Thanks all!!
Sheila - i couldn't agree with you more! i also trashed the rear of my astro van that the focus replaced. i didn't want to see that happen to my 'like new' car so getting the cargo liner, and finding one with a lip to hold spills and dirt in, was one of my first priorities!! we actually had a whole thread just about cargo liners at the focus forum and several people ended up getting one of these after my showing it to them. of course someone had to chime in and imply that we were stupid for paying over $50 because you can get rubber mats at walmart for $20. i guess if you don't haul stuff that spills, you just don't get the value of something like this!
Mikey - it did make me want to drive like a kid again for the first while but that has finally worn off and i'm more focused on trying to keep my mpg up. it gets about 26 mpg with my combo of city/hwy/steep hills driving that is my route to work. after all, it is kinda hard to think of a focus as a mid life crisis car. not exactly a porsche or ferrari
it is lots of fun to drive though and i feel great about being 'green' with the pzev! funny thing is i would never have considered this car when looking if my 18 yo son had not made a good case for it when i told him i was going shopping for a car. he had peaked my interests enough to have done a bit of research on it before i went out to look in person.
and the coastal shot is at montara state beach, about a mile or so up hwy 1 from me. san luis obisbo is much further south down in central cali. only about 15 miles or so to the south edge of SF from here.