Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...On arrival at Ford we were greeted with the sight of a Ford Focus Zetec 1.8 TDCi in silver with the climate pack for just over 10 grand (with 15K miles). We test drove the car and it's higher powered brother (the one with 115 horses as opposed to 100 horses) and didn't find much difference so decided to opt for the slightly cheaper 100bhp Ford Focus. With hindsight we should have had more than one test drive although that was not really encouraged ...
...point me thinks. The Ford Focus has had rave reviews since it's inception in 1998 and is probably the best selling car annually. The Focus raised the standard for cars in this class and well in my opinion stopped. I have now had the car for over a year and been driving it everyday. I've done the best part of 20k miles in it and frankly have had enough. While the car has seemingly wooed motoring journalists into thinking it a wonder car it had left ...

josarah 09.06.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...morning. We’ve given you a Ford Focus diesel instead.” Ah well. You can’t crib really (at least not TOO much) as it does state in the hire contract that they can substitute a car in the same group as you have booked. Thus it was that the mad cabbie and family ended up driving around in a Ford Focus for a fortnight while on holiday down in the Basque region of France. (St. Jean de Luz, just south of Biarittz) Or more specifically, a brand new Ford ...
...clubs were fitting into the Ford Focus in this way. Instead, I had to lower one of the rear seats, which meant they were intruding through onto the passenger cabin. This caused untold hassle throughout the entire holiday, as it meant that my (expensive) golf equipment was constantly on open view, and I couldn’t leave the car parked anywhere out of my sight for fear of theft! The Focus took the rest of the luggage without too much problem, but certainly ...

the_mad_cabbie 12.07.2004 (24.08.2004) · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...up driving the then new Ford Focus 1.8 TDCI LX (115bhp). I had heard good reviews about the Focus and had travelled in the rear of one for several hours in comfort in the past. My first impression of the cars styling was nothing spectacular, it's not an Aston Martin and the colour matters little as I am colour blind. What first impressed me when I drove it was the exceptional torque the 115bhp engine produced compared to other diesels I had driven, ...
...and purchased a nearly new Ford Focus TDCI LX (115bhp) with 5000 miles on the clock for £11,500. Review after two years and 50, 000 miles. I have taken the titles from another review and added my opinions. Reliability Cutting out at low revs and flat spots - The car has on occasion cut out at low revs, and this seems to be a common problem with Ford diesel cars. It mainly happens at junctions when you go to pull off at low revs, unlike petrol's ...

craighockenhull 08.03.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...rough under full power. The Ford TDCi pulls cleanly and lustily from 1800 RPM round to the 4,500 RPM red line with an encouragingly throaty note. There is usable power from 1,100 RPM so the car will pull cleanly from 25mph in forth on a level surface. Also notible is the drive-by-wire throttle which links to an anti-stall system. Simply take your foot off the throttle in any of the first three gears and the car will pull itself along, even up steep ...
...- especially used (buying a Ford new is surely financial suicide!). Against other diesels (e.g. the Peugeot 307 HDI) the Focus TDCi has a clear performance advantage. Now we come to how the car performs against Petrol cars. Well, let's be honest, in terms of the 0-60 sprint it's nothing special. The 1.8 Focus will beat it and the 2.0 will be car lengths ahead. In-gear however (and how often do you do a 0-60 sprint these days?) it takes a well-driven ...

s.hawke 21.07.2003 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...I have never been a Ford fan. I find the majority of their cars dull and unimaginative. I must say though, I was intrigued as to what this car was going to be like after reading various magazine reviews, this car alway's seemed to come out top in most of the catogories. So the car is OK to look at but only OK. It's already non-descript (mainly due to the sheer number of the things on the road). It looks best from the rear. From the side it is just ...
...looks like the designers lost interest and just slapped some lights and a grille on to get down the pub for opening time. It really has no presence compared to something like a C4 or Megane. Inside is the real let down though. Now I know this is and LX model and near the lower end of the range but I had an Escort LX back in 1992 that had a better finish than this. It is upholstered in a dull grey cloth fabric that at the slightest hint of water ...

jamiemahoney1969 08.05.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

I bought my new Ford Focus 1.8TDi in January and have been greatly impressed all round. Driving I can confirm that its pick up speed allows for a good 0-60 in well under 30 secs as I have beaten many others at the start of our motorway and not while acting like a boy race either. Ist gear is a little too quick pickup wise so be careful with that.The car is well insulated from windnoise but you will get some as its not as soundproof as say a BMW ...
...responsive. Power Steering very good handling capabilities even making sharp turns at higher speeds.Howver watch out if its fitted with soft sidewall tyres as these are not good with cornering or parking close, if you have a bump it will ruin the sidewall and new tyres will be needed. I have never found this on another car so maybe a peculiarity of this car. Diesel economy 450 miles per tank or 10 miles to the litre on average. The engine noise ...

iainkay1 31.05.2002 (01.06.2002) · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...and backup services associated with ford make this a good work horse of a car. I highly recommend this car with the highest of praise for its design and usefulness a truly good car. And as my car is only 3 years old and about to turnover its 85000 mile I can say this from experience. ...

dingoo 23.02.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

I've had a Focus 1.8 TDCi for a little over a year, following a two year stint from a Fiat so I may be a little over enthusiastic about the Focus! However, I've been driving for over 20 years (Oh God that long...) and have driven a silly number of cars over this time. I think I've found a car I finally can settle with for at least the rest of the finance term!!! Which is unusual as I get bored very quickly! The feel of the car overall is one of ...
...some larger cars and you really can have the confidence in the motor to pull hard when you need it. Inside, the car feels roomy for its class and the seats seem to hug you quite nicely. I used to have to sit at a slight angle in many of my older cars to reach pedals and steer yet in the Focus I can sit in a relatively normal position and be comfortable even on a long journey. I don't drive like a loony but the car is responsive, easily controlled ...

S1monPage69 12.09.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

I bought my Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Zetec (52 plate) about a month ago. I’m impressed with the interior design of the car – it’s well laid out and the driving position is excellent. The seats are comfortable and my car came with a climate pack (air-con, heated front screen and door mirrors). The heated front screen is particularly useful. Needless to say, being a Focus the handling is excellent. The Zetec model has sports suspension and really does ...
...It wasn’t until 2003 that Ford introduced ABS as standard across the range. If you’re thinking about buying a pre 2003 model second-hand, don’t assume (as I did) that ABS will be fitted. With the recent release of the new Ford Focus, now is an excellent time to pick up a serious bargain. I got my car just before Christmas for £8K, not bad especially since it had only done 12,000 miles. To sum up, I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending the Focus TDCi ...

James_titcombe 27.01.2005 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...Driving: The Fiesta's forte. Ford really knows how to make cars handle, so even the cheapest Fiesta will thrill the driver in you. Steering is crisp (all models have a leather wheel), corners are taken tidily and enthusiastically yet the ride remains supple too. A class act, enhanced on the Zetec S model to perfection. Indeed, it's better than the ST, which has more grip but less finesse. The ST's engine is quicker but noisier than the 1.6-litre ...
...are OK. Servicing from a Ford dealer (the largest network in the UK) should be cheap and painless, and there are so many Fiestas around, finding parts will never be costly or difficult. Ford build quality is good and the car's reliability record is good. A four-star NCAP result is par for this class, though a few rivals go one better. ...

Monica020783 24.10.2009 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...quite excited to try the Ford Focus. The Ford Focus covers all of thos points. I liked driving it- it handles both town driving and moterways very well, cruises at 70, and is fairly nippy. The focus feels very solid around you, which is very nice for long trips on the motorway! Looks- I feel that the car's looks let it down a little. My car was bog standard blue, which was nice enough, but nothing outstanding. The interior was a nice suprise- it ...
...It's decent quality, with typical ford styling. Little things, like space for your moblie, and a coin tray are a nice touch. The car came with ABS, and air bags for both the driver and passenger. Luckily, I never had to really test the brakes or the airbags! It's very reasurring to know that thy're there though. One thing I felt let the car down was the boot. It's quite small, which I didn't expect. I do think that the new models have larger boots, ...

kookicat 10.01.2007 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...This I did and the Ford customer service department stated they have no history of there being a problem with the Focus scuttle cover, the scuttle cover is part of the trim and is therefore not covered under any warrantee agreement, and they would not honour any refund to me. I said that I have the part that was removed and would be willing to send the part to them for further investigation. They stated there was nobody qualified to look at it in ...
...It is a shame Ford is cutting corners with unreliable plastic covers that appear not to be re-usable, or warp easily. It transpires that none of the plastic mouldings on the car are covered under the warrantee, nor are water leaks! My warning is to watch out for the small-print on warrantee agreements. If buying a second user Focus watch out for damp carpets in the passenger foot well. Be prepared to pay more for a service than what is stated on ...

BAZ1951 05.12.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

The focus is my 3rd car.. My first was a echonimical 106 and my second a racy, alfa spider.... So the focus is a bit dull and a bit boring. It offers no exitement when driving compared to some other cars. But, the focus is a cheap to run cheap to maintain, sensible car. It really does everything it is supposed to do. I brought it for miles, and I have driven about 15,000 in just over 6 months and no problems. I like the focus, its like the friend ...
...grief or stress, the focus is comfortable to drive, it has good all around visibility, you can park it dead easy, you can drive it dead easy. The only thing I find it that when its cold its especially easy to stall, and this is a diesel which is unusual, but not something cronic to put you off buying the car. I find the focus is perfect for the job it was created, could maybe do with more boot space, but its nothing serious. ...

krissharm 14.12.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...so much safer in the Ford than the Nissan. Acceleration off the roundabouts onto the motor slip roads is far better than I ever expected The turbo charged engine gives you the back up when you want it or need it. The big test will be when I take it half way up the country in a few weeks. Sorry its not much of a review at the moment, but i will add more as I experience more of the pleasures of driving the Focus. Overall you can't go wrong with the ...

sleepi80 27.02.2006 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback

...living here in South Africa Ford is not one of the more popular rides to buy. Most of the people I know look at me funny when I tell them that I have bought a Ford. Well that is until I have taken them for a drive. The car really impresses me on how it just seems to glide no hassles to it. I have had my TDCi now just over a month and love every kilo of it. There are little changes to get used to, as my prev car was opel astra petrol. I wanted to ...
...the TDCi for a test a came back and signed on the dotted line. Getting used to the turbo and the diesel took some but I am fine now. The car goes up to 180 km per hour like nothing and doesn't really drop speed. I can cruise on 160 up and down hill no prob's at all. My fuel consumption is still a bit high but with only 1600km on the clock I think it still needs to loosen up some. Interior all together is up to standard and everything is with-in ...

roid_rod 30.07.2004 · Read full review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback