't get over the shit-eating grin I have, when I drive my Journey. There are times after I park it, I just sit there for hours, and people I know come over and knock on the window to see if I'm alright. Some of them join me on the passenger side, just to listen to the MyGIG selections I've loaded on my radio and hear me brag about the car.
Speaking of which, I've already maxed out my 30GB HDD and am researching the feasability of upgrading it to 200GB. Has anybody out there, been able to do the upgrade yet?
One final thought. The one thing that still has me puzzled about my Journey, is how it's possible that all the reviews on it were so negative when the car is so great to drive. Seems to me there's a lot of unjustified bias out there in the so called professional car review community. When I originally bought my Ford Fukus, I based my decision on the reviews, only to find out later just what a lemon it was. I'm sure glad I didn't do that this time. I based my decision on price, value, and ride only to find out about these negative reviews after I bought and drove it for a while.
Just goes to show you, never believe what you hear and read about anything until you've tried it out for yourself! You have to live with the decisions you make, so don't let anyone tell you how to spend your money , especially on a hight ticket item, like a new car.
