Ford Focus help / opinions

[Spare tyre]

I know this is very boring etc...

My other half has had a 1.25 04 plate fiesta for 8 years and it has been a superb car, truly truly brilliant. No major issues, only basic maintenance required. The mileage is getting high now and my parter has taken a job that involves a bit of a commute. We also are considering kids in the near future so I'd like to start considering new cars for her.

Criteria is something she likes the look of
Petrol
Ac
5 door
Simple basic model (less to go tits up)
Heated seats (I dont mind swapping them over from a higher spec model)
Something with a reasonable boot, she's tiny so don't want her struggling getting things shunted around a cramped boot
Factory fitted parking sensors would be good, but I'm happy retro fitting
ISO fix is a bonus
Remote central locking
Budget around 4-5 k

My search has found this motor
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...


Any one know what the 1.6 petrol is like for reliability / maintenance

Any suggestions / views appreciated
Cheers

[Dogwatch]

Had an '04 petrol Focus for 9 years until recently when I changed to an 1.6 2011 petrol (which has comparatively poor visibility IMO). My experience of the 1.6 petrol is that it is fine if you treat it decently - and probably the minimum practical engine size for a Focus. Focus boot will accept grandson's Uppababy buggy with the parcel shelf in place (but not much room for anything else).

Not sure how you are going to to square your requirement for a base model with your spec for a/c, heated seats and parking sensors though!

More threads down in the Ford section of PH.

[Pantherfocus]

I've owned two Focuses (Foci?) and have plenty experience of the 1.6. I do twenty five miles each way to work on mixed urban and motorway and am averaging around 35mpg. No issues with the reliability of the engine, some with brakes, though, and only the bigger engines have discs on the rear so braking power isn't great to begin with. However, the handling is superb, it goes well enough for a commute (although it needs to be pushed to higher revs to make the most of the power it has)and it is exceptionally comfortable. With reference to space, with the seats down I can get a whole bike in or two bikes with the front wheels off.. Mine has a spare, so has reduced boot space. I've been exceptionally happy with mine, but do hanker after more go.

This all said, with reference to your 'basic' requirements, as far as I know heated seats are only possible on Titanium, which is top spec. Air con is on Zetecs up (possibly on lower models as a cost option-I don't profess to be an expert on these), and all Zetecs have trip computers, heated screens, electric mirrors and, in some cases had phone prep, after the 2008 facelift. A truly basic one would be the pre facelift LX.

Anymore questions, do ask, but also look at the reviews on Parkers. They're pretty informative.

ETA that I think that parking sensors were a cost option on Zetecs and lower, plus that one looks suspiciously cheap...

Edited by Pantherfocus on Sunday 15th February 10:23

[Spare tyre]

Brilliant thank you both

I would probably fit the heated seats from a model at the local breakers

Will keep em pealed

That one is indeed cheap, and the picture of the radio has a date from last year on it. So potentially something dodgy when you go to view it

[nipsips]

If you're looking at the 04>07 and 08>11 models then heres my opinions (used to work for a dealer so was in and out of them all day)

1.4 = horrendous. 75ps isnt enough for a car of this size,
1.6 = the ideal mix between performance and economy. Has to be revved but loves it.
1.8 = bit more grunt than the 1.6 but I dont see the point in buying one as it uses the same amount of fuel as the 2.0
2.0 = the one I'd go for. Will still do 45mpg on a run and is reasonably nippy. Mazda derived. Chain driven.

Mimimum spec I would advise is Zetec. LX on the pre-facelift is the equivalent of Style in the facelift. Studio is the basic spec but I think was only available on facelift.

Studio is 15" steels, electric front windows, central locking, thats about it. From memory LX only comes with aircon as an option, or part of a pack, comes with remote locking, 16" steel wheels, CD player - not much else. Style adds spoiler, foglamps and uprated dials.
Zetec adds armrest in the front, 3 spoke leather steering wheel, trip computer, 16" alloy wheels, silver dash trims, air con and front fogs.
Titanium/Ghia are similar and add rear electric windows, wood in the Ghia and a 4 spoke steering wheel, Sony CD player, submarine lights, auto lights and wipers and dimming mirror. Global closing on all windows as well.

Ford were a bit weird with spec - early titaniums had half leather but later ones didnt, earlier one had green dash illumination and later ones had red. The upgraded bits dont tend to give much hassle so I would be going for the car that had what I wanted standard.

Heated seats only came as an option with leather which was available on Zetec, Titanium and Ghia. Climate was an option as was cruise (may have been standard on Ghia)

If it was my money I would be going for a 1.6/2.0 Zetec or Titanium depending on the right car.

Hope this helps!

[Zad]

If it is anything like earlier Fords, then only the high range models have the loom and connectors for heated seats etc. Like many engines (not just Ford), the Focus petrols can be a bit sensitive to oil changes, and I would definitely be looking for a good regular service history.