Prior to purchasing my 1.8 Focus I owned a Renault Clio - which was great fun even if a little on on the feminine side (yes I'm a bloke and no I'm not gay!!!) That beauty was economical and great fun to drive. Even at fifty or sixty mph it felt like you were Michael Schumacher leading the British Grand Prix! There’s a picture! The great champ girling his way to victory in a Clio – VAVOOM!
The drawback with the Clio was it's crampage - meaning lack of space - especially at the rear! With the rear seats occupied people in those positions would regularly complain of asphyxiation and claustrophobia. And as for the boot space under the hatch - it could barely contain a tea bag - unless you folded it in half! (and even then you would have to tie the hatch down with string!)
So realising a change of car was necessary I test drove two breeds of vehicle. The contenders were a 1.6 Astra and a 1.8lx Ford Focus. Both felt stable and sure footed - I found the Astra a tad more comfortable and the steering very responsive probably assisted by the Lotus designed chasis - The Focus did not offer the same comfort and support in the seating department and the steering response seemed to me to be….erm.. dull! Both were pretty equally sure footed in the handling/ road holding ddepartment
Engine wise the Astra felt far zippier the Focus more sedate. Noise levels from tyres and engines on both cars was similar and good.
With its angular stealth like looking design I gave the Focus the higher mark and found the Astra tiresome looking. All in all I like the idea that the Focus might be able to dodge detection by enemy radar due to it’s stealthy angles – might come in handy next time I decide to do a low level bombing raid on Baghdad!
From a space and practicality point of view I was also more impressed with the Focus. The Focus has a decent luggage space (would probably hold about 500 boxes of teabags – that’s an estimate – better still about 8 boxes of 24 x 330ml bottles of Stella Artios! Loads more if you put the rear seats down of course.
The deal clincher for me was the track records as far as reliability and other consumer considered ratings – it added up to Focus all the way!
Bottom line is the Focus is a good car that performs as advertised with no hitches (so far). I’ve been the owner of this “grandfather wearing a leather jacket and Nike trainers” of a car for 8 months. I shouldn’t have anything to complain about but ……..yawn…….can I have my Clio back please Mr Schumacher???
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My boyfriend has fallen in love with this car after we hired one for the easter weekend to visit family. He cant stop talking about how much of a dream it was to drive
zarniwoop 08.01.2004 11:42
Good review, a little off topic though. Not a lot of detail on the Focus though. I had a little clio and with it lowered 90mm, you could take 90 degree turns at about 70mph great first car! No boot space at all though, my two subs filled it completely. Never been a fan of the Focus but this does look pretty smart. Rambled on enough, vince
ampuk2000 07.01.2004 12:37
Good review. I have been in a Clio a couple of times and it felt like I was being crushed inside a very small teabag!
Advantages: hi equipment levels, good driving position, good fuel economay Disadvantages: common, Ford dealers are awful - get it serviced at a local garage not a dealer
NR61 31.08.2006 ·
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8
Advantages: comfortable, cheap to run, reliable Disadvantages: flat spot
craighockenhull 08.03.2006 (08.03.2006)
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