Does the ford focus handle O.K. on the snow?

The only real determining thing that allows any car to handle well in the snow is the driver. Apart from that then follows the over all condition of the car, mainly the tires. FWD do handle better then RWD. Thats because with FWD, you have the weight of the engine on the wheels, resulting in better traction and steering control.

It handles a lot better than all of my friends cars!!! Don't try handbrake turning though cos the rear drum brakes don't lock up like they need to

my 08 SES 5 speed handled great but not with the summer 205/50/16's that came on it.... I put Blizzak's on and it drove like a 4wd!

a good set of winter tires and you will have a great car for the winter

Mine is a 250bhp model UK ST. its interesting in the snow lol. Handles better than i thought it would but it spins the front wheels very easily.

I find they understeer badly. I have tried various tyres but it is terrible in the wet. Haven't struck snow yet.

I have no experience with this model, but typically front wheel drive cars handle reasonably well in the snow.

Mine was horrible. We weren't sure why. We live in Wisconsin and have lots of snow. We had the car for 9 years and bought new tires 4 times. We kept bringing it in for alignment or balancing, etc. and they couldn't find anything 'off.' We finally got rid of it before the snow hit this year and wow, am I happy that I'm not doing mini-fishtails down the highway any more. We were told it would eat tires like crazy if you didn't rotate them on a regular basis. We did love the body design though. Tons of cargo space that you can't find in a new American wagon.

I have to drive one for work and I hate it! On wet roads, I have to be careful, as pulling out into traffic is very dangerous. The tires have good tread, (Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring) but the car just sits and spins it's front wheels. No traction on wet roads...and on DRY roads, the car's front end jumps often, trying to grab the road. Forget about snow and ice! Horrible! Many hills or even slight grades, I have to avoid, because there's no getting up! Steering around corners and turning into driveways/side roads, I have to slow to about 5 mph and roll...(no exaggeration!) hoping to keep the car on the road. I have no choice but to drive this car, but I fear for my life when driving it. :(

This is my 5th research site, and this is the first answer I've reviewed that sounds like what I'm experiencing with my Ford Focus (2010) The tires are Blizzak's and have lots of tread (good shape). Winters are rough in Michigan, and I purchased this car towards the end of last winter, so this is going to be my first full winter driving it with three (3) precious pieces of human cargo. Christmas is weeks away, and I'm afraid that for our safety (And to minimize my mini-strokes I have while driving) that I am going to have to invest in winter tires vs. Christmas presents. I intentially leave work about 15 minutes after 5p to try and avoid most of the rush hour traffic. BTW...I do practice all the recommended MDOT/Secretary of State guidelines. Safe driving distances, speed, etc. between me and other motorist. Thanks LooLoo

I have a 2008 and it is the WORST car I have ever owned for driving in the snow, ice, rain etc... Dry summer days it's GREAT as long as the wind isn't blowing you over the yellow line. I LOVE Fords but I don't like this one.

no good for snow not made for it lol

drove a focus many times in the snow,our Canadian winters are rough and the focus was great in snow conditions and storms.

Terrible, in my limited experience. It may be because I am used to my Subaru Outback, which is a GREAT vehicle for wintertime driving. I was t-boned over the weekend and my Outback will be in the shop for a couple weeks. The rental car I got through insurance is a 2013 Ford Focus. The day I brought my car to the shop there was over 4 inches of snow on the grown. I had no issues driving my Outback to the shop, other then the normal slowdowns. The Ford Focus that the rental company brought to me, however, was terrible. Even compared to our Acura TL, which I generally don't like driving in snow due to the low clearance, the Focus was terrible. I grew up with bad snow and have driven by mom's Prius nearly 200 miles through a snowstorm from Wisconson to Minnesota, which was stupid, but I still felt safer in the Prius with much worse weather than the several miles from the autoshop to my home in moderate snow in the Ford Focus. If you live somewhere that gets a lot of snow and are intent on getting a Ford focus, get good tires and make sure you are confident driving in the snow.

My 2003 Ford Focus is terrible in the snow. Running snow tires on the front.I am experiencing fish tails while driving down the highway.my niehbors have 3 ford focus and said they have no problems on the slick Michigan roads.i think my problem is worn rear suspension bushings.but being the American loving patriot i am,i would rather drive 25 mph all winter before i would drive or own a outback,acura or a prius.shame on you

Absolutely Terrible! I can't even drive on the highway in the [Wisconsin] winter unless there hasn't been any snow for a few days and the wind isn't blowing even slightly. This thing fish tails all over and I am terrified to drive it. (5:30am and after driving this thing I don't need any caffiene - the pure terror definitely wakes me up). Generally, I cannot drive over 45mph on the highway after its been plowed. So I opt for driving with my hazards on - I know I'm a total safety hazard to everyone on the highway, and I try to avoid it at all costs, but there is a 2 mile stretch that I have to take it. Everytime someone passes me, I get nervous that I'm going to fish tail into them. I have no clue what this car's problem is. I have never had any issues with any of the other cars I've owned, so it really isn't driver issue here.

I own a 2009 focus coupe and the car has always driven terribly in both the rain and snow. In fact im the car almost got me killed on the interstate. Wet conditions driving about 50. All of a sudden the car started spinning and went off the highway into the grass. I was driving completely straight didn't change lanes and boom out of control. Luckily I didn't hit anyone and no one hit me. G-d was on my side that day. Car handles the same way in the snow. Tires always spinning when acceleration from a traffic light when the road is wet. Even a gentle acceleration causes a fishtail. Something has to be defective with the chassis or something. Maybe it's the size of the tires. Who knows. When I can afford it I'm going to be getting rid of this car and getting something that won't risk my families safety.

I think some of these kids, and even adults, are just bad drivers. There is one key to driving in bad weather -- slow it down no matter what you drive. Winter roads are not summer roads. I would suspect some of these drivers are bad drivers in the summer also. I have driven Ranger 4x4 trucks for 28 years through Colorado blizzards and have NEVER lost traction, ever. Same deal with the 2 Ford Escorts with FWD I had in the early 80's -- never spun or had a fender-bender driving to work on crazy Denver highways. No matter what "drive" you have, stopping is the same -- 4x4's, FWD's, AWD's -- you must anticipate and be ready -- there is no magic pill for stopping or staying in control when you're going too fast for conditions.

My 2003 Ford Focus is very bad in the snow. I have replaced tires 3 times, had aligned, and so on, but it is just a plain bad winter car. No traction, fishtails all over, etc. I call mine "The Deathtrap". I was going to hand mine down to my son once he turned 16, but now that he is almost there, I can't do that in good conscience. People who don't own a Ford Focus, and drive it in the snow should not answer this question. I am 43, have never had a ticket or accident, and have driven all kinds of cars in Michigan. It is not just the drivers fault - no way. All front wheel drives are not the same. One of my best cars in the snow was an 1984 Chevy Cavalier - that thing was a beast. Not sure what is so different about a Focus - maybe some weight distribution thing?

I used to drive a commercial vehicle over 100k per year ( box truck) and in the wind with no cargo it was better than the focus. And if you have ever driven a box truck on ice in the wind you know how horrible that is. I like chad_1971 have never had a ticket or accident and I live in the Great Lakes region it's the car. The best thing I found for the Focus is to put weight in the back seat on the floor ( 250 lbs) . Chad_1971 you are right it's the lack of weight. I like the 38mpg plus but in the snow it sucks.

Steve - thank you for the info on where the weight should be! I was trying the trunk and only 100lbs at that. I will try that this winter! Luckily I don't have people to drive around that would need to be in the back seat!

As an update to my earlier comment, my Focus is way better now that I have true snow tires. I had previously bought all season ones that were highly rated for snow and ice, but didn't end up working well for me. Winter came early this year, and I finally broke down and spent $570 on steel wheels and true snow tires. The difference is amazing. I always thought it would be maybe 10-15% better, but it seems at least double the traction on ice.

My 2007 ford focus the worst car in the snow. I replaced the RSA goodyear tires with Blizzacks and there wasnt much improvement. Cant do more than 30MPH in the snow without it fishtailing oscillating back and fourth. My rear wheel drive truck much better in the snow not to mention how this car eats a set of tires. All in all its a piece of junk.

Actually the oscillation or fishtailing begins at a speed of 20mph! And with snow tires!

Chad_1971 is correct I also had all season tires for the first three years I have owned this car. Last year I put on a new set and it still didn't help. This year I purchased snow tires and I also added 210 lbs of tube sand to the back seat (3 70 lb bags ). Now the car hugs the road 200% better than it did in the past.

Have tried the tube sand 60LB X 5 bags dont help the fishtailing. There is a design problem with the suspension on this car did it since new but will never buy another ford car again. Ford needs to recall the defective cars .

I own a 2004 focus I am scared to death in the winter when you go under a overpass or the roads are slippery I have drove many cars good and bad tires the focus is by far the most dangerous winter car I've ever been in I recommend parking at till summer

My son has a 2010 Focus and it is HORRIBLE in snow... has good set of tires I had put on the car and only slightly better than last year... sill horrible.

Just bought a 2010 Ford Focus and now you all have me scared! I live in Michigan, I was told to put 16" rims on for the winter with blizzac tires? Has anyone messed with trying a smaller rim instead of the 17" with the low profiles? I would think this would help??? Please help :)

Just bought a 2012 and live in Virginia sounds like from you guys I need to not drive in snow smh shoulda got a truck

This is my first winter with my 2007 Focus ST. I have already bought a second set of rims. I intend to shod these old rims with Michelin X-Ice. I have lived in Michigan all my life. I read all the stories here about "terrible car". I'm thinking more like "terrible drivers". I expect to be just fine. Come next summer the original rims will be shod with some nice MIchelin Pilot Cups or similar. I love my Focus! Of course I work for Ford so I could be biased.

Danielle, You'll be just fine. Getting dedicated winter tires will make a huge difference. Best thing to do would be to go to a parking lot after the first snow and play! LEARN how your car responds to braking, turning, and acceleration inputs. PRACTICE your recovery methods (intentionally put the car into a spin and learn to recover). These skills you learn during playing will help you greatly in the real world.

I'm not understanding any of this. I own two "focii" a 2013 se and a 2005 st. The 05 is by far the best winter car I've ever owned with or without winter tires. It has ground clearance for deeper snow and handles like a rally car on ice with the blizzaks. The 13 I haven't even put winter tires on as not driven enough in winter to justify. I have owned twenty plus cars of every imaginable brand, style and year including 4x4s. Now, they both have traction control which is a definite plus on ice at higher speeds but not in snow. Neither have ever scared me or my wife and the 05 is the car we go to in the winter every time. Only thing which would be better is awd but cheaper to just keep good ice tires on it. Btw I'm in Alberta.

I have a 2012 Ford Focus..if there is any snow on my hill I can't get up...Great car except for snow.....horrible. I consider myself a knowledgable and good driver, but snow and ford focus do not mix.

The 2006 focus good tires on it is terrible in wet weather very scary. I was doubting adding weigh to reat axle would help. Since the car is front wheel drive. But i had nothing to lose so i went to lowes got five fifty pound bags of sand. Placed in very back of truck directly above the rear axle. Place directly on top of each other two on each side and last one in the middle on top. This placement gave me better braking and handling in all conditions. In wet conditions i no longer live in fear. Hope this helps someone who has to keep their car and living in fear of wet days

I have to drive one for work, Worse car Ive ever driven on snow or wet pavement and Ive driven all kinds of cars( front and rear wheel drive),big and small over the last 40 years. My coworkers and I joke about how bad it is.

if you need anyone you love to know God take them for a ride in a 2003 ford focus they will pray harder then anytime in history and may die at that.......worst car I ever owned......summer car only, that's if it's dry out and forget winter !!!! I seriously wonder if ford test these cars for road conditions ?! Or how they even got this piece of crap thru the hoops ??!!! (death trap) is what it should be called !! I'm really surprised ford doesn't have lawsuits up the butt!!!! Maybe they do?? If by chance you are considering investing in one I would say check around for a different car save your life!! this one will go to junk yard long before winter, I couldn't bear to have the guilty conscience of someone else putting their live in danger on account of me if I were to give it to someone !!!! Hope this helps someone....oh and by the way, there is plenty of weight in trunk/backseat and alignments/ tires ect.........just a plain terrible car for our winters and wet seasons!! Cas in minnesota.

i have a 2001 ford focus hatchback and when it snows it wont even drive up hill. the tires they make for them simply dont have enough tread to grip the road and the car itself is far to light, i dont know about everyone else but when snow is on the ground my ford focus is nothing but a driveway ornament

I have been driving a 2003 focus for 7 years. I have no trouble at all getting around in winter. Being raised on a farm in North Dakota, you figure out how to drive. Don't blame you lack of winter driving experience on the car!!!

2007 ZX3 5-speed. First couple years was really hairy to drive; snow, wet, or dry even. Lift the throttle and you had to dance on a beach ball to keep going straight. Turns out apparently very early on I had broken a front anti-roll bar connecting link, which I did not discover until I had it up on a proper lift. After repair, and with bona fide snow tires, it performs exceptionally well in the snow. It's not quite in the same category as an '84 GTI, but after eleven-plus years of reliable service, and being able to transport 10-ft lumber (out the passenger window) or four 42-gallon trash barrels, it's still a blast to slide in hot outside, hook up smooth to the inside, and lug it on out easy peasy in third.

I commented on this a couple of years ago but I consider myself something of a focus expert now not to mention a know-it-all LOL. First of all I owned a 13 Focus and it was okay but the traction control kicked-in way to easy which really messes you up in snow. And it was not easy to switch off at least for an old guy because it was built into the computer. Apparently they backed off the traction control in later models. As to the 2005 St I ended up purchasing a second one because my wife didn't want to give up hers. Now this one is just about as good except I suspect the rear alignment is out which causes it to be squirrely on ice. As I am the only one to drive this car I have not gotten around to fixing it. I have driven so many different cars for so many years it doesn't bother me that much but it does get a little scary on Bad Ice. However again with good winter tires it'll go just about anywhere confidently. I did hit the ditch recently but only because the drifts were over the top of the car! And because I stopped to take a picture in the middle of it LOL. I State again one of the best cars I've ever driven in the snow but I have had my eye on and all wheel drive recently because of the brutal conditions out here on the farm. BTW this car also has over 250,000 km and never skips a beat and uses no oil.

No. If you love life do not drive in snow.