Is the Mk 1 Focus becoming a classic?

[mercedeslimos]

Our '99 TDDi estate cockroach was finally killed by horrendously rotten rear chassis legs inside the rear arches (how the tester hadn't spotted them for years is beyond me), got replaced by a 2005 Rover 75 Tourer CDT. 3 years on still going well.

[checkmate91]

I had a 3-door zetec S 2.0 from new in June 2000. Ran it for 5 years and 115,000 miles. Traded it for a used ST170 (lovely car apart from the variable-length inlet motor which failed) and then in 2007 for a new mk2 ST on which I had the Mountune MP260 fitted. I traded that for a new 2009 mk2 Focus RS which I still have, at139,000 miles and MR420.

Edited by checkmate91 on Saturday 15th February 09:42

[dogbucket]

VR99 said:

Rebumping this thread....I'm curious to know for anyone who owned a MK1 focus for a few years what did you replace it with? As I have no idea what to get next (will need to be a 4/5 door)
I've had my 3 door mk1 for 10 years now, my do-it all car for everything and I really don't want to end up with something that's nicer to sit in but ultimately drives and handles crap, lifeless etc
Mazda 3, Focus mk2, Leon or Volvo S40 spring to mind (prefer n/a to turbo but willing to be converted).

We have run a 2001 1.6LX Focus for 10 years. Now showing 155K with the original clutch. It has cost very little over the years but feels a bit tired and the instrument cluster has now completely failed so have decided to retire it as the wife has lost faith in it. I certainly enjoyed driving it when it was younger, less so these days tbh.

Picking up a Focus mk2.5 1.8 Zetec tomorrow as the replacement. I have no idea on the relative handling between the two as it was a mission to just find one that was not already completely trashed. I am expecting more refined and Golf like, perhaps the zing of the original has been lost. Will have to see.

[FK]

dogbucket said:

We have run a 2001 1.6LX Focus for 10 years. Now showing 155K with the original clutch. It has cost very little over the years but feels a bit tired and the instrument cluster has now completely failed so have decided to retire it as the wife has lost faith in it. I certainly enjoyed driving it when it was younger, less so these days tbh.

Picking up a Focus mk2.5 1.8 Zetec tomorrow as the replacement. I have no idea on the relative handling between the two as it was a mission to just find one that was not already completely trashed. I am expecting more refined and Golf like, perhaps the zing of the original has been lost. Will have to see.

I would be very interested to find out how the mk2.5 drives in relation to the mk1 that you had. I (as soon as we are allowed to buy cars again) will very likely be looking to change to a mk2.5 2.0 petrol (if my mk1.5 starts to give up). I don't really like the Mk3 and the current Focus is still a little too pricey for me at this stage.

[ssray]

I have just joined mk1 focus ownership 1.8tdci, it wad£210 on evilbay, 88k literally everything I would be concerned about has been replaced as the guy was going to keep it, it had a small crunch, front wing and headlight damage, so far it has cost me £255 including the purchase price, I'm going to fit a new slam panel as the old one makes the headlight a little high.
Coming from a 206 1.4hdi it handles soooo very much better, love it

[greenarrow]

FK said:

dogbucket said:

We have run a 2001 1.6LX Focus for 10 years. Now showing 155K with the original clutch. It has cost very little over the years but feels a bit tired and the instrument cluster has now completely failed so have decided to retire it as the wife has lost faith in it. I certainly enjoyed driving it when it was younger, less so these days tbh.

Picking up a Focus mk2.5 1.8 Zetec tomorrow as the replacement. I have no idea on the relative handling between the two as it was a mission to just find one that was not already completely trashed. I am expecting more refined and Golf like, perhaps the zing of the original has been lost. Will have to see.

I would be very interested to find out how the mk2.5 drives in relation to the mk1 that you had. I (as soon as we are allowed to buy cars again) will very likely be looking to change to a mk2.5 2.0 petrol (if my mk1.5 starts to give up). I don't really like the Mk3 and the current Focus is still a little too pricey for me at this stage.

Yes I'd be interested to know too. I did drive a couple of Mk2s years ago, but cant remember that well. I seem to recall the steering was lovely and direct, beating hands down the Civic I-CDTI. Leon TDI Reference Sport and Astra 1.9 CDTI I also test drove at the same time and the handling and ride was fluid, but I don't think the car quite had that chuckable darty feeling of the Mk1. Nothing really in the small family car bracket does however......a back to back comparison would be great though.

[Eyersey1234]

Never driven a Mk1 so can't compare but am running a Mk2 and think it's great, nice to drive and has proved to be very dependable.