My trusty Focus estate.

Advantages: Frugal, spacious, built well, handles brilliantly, looks pretty good...
Disadvantages: Not the quietest of diesels.

...Last month I got myself another car. I wanted something economic as I do a hell of a lot of mileage so I wanted a diesel. In the end I got the car I'm writing this review on: A 1999 (V) Ford Focus 1.8TDdi [AC] LX Estate. It cost me £1,600. Got 104K miles (106K now) and had had a full service history til 79K, with a cambelt change at the last service. And to be so blunt, I'm chuffed to bits with it. Anyway, so lets get down to business. - The engine. On the Focus timeline there are two types of diesel engine. The TDdi and the TDci. The latter came along later to be the diesel engine now used in new Fords, it's more powerful, slightly more economic and basically a more refined engine. Well, I couldn't afford that, so I've got the old engine instead. And when I say old, I mean it's old, you find it as far back as the Mk3 Fiestas, although...

Ant309 27.04.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus Estate 1.8 TDCi Duratorq

Ford Focus TDCi 1.8 Ghia (2004)

Advantages: High MPG, Comfortable, Quite and plenty of leg room.
Disadvantages: Extra costs hidden in services

...During the second years service (2006) the dealer discovered the scuttle cover was warped and needed replacing. New scuttle cover / pollen filter cover was fitted, and anti-bacterial spray treatment applied - the cost was over £44.00. (Removal of the scuttle destroys the seal and it has to be replaced). As the car is less than 2 years old I suggested it should come under a warranty replacement. The dealer said I would have to take the issue up with Ford. 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...

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

Focus 1.8 TDCi - a great not so little car

Advantages: Fantastically economical for its class
Disadvantages: High torque from engine can be expensive on tyres

...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 comfort but without the disconnected feel you can get in 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...

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

Ford Focus LX 1.6 TDCi Estate

Advantages: Comfortable, good handling, nice driving position, economical, good load carrier, 3 year warranty - no servicing required.
Disadvantages: Not a lot of "extras as standard", no ISOFIX for child seat,

...the local Ford dealer where they promptly identified that the steering rack was faulty. In this case I was just unlucky as this doesn't seem to be a common problem (according to Ford). Actual cost would have been approx £700. One very good point, however, is that the standard 3 year Ford warranty covered a lot of areas of the car and did not require the vehicle to be serviced. So, not a lot of problems and already that's the negative part out of the way. Oh, I've just changed all 4 tyres as they were close to the legel limit (1.8mm - 2mm left). So, effectively they've managed about 30000 miles. One small niggle is that when you put the fan/heater on and select the windscreen demist setting, the air con automatically comes on. You then have to switch it off if you don't want it. If the selector is left in this position, then...

bferg 25.01.2008 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus Estate 1.6 TDCi

My Ford

Advantages: All
Disadvantages: No

...grouped in easy-to-follow trims; Style, LX, sporty Zetec and luxurious Ghia, with a racy ST hot hatch range-topper. Three-and five-door variants are offered, with three-doors taking a sportier stance, to the detriment of driver visibility. Engines include a gutless 1.25-litre and preferable 1.4-litre petrol, plus two TDCi diesels - 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre. Again, the larger unit is better. Toping the range are 1.6-litre and 2.0-litre petrols, the latter with 150bhp. No Fiesta is particularly well equipped though, and high-tech features such as voice activation and Bluetooth telephone all cost extra. But interior finish was much improved in 2006 when the car had a mild facelift. Owning: Retained values of the Fiesta are average, but economy is good (even the 1.4-litre petrol averages 45mpg) and insurance ratings are OK. Servicing from a Ford...

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

  Why I'm not fussed about the Focus

Advantages: Lots of them around. Cheaper now in the old shape
Disadvantages: Please see below

...When I got rid of my Fiat Punto 1.9 JTD this time last year I was in the market for a slightly larger vehicle. I was having a love hate relationship with the back end of the Renault Megáne and the Citroen C4 was not released then (what it is about me and French cars I don't know!) although I thought that would be the ideal car. Nothing much was doing it for me (it's all about emotions when I buy a car) so we decided to go and have a look at Ford, in particular the Focus. We had heard great things about the Focus and it seemed only natural to go and see what they had on the forecourt. 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...

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

Ford TDCI 1.8

Advantages: Full house
Disadvantages: Boot space

...Well 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 buy a diesel car for so long and after taking 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...

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

Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec C-MAX.

Advantages: Roomy, upmarket quality & quiet.
Disadvantages: Hand brake position needs getting used to.

...7 footers! Upholstery is plain side panels with inset silvery zig zag finish, it comes in 2 colours according to the paint colour.ie Dark has light upholstery & light has dark finish. TOYS, adjustable steering column, upwards & in & outwards. Intermittent variable wipers with the advantage of speed for front match the speed for the rear wiper. If the front wipers are on and you go into reverse the rear wiper automatically wipes. Built in computer, giving mileage, MPG, amount of fuel left in tank, average speed, low outside temp and for those of you that go abroad changeable miles to kilometres. The engine, comes in 1.6 petrol/1.6 turbo diesel, 1.8 petrol & 2litre turbo diesel. Rated at 110 BHP for 1.6's, 120 BHP and 136 BHP. Fuel consumption so far has been impressive, todate I am achieving 36-36.5 MPG. Mileage is now at 23...

Beefy 28.11.2003 (14.09.2007) · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8

best car i've had is a focus

Advantages: lots of room, good engine, mpg
Disadvantages: none

...alarm and immobiliser for optimum security. The car also has side impact air bags and passenger and driver airbags which gives and added sens of safety. The engine being a 1.8 turbo diesel is very punchy although I have done 90mph in it I wouldn?t say there would be much left over 100mph. From 0 to 30 mph the car isn?t to nippy but when the turbo kicks in at 30ish the car sits you back in your seat. The best part of this car and engine is the fuel consumption I can get between 45 and 55 mpg which is very good compared with other cars I have had. I bought the car for £6000 second hand , brand new the car ranges from £8995 to £11995and found it a good investment the tax isn?t the lowest bracket at £95 for 6 months due to it being diesel. I like this car and even with it being a common car this tell me it must be good and I can see why; I...

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

Ford Focus Zetec 1.8

Advantages: A roomy and stilish car
Disadvantages: Every other person has one

...My Focus is now coming up to 3 years old (W reg) and has covered about 17000 miles. I have had the car from new and replaced a very tired Austin Maestro 1.3. I tend to keep my cars for a long time, so running costs and reliability are very inportant to me. The car, so far has been very reliable and has given no problems so far. Most people now know what the Focus looks like, so I wont bore you with the details. Many cars, however, have appeared to have copied it including Ford with its latest Fiesta and Mondeo designs. The only critisism is the rear end; it looks very boring. The new Focus has rubber inserts in the bumper assembly which does help the styling a little. The car is very quiet and the handling superb. The 1.8 engine is smooth and packs a lot of punch, especially climbing hills. There is very little evidence that...

STUARTSTIRLING 21.01.2003 (05.02.2003) · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8