My Shed Mk1 Focus Ghia
Discussion
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!Owned and driven Mk1 Ka's, sportka and streetka! All handle well but get even better with more power. The standard sportka gearbox is comically short geared but that makes it a laugh on back roads. Zetec engines from the Focus' fit with modification only to the engine mount on the driver's side. I ran a Fiesta RS Turbo engine in one Ka - did that conversion myself, and also bought a Puma engined Ka. I knew someone at the time with a tuned Focus RS engine in his Ka. It felt like warp speed with 250bhp. Very much fun and the chassis could seemingly handle it no problem 
s m said:
In a case of never meet your heroes, it was pretty much the same time as the E30 M3 as well he wellied round there too!
.............and a creaking, rolling Integrale was only 0.2 secs ahead of the BMW too! In the case of the BMW it just shows that sideways isn't usually the fastest way to set a lap! The little Sportka must have been VERY tidy through the corners by comparison!RobXjcoupe said:
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 interior
Gallons Per Mile said:
Owned and driven Mk1 Ka's, sportka and streetka! All handle well but get even better with more power. The standard sportka gearbox is comically short geared but that makes it a laugh on back roads. Zetec engines from the Focus' fit with modification only to the engine mount on the driver's side. I ran a Fiesta RS Turbo engine in one Ka - did that conversion myself, and also bought a Puma engined Ka. I knew someone at the time with a tuned Focus RS engine in his Ka. It felt like warp speed with 250bhp. Very much fun and the chassis could seemingly handle it no problem
Reminds me of this one
Goes well with 300bhp
thebigmacmoomin said:
RobXjcoupe said:
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 interiorA 4 door version was looked at briefly but it would possibly have interfered with fiesta sales
Looks like my thread has now been hijacked and turned into a modified Ford Ka Mk1 appreciation blog!!
I need to do something with my Focus to report back and get this thread back on the road!
Ford Ka Mk1 and Ford Focus Mk1. Two of Fords greatest designs of the past 30 years. Shame they seem to have lost their way ever so slightly since. Where is the successor to the Mk1 Ka? Not the current overweight bland Mk3 thats for sure. The Fiesta is still good but any Focus other than an ST/ST Line has a face only a mother could love. The Mondeo is nearly dead and the Puma (perhaps Ford's greatest driving car of all from the 1990s ) is now a somewhat ungainly looking Crossover.
Come on Ford, where are the successors to these great cars you built in the 1990s?! I am talking about fun bread and butter cars, not ST models.........
I need to do something with my Focus to report back and get this thread back on the road!
Ford Ka Mk1 and Ford Focus Mk1. Two of Fords greatest designs of the past 30 years. Shame they seem to have lost their way ever so slightly since. Where is the successor to the Mk1 Ka? Not the current overweight bland Mk3 thats for sure. The Fiesta is still good but any Focus other than an ST/ST Line has a face only a mother could love. The Mondeo is nearly dead and the Puma (perhaps Ford's greatest driving car of all from the 1990s ) is now a somewhat ungainly looking Crossover.
Come on Ford, where are the successors to these great cars you built in the 1990s?! I am talking about fun bread and butter cars, not ST models.........
Edited by greenarrow on Thursday 28th May 08:36
Eyersey1234 said:
Gallons Per Mile said:
greenarrow said:
Looks like my thread has now been hijacked and turned into a modified Ford Ka Mk1 appreciation blog!!
Sorry about that! 
I do agree, the Mk1 Ka, Focus and Puma were a real high point for Ford.
I had a few vauxhall Astra’s of Mk2 variety when I first started driving. Being a Ford apprentice the looks I used to get lol but the vauxhall had a more powerful engine than its ford escort equivalent. The Astra from standard never held the road like the Ford though. I had an 89 Astra estate Mk2 up until it was replaced with a new 02 mk1 focus estate.
The above was crunched up when a Land Rover hit the front at the side and bent it at 30 degrees. No fixing that unfortunately so went for a focus. I’ve previously posted the picture. The black one on the big wheels.
The silver one I currently have needs new springs for its next mot. I’ve got a set of sports springs and dampers for it but whilst doing that I will probably fit new suspension parts with new bushes as the mot man I use is obsessed with deteriorating rubber bushes as an advisory on every car I’ve had him mot.
The above was crunched up when a Land Rover hit the front at the side and bent it at 30 degrees. No fixing that unfortunately so went for a focus. I’ve previously posted the picture. The black one on the big wheels.
The silver one I currently have needs new springs for its next mot. I’ve got a set of sports springs and dampers for it but whilst doing that I will probably fit new suspension parts with new bushes as the mot man I use is obsessed with deteriorating rubber bushes as an advisory on every car I’ve had him mot.
RobXjcoupe said:
I had a few vauxhall Astra’s of Mk2 variety when I first started driving. Being a Ford apprentice the looks I used to get lol but the vauxhall had a more powerful engine than its ford escort equivalent. The Astra from standard never held the road like the Ford though. I had an 89 Astra estate Mk2 up until it was replaced with a new 02 mk1 focus estate.
The above was crunched up when a Land Rover hit the front at the side and bent it at 30 degrees. No fixing that unfortunately so went for a focus. I’ve previously posted the picture. The black one on the big wheels.
The silver one I currently have needs new springs for its next mot. I’ve got a set of sports springs and dampers for it but whilst doing that I will probably fit new suspension parts with new bushes as the mot man I use is obsessed with deteriorating rubber bushes as an advisory on every car I’ve had him mot.
That reminds me that my cousin had an Astra GTE Mk2 in 1990 which he allowed me to drive and it was the first car I got to drive at over 100MPH. I loved that car as a 21 year old and liked it more than the XR3i Mk4 he replaced it with. The Astra had the better engine by far, but the XR3i was better in the bends. It seems to have been a common theme over the years, Vauxhalls with decent engines, Fords with the better chassis.... The above was crunched up when a Land Rover hit the front at the side and bent it at 30 degrees. No fixing that unfortunately so went for a focus. I’ve previously posted the picture. The black one on the big wheels.
The silver one I currently have needs new springs for its next mot. I’ve got a set of sports springs and dampers for it but whilst doing that I will probably fit new suspension parts with new bushes as the mot man I use is obsessed with deteriorating rubber bushes as an advisory on every car I’ve had him mot.
The old man has always had Vauxhall’s which obviously wore off onto me for when I first started driving. Nothing flash but always sung their praises engine wise. I had a base spec 1.2 ohv Mk2 Astra at 17, upgraded that to a 1.8i Mk2 GTE at 18 then bought my best one at 21 a lovely 2.0 16v GTE. That one I sorted the handling issues and only a Sierra cosworth at the time was quicker. I thought anyway. Then Vauxhall brought out the turbo Cav’s and Calibras. Another thread for that lot I think lol
Above my last Mk2 Astra. The 2.0 16v GTE
Above my last Mk2 Astra. The 2.0 16v GTE
RobXjcoupe said:
The old man has always had Vauxhall’s which obviously wore off onto me for when I first started driving. Nothing flash but always sung their praises engine wise. I had a base spec 1.2 ohv Mk2 Astra at 17, upgraded that to a 1.8i Mk2 GTE at 18 then bought my best one at 21 a lovely 2.0 16v GTE. That one I sorted the handling issues and only a Sierra cosworth at the time was quicker. I thought anyway. Then Vauxhall brought out the turbo Cav’s and Calibras. Another thread for that lot I think lol
Above my last Mk2 Astra. The 2.0 16v GTE
Brilliant Above my last Mk2 Astra. The 2.0 16v GTE
At the risk of hijacking GA’s thread temporarily, I also loved my Astra 16v
Euro spec Kadett 16v tyre sizes and a decent make ( F1 GSD ) and sorting out the geo meant it handled brilliantly
They were indecently quick and so fun to drive - such a characterful engine which was great on fuel. I had a Saxo VTS as well at the same time and it was great to compare journey times for some of my drives. Waxoyled it heavily and it still survives to this day albeit with a different owner. Really miss owning it.
Anyway, I guess we’re losing ‘focus’ here
s m said:
Brilliant
At the risk of hijacking GA’s thread temporarily, I also loved my Astra 16v
Euro spec Kadett 16v tyre sizes and a decent make ( F1 GSD ) and sorting out the geo meant it handled brilliantly
They were indecently quick and so fun to drive - such a characterful engine which was great on fuel. I had a Saxo VTS as well at the same time and it was great to compare journey times for some of my drives. Waxoyled it heavily and it still survives to this day albeit with a different owner. Really miss owning it.
Anyway, I guess we’re losing ‘focus’ here
Ha, ha, no its fine. Its funny how we seem to like the same sort of cars, you, RobXJCoupe and Me. I never owned an Astra GTE 16 valve, but always fancied one. I know they're flawed, but there's a brutal sort of rough diamond quality to the GTE I always admired. Bit late now, as they're out of my budget.At the risk of hijacking GA’s thread temporarily, I also loved my Astra 16v
Euro spec Kadett 16v tyre sizes and a decent make ( F1 GSD ) and sorting out the geo meant it handled brilliantly
They were indecently quick and so fun to drive - such a characterful engine which was great on fuel. I had a Saxo VTS as well at the same time and it was great to compare journey times for some of my drives. Waxoyled it heavily and it still survives to this day albeit with a different owner. Really miss owning it.
Anyway, I guess we’re losing ‘focus’ here
BTW, how did the journey times of your Astra and Saxo 16 valve (another car I always fancied) compare?!
So, time to get my thread back on track...
On Saturday I had to travel with my daughter the 205 miles to Keele University to clear out her room. The shed was pressed into service and performed the task faultlessly. A few things stand out from the journey. Firstly, what a great driving position. No lower back pain, just a bit of a stiff bum cheek on the last stretch home. Secondly, that ride again. I went through some of those bad ruts on the A34 near Oxford and barely noticed them. The cars around me were steering clear of them! Finally, the fuel economy. I brimmed the tank this morning, having travelled 458.8 miles (410 of which were Saturday) without the low fuel light coming on. Worked out at 44.4 MPG. My normal "Driving around locally" MPG is 41, so it seems I averaged just under 45 MPG for the trip to Keele, cruising at a steady indicated 75 MPH most of the way. I know some people will say this isn't very good for a 1.6 petrol, but I don't think its bad at all. The Focus only has 5 gears (admittedly 5th is quite long) and for comparison, I know from experience that a current gen 1.0 Ecoboost will struggle to beat 50MPG measured brim to brim rather than computer readout on a similar trip. Bearing in mind also that the car was loaded up for the trip home and there was a strong crosswind both there and back on Saturday......I am happy with the fuel economy mine achieves. I've yet to see below 40 MPG on a tank measured brim to brim, for a mix of urban and extra urban motoring.
So its easy to understand why many Focus Mk1 fans would rather have the decent economy of the 1.6 rather than marginally improved performance but increased thirst in the 1.8 or 2.0.
Fun car to throw around the lanes, comfortable car for a long motorway trip. I've said it before but its worth repeating, the Mk1 Focus 1.6 really is the ultimate shed daily driver!!
Oh and see all the positive comments on last week's Shed of the Week feature, a 1.6 Focus MK1. Possibly the least criticised car ever selected for SOTW!!
On Saturday I had to travel with my daughter the 205 miles to Keele University to clear out her room. The shed was pressed into service and performed the task faultlessly. A few things stand out from the journey. Firstly, what a great driving position. No lower back pain, just a bit of a stiff bum cheek on the last stretch home. Secondly, that ride again. I went through some of those bad ruts on the A34 near Oxford and barely noticed them. The cars around me were steering clear of them! Finally, the fuel economy. I brimmed the tank this morning, having travelled 458.8 miles (410 of which were Saturday) without the low fuel light coming on. Worked out at 44.4 MPG. My normal "Driving around locally" MPG is 41, so it seems I averaged just under 45 MPG for the trip to Keele, cruising at a steady indicated 75 MPH most of the way. I know some people will say this isn't very good for a 1.6 petrol, but I don't think its bad at all. The Focus only has 5 gears (admittedly 5th is quite long) and for comparison, I know from experience that a current gen 1.0 Ecoboost will struggle to beat 50MPG measured brim to brim rather than computer readout on a similar trip. Bearing in mind also that the car was loaded up for the trip home and there was a strong crosswind both there and back on Saturday......I am happy with the fuel economy mine achieves. I've yet to see below 40 MPG on a tank measured brim to brim, for a mix of urban and extra urban motoring.
So its easy to understand why many Focus Mk1 fans would rather have the decent economy of the 1.6 rather than marginally improved performance but increased thirst in the 1.8 or 2.0.
Fun car to throw around the lanes, comfortable car for a long motorway trip. I've said it before but its worth repeating, the Mk1 Focus 1.6 really is the ultimate shed daily driver!!
Oh and see all the positive comments on last week's Shed of the Week feature, a 1.6 Focus MK1. Possibly the least criticised car ever selected for SOTW!!
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