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,

...I own the 2005 (05) version which I bought at one year old with 14500 miles on the clock. So, after almost two years of ownership and me adding a further 18000 miles, would I recommend it? After trading in my Honda Civic (1996 reg), I can quite comfortably say that this car is miles better. But that is what is expected, given that technology moves on. The most obvious place to start is the problems I've had. Repairs under warranty :- After about 27000 miles, the hose pipe at the Exhaust Gas Regulator (EGR) had began to erode( can be a common problem). The tell tail sign is huge amounts of black smoke when accelerating. This was changed by the local Ford dealer. (would have cost in the region of £50) After 29000 miles, I noticed a clunking from the front of the car, even on minor bumps on the road. Again, up to...

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

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

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 Focus 1.6 Zetec

Advantages: A great car from all angles
Disadvantages: Not as many extras included as I would have liked

...I am now the proud owner of a ford focus 1.6 zetec and for the first time in many years I have actually found a car that pretty muc suits all my needs. I have spent many a time in cars that are too big, too small, not suitable, not comfortable etc but this is everything I could ask for. I own the three door version but the doors open widely and when the front seat is moved forward there is plenty of room to get anyone in the back, even my mother in law who is disabled. The back of this car is extremely spacious, comfortably fitting 3 large adults in. The boot size is deceiving in that it looks pretty small but is very spacious indeed. Perfect for all those shopping bags as well as a childs pushchair. The actual drive of this car is superb. Mine runs on unleaded and is very economical. I can get over 200 miles to £35...

bexx0907 27.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.6

  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

best car i've had is a focus

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

...I bought my black focus zetec in April 2003, and it has been one of the best cars I have had. It has quite a good spec with power steering traction control, electric windows, air-conditioning and a heated front screen as this has been a god send in frosty weather a great piece of kit There is plenty of room in the five door version I have, and the driving position is next to none. The driving position suits me because it is high and being over 6 foot tall is excellent for me. You also notice from this position you are quite high I can see the sun roof on many other makes of car when out driving. The Interior of this car is also very good the seat material is hardwiring and the plastic (that all cars have these days) is good quality it looks good and hard warring. The dash board is very ergonomically and well set out to with a good...

dingoo 23.02.2004 · 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

...I bought this car just over a year ago, it was 8 months old with about 8 thousand miles on the clock. I have since put another 20 thousand on it driving all over the country. I have only ever had one problem with it. This was a mechanical error in the exhaust system that ford solved on the second attempt. There is a valve in the exhaust system that is a "known problem" on both the Focus and Mondeo TDCI's and the part had to be shipped from Germany to repair it. In all it took 3 weeks to fix but I did get a replacement car for this period so this was not a major issue. The car itself is amazing. The interior looks like tat of a much more expensive car and the stereo is first rate. It is so quiet on relaxing to drive with plenty of ooohmph when needed. It also ticks over nicely at 2000 revs at 70 so the fuel economy is great too...

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

Focus makes 'Va Va Voom' a reality not a promise

Advantages: Fast ,precise handling,quiet and purposeful
Disadvantages: some water leaks

...My Focus TDCi Ghia purchased last year as an import via a car suprermarket. It is my first brand new car and I am delighted with it. The TDCi engine is a standard bearer for modern diesel engines.The car,fitted with the more powerful 115 ps engine,has proven to be exceptionally quick and powerful in that all important mid speed range. The official quoted figures show that it is quicker 30 to 70 than the equivalent two litre model. In addition the serious level of low torque at very low revs (1750 rpm) gives the car exception pulling power. It is quite able to tow my caravan at 60mph in an absolutely effortless fashion.Solo it is quite possible to obtain better than 53mpg at legal and 'supra legal' motorway speeds... Urban motoring means that 45mpg is a more realistic figure with 34 mpg being possible when towing. The car has been...

kandmf 12.07.2004 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Hatchback