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

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

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

  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 Focus Tdci Zetec Estate 115BHP 2002

Advantages: Handling, MPG, Comfort, Space, Ride
Disadvantages: Stalling at low revs, steering feel, plasticky interior

...a flat-spot below 2,000 RPM before the turbo kicks-in. I understand this is a common fault that costs around £150 to remedy, or you learn to put up with it like I have. On reaching 100,000 miles, the cambelt has been replaced (£250) and the car given a 12,000 mile service (£150 from a non-Ford garage). So, I'd recommend the FocusTdci to anybody who wants sensible fun with low running costs, and if the ubiquity of the model doesn't bother you....

Quillfiller 06.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus Estate 1.8 TDCi

58 Plate - Ford Focus Zetec 1.8i Zetec

Advantages: Great to drive. Great to look at. Very fast - never short of any power. Great safety features.
Disadvantages: MPG around town.

...I picked this car up December 2008. What an amazing car. Amazing to look at. And amazing to drive. It's very comfortable front or back. Lots of leg room if you're a rear passenger. Has all the safety features you want: airbags; ABS; ESP etc. This 1.8i engine is quite fast if you push it. Even if you've got a cars full and a full boot. You're never short of power. Coming off a busy roundabout, especially. Add around 4000rpm then bring the clutch up, floor it, it'll push to 35MPH in 1st with no drama. The car can be heavy on fuel around town. I've tried to do as 'economy drive' as I could possible do, and I can only reach, according to car's computer, 29.2MPG. It went down to 28.8MPG the other day. But as soon as you hit the motorway, and cruise at around 65-70MPH, it will bring you back wonder figures. Around 45-50MPG. If you go over 70...

Greeny1980G 01.06.2009 · Read review
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Review of Ford Focus 1.8i 16V Zetec

Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec C-MAX.

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

...,000 and engine seems very lively. Have just had the screen washer pump pack up, but this will be replaced under warranty! Security, full remote central locking with deadlocks. It has an interior alarm & you can specify perimeter alarm( extra). Engine immobiliser. Shielded door locks. Price wise, there have been some discounting on some of the models in the range and the LX and Zetec models are the ones to buy. Some problems have been encountered with the electronic parking brake fitted on the Ghia models but Fords are on top of this. Still the best engines to go for are the Diesels, the 2.0 Litre is a little flyer! Will keep you posted as to how the C Max fares in the future. Have now bought the focus hatchback as replacement (01/09/2007), but used the C max to go to Harwich in before getting it, carried 4 adults and luggage for a cruise and had...

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

...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

Focus - does exacally what it says on the tin

Advantages: Average, cheap to run, cheap to buy, does what it says on the tin
Disadvantages: small boot, sensitive about biting point for a diesel

...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 that listens to all your problems and never causes you 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...

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