How about this

<input type="text" value="placeholder text" onfocus="this.style.color='#000'; 
this.value='';" style="color: #f00;"/>

No CSS or placeholder, but you get the same functionality.

How about this

<input type="text" value="placeholder text" onfocus="this.style.color='#000'; 
    this.value='';" style="color: #f00;" />

No CSS or placeholder, but you get the same functionality.

How about this

<input type="text" value="placeholder text" onclick="this.style.color='#000'; 
this.value='';" style="color: #f00;"/>

No CSS or placeholder, but you get the same functionality.

How about this

<input type="text" value="placeholder text" onfocus="this.style.color='#000'; 
this.value='';" style="color: #f00;"/>

No CSS or placeholder, but you get the same functionality.