Anyone got experience with the latest Focus diesel engines?

[Mr_Sukebe]

I'm hoping that someone on her can help.
I'd like some thoughts on how good the Ford diesel engines are that are fitted to say a 1 year old Focus. I believe that you can buy a 1.6, 1.8 and 2ltr, all in a variety of configurations.
I can read up on the stats, so please don't tell me that the most powerful one is the fastest, what I'm hoping for are experiences of:
- NVH, i.e. smoothness, vibration, noise levels
- How wide the power band is. I'm aware that some of TDs on the market are very peaky in their power delivery and don't know how the Fords compare

Lastly, can you buy one with an auto or CVT box? I couldn't see the option on the Ford website, but autotrader has some listed.

 

[Jon Frost]

I have a 1.8 tdci silver, 5 door, boring focus as a work company car.
No matter the 'use' it gets, its not gone wrong on me once.
Its quick enough to overtake your gran in and is quite smooth. Mine pulls well from 2.5k to 3.5k then obviously peters out quickly.
You can pootle about in 4th gear at 30 mph. Pull away from junctions in 1st without using the 'gas pedal' (slowly). It sits at about 80 mph all day long with me, on these private roads we use. I'm sure it would go a little quicker if you had to ~100mph gets a little beyond it though.
I quite like mine. Its an alright car.
J

 

[blueboy2001]

The 1.6 and 2.0 engines are designed and manufactured in partnership with PSA Peugeot-Citroen and use a Bosch common rail injection system. The 1.8 is a Ford unit based loosely on the old Endura diesel block but with a revised head and a modern injection system, probably Delphi but I'm not 100%. I've never driven a recent 1.8 so I can't comment on that.

The 1.6 engine is quite free reving for a diesel and isn't anything like as peaky as a VAG TDI for example. The consequence of this is that it doesn't feel a particularly strong engine and it doesn't throw you back in your seat but it motors along well enough, is good on fuel and is smooth and quiet both on the move and at idle. The 2.0 feels much stronger, again quite smooth but the power does fall away quite dramatically once you hit 4000RPM.

I think there is/was a 1.6 TDCi available with a CVT but these have been in limited numbers due to supply issues with the gearboxes.