2005 Ford Focus ZXW SES Road Test

So after getting moderately comfortable and positioning all my mirrors with the power mirror adjusters (so much better than my old Jeep with its broken mirror motors and wobbling glass that needed readjustment, by hand, after every jaunt onto the highway), we hit the road for a weekend of indulgent feeding and traditional repasts. With 136-horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque, Ford's bargain basement 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve inline-4 really surprised me, with its snappy pickup and comfortable cruising ability. At high speeds, whenever I needed to I just slammed the gas pedal and the Blue Bolt (my temporary nickname - the car in the photos is not the one I was testing) dropped down a gear, whined like a whipped pig and shot the gap getting me into fast lane traffic and temporary freedom.

Navigating my way through town was efficient and speedy, with good pep at the lights, and nimble turning ability as proven

With 136-horsepower and 133 lb-ft of torque, Ford's bargain basement 2.0-liter DOHC 16-valve inline-4 really surprised me. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

in the tight alley behind my apartment, getting me through traffic and into the rush hour grind of the highway. And that's where I really had a chance to give the brakes a workout. Though a little mushy, they stopped the car pronto when I stomped on the left pedal, and I was never in any danger of bumping bumpers with any of my neighbors that afternoon. Ohh, rush hour traffic... how I miss thee now that I have returned my temporary ride. To be sitting again between the many other cars, or perhaps, crawling along at 5 mph on a road meant for 80... er, I mean 55, officer.

Really nothing to report about that trip because the Focus is such a steady little work pony (or perhaps mule considering its hauling capacity) that we were in the backcountry and getting lost before evening. Over the weekend, however, we had a chance to go out for some Sunday driving, where I got to take

The Focus truly is a superior handling car compared to the many oxcarts in the compact segment. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

a stab at the twisting-turning, rutted and riven scenic routes of the areas around my Mom's home, finding the Focus up to the task of smoothing out the bumps and keeping me off the gravel and out of the ditches. It truly is a superior handling car compared to the many oxcarts in the compact segment. Of course much to the chagrin of my mother in the backseat, the smoothness belied the speed and rarely did a picturesque cottage go by than she felt the need to remind me that we indeed were not going to be joining Señor Alonso and Herr Schumacher later in the afternoon in San Marino: "Slow down, where do you think you're racing off to?"