New Ford Focus

[widepants]

Been having a wander round the showroom today and have decided thats what I would like.Does anyone have any experiance of the latest model and whats the best engine to get .Cheers

[DJ123]

Nope, except i have had the MK1 and MK2 version. In regards to the engine i would say to test drive a variety, from the 1 litre eco boost through to a 2.0tdci and find which one suits you best.

[widepants]

the problem with a test dreive though , is its not long enough.
I have an SRI diesel astra at the moment which felt fine on the test.In real life the power band is so narrow its horrid to drive.If you come to a give way with anything more that 2 kids in the back ,then putting it into second to scoot away will leave the engine bogging down.

[DJ123]

then request longer test drives, the fact your serious about getting one means it won't be a waste of time for you or them.
Create your own test drive route on a route you drive regular, to see how it performs. Take the kids if you can and make it a 'real life' drive.

[widepants]

this could turn into a squirrel hunter type , car test thread

[Wildkid]

Buy an Audi *cough*

[DJ123]

this could turn into a squirrel hunter type , car test thread
Well maybe not to that extent, you seem to be interested in buying the car ;)

Buy an Audi *cough*

:lol: have you compared the price of the cars????

[Teejayexc]

Been having a wander round the showroom today and have decided thats what I would like.Does anyone have any experiance of the latest model and whats the best engine to get .Cheers


Buy the triple ;)

[Wildkid]

Well maybe not to that extent, you seem to be interested in buying the car ;)



:lol: have you compared the price of the cars????

I could get you discount ;)

[savage86]

Have you thought about the seat leon better car imo. Basically a golf but better looking and cheaper.

[embee]

Possibly of help, What Car? run the J.D.Power owners' surveys, the 2011 results for that sector are
http://www.whatcar.com/NonCar/Skoda/23511112541.jpg

and the 2012 Dealer satisfaction ratings are
http://www.whatcar.com/NonCar/AC/2381212112914.jpg

[Bibio]

the new KIA cee'd is supposed to be good.

i had a loan of the new focus and would not touch one with a barge pole. horrible car to drive and i felt closterfobic in it.

[widepants]

thanks bibs , someone who has had direct contact with one , and the jd power report doesnt look good.

[Bibio]

i'll admit one of the things i did like was the keyless entry and start. very cool, card in pocket walk up to the car and the doors opened. open door sit in the car press the button and away you go. don't know if it was because of the stop/start but the clutch was horrid and like most cars these days the rolling pull was crap. for instance approaching a roundabout and it's clear to go so you select 2nd/3rd gear foot down and nowt till it got going. my c-max suffers from the exact same thing.

one car i was impressed with is the Fiat Punto, fantastic little car but has a tiny boot.

[Sir Trev]

I have the current shape Focus with the 1.6 Ti-VCT non-turbo unit (now discontinued). The car is excellent to drive, comfy and just the size/cost I wanted. BUT - the engine has very little pull at low revs if you're in a hilly area - I find I hold lower gears longer to compensate but it is a bit irritating and not so good for economy. Speaking of which I get 40mpg if I'm lucky, not 47 per the brochure!

The 1.6 turbo is a much better engine but was almost two grand more when I went to buy a 6-12 month one earlier this year. Wish I'd saved up a bit more now. My Titanium spec is not bad - cruise and climate, electric/automatic bits and all that. I know the new 1.0 turbo triple has the same 125ps as my old-tech 1.6 (and more torque) but the old phrase of "no replacement for displacement" does not make me warm to them.

Cannot comment on the diseasals.

[DJ123]

TBH ignore surveys like that, they are an average of everything and of opinions from people with different standards.
Best to go see a car yourself and decide if it is for you or not.

[savage86]

TBH ignore surveys like that, they are an average of everything and of opinions from people with different standards.
Best to go see a car yourself and decide if it is for you or not.

Yeah i mean the skoda got a 5star for performance! How many people could really rate a car properly beyond yeah it goes and didn't brake down! Try and get 24hr test drives.

[embee]

Just a note on the J D Power survey, hopefully put it into context.

I've worked in the motor industry (car/engine manufacturing) and the J D Power survey is the one survey which carries some weight. It started in the USA I believe, where they are big on consumer rights (Lemon Law/Ralph Nader etc).

It's a very big survey, so statistically significant, and covers all aspects of "ownership", a proper customer satisfaction rating. Very few people are really interested in cars, they just want it to work how they expect it to, and that's pretty much the measure of the results. Hence you have to put the results in context, what someone who runs a Fiesta expects from it is different to what a Ferrari owner expects, so different standards apply.

Where it is of use is that it gives a measure of how people who are of a mind to own/run a certain type of car, actually find it to live with. If you choose a car at the top of the ratings, you'll probably be unlucky to be disappointed, conversely if you choose one from the bottom don't be surprised if there are issues. That's it really. Fortunately there are very few real "lemons" out there nowadays, just that some cars are "more equal" than others.

In the end we all make choices, and the fact that someone asks for opinions/views/experiences shows that they are prepared to consider comments, so surveys have a place. They're not gospel, just another tool.

HTH

[Sir Trev]

Thread resurrection alert.

Bit of a follow up. My 61 plate 1.6 petrol Focus just gets worse and worse. In the cold it just will not rev and the economy is going down and down. Replaced the air filter and cleaning the mass airflow sensor got me a little bit of flexibility back but I bit the bullet at the weekend and tried then bought a 1.6 petrol turbo instead. Lots of low mileage 1.6 Ti-VCT engined ones on the market right now and I'm not surprised. Avoid!

Still find the car comfy, well equipped and very nice to drive but roll on next week when I can swap it for one that actually goes when you step on the loud pedal.

[BanannaMan]

Question:
How long to you plan to keep the car?

Even cheapies like Hyundai's and Kia's are great cars till they get 100k on them.

If you're looking long term, maintenance/repair costs on VW, BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Volvo's will do them in.
Still they are popular cars, and nice ones at that, just be prepared to pay a little more when it goes to the shop.

Can't beat Honda or Toyota's for long term durability and fair maintenance costs but be prepared to pay a bit more for the purchase.

For the cost, I think the Ford Focus is a good deal.
Can't comment on the motor, a 2.0L Ti-VCT direct-injection I-4 engine is the only thing offered here.

[Biker Biggles]

Does the new Focus still eat front anti roll bars like they are Mars bars?A relative has one and these need replacement every other year.

[Sir Trev]

For the cost, I think the Ford Focus is a good deal.
Can't comment on the motor, a 2.0L Ti-VCT direct-injection I-4 engine is the only thing offered here.

The two litre Ti-VCT is (I think) only available in North America - most regions have the 1.6 version as I mistakenly purchased. Lots of people on various forums all grumbling about lack of torque when the temperature drops. The 2.0 may have a bit more oomph but I can't be bothered to look up the spec sheet.

When I replace the family car (currently happy with my '06 Mundaneo) I will consider something Japanese. Currently wavering between Mazda 6 and Toyota Avensis but it depends on what engines they have in them by then.

Must stop buying cars with my accountant's head on!

[Jabba]

I really like my Mazda 6 (2.0litre TDI, 143bhp, '07 reg) but am equally impressed with Mrs Jabba's Skoda Roomster. Does what is asked of it and what we bought it for, dealers are excellent, cheap to run (fuel, servicing and insurance) - I can see why Skuds do well in the JDPower surveys.

Has the OP looked at a Skoda Rapid?

[Viney]

I had a go in one of the new 1.0 focus thingies yesterday. That was a little suprising. Torque is a little low(Compared to my BM123D), but for such a small engine in a big car, its quite pokey, if a little buzzy. I still love the handling on the Focus and is still whey above other Marques of the same size and illk

[Sir Trev]

Torque is a little low(Compared to my BM123D)

Really? A two litre, 200bhp diseasal has more torque than a 1.0 three cylinder, 125horse petrol??? [/saracsm_mode]. (sorry).

According to Parkers specs pages the Beemer has 400Nm of torque and the 1.0 Ford Ecoboost has 200Nm. That 200 is still way better than the 159 in the 1.6 non-turbo dogmobile, and I'm still looking forward to picking up the 240Nm 1.6 turbo next week.

[Sir Trev]

I now have a Focus that can actually go up hills and overtake things without ten minutes planning. Hoorah!

This one has the 17in wheels which are slightly quieter and seem more planted than the 16in ones on the traded-in dogmobile.

Shame the M25 did it's car park impression on the way home from the dealer last night but at least it gave me time to put my own stations into the radio...

[Jdubya]

I have the Focus 1.0l 125PS Ecoboost and it is a surprising little car. For everyday stop-start type driving it is incredibly fuel efficient. My missus uses the car to drive to east London and back from Kent every day and she loves it. I've driven it over long distances on motorways etc. and it is good but not very efficient above speed limits being as it's only a small petrol engine.

There is no difference in punch from this engine than from my old 1.6 diesel bluemotion golf. The only difference I suppose would be with the amount of torque available when doing overtakes on inclines in 5th or 6th gear.

I would suggest you take it out on a test and try and mimic daily conditions as much as possible. If you call them and tell them that you would like a longer, real world test then I'm sure they would try and accommodate your request. If not, then take your business to a different dealer.

[ravingdavis]

I've just been through the whole car buying process and one of the cars I drove was the 1.0 125ps Ford Focus, I was a surprising good car, interior felt decent enough and general build quality felt good. Definitely felt like it would last a few years of decent use. Engine wasn't really up to much on the motorway but would be completely ideal for town or city use with the occasional jaunt on the motorway. I wound up buying the new Merc A Class.

[otaylor38]

I had a go in one of the new 1.0 focus thingies yesterday. That was a little suprising. Torque is a little low(Compared to my BM123D), but for such a small engine in a big car, its quite pokey, if a little buzzy. I still love the handling on the Focus and is still whey above other Marques of the same size and illk

A petrol engines torque will always be low compared to a diesels. Nevermind the it being twice the size haha. Diesels just lack the character i find (n).

My grandad was looking at having a fiesta not so long ago. Looking through the engines, i couldnt see much of a difference between the little 1.0 and the 1.6 and couldnt see too much of a difference tbh.

Glad you like the new car though. Bigger alloys and lower profile tyres make a difference at high speed dont they.

Cheers

[Jdubya]

... Bigger alloys and lower profile tyres make a difference at high speed dont they...

Certainly makes a difference to the MPG I imagine ;)