Ford Focus C-Max
Discussion
Evening Chap's
I recently purchased a Renault Scenic 1.5DCi (baby mobile) to cart the gf & the little'uns about in.
However the con rod smashed itself & the engine to pieces on 58,000 miles.
Luckily it was bought from a family friends garage & i was refunded!
I'm now looking at a C-Max, 2003 1.8 Petrol with 57,000 on the clock.
My question is that there seems to be mixed reviews on it all over the web, & it tends to be its either s
t or really good.
Does anyone know what i should be looking out for?
& can anyone tell me what the "Zetec" trim means?
Any help is muchly appreciated as i don't have a clue what i'm looking out for as it's a private sale & the last thing i need is to buy a duff car again!
I recently purchased a Renault Scenic 1.5DCi (baby mobile) to cart the gf & the little'uns about in.
However the con rod smashed itself & the engine to pieces on 58,000 miles.
Luckily it was bought from a family friends garage & i was refunded!
I'm now looking at a C-Max, 2003 1.8 Petrol with 57,000 on the clock.
My question is that there seems to be mixed reviews on it all over the web, & it tends to be its either s
t or really good.Does anyone know what i should be looking out for?
& can anyone tell me what the "Zetec" trim means?
Any help is muchly appreciated as i don't have a clue what i'm looking out for as it's a private sale & the last thing i need is to buy a duff car again!
You're in luck. I belive the latest road test felt they are as flexible as a bit of new blu-tack
http://sniffpetrol.com/2011/01/14/flexible-as-a-bl...
Not for the first time today the niggling needle nudges the red paint with an impudent urgency, threatening to plunge fully into its admonishing arc until a precisely timed grab for yet another gear sees it fall like a drowning elephant into the more discreetly dressed hues of the dial’s lower depths.
As this instrumental routine swings on, the flatlands of England pass by in a barely noticeable blur for there is no doubt I am literally dancing through the door marked progress. Take it to the max? No. Today it is time to take it to the C-Max.
Yes, my stoic steed in this balls-forward headbutt on the twisties of the East Midlands is nothing less than Ford’s newest attempt to seduce the procreating peddler. A cursory inspection this a.m. revealed standard seats that can do a flip/fold riff to satisfy even the most demanding dad or multi-purpose mum.
But what really matters is how this baby bus dances when the shifting gets twisty. I’m literally pointing it face first into the blacktop and if it shats its nappy we will know Ford has failed.
As the revometer rides its lonesome curve once more there are certainly no gripes in the grunt department. This 1600cc motor may sip from the black bottle but when talk turns to torque, diesel do nicely. Question is, can the chassis deliver the legs to match those lungs?
First impressions reveal a ride that’s as firm yet flexible as a blob of new Blu-Tack yet despite that roll has no role when a righteous right hander rears its head. Time to see if the grip becomes gristle when I turn it up to ten-tenths.
I pile hot and hard into a series of switchbacks, reading the messages through transparent steering that supplies literally fistfuls of feedback. Still the C-Max doesn’t blink, slicing through every successive corner like a five seater knife. Poking my fingers deeper into the dynamic envelope I dive into a particularly nuggety curve and slam shut the grateful gas tap. All at once the tail steps wide, I catch it with a dab of oppo and I’m away.
The Ford C-Max 1.6 TDCi Zetec is a bh. And I spanked it
I...er... hope this helps!!
http://sniffpetrol.com/2011/01/14/flexible-as-a-bl...
Not for the first time today the niggling needle nudges the red paint with an impudent urgency, threatening to plunge fully into its admonishing arc until a precisely timed grab for yet another gear sees it fall like a drowning elephant into the more discreetly dressed hues of the dial’s lower depths.
As this instrumental routine swings on, the flatlands of England pass by in a barely noticeable blur for there is no doubt I am literally dancing through the door marked progress. Take it to the max? No. Today it is time to take it to the C-Max.
Yes, my stoic steed in this balls-forward headbutt on the twisties of the East Midlands is nothing less than Ford’s newest attempt to seduce the procreating peddler. A cursory inspection this a.m. revealed standard seats that can do a flip/fold riff to satisfy even the most demanding dad or multi-purpose mum.
But what really matters is how this baby bus dances when the shifting gets twisty. I’m literally pointing it face first into the blacktop and if it shats its nappy we will know Ford has failed.
As the revometer rides its lonesome curve once more there are certainly no gripes in the grunt department. This 1600cc motor may sip from the black bottle but when talk turns to torque, diesel do nicely. Question is, can the chassis deliver the legs to match those lungs?
First impressions reveal a ride that’s as firm yet flexible as a blob of new Blu-Tack yet despite that roll has no role when a righteous right hander rears its head. Time to see if the grip becomes gristle when I turn it up to ten-tenths.
I pile hot and hard into a series of switchbacks, reading the messages through transparent steering that supplies literally fistfuls of feedback. Still the C-Max doesn’t blink, slicing through every successive corner like a five seater knife. Poking my fingers deeper into the dynamic envelope I dive into a particularly nuggety curve and slam shut the grateful gas tap. All at once the tail steps wide, I catch it with a dab of oppo and I’m away.
The Ford C-Max 1.6 TDCi Zetec is a b
h. And I spanked itI...er... hope this helps!!
Ok cheers chaps, i've got 2 cars to look at.
Going to see the Ford first, 57K, partial service history, old MOT's, 6 months T&T.
Also going to look at a Meriva, with FSH, 10 months T&T 39k for the same price.
It's replacing my Scenic which mashed itself to pieces so it's ore of a tool than a toy!
Going to see the Ford first, 57K, partial service history, old MOT's, 6 months T&T.
Also going to look at a Meriva, with FSH, 10 months T&T 39k for the same price.
It's replacing my Scenic which mashed itself to pieces so it's ore of a tool than a toy!
Nice motors, not much more room than a normal Focus.
Glad I didn't buy one in the end, think I would have regretted getting a mini MPV at such a young age
I spotted one of those Merivas but it was a VXR version, thought it would be good to go hot hatch hunting, but then I slapped myself and came round!
Glad I didn't buy one in the end, think I would have regretted getting a mini MPV at such a young age
I spotted one of those Merivas but it was a VXR version, thought it would be good to go hot hatch hunting, but then I slapped myself and came round!
Edited by VB on Thursday 17th March 22:30
We just got one for the missus. Nice drive, doesn't feel as depressing as it could be, but isn't massively bigger than a focus but the boot is taller and squarer. Quiet at speed, ok mpg (we got a petrol as it's going to do about 5k per year) but the 1.8d is the engine to get if you can. 1.6 is a bit low powered and the 1.6d and auto are to be avoided.
All in all, no regrets.
All in all, no regrets.
lawrence567 said:
Any thoughts on a 1.6 16v Meriva Design?
Dressed up corsa, really. I had one for a couple of years, I needed something that was cheap, would carry unfeasable amounts of luggage or working gear on the roof bars. It did that perfectly, no problems.Has a bad image, very non-PH, but is good at load lugging or carrying 4 people on the cheap.
I've heard nothing but good reports from the handful of C-max owners I know/have spoken too. As already mentioned, they are only alittle it bigger than a normal focus but the good things is they dont feel much bigger to drive so they are a hoot to drive.
+1 on the 1.8 TDCI aswell. Had that engine in my focus, its suprisingly brisk for 113bhp and I had good returns from a remap. I ragged that thing about for 20k miles over 2 years and it never missed a beat and returned good mpg even with my foot flat to the floor most of the time.
Zetec trim will be mainly body styling, so alloys, spoiler etc and stiffer suspension. Zetec trim and the climate pack is what I would be looking for, air con and heated front screen.
Dont worry about the stiffer suspension ruining the ride either I had it with stiffer springs and 17" alloys with rubber band tyres and it was fine except for the harsh speed bumps around here.
+1 on the 1.8 TDCI aswell. Had that engine in my focus, its suprisingly brisk for 113bhp and I had good returns from a remap. I ragged that thing about for 20k miles over 2 years and it never missed a beat and returned good mpg even with my foot flat to the floor most of the time.
Zetec trim will be mainly body styling, so alloys, spoiler etc and stiffer suspension. Zetec trim and the climate pack is what I would be looking for, air con and heated front screen.
Dont worry about the stiffer suspension ruining the ride either I had it with stiffer springs and 17" alloys with rubber band tyres and it was fine except for the harsh speed bumps around here.
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