My Shed Mk1 Focus Ghia
Discussion
greenarrow said:
MC Bodge said:
Triumph Man said:
There was also a "CL" Mk1 Focus, which I think was only available with the 1.4 trim. That must have been miserable.
I had a 1.4CL Mk1 saloon as a fairly long term rental whilst working in Ireland in the early 00's. (presumably the same engine as in our 56 plate Fiesta 1.4)It was quite different to the 2.0 Zetec ESP that I had at home at the time, but the handling was still good, if a little more floaty.
The saloon was an odd looker. Only available in ghia trim when launched. I think it was a better seller in the us though as they tend to prefer the saloon body style to a hatchback.
RobXjcoupe said:
The 2.0 zetec was the big one before the st170 and rs were launched. There were more pre 52 reg as that’s when the st170 became available. The 2.0 zetec and ghia all came with the 5 speed With synchromesh on reverse gear so no crunch.
Mine was an estate. The ESP was primitive compared with later versions.
The 2.0 engine was OK, not great. The exhaust manifold was short, with the catalytic converter mounted very close to the engine.
Better throttle response after I'd done the throttle body bore mod.
Edited by MC Bodge on Wednesday 20th May 13:32
RobXjcoupe said:
When the mk1’s were new they were also cheap to buy compared to its latest version. The 2.0 zetec estate I bought new in 2002 was only £13k and that was with extras of leather and hid headlights.
Half the value was deposit and then 3 years paid it off. Same year I bought the ex mrs a new 52 Corsa and that was similar with half value as deposit ,£150 a month over 3 years and paid for.
I wouldn’t buy brand new again though as depreciation is a killer and nowt to show if a lease with continuous payments.
All my cars are sheds, w reg 1.2 fiesta owned from new, 04 focus estate, 92 rusty Range Rover waiting for repairs, 95 tvr Griff waiting for new alarm and the 77 xj coupe currently nut and bolt restoration. No depreciation left on those now
Similar story, I bought new cars in 1996, 1998 and 2002, last of which was an £18K Audi A3 TDI. Depreciation is awful and even if I had the money I wouldnt buy new again. Our family has 3 sheds, all Ford. My 00 Focus Ghia, Wife's 05 Fiesta ST150 and Daughter's 56 Ka.Half the value was deposit and then 3 years paid it off. Same year I bought the ex mrs a new 52 Corsa and that was similar with half value as deposit ,£150 a month over 3 years and paid for.
I wouldn’t buy brand new again though as depreciation is a killer and nowt to show if a lease with continuous payments.
All my cars are sheds, w reg 1.2 fiesta owned from new, 04 focus estate, 92 rusty Range Rover waiting for repairs, 95 tvr Griff waiting for new alarm and the 77 xj coupe currently nut and bolt restoration. No depreciation left on those now
BTW, has there ever been a better gearchange than the one in the Mk1 Ka. Its much better than the Focus. Off the top of my head I'm not sure I've owned a car with a sweeter gearchange. My NB MX-5 ran it close
greenarrow said:
BTW, has there ever been a better gearchange than the one in the Mk1 Ka. Its much better than the Focus. Off the top of my head I'm not sure I've owned a car with a sweeter gearchange. My NB MX-5 ran it close
A few of my friends have old Mk1/2 Escorts as fun carsI’m always impressed how slick the gearboxes feel even now
I thought they felt better than MX5
I’d have to drive a Ka again to remind myself about the IB5 box though
greenarrow said:
RobXjcoupe said:
When the mk1’s were new they were also cheap to buy compared to its latest version. The 2.0 zetec estate I bought new in 2002 was only £13k and that was with extras of leather and hid headlights.
Half the value was deposit and then 3 years paid it off. Same year I bought the ex mrs a new 52 Corsa and that was similar with half value as deposit ,£150 a month over 3 years and paid for.
I wouldn’t buy brand new again though as depreciation is a killer and nowt to show if a lease with continuous payments.
All my cars are sheds, w reg 1.2 fiesta owned from new, 04 focus estate, 92 rusty Range Rover waiting for repairs, 95 tvr Griff waiting for new alarm and the 77 xj coupe currently nut and bolt restoration. No depreciation left on those now
Similar story, I bought new cars in 1996, 1998 and 2002, last of which was an £18K Audi A3 TDI. Depreciation is awful and even if I had the money I wouldnt buy new again. Our family has 3 sheds, all Ford. My 00 Focus Ghia, Wife's 05 Fiesta ST150 and Daughter's 56 Ka.Half the value was deposit and then 3 years paid it off. Same year I bought the ex mrs a new 52 Corsa and that was similar with half value as deposit ,£150 a month over 3 years and paid for.
I wouldn’t buy brand new again though as depreciation is a killer and nowt to show if a lease with continuous payments.
All my cars are sheds, w reg 1.2 fiesta owned from new, 04 focus estate, 92 rusty Range Rover waiting for repairs, 95 tvr Griff waiting for new alarm and the 77 xj coupe currently nut and bolt restoration. No depreciation left on those now
BTW, has there ever been a better gearchange than the one in the Mk1 Ka. Its much better than the Focus. Off the top of my head I'm not sure I've owned a car with a sweeter gearchange. My NB MX-5 ran it close
A Tamiya Grasshopper!
I like driving the old cars. I don’t want blu tooth apple car play automatic braking and wipers that self active when it rains or lights that turn on if it’s dark. I like to do things myself. When the roads are full of electric cars with governed speed according to the road limit I’ll be plodding along in one of my oldies with no computer assistance ( other than engine fueling and timing) using my common sense to drive appropriate to the road conditions.
The old jag I’m building I asked my regular mot man if he could set my carbs using his emissions tester and I could of been talking to myself. He said it just tests it doesn’t adjust and I said that’s right you pop the bonnet and adjust the mixture screw but balance the 3 carbs as you do. Nope he didn’t have a scooby doo.
Rant over lol stepping off my soap box now
Triumph Man said:
There was also a "CL" Mk1 Focus, which I think was only available with the 1.4 engine. That must have been miserable.
My mum had a Mk1.5 1.6 Ghia, and it was an incredibly sweet handling car.
Australia got the CL - Either in 1.8 (manual) or the 2.0 (auto). No ABS, windy windows, plastic wheel trims. Still sold reasonably well despite the lack of kit...My mum had a Mk1.5 1.6 Ghia, and it was an incredibly sweet handling car.
Edited by Triumph Man on Wednesday 20th May 09:26
Our order went:
CL
LX
Zetec
Ghia
ST170
RobXjcoupe said:
I think with Ford, the sweet years were 98-02 the cars they made were cheap to buy and service, had good reliability and decent styling. Now the current Ford range is over priced for the brand trying to muscle in on lower end bmw and Jaguar. The emissions debacle caused by VW/Audi has killed any chance of keeping future internal combustion engines with governments pushing electric vehicles. To me an electric car is pictured below
A Tamiya Grasshopper!
I like driving the old cars. I don’t want blu tooth apple car play automatic braking and wipers that self active when it rains or lights that turn on if it’s dark. I like to do things myself. When the roads are full of electric cars with governed speed according to the road limit I’ll be plodding along in one of my oldies with no computer assistance ( other than engine fueling and timing) using my common sense to drive appropriate to the road conditions.
The old jag I’m building I asked my regular mot man if he could set my carbs using his emissions tester and I could of been talking to myself. He said it just tests it doesn’t adjust and I said that’s right you pop the bonnet and adjust the mixture screw but balance the 3 carbs as you do. Nope he didn’t have a scooby doo.
Rant over lol stepping off my soap box now
Yes the late 90s, early 2000s, Ford were very good. The Focus Mk1 and Ka Mk1 both feature very high up in the "Reliability Index",. I think the Focus may even be in the top 20. Then we had the proliferation of diesels and with it Ford's reliability went down a bit as the TDCIs had their issues. Also that was the era when Richard Parry-Jones was in charge and ever car signed off then topped its class for handling.A Tamiya Grasshopper!
I like driving the old cars. I don’t want blu tooth apple car play automatic braking and wipers that self active when it rains or lights that turn on if it’s dark. I like to do things myself. When the roads are full of electric cars with governed speed according to the road limit I’ll be plodding along in one of my oldies with no computer assistance ( other than engine fueling and timing) using my common sense to drive appropriate to the road conditions.
The old jag I’m building I asked my regular mot man if he could set my carbs using his emissions tester and I could of been talking to myself. He said it just tests it doesn’t adjust and I said that’s right you pop the bonnet and adjust the mixture screw but balance the 3 carbs as you do. Nope he didn’t have a scooby doo.
Rant over lol stepping off my soap box now
Still think Fords are good to drive, but don't like the horror stories attached to the ecoboost and their reliability these days seems to be mid table or a little better at best.
As for electric car, like you I am not making the jump, at least not yet. I think I will stick to driving around in my old Fords for a while. The lane departure warning and anti-collision alarm btw, drove me nuts on the Mk4 Focus I had as a hire car last year. It was almost a relief to get back into a Mk1 Focus where you do everything yourself!!
Another beautiful morning so took a drive out from my house to Lyndhurst, Hampshire... home of one of my favourite car showrooms, Meridien Modena, my local Ferrari and Maserati dealer.
Took a pic of Shed in front of showroom of £100K + Cars for contrast. You could buy 300 of mine for 1 of any of the Ferraris in that showroom.
Personally, I am quite a fan of the Maserati Gran Turismo and also the Audi R8, which to this day remains the only "super-car" I have driven ( I drove a Mk1 V8 around Thruxton).
Driving back through the New Forest on the A35 ( I am so blessed with so many great local driving roads!) I noticed how the rear end of the car was being caught out from time to time over compressions and bumps at speed. I suspect the very old and what appear to be very hard Firestones may be the culprit here. If I keep the car much longer, I may treat it to a paid of rear tyres. I can get 2 x Avon for around £100, so not exactly expensive. I've checked both rear springs and they are fine and there are no advisories for bushes or shocks so I think the tyres are the cuplrit.
This time last year, I was running a Vauxhall Insignia and the rear tyres blistered, making them very hard. It was only when I got my new back tyres on the car that I realised how much the ride and body control had been hampered by these bad tyres!
Filled car up with 99.9P a litre unleaded. Anyone know the last time petrol was under £1 a gallon?
Took a pic of Shed in front of showroom of £100K + Cars for contrast. You could buy 300 of mine for 1 of any of the Ferraris in that showroom.
Personally, I am quite a fan of the Maserati Gran Turismo and also the Audi R8, which to this day remains the only "super-car" I have driven ( I drove a Mk1 V8 around Thruxton).
Driving back through the New Forest on the A35 ( I am so blessed with so many great local driving roads!) I noticed how the rear end of the car was being caught out from time to time over compressions and bumps at speed. I suspect the very old and what appear to be very hard Firestones may be the culprit here. If I keep the car much longer, I may treat it to a paid of rear tyres. I can get 2 x Avon for around £100, so not exactly expensive. I've checked both rear springs and they are fine and there are no advisories for bushes or shocks so I think the tyres are the cuplrit.
This time last year, I was running a Vauxhall Insignia and the rear tyres blistered, making them very hard. It was only when I got my new back tyres on the car that I realised how much the ride and body control had been hampered by these bad tyres!
Filled car up with 99.9P a litre unleaded. Anyone know the last time petrol was under £1 a gallon?
Edited by greenarrow on Tuesday 26th May 09:32
Yep, cheap petrol certainly has it's advantages at the moment.
A new set of decent tyres is usually one of the first purchases I make, for a used car. It's the best value upgrade you can make, to just about every dynamic aspect of the car - especially a nicely balanced one such as this. Avon's work well and are pretty cost effective.
A new set of decent tyres is usually one of the first purchases I make, for a used car. It's the best value upgrade you can make, to just about every dynamic aspect of the car - especially a nicely balanced one such as this. Avon's work well and are pretty cost effective.
CousinDupree said:
Yep, cheap petrol certainly has it's advantages at the moment.
A new set of decent tyres is usually one of the first purchases I make, for a used car. It's the best value upgrade you can make, to just about every dynamic aspect of the car - especially a nicely balanced one such as this. Avon's work well and are pretty cost effective.
Yes I agree, its the cheapest way to improve a car, especially one where the tyres are so cheap. I've got Kumho Ecowings on the front which are in and out of stock on Blackcircles and although they've improved now, the wet lateral grip was poor when they were first fitted. I've only realised how poor, now we have some dry roads and there is so much more cornering speed available than there was for much of last winter!! So having read good things about the new Avon ZT7 (which are not an eco tyre), I thought I would get a pair and stick them on the back. A new set of decent tyres is usually one of the first purchases I make, for a used car. It's the best value upgrade you can make, to just about every dynamic aspect of the car - especially a nicely balanced one such as this. Avon's work well and are pretty cost effective.
Eyersey1234 said:
Petrol was under £1 a litre in the summer of 2009.
I remember those days, I started using my 3.0 V6 to commute to work, was cheaper and easier than the train.Later on it became similar but only because train fares would increases steeply each year.
Drove a Mk1 Ford KA the other day, both that and the Focus mk1 seemed to have aged in looks really well, and stood the test of time regarding reliability and drive.
The Focus dash was quite daring but paid of I think.
V6todayEVmanana said:
I remember those days, I started using my 3.0 V6 to commute to work, was cheaper and easier than the train.
Later on it became similar but only because train fares would increases steeply each year.
Drove a Mk1 Ford KA the other day, both that and the Focus mk1 seemed to have aged in looks really well, and stood the test of time regarding reliability and drive.
The Focus dash was quite daring but paid of I think.
I drive my daughter's Ford Ka Mk1 every week and it is a joy to drive. Soft pillowy ride, the sweetest gear change of any car I've tried and the very good at changing direction. Its a shame they rust so badly as to my mind, the Mk1 Ka is in many ways the true successor to the original Mini.Later on it became similar but only because train fares would increases steeply each year.
Drove a Mk1 Ford KA the other day, both that and the Focus mk1 seemed to have aged in looks really well, and stood the test of time regarding reliability and drive.
The Focus dash was quite daring but paid of I think.
greenarrow said:
V6todayEVmanana said:
I remember those days, I started using my 3.0 V6 to commute to work, was cheaper and easier than the train.
Later on it became similar but only because train fares would increases steeply each year.
Drove a Mk1 Ford KA the other day, both that and the Focus mk1 seemed to have aged in looks really well, and stood the test of time regarding reliability and drive.
The Focus dash was quite daring but paid of I think.
I drive my daughter's Ford Ka Mk1 every week and it is a joy to drive. Soft pillowy ride, the sweetest gear change of any car I've tried and the very good at changing direction. Its a shame they rust so badly as to my mind, the Mk1 Ka is in many ways the true successor to the original Mini.Later on it became similar but only because train fares would increases steeply each year.
Drove a Mk1 Ford KA the other day, both that and the Focus mk1 seemed to have aged in looks really well, and stood the test of time regarding reliability and drive.
The Focus dash was quite daring but paid of I think.
RobXjcoupe said:
I think the idea was to design a suitable mini esk car but obviously as a Ford. The convertible version streetka was a good car. If you google ford streetka prototype and look at that car it’s really good. It was built using Ford racing Puma front and rear axles and with its 150bhp engine. The interior is something that should have made production but was changed as it was too manly with sales aimed at the fairer sex. )
Hope its okay to leave these here, Ford Concept Ka interior
RobXjcoupe said:
I think the idea was to design a suitable mini esk car but obviously as a Ford. The convertible version streetka was a good car. If you google ford streetka prototype and look at that car it’s really good. It was built using Ford racing Puma front and rear axles and with its 150bhp engine. The interior is something that should have made production but was changed as it was too manly with sales aimed at the fairer sex. Even so, they drive remarkably well. I bought the ex a new one on a 55 plate. Had red leather with silver body. I think I drove it more than she ever did. I’ve been thinking of buying one as they are cheap now and making it a bit more sporty
The streetka still looks good all these years later. The one that appeals to me more is the Sportka. A bit of a go-kart by all accounts but sadly saddled with an anaemic 1.6 litre engine. Such a shame they didn't drop either the 1.7 Puma or the normal 1.6 Zetec engine from the Focus into it. There's a lap on you Tube somewhere with Tiff Needell chucking one round the old Anglesey circuit. His lap time was remarkable in that it was only 1 second slower than the time he set there in a Seat Leon Cupra R, not bad for 94 BHP!greenarrow said:
RobXjcoupe said:
I think the idea was to design a suitable mini esk car but obviously as a Ford. The convertible version streetka was a good car. If you google ford streetka prototype and look at that car it’s really good. It was built using Ford racing Puma front and rear axles and with its 150bhp engine. The interior is something that should have made production but was changed as it was too manly with sales aimed at the fairer sex. Even so, they drive remarkably well. I bought the ex a new one on a 55 plate. Had red leather with silver body. I think I drove it more than she ever did. I’ve been thinking of buying one as they are cheap now and making it a bit more sporty
The streetka still looks good all these years later. The one that appeals to me more is the Sportka. A bit of a go-kart by all accounts but sadly saddled with an anaemic 1.6 litre engine. Such a shame they didn't drop either the 1.7 Puma or the normal 1.6 Zetec engine from the Focus into it. There's a lap on you Tube somewhere with Tiff Needell chucking one round the old Anglesey circuit. His lap time was remarkable in that it was only 1 second slower than the time he set there in a Seat Leon Cupra R, not bad for 94 BHP!Those 1.7 Puma engines were all special build and Puma production had finished by then. The prototype was built in Dunton and I remember the engineers popping into the toolroom asking the process to modify the bonnet to make a panel to fit the boot on the streetka.
V6todayEVmanana said:
RobXjcoupe said:
I think the idea was to design a suitable mini esk car but obviously as a Ford. The convertible version streetka was a good car. If you google ford streetka prototype and look at that car it’s really good. It was built using Ford racing Puma front and rear axles and with its 150bhp engine. The interior is something that should have made production but was changed as it was too manly with sales aimed at the fairer sex. )
Hope its okay to leave these here, Ford Concept Ka interiorGassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff