Focus buying advice needed

HamZilla · 12 Jul 2006 at 14:48

Now a replacement for my Fiesta as it has been written off. I would get another Fiesta but we found it to be too cramped in the rear and not enough boot space.

I'm seriously considering a Focus, but don't know which ones to go for?

It needs to be a 5 door and Air con.
My budget is about £3-4.5K max. From what I've seen on Auto Trader and Parkers, from £4K upwards I can get 01-03 models which have different headlights, are there any other significant improvements?

Some Ghia models have leather seats which would be nice and easier to clean (have a 2yr old!).

Zetec's have sports suspension which I would prefer also.

I really liked the 1.25 engine on the Fez for its zippiness and also economy. I don't drive the car for commuting as I walk to work and it would be used for town driving normally but needs to be capable on motorway too. Is 1.6 engine good enough or should I go for 1.8? Whats real life mpg on either engine?

Scarfacé · 12 Jul 2006 at 15:54

IMO Go for the 1.6 Engine.

The 1.4/1.6 lumps are totally different engines to the 1.8/2.0. I had a 2.0l Ghia and it's a great car... but the fuel economy was terrible. The 1.6 is powerful enough and much better on the fuel.

Have a look on http://www.ffoc.co.uk.

The mk1.5 (face lift) has the indicators built into the headlights rather than the front bumper... that's the only real big difference.

If looking at the Ghia models check for rust around the chrome tail gate strip.

Erm, really great handling cars... spacious inside... mine was 100% reliable. Bullet proof engines as long as you let them warm up first.

When they were new everything was an option... eg the benefits of a "Ghia" was chrome tail gate strip, chrome door handles, electric up/down drivers seat, wooden plastic dash, slightly softer suspension, varible wiper stalk, and that's pretty much it. (E.g. I had no ABS, which was an option.).

My recommendation would be to get a 5Dr Zetec 1.6, you can pick up an 02 plate low mileage one for your budget.

It's been the best selling car in the UK for like 4 year on the row or something... so you can't go far wrong.

Good luck.

paradigm · 12 Jul 2006 at 16:01

The only thing you'll want to make sure of is that you get one with the "climate pack".

Oakesy2001uk · 12 Jul 2006 at 16:23

the 1.6 engine is fantastic, not too bad on fuel, nice and revvy and quick enough. I had one and really liked it. try and get one of the limited editions if you can, there are loads about spanning the whole life of the car and have nice things like AC and leather etc...

there aint really a lot to watch out for, the cambelt does not need doing untill 100000k miles and they are very reliable, there are loads about so take your pick, dont just buy the first one you see!

HamZilla · 12 Jul 2006 at 16:43

Great advice guys, thanks a lot.

I was getting put off the 1.6 after reading a post saying they are slow but tbh im not expecting hot hatch performance, just something that as feels as revvy or better than the 1.25 zetec.

I'm not feeling the Ghia interior tbh, wood fascia is dire! So will stick with looking for Zetec or collection/limited models.

Are they as easy to service as the Fiestas? I liked to flush and oil change, plugs, air filter, myself on the Fez.

The ffoc site have just come back online today and you now have to pay £20 quid to be able to view and post the forums. :rolleyes:

Morba · 12 Jul 2006 at 16:44

1.6 is a fine engine.
ffoc is now pay access yes. big shame :/

Oakesy2001uk · 12 Jul 2006 at 16:45

My mate has a 1.25 zetec......the focus will definetly feel a lot better!

Goliath · 12 Jul 2006 at 16:58

HamZilla said:
The ffoc site have just come back online today and you now have to pay £20 quid to be able to view and post the forums.

And the users are deserting in droves.

For the price you are looking at there are plenty around, you'll need to check for the following:

Rear wheel bearings - have a tendency to fail at approx 70,000 m. Not a major job to replace them though.

Worn suspension bushes - similar to the above at a similar mileage.

Gearstick return spring - snaps, meaning that the stick doesn't self centre. Ford will charge you £120 to fix it. Actually takes about an hour and the part costs £1.50.

Servicing/insurance - cheap, although unless you are a sucker for main dealer service stamps find an indy specialist. RapidFit are actually pretty good - they are usually bolted onto ford dealers, use ford parts and have ford trained technicians but charge half the price. Insurance on a 1.6 is grp5e, which puts it in the "affordable" category.

Look for a Zetec or an LX with the climate pack and you won't go far wrong. Great cars, fun to drive, spacious and cheap to run.

Oakesy2001uk · 12 Jul 2006 at 17:06

the suspension on the zetecs is stiffer and a little lower to, so if you are a keen driver get the zetec.

Arc · 12 Jul 2006 at 17:45

You might find a 1.6 focus feels a little slow after your 1.25 fiesta. Key word is "feels". Go test drive a range of them to see what you find best (1.6, 1.8 and 2.0). Bar the ST and RS the insurance groups are very reasonsable (8 or less).

Goliath said:
And the users are deserting in droves.

I was a bit shocked to find that when I went to login yesterday, real shame that as it was a good place with lots of information. Any other alternative focus forums that everyone is going to?

Oakesy2001uk · 12 Jul 2006 at 17:58

Arc said:
You might find a 1.6 focus feels a little slow after your 1.25 fiesta. Key word is "feels". Go test drive a range of them to see what you find best (1.6, 1.8 and 2.0). Bar the ST and RS the insurance groups are very reasonsable (8 or less).

I dont think so, my mate has a 1.25 fiesta and up until a month ago I had a 1.6 focus, and his fiesta felt very slow. A seperate friend had a 1.8 focus and he couldent leave me. I found the 1.6 the best engine, to go for, I'll let you make your own decision. I think its something daft like 50kg lighter than the 1.8/2.0 really is a good engine, the kit car boys get 180bhp out of them naturally. (big money though) The 2.0 is a bit quicker but not massive, 1.6 best compromise IMO, certainly chases the red line!

AndyC · 12 Jul 2006 at 19:02

I drove a fair few 1.6's and 1.8's and much prefered the 1.6 it just felt nicer to drive and wanted to rev where as all the 1.8's didn't, I think the 1.4/1.6 and 1.8/2.0 are different series of engine but you need to drive both.

The heated screen is brillant in the winter which comes with air con and eletric mirrors as part of the climate pack.

Mines a MKI 2001 1.6 zetec with climate pack on 58K the only things other than service items were £80 for the speed senser and an alt drive belt in 2 years. (touch wood)

Only slight issues are no abs (which is poor should be standard) and also bogs down when the air con is running and really hits the mpg, small engine I guess.

Pleased with mine all said

Edit: Forgot to add performance is fine, may need to allow a few more revs when building to motorway speed but nothing major.

Puzzled · 12 Jul 2006 at 19:25

I'd say get the 1.8 personally after having an 02 1.6 Chic for a year. I haven't driven a 1.8 though, but I found the 1.6 a real pain to get going.

The focus is a pretty heavy car, and the 1.6 may be fine on your own but once you get a few people in it the performance really drags.

Try a few anyway, you may like the "reviness" of the 1.6. Make sure you try a few quick starts as well, pulling out of annoying junctions scenario as that's what really bugged me.

As said before make sure it has the climate pack, and it's worth checking for ABS as it wasn't standard til later on (02/03 I think).

Arc · 12 Jul 2006 at 20:04

Oakesy2001uk said:
I dont think so, my mate has a 1.25 fiesta and up until a month ago I had a 1.6 focus, and his fiesta felt very slow. A seperate friend had a 1.8 focus and he couldent leave me. I found the 1.6 the best engine, to go for, I'll let you make your own decision.

Theres something like 13 or 14bhp between them so I aint surprised your mate couldnt "leave you". There really isnt a lot of difference in real world terms. Depends though, some people feel that smaller cars are quicker than larger ones, just depends on how you perceive speed and the like.

I've driven a 1.6 diesel focus, rather nice if the usual diesel issues (narrow power band) and a 1.8 petrol focus, a much better all rounder.

Got to say I've had no problems with my focus, ST170, its been as solid as a rock since I owned it.

Robdav · 12 Jul 2006 at 20:39

I drive an 02 1.8 LX focus with climate pack. It's just covered 70k and so far so good. Apart from a mistake at the main dealers with a twisted brake pipe nothing has gone wrong with the car.

Not sure of the MPG but I'm getting about 350 - 370 a tank but then I don't tend to use the loud peddle much. Performance wise the 1.8 is ok, nothing spectacular but it will get you from a to b at a reasonble pace.

quick note on the 1.8. If you find that there is a big flatspot below 2000rpm, change the air intake plastic cover (sits above the radiator) with the one from the automatic. It smooths out the flatspot

Shame about ffoc... :rolleyes:

Kappa · 12 Jul 2006 at 21:31

Arc said:
You might find a 1.6 focus feels a little slow after your 1.25 fiesta. Key word is "feels". Go test drive a range of them to see what you find best (1.6, 1.8 and 2.0).

Yep, it feels like off the mark and in town driving the 1.6 focus doesnt feel that much faster than a 1.25 fiesta, its when you're accellerating past 50 when the focus is a bit better, but still not as good as you would like

1.8 or 2.0 might be a lot better.

Morba · 12 Jul 2006 at 21:33

Arc said:
I was a bit shocked to find that when I went to login yesterday, real shame that as it was a good place with lots of information. Any other alternative focus forums that everyone is going to?

focusowners
passionford

mostly those 2 i think

Ollie's Gadgets · 12 Jul 2006 at 23:20

About to buy a focus zetec myself (in fact the edge model which is a zetec with a few ad ons) and am going through the 1.6 vs 1.8 scenario. My friend has a 1.6 and says it is fine but he would appreciate a bit more ommph at times. So I thought I would go 1.8. But I looked into it and as seveal people have said the 1.8 and 2.0 are different engines to the 1.6. They are in fact from the old escort where as the 1.6 is a newer alloy design. This is why people comment that it revs more freely and returns good mpg of around 40.

So the question is a more powerful 1.8 engine (apparently can return quite low mpg e.g 28 for its size) or a a newer more advanced yet lower powered 1.6.

I have changed my mind and am now after a 1.6. If I was going for extra power I would buy the 2 litre (apparently a lot closer in performance to the st170 then the group rating would imply). The 1.8 is neither economical or powerful so is a comprimise all round.

Like to hear comments from foci owners on this topic.

[TW]Fox · 12 Jul 2006 at 23:24

Just get the 2 litre, the MPG makes no difference really if you are doing under 10k a year.

Ollie's Gadgets · 12 Jul 2006 at 23:50

I know what you mean Fox, well 30mpg compared to 40mpg on 10000 miles is around 300 extra pounds a year plus a bit extra on insurance for me I guess around 150. Myabe extra wear on tyres/brakes and I know the 2 litre has bigger wheels. Don't know costs of these...

So 450ish for extra power of 2litre. So we are not talking huge sums of money but I wouldn't say it is nothing.

But the biggest cost though is the extra price for the car, and there seem to be less of them around (you would have thought that would lower the price as demand was lower for that model originally).

Although i would like the 2 litre, I think at the moment the sensible choice for me is to get a newer 1.6 with low miles and warranty and not have to worry about it through uni.

Fox any thoughts?