...the internet before buying, the Ford Diesel unit which the Focus uses is well tried and tested being based on an old design, a bit harsh compared to modern versions but it is strong enough to easily last to 150k miles and beyond so I wasn't too concerned buying such a high mileage unit. It is important if buying a high miler to make sure you get service history (FSH) and my Focus has this. The car was in general in good condition for the mileage, ... ...baskets etc. The local Ford dealers have been brilliant too! I'll update again in a few more months or if there are major traumas! Update - 11th April 2008 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm still driving this car and still pleased with it, not let me down yet touch wood! Just passed it's MOT which cost £210 as the rear shock absorbers needed replacing and a couple of bulbs too. Not bad as the roads around here are terrible. The car is now 8 and a half years ...
DavidJWest 16.11.2002 (15.10.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
Advantages: Brilliant acceleration, good top speed, responsive in all gears Disadvantages: None as of yet
I have now owned a Ford Focus for about 4-5 months now, and this car is AMAZING! I can honestly say it is the best car i have ever owned. The drive of this car is made to feel like you are racing, therefore it feels as though you are going faster than you actually are! So far, i have had no faults or any problems with the car, so i am guessing that it is quite reliable. I must also stress that i got the car second hand, after it had driven around ... ...to its big opening which Ford invited me to. It was all very big and exciting and i was a bit curious to find out more about the car. After looking around the net, and talking to people i eventually bought the car, and it is fabulous! The acceleration on the car is outstanding, which in my mind, i would have thought that it would fade away when getting to top speeds, but to be honest, it is VERY responsive in 5th gear, and i reckon if you had enough ...
Shammy 06.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
Advantages: An excellant car which has loads of stuff and relatively cheap. Disadvantages: Beware of the Ford Garage and the problems stated inside.
So, we have owned a Ford Focus since they were first released, and not without a few hiccups on the way. Its a great car, a bit cramped for five people, but it makes reasonable use of the space available. The car comes with loads of stuff for a reasonable price, and it is a step up from the Escort it has developed from.
The hiccups we have had have been:
Boot opening at random times.
2 re-calls which have sorted out some problems.
Exhaust rusted ... ...been sorted.
Front tyres wearing out due to incorrect geometrys.
And other bits and bobs.
Apart from these problems, which the garage has not been very helpful, the car has been very good. Its a very easy car to drive, and its well worth the money. Most of the problems stated are how rectified on new models, but beware of some salesmen!
Just to add that supposedly, you have to drive the Focus flat-out down the motorway to clear all the crud out ...
andy500 14.06.2001 (24.06.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
Advantages: Looks, design, engine Disadvantages: No air conditioning or sunroof
The Focus has got a modern design to it, from the headlights to the wheel trims. It looks good, but it doesn't turn many heads now than it used to when it first came out. The 1.8i Zetec is good value, as it costs the same as the 1.6 version. It's got sporty touches such as alloy wheels and an aluminium dash. It's fairly well equipped with remote central locking, driver's and passenger's airbags, electric front windows, radio and an adjustable steering ...
christopher 13.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
Advantages: Handling & Quality Disadvantages: Nothing Major
.../ models before finding the Ford Focus, to be honest I hadn't heard much about them before, because they hadn't been around that long. But once I drove it I was happily surprised!
The handling is very responsive and can take corners at quite a pace without feeling like your losing control. And like other more expensive cars it is very quiet and smooth at any speed, even in too higher gear.
It's even quite spacious, I'm 6ft and even sitting in the ... ...the boot is rather deceptive, going away for weekend breaks with the family I was worried we'd never fit it all in, but it's like a tardis!
The only drawback I've found is if you have air-con on with recycled air, the next time you turn the electric's on there is an annoying clicking noise as the system resets itself - but hey I can live with that seeing as the car only cost just over £10,000 ...
LS 09.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
Advantages: Ageless Looks.Easy to drive. Very economical.Cheap Available parts. Disadvantages: None as yet.
Didn't like the Focus when it first came out but you have to drive it toappreciate its flexibility and handling.1st driven as a hire car on holiday and was very impressed.Its looks and styling are ageless.Its power is unbelievable for a diesel coupled with great economy. The five door has to be the best family car I have had because it is spacious and has a boot big enough for the holiday luggage. It has never let me down yet. I am aware of at least ... ...of them having done over 250,000 miles. The other advantage has to be the low insurance group which again contributes to the fact that the car is cheap to run and maintain. It is the first Focus that I have owned and would not hesitate in buying another one once this one has passed the 250,000 miles mark. ...
phay43 30.10.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
...up at a set of traffic lights with your feet off all pedals, yet your revs are exceeding 3000! Another problem seems to be an irregular failing of the speedometer!
Overall a neat car which will appeal to the traditional Ford buyer and a worthy successor to the Escort! ...
markb 30.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
Advantages: Vast improvement on the old Escort Disadvantages: No major ones
...prize was to test a Ford Focus at the motor industry test facility at Crowthorne. At this test facility it is possible to conduct a huge range of tests. Road surfaces are deliberately made slippy by use of rounded beads in the surface and water sprayed on top. The result helps a driver assess in a safe environment the road-holding limits of a vehicle. Further tests can be done on braking performance and the effectiveness of ABS systems. In this test ... ...have the use of a Ford Focus for a week. As the Focus at this time had not been formally launched his was quite a special prize. There were to be 30 lucky winners from the 50 of us who were lucky enough to win the Top Gear competition. However even with these positive odds I was not lucky enough to win or more correctly did not drive well enough in the assessed sections to win. I was disappointed but it was still a fantastic day.
My overall view ...
polydeuces 18.11.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
The Focus continues to intrigue me look at some of these interesting facts.
The underbonnet sound deadening material in a Focus makes use of recycled denim jeans!
During the vehicle painting process, dust and fibres are removed by rotating brushes made from what? Ostrich feathers
Focus is more than 85% recyclable by weight - all plastic
components weighing more than 100g are marked with their identity for
easy isolation.
The brake pads are ... ...washed off easily and not leave marks on alloy wheels.
Arrow on fuel filler gauge points to righthand side of vehicle,
where the fuel flap is.
Electric windows have 'smart' anti-trap sensors that can sense
the difference between a finger and a hand - and also can detect frosty
glass. The motors reverse to avoid trapping fingers but work harder to
overcome the 'stiction' of icy glass. ...
j.cuthell 26.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
Advantages: Drive, Cost to run Disadvantages: Lack of standard equipment
...you can really enjoy driving. Ford have introduced independant rear suspension on the focus, and that along with the 25% firmer suspension setting over the other models in the range, make it a fun to drive car that will get you where you want to go in great comfort. The cost of getting there isn't that much either, fuel economy is rather good considering the way you'll probabley end up "enjoying" the driving. My only two gripes with the car are:
... ...2) Ford seem to have left off a lot of equipment that appears as standard on rivals cars. ABS, rear electric windows, sunroof/air con are all missing in lieu of the "driver appeal." If these small problems were rectified then the Focus would be a true would beater. ...
JASSIV 24.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
This is a lovely car to drive, very responsive and comfortable. I learn't to drive in this car and it is totally different from the fiesta which I must admit did like driving. I have driven a few cars in my time this one has to be my favourite though, as I previously owned a clapped out polo. I found this car economical to run and roomy both front passengers and back, has a spacious boot and a lots of lovely gadgets with its abs a must with the british ... ...found wrong was the bonnet as it is low and quite hard to judge where your position was at traffic lights. Very smooth runner and quick to get off the mark.
Overall I would rate this car very highly as I found it really easy to drive and a pleasure also. I am not into spec but this has a lot too offer. ...
shazzywazzy 04.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
Advantages: Can put things in the boot. Disadvantages: None
...as you look after a ford this will be good to you. so a simple oil change at 6 - 8K will keep the smoke away and mind to clear the turbo by flooring it upto 4500 rpm - now and then. I hope this car will last me to 175K before passing it on. maybe a wheel bearing replacement by then but not to much running cost. ...
gordon8262 28.01.2008
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
After having one of these cars for over a year I have a few comments to make. Im not going to tell you about its spec or anything like that because I dont know it. I am going to tell you about what i thought:
The car is simple, we have dogs so it took a hammering, but is easy to clean.
It is spacious and there is a lot off boot space, front/back space for legs is ample and somewhat comfortable
Mileage, wow, for a car which has a bit of zip it ... ...at a garage.
Handling, let me tell you I took the car to Rothbury along country roads and i was glued to it, i had my foot to the floor and the focus just kept going.
Looks: just one thing - it aint ugly
However, i do have a little complaint:
I had to sell it and Ive done so many miles it wasnt worth anything. Ive got a Mazda 3 and when im done with that im going back to the focus ...
JamesDavidson 12.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
Advantages: Comfort, road handling and economy Disadvantages: Side impact airbags are not standard, only an optional extra
The Ford Focus is a great car to drive. It is comfortable as well as being reliable and roomy. The road handling is good and the economy of running the car is not as good as in the literature, but it is still very good. The surprising aspect of this car is the addition space the passengers have over other cars in the same class as well as the boot being a big size. There are a lot of optional extras, and if I was to choose one I would highly recommend ...
Amyrlin 28.06.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
Advantages: Economical, reliable and good looking Disadvantages: Haven't found any disadvantages to owning this car, but it is early days
I've owned my Ford Focus 1.8 Diesel for 8 weeks now. It is approximately 18 months old and had 9,000 miles on the clock when I bought it. So far it's been great. I've done a few long haul journeys (in excess of 300 miles) and I've found it great on the motorway and very very ecenomical. It's not the noisy, smelly vehicle that people have come to expect from a diesel, the engine is reasonably quiet and no smells, honest.
One of my worries when purchasing ... ...bit slow off the mark, this is not the case, it makes a great city car and is considerably nippy.
The interior of my Focus is black upholstery with the titanium look dashboard, this looks quite classy. It is a shame no CD player is fitted as standard, I paid and extra £100 to get one fitted.
So far I am very happy with my new car, I will keep this opinion updated with any developments. ...
Dawni 27.09.2003
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Ford Focus 1.8 DI
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