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

The Ford Focus 2.0l Ghia (Auto)

Advantages: Almost too many to list: interior space, comfort and convenience of seats, driving position, road holding, reasonably economic, auto a dream
Disadvantages: Luggage space limited and slightly awkward shape; not greart for towing due to weight limit..

...The Focus is a great car and has been since first launched. Now available with a huge range of combinations of engine and body style. The smaller engines are reporteds to be a bit underpowered, while the 1.6 seems to be everyone's fasvourite. The review considers the 2.0l petrol auto Ghia. Chosen because I wanted an auto and did not want the slight loss of power this would mean in a smaller engine. The auto is great in traffic and eliminates the thought of stalling. The 'down' side is that this confidence may encourage one to pull out when appraochng vehicles are rather closer than normal. But that is bad driving and not a bad car. Could do with more gears than three plus overdrive although the auto works fine in every road condition. I got a caravan after buying the car and would not have this combination as a first option...

bigowes 04.03.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 2.0

Ford Focus 2.0 ESP

Advantages: Great driving, reliable car
Disadvantages: Ford service department

...I bought my Ford Focus in June 2006, second hand from Ford with 38,000 miles on the clock. The model I own is a 2.0 ESP facelift, with the revised headlights which include the indicator, revised bumpers with bump strips & revised metal flush skirts. Now, in August 2007 the car is on the brink of hitting 70,000 miles and it literally hasn't missed a beat. The only parts that I have had to replace that are none wear and tear are the thermorstat housing seal (Ford however will try and charge you to replace the whole housing, where infact it is invariably just the rubber seal which perishes), and a n/s/f ball joint due to excessive play when being tested for an MOT, a grand total of about £50 non-expected maintenance. Not bad at all for 30,000 miles of motoring in just over a year. And as a furthur point of note, the Michelin Pilot...

elude 29.08.2007 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 2.0

Ford Focus Ghia 2ltr saloon. (Update 22nd May 05)

Advantages: Good all round visibility, responsive acceleration, on board computer, fold-down rear seats.
Disadvantages: difficult removal of rear headrests

...I have always loved Ford Escorts and tended to go for the mid-range sporty machines - a very Zen-like, middle-of-the-road attitude - (1.6 early types, and later the XR3i and finally the 1.8 si). I would probably still be driving one now if Ford hadn't replaced it with the Focus. As far as I was concerned, if it aint broke, don't fix it so I was a little timid when it came to this new model. "Haven't you got any Escorts?" I asked the saleman. He looked at me as if I had just landed from another galaxy and then proceeded to show me this light blue metallic Focus Saloon Ghia. "This is Ford's flagship," he assured me and due to the fact that the rear seats fold down, there is probably more room in there than in your Escort." He was right - the boot was surprisingly roomy and the car a good bit longer. I was beginning to get well...

derek-j-a 28.04.2005 (22.05.2005) · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 2.0

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

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 TDCI, Great Motoring

Advantages: Smooth, Quiet, Economical, Packed with features
Disadvantages: Ford Service Department

.... The 2.0 TDCI has a 6 speed gearbox which gives you a true overdrive gear unlike the 1.8 which only has a 5 speed box. On the down side with this, and any other Ford, the service from ford leaves a little to be desired but for a trouble free car like this that is not a problem as you will not see the Ford dealer often after the purchase. If you do have to take your car in for work at Ford, keep on their backs as this seems to push them into working a little quicker. If only to get rid of you....

Jimmorris1980 06.03.2008 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 2.0 TDCi Saloon

Ford Fiesta Ghia 1.4 TDCi

Advantages: Economy, size, running costs, equipment
Disadvantages: Acceleration

... Ford Fiesta Ghia 1.4 TDCi 5dr Background I have owned my 2004 Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi since it was 6 months old and have traveled at the time of writing (OCT 2007) 25000 miles though the car has done 30000 in total.The car lacks in one area, which is acceleration, however, this does not detract from a 5-star rating because if you're purchasing a diesel at this price point you should be doing it for the excellent economy - not for super fast performance... The Drive The car is great fun to drive, and surprisingly nippy round town, the handling feels safe and secure and corners neatly. It is not a performance hatchback so don't expect to be 'burning-off' your average family saloon on a head to head, however the car has a respectable top speed (102mph) and cruises quite nicely on motorways at 70. Not as smooth as larger...

mcc28 14.10.2007 (27.10.2007) · Read review
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Review of Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCi

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

My first few weeks with our Used Ford Focus

Advantages: Smooth Drive, Good MPG, Comfortable, Spacey
Disadvantages: Noisey at times

...I've been driving a Nissan Almera for a few years now and basically got bored with it. The Almera was costing us in fuel prices, as the MPG was low. It needed a bit work doing to it as well so we decided to go out looking for a new car. At first we wanted to look at a smaller car, something like a Peugeot 206 or the new 207, but soon discovered that the 206 was a little too small for us. We looked at a number of different fords in the range, fusion, fiesta, and then the salesman showed us the Focus. At first we throught it was bit large but once we sat inside we fell in love. The car as a whole is excellent. It is very roomy, the drivers controls are located in the right place. The steering wheel is both adjustable up and down and in and out. The seat is very comfortable for short and long journeys. The visability is better than most...

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