We got a '99 Focus 1.8 LX last month - bought privately for £4700 with 56k on the clock.(for swmbo)
I have to say I prefer my Mondeo which is a '97 Verona.
The Focus is noisy,I think the handling is poor in comparison and the gear change is too notchy for my liking.
That said,it is quicker than the mondeo and the cabin is well thought out.
I wouldn't buy one for myself now I've had the chance to drive one.
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"Focii"? Have a word with yourself!
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Either "Focuses" or "Foci" in my book.
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"... the Focus is so highly rated by the press..."
That's because if you lift-off suddenly when cornering too fast, the back steps out. Therefore it "handles well".
Although I read and enjoy the mags, their priorities are often different to those one might have in the "real world".
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The 306 has the same lift-off oversteer...
It was rated highly by the press too.
However, we don't all have empty airfields to test our cars on.
Ben
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The back ache is nothing to do with the hard suspension. My Rover turbo has rock hard suspension and Recaro sports seats (as standard), but I NEVER suffer back ache. Same applies to the various rally cars I've driven or co-driven over the years.
IMO the TDCi LX I have at the moment is actually quite soggy.
I really don't understand why the "press" rave about the Focus, especially the handling. Recently I've left several ST170s trailing and await the opportunity to do the same to a Focus RS with relish.
Focuses or Focii - both correct plurals according to the Oxford English Dictionary.
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On the public roads? Did the "opponent" really try hard? On the other hand, a set-to on a track might prove something.... I found the handling and feed-back on a TDCI Focus very good. Engine miles better than the gassers. Would have bought one, but for the rattles. Now have a Civic S type which is getting quicker with the miles (1200). However, the corners also come up faster now, and I'd better take it easier or I'll overstress the brakes/tyres/my skill!
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Cyd - but NOT with a double I - check your dictionary again please.
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Or my post 8 entries above! ;-)
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The Focus really does seem to be a case of the emperor?s new clothes, the Zetec was a very good car to drive but the LX is very, very run of the mill.
I would even go as far as to say that an average stock Focus is actually a poor car.
It has a primitive cassette player (on an 02 52 plate !!) when every one is fitting a CD, terrible seats that have come straight over from the old Sierra, really poor boot space, noisy, rattles like a bucket of bolts and is just an all round poor effort, the?handling? is like driving a giant sponge cake.
I am so glad that I did not buy this car personally and would advise anyone thinking of buying to consider only the Zetec and above.
The so called motoring press should hang thier collective head in shame, sheep leading sheep.
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Eh? Since when did all the Focus bashing start?
My nana's Focus is *great* admitedly it is a Zetec, that may explain why it has great seats, and IMO terrific handling, but it doesn't explain why her's doesn't rattle...
They're not all bad, and I'd still rather buy a Focus than any other car in it's class.
Blue
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Seats from a Sierra? That's one of the weirdest allegations I've ever heard - the Sierra's seats were soft and soggy, whereas the Focus's are a little flat and firm for my taste. But what do I know about seats, I drive an 80s French car that has seats like an armchair...
In my opinion, the dash is a bit of a mess and a bit shiny, but other than that, it's a good car, well put together, with plenty of room compared to most cars in the class. Subjectively it feels more spacious than the 307, and while I'm no fan of the dash, I prefer the interior and exterior styling to that of the Civic.
I've never driven a high spec Focus, just a 1.6 Flight, but the handling puts a Golf to shame, although I think you have to drive it quite a bit before you get a 'feel' for it. (I never have driven either a Civic or 307, because the deal on my parents' Focus was too good to look at anything else!) The Flight has a tape player, it's true, but the 1.6 LX and above has a CD and alloy wheels. It wasn't worth the extra £1500 for the LX just to get those, plus Quickclear. It's also a shame that there was no ABS until recently, but there is now... so what's the problem?
I can't comment on the sportiness of the Zetec vs the LX, but I'd be surprised if there was a huge difference - the suspension settings are slightly different, but the Zetec is cheaper than the LX as it does without aircon. The Focus is no longer head and shulders above the class as it was 4 years ago, but it's still a contender.
There is always a lot of blue oval bashing (not the bloke, the company) and a friend of mine always refers to them as 'blue badged pieces of brown fluffy dice' I admit that Ford have made some real crap like most Escorts, but just because it's a good deal for fleets, and very popular with non-car people, doesn't mean that the huddled masses are idiots and we, who know a bit about cars, are somehow superior and should be recommending an Arial Atom and a trailer for the kids...
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I really don't understand why the "press" rave about the Focus, especially the handling. Recently I've left several ST170s trailing and await the opportunity to do the same to a Focus RS with relish.
Leave a Focus RS in a shabby old Rover Tomcat, in your dreams!!!!
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I think I'll join in with this Focus-bashing. What is good and what is bad about them?
Good:
Modern design
Handle quite well(LX handles better than my 1.8T Golf)
Bad:
It's a Ford
Too common
Who designed the back end?
Poor safety equipment..Golfs had ABS + 4 airbags standard since May 98. Focus has just got ABS as standard..big deal. Interesting that Ford seemed to think alloy wheels were more important as standard equipment!
Dashboard..will date quickly and made from the cheapest possible material.
Seats..have little padding, cheap material.
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If you all think the standard Focus has good handling then you should probably try and drive a few more cars.
On the LX the steering is spongy, heavy, springy and lacks feel.
The Zetec is very good though, and I would swap my new LX for an older Zetec anyday.
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What is good and what is bad about them?
TDCi Ghia 5 door
Good:
"Modern design" yes
"Handle quite well" very well for that class of car IMO
Effortless performance and low noise (never needs more than 3000 revs)
Highish (comfortable) seating so easy to get in and out + good visibility
Its cheapish as can be bought on "Ford family scheme" by me.
44+ mpg
12,500 mile servicing
Bad:
"It's a Ford" Yes, but a smart one
"Too common" so what? not bothered (it's an over 40 thing)
Dashboard..will date quickly and made from the cheapest possible material. AND HAS NOWHERE TO PUT STUFF (see a Yaris, its brill for this).
Cheap lightweight hatch door
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Seats in Focus Ghia are easily the best in the class. Golf and 307 (especially) give me chronic backache.
Focus is easily the roomiest in the class.
TDCi engine outshines anything VAG or PSA have ever built. A decent turbo-petrol would be even better though. The 2.0 petrol is easily the best compromise between performance and economy.
Climate control, in dash CD, 6 airbags, ABS, Traction control.... how many more toys do you need? Personally I would have preferred a cassette player and a CD (loads of old audio books) but Ford have gone the way of most manufacturers in killing off the cassette.
Dash will date but it isn't cheap and nasty, and besides, how strange are you to caress the plastics of the dash?
It's a mid-market car, a consumer durable, and it does the job very well. It's a lot better day to day than either the Golf or the 307.
Personally I want to replace it with a coupe or convertible and it must have a proper (petrol) engine.
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I recently bought my wife Focus 2.0 Ghia and I am very impressed with the car. I know lots of people with golfs and to be honest they are overpriced and no better made than the Focus.
The servicing is cheap, parts are cheap, it is a very well spec'd car and quite roomy inside.
A freind of mine bought a Golf V6 4Motion and it is the worst put together car I have ever travelled in. The dashboard is just waiting to collapse, the ride is Bl###y awfull, it is expensive to maintain and it just looks so boring.
For what you pay a Focus is a good, honest car.
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I recently bought my wife a Focus 2.0 Ghia and I am very impressed with the car. For what you pay a (2.0 Ghia) Focus is a good, honest car.
My sentiments exactly. Not sure I'd want a Focus variant (Zetec etc.) that has those trendy but uncomfortable bolstered front seats though. But the Ghia seats are superb.
L'escargot by name, but not by nature.
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Climate control, in dash CD, 6 airbags, ABS, Traction control.... how many more toys do you need?
Personally I wouldn't have described 6 airbags as toys, and hopefully I won't ever feel the need to take them from the toybox and play with them!
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FTD: any other pains from VW? so far we have your back ache, ear ache, claustrophobia, torquophobia..... I just think we should know. Again.
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I agree that the higher spec Foci are very good cars, the LX car I have just been given remains very average indeed.
If you want good FWD handling, try a Honda Integra Type R, puts this bucket to shame.
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I hate Focus seats, I\'m 6ft4\" and when you adjust the seat height down to get me in the seat cushion drops leaving an enourmous gap between the seat back and base and the pivot point (which for most people would be below the seat cushion)of the seat back seems to dig in after a hundred miles - result badddd back ache.
The new Mondeos seat is much better as the whole seat lowers on the height adjustment.
Petrol Focus\'s/Foci have a bad drinking habit too.
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Talking of Foci has the image of Lexus's/Lexi!! been destroyed by the Alan Partridge series!
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Yes, the pain in the backside from people who are conned into thinking VWs are anything other than mediocre.
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Update, I have managed to wangle a slightly older Zetec for my new LX and I am a very happy man indeed.
The LX was a soggy bread roll of a car.
Drive both, I've never know such a difference between models in the same range.
RIP LX
Long Live Zetec
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I agree with the previous comment about the Golf, My Brothers wifes got a new GTI, compaired to the Focus TDCI Ghia i have it sounds like the cabin is made of the same noisey material a 15 year old Passat was built from, creeks, squeaks and moans.
I find the handling also very good on the Focus, its a shame that the ESP program wasnt avaliable on this model. The stopping distance is great and find also that you can recover the car quite easily if you pushing it, and it wants to bite back!!
However, the golf is more reliable than my TDCI. I've been towed in 3 times due to engine problems. It intermittantly flashes the glow plug light at me, goes to "limp home mode".Also its recently lost its injector timing!!
Anyone have problems around 3000 revs?? Mine feels like something is cutting in and out at this rev level???
Ive just done 52000 over the last year....wonder if its going to last me over the next 50000 ??
Dave
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