Should I trade in my car?

I have a 2014 Ford Focus. My car is always breaking down and I keep talking it back to the dealer for warranty related repairs. The transmission has been replaced twice. It still doesn't start and I'm practically done with this unreliable car. I almost traded Friday for a 2017 Escape S and with money down it was a affordable deal (ten dollars more than my current payment). I asked if I could wait and of course they said no just come back Monday and they could rework my deal if I wanted it. What would you do? I'm not rich but I feel this is my only way out of my loan with a terrible car. Is the Escape a good car? It has the same features as my Focus so I'm really not loosing anything.

Added (1). I do take care of my car very well. It just hasn't taken care of me at all. I get regularly scheduled oil changes every 5k miles recommended by Ford and every necessary service required by Ford. I only take it to a dealer since I've had it 2 1/2 years (with exception to replacing my tires) and it only has 32 thousand miles.

Wow - you got quite a lemon! Turn it in on something that works.

But check out whatever you look at with the Consumer Reports - often the library keeps a whole series of these. You might get some clues on what's good.

Have you ever changed the transmission fluid? Are you sure your not causeing the problems by poor maintaince going through two transmissions is insane espicaly a 2014 my 82 electra still has the original transmission no car will last if you don't take care of it

According to Consumer Reports, the Escape has much better reliability that the Focus, but still only average. For better reliability look at Toyota, Hyundai, or Mazda.

I can understand you wanting to ditch that car, and if you can get a new one for similar payments it might be a good idea. I can't imagine the Focus getting any more reliable after the warranty runs out.

Only issue I would have is, it's another Ford. The Escape does seems to have a somewhat better reputation, but it's still only "average". I would suggest going and looking at some other brands and see if they will trade your Ford. Honda / Toyota / Hyundai would be the places I'd start.

At will then also know if the Ford deal is a good one by comparing the price of the other brands.

I would demand my money back and stay away from Fords. Two bad transmissions in 3 years = a lemon.

It sure looks good though. Fords have always been very stylish. After all the trouble, I'm puzzled at to why you'd want another one. It's like the guy who keeps marrying cheating women from the same family. I'd tell them to kiss my a ss and give me my change. You could do worse with a Fiat, but spend a little time looking up reliability in other cars. You can do a lot better for yourself NOT buying another Ford.

If I could afford the money think I would trade the unreliable car for a new one. As the dealer knows how unreliable yours is I would get a quote on upgrading your car from another dealer once your focus seems to be running ok. You may get lucky and have a good dealer who will feel bad about the rotten run you have had with the focus and give you a good deal but it would be worth also getting a quote from a couple dealers who don't know the cars unreliable history.

You will never learn. God created sh**, Ford put it on wheels. Buy a Chevy

We went through the same nightmare series of problems with our 2013 Escape and finally gave up and traded it in on a leased Edge, which has been reliable so far.Leasing seems to be the answer, as the vehicle really doesn't belong to the driver, it's not their responsibility if it turns out to be a lemon.