i've had 2 focus' now the 1st being a w reg i owned for 1year and it never let me down or cost me a penny, the 2nd one i use everyday and have owned for 18months its a 53 plate 1.8lx disc brakes all round, i goes lik F**K when i need it to and I'd never fail to recommend FORD to any body they are fantastic cars between the 2 focus' i had a 02 mondeo which again was fantastic in every way but if i had 1 niggle about the mondeo it wasn't diesel, they out performe the petrol mondeo by a mile, as for the focus, mines a petrol and cant fault it, performance is good etc, BUY ONE TODAY with confidence, infact mines for sale cos i need a mondeo again 2nd baby on the way boot is now too small
Although I haven't yet had the chance to drive a Ford Focus C-MAX (I have a licence but unfortunately no insurance), I am able to comment on the car from the point of view of a passenger.
When stationary, the engine is almost silent, bringing one to wonder all too often if the car has stalled. Its low volume is appreciated but can be unnerving for some drivers!
The first thing that will strike you if you are used to other family cars is the height of the seats and the leg room. Sadly, this comfort is detracted from by the headrests. If you arrive at your destination relaxed in a Mercades and cramped in a Mini, then you arrive with a craned neck in a Ford Focus.
All the headrests are too far forwards so that they push one's head and neck forwards uncomfortably. At least the rear ones can be pushed down - that will solve the problem. Or so I thought. In the down position, the rear headrests get in the way of the average adult's shoulders, pushing them forwards instead. Can you fix it half way? Of course not. That would be too sensible.
Then we come to the problem about the rear sie window pillars. Ford could have positioned them further back, but instead they put them level with the rear passengers' heads. Drive over a bump and if the cars rocks from side to side, you have two passengers with concussion!
Maybe they thought adding a rear light and rear speakers would compensate for this discomfort. Well, they help a little, but not much.
Also, the seat belts are too sensitive and the parcel shelf is too weak to put much on.
On the plus side, it does have under-floor compartments at the back, folding down middle seat, an adequately-sized glove compartment and an additional map compartment on the (rather over-sized) dashboard.
If you like air conditioning, that's great. If you don't then you're going to become really annoyed when you find out that it comes on automatically every time you start the engine.
The radio is good, but I haven't tried out the CD player yet.
The windows at the front are electric (do you really need electric windows? They're so annoying!) and the ones at the back don't go down all the way (they really don't like rear passengers, do they?).
All in all, it gets one from A to B and it is Ford after all, so it is reliable (we hope!).
Spacious, quiet, reliable.
Uncomfortable (especially for the rear passengers), the rear windows don't open all the way, the parcel shelf is too weak to put much on, the seat belts are too sensitive.
I OWN A FORD FOCUS 1.8TDCI,AND CAN ONLY SAY A LOVE IT!!!ITS AN O3 DONE 34000 NOT 1 PROB YET AM ONLY 17 AND KICK IT A BIT AND WOULD SAY IT BETTER THAN A LOT OF CARS OUT THERE TURBO IS GOOD JST ORDERED A DUMP VALVE,,IT HAS LOVELY 18'S,TINTS AND SMOKED REAR LIGHTS BLACK CAR AND WHEELS ARE BLACK,LOOK'S SHARP,HANDLE'S WELL,GOE'S WELL,NO PROBLEMS!!!!!!!
I ended up with a Ford Focus 1.4S for a holiday hire car after my booking for a VW Golf was curtailed by the previous renter crashing the VW the day before it was due to be hired to me.
We took the Ford from Suffolk to Cornwall and I can honestly say that it was one of the worst cars I have ever driven.
If you needed to get up a steep hill, keep it in 1st or you will never make it. Comfort was not great and the build quality of these cars are a joke - mostly flimsy plastic inside and out.
If you are considering one of these cars (and you would be in need of medical help if you were), don't, in fact, don't buy a Ford.
Got a 1.8 Zetec . Its a quick car that holds the road very well. I would well recomend it over a Golf or an Astra. Just finished modding mine and now it goes like hell !
EXCELLENT CAR. had a fiat bravo 1.6 16v before i bought my 1.6 16v zetec 5dr focus. the difference in handling and engine were like night and day! running costs are pretty low too. brakes are alot better than a KA (the other car in the family) but I would have liked discs on the front and back to improve its stopping power just that little bit. have managed to extract 398.8 miles out of a tank of fuel but the norm is about 330. not had a single problem to date and will be keeping this one for a very long time to come.
very pleased with mine , 1.8 zetec estate . good strong engine reliable , resonable build quaility , i do my own serviceing as its cheaper , i even tow with it too. im pleased.
Had a 2000 1.8TDi LX Estate for 3years and 85000 miles. It's never broken down and apart from about 6 sets of tyres and a new battery its been great. Compared with the Escort it replaced, it is very comfortable and quiet espeacially at higher revs, but does whistle sometimes when you get close to the top-end. If you can cope with the boring interior I would definately recommend buying one.
I bought a 1.6 Zetec 5dr Focus in March 1999 for £11995. I have had no problems love it to bits. Performance is good, although not able to compete with the BIG boys, I am easily able to match a VW Golf 2.0 GTI!!! The handling is great, especially on sharp corners. Brakes are excellent, although not anti-skid. Zetec engine is well loosened up after 18000 miles, and performing better than ever. I think I'll have this baby for many years to come! Great car.
Owned for 2 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed March 2004.
Performance
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I've owned this car for about 18 months and all was going great until last month (a couple of problems with my Engine Warning light apart). Then with no warning I was parked up outside a shop and had loaded my Focus with furniture but it refused to start on me, engine turned over but wouldn't spark. Extremely embarrassing given masses of people everywhere. The garage have had a few looks since but can't figure it out and last week it conked out again, same prob engine turning over but refusing to fire up. Still no one can figure it out, then this week it has played up really bad, 3 non starts, constant stalling at traffic lights and also the engine started smoking the other day. I am totally reliant on my car for work etc, I feel very let down that a virtually new and well maintained car has basically died on me like this.
Just got Rid of my 2001 Focus 1.6 16v Zetec. Have had no problems, apart from power steering pump failing and needing to be replaced under warranty, and new front discs and pads. Great looking car, excellent to drive, very comfortable. Also, the front left headlight bulb blew 3 times, and Fordd said it needed a new headlight, so i got annoyed and bought hella twin headlights. Look cool, especially with 18" alloys. Have just got a Fiat Stilo to replace it.
Owned for 1 year.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed August 2003.
Performance
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the focus is one of the worst cars i have ever driven the 16 is slow and the car feels 'bulky' mine had many problems with the speedo and clocks...simply dont follow everyone else, this car is pap..
Owned for 2 years.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed August 2003.
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i owned a 51 reg focus from new and it is simply the worst car i have ever owned, the car has now been replaced - i had so many problems like failing ecu, cutting out etc - and the franchised dealer i bought it from were the worst !! - having looked around online i am not alone - both in the uk and usa where the car is known as the zx3 - fords suck
Owned for 1 year.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed August 2001.
Performance
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Very good car, detracted from only by Fords reluctance to resolve the annoying whistling noise. Apparently its only the diesels - when will they do something about it ?
Owned for 1 year.
Preloved Visitor
Reviewed July 2001.
Performance
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very good, apart from the tyre noise. (pirelli P6000) any comments on this?
Owned for 3 months.
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