At first, the new Focus II left me totally cold. I thought I would never drive one of these. But, as a previous driver to one of the older models, I can rest my heart and bless the engineers at Ford.
The old Focus was good to drive and very reliable. Only broken down once and due to my own fault. After getting it fixed, I thought I would drive it for years.
Then, I drove the Focus II Trend (Titanium without the alloywheels) And it feels epic. A step away from the ST, its suspension is extremely precise and fast, the 1.6 liter engine goes with the 5 speed manual gearbox like a dream.
The suspension might be a bit hard for rockier roads, but on the freeway, it is highly comfortable and the sensation, that the steering wheel gives you, is phenomenal.
And it is fast too. Mainly due to the round shaped front it is aerodynamic as a sports coupe. The factory gives the acceleration time from 0-60 mph in 10 seconds, but in the hands of a dragracer, it can do a full 1 second under it.
And then there is the gearbox. The clutch and the gearbox in perfect harmony, making the shifting very precise and fast.
So, in the end, this is an epic hatchback by performance.
But in the interior, the designers have made some bad choices. The console is made of a plastic that rattles as you drive along. Also, the plastic is a bit too "noisy" as it amplifies the road sounds. And the steering wheel is cover with a thin layer of vinyl. So it wares off quite fast.
It is smaller then the old Focus in the interior. Mainly due to the massive boot, which is good for transport. But as you get more space in the front, you lose it in the back. But the seats are good and comfortable.
The front seats are especially good. With the enlarged side pads, you get more confidence and grip. Also, the dials are good and informative, giving you valuable info in the daytime and during night. But the digital display is a bit too low. It should be at the topside of the field. But this comes up, when you adjust the wheel too high.
In the end, this car is the best for modern young family with one or two kids and a dad, who loves to go to the track in the weekend.
This is one of my highly recommended products. I think it the best hatchback in its class.
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shumphries100 20.07.2007 (20.07.2007)
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Review of Ford Focus Titanium 1.6 5dr
shumphries100 20.07.2007 (20.07.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Ford Focus Titanium 1.6 5dr
May 21st, 2008
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