My Shed Mk1 Focus Ghia
Discussion
greenarrow said:
I can imagine that's a very sweet car to drive. The Mk6 Fiesta was always considered one of the best for steering feedback and feel.
I'm actually thinking of test driving a Mk7 Fiesta shortly. A friend has a Mk7 1.0 Ecoboost in Titanium spec. I've been out a few times with him and am very impressed. Only 99BHP but feels faster. The suspension is very good. Not much roll but comfortable. Its either 15 or 16 inch wheels, I would like to replace the wife's ST with one and make it our main car now our oldest is at uni and we don't need a large family car. The 2016 model I am looking at is zero road tax and has done only 24,500 miles, so should be like new. I feel that the Fiesta is one car that seems to just get better and better with each generation, whereas the later Focus' for me, aren't as fun as the original ones.
My daughter has rather taken to driving my Focus over the Christmas hols since we sold her rusty Ka. So, the Focus Mk1 may live on as a second car for daughter and me to share.
My ex had 2 1.0 EcoBoost Fiestas, both with the 6-speed DSG. Sound lovely and good fun. Advertised MPG not real, expect to get about 40. Great engine, but they are very sensitive to thermal shock, I think there may have been a recall but many have gone bang when the coolant leaked and there was no reserve to speak of to keep them cool.I'm actually thinking of test driving a Mk7 Fiesta shortly. A friend has a Mk7 1.0 Ecoboost in Titanium spec. I've been out a few times with him and am very impressed. Only 99BHP but feels faster. The suspension is very good. Not much roll but comfortable. Its either 15 or 16 inch wheels, I would like to replace the wife's ST with one and make it our main car now our oldest is at uni and we don't need a large family car. The 2016 model I am looking at is zero road tax and has done only 24,500 miles, so should be like new. I feel that the Fiesta is one car that seems to just get better and better with each generation, whereas the later Focus' for me, aren't as fun as the original ones.
My daughter has rather taken to driving my Focus over the Christmas hols since we sold her rusty Ka. So, the Focus Mk1 may live on as a second car for daughter and me to share.
mercedeslimos said:
My ex had 2 1.0 EcoBoost Fiestas, both with the 6-speed DSG. Sound lovely and good fun. Advertised MPG not real, expect to get about 40. Great engine, but they are very sensitive to thermal shock, I think there may have been a recall but many have gone bang when the coolant leaked and there was no reserve to speak of to keep them cool.
I had a 1.0 Ecoboost 99BHP on loan last year for 3 weeks in a MK4 Focus. I got an accurately measured 51MPG on my weekly commute, compared with 43 MPG in my Mk1 Focus, but the MPG did plummet when you used the revs. I was really impressed at how it pulled so imagine in a 150KG lighter Fiesta would feel pretty sprightly. I'm aware of the issues with the Ecoboost engine but its difficult to get a feel for how wide-spread it is. I know 2 people with one who've had no issues in 4 years and Ford sell hundreds of thousands of the things each year as about 99% of current Fiestas have one I suspect. As usual with the internet those who had a problem make the most noise and you never hear from the thousands of satisfied customers. I kind of hope that buying a low mileage later model would reduce the risks, as the coolant issue affected pre 2014 cars predominately.....Edited by greenarrow on Monday 21st December 16:51
greenarrow said:
I had a 1.0 Ecoboost 99BHP on loan last year for 3 weeks in a MK4 Focus. I got an accurately measured 51MPG on my weekly commute, compared with 43 MPG in my Mk1 Focus, but the MPG did plummet when you used the revs. I was really impressed at how it pulled so imagine in a 150KG lighter Fiesta would feel pretty sprightly. I'm aware of the issues with the Ecoboost engine but it's difficult to get a feel for how wide-spread it is. I know 2 people with one who've had no issues in 4 years and Ford sells hundreds of thousands of the things each year like about 99% of current Fiestas have one I suspect. As usual with the internet, those who had a problem make the most noise and you never hear from the thousands of satisfied customers. I kind of hope that buying a low mileage later model would reduce the risks, as the coolant issue affected pre 2014 cars predominately.....
Absolutely, you never hear of the ones that don't give trouble. I think if you're in any way mechanically inclined and look after a car methodically you'd be fine. All of hers were in warranty, a 2014, 2016, and the same engine in an EcoSport, and I think she has ordered a Puma with the same. Must be somewhat decent. The low MPG is probably due to the fact it's hard not to use the revs where we live, all minor back roads and mega hilly (West Cork). I rented a Focus with the same in Latvia (albeit 6-speed manual) and it got 51MPG, though I think their national 90km/h speed limit helped there. I get 42-46mpg in my Mondeo where some people are claiming upwards of fifty, but then again I drive the absolute stones off the car every day (commute 50 miles of back road),Edited by greenarrow on Monday 21st December 16:51
My Dad has an early ish Focus 1.0 125 (pre-facelift, with the many buttons, angled towards the passenger). It's a good engine. Later ones I've driven as rentals feel a bit less urgent. The coolant pipes are metal.
My Mum has a Fiesta 1.0 100? It's apparently good. My Dad drvies it quite offten, although I've never driven it.
My Mum has a Fiesta 1.0 100? It's apparently good. My Dad drvies it quite offten, although I've never driven it.
Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 22 December 08:44
I've heard that the early ones felt more urgent. I think they were more "boosty". Contemporary road tests in Auto express show that there's almost no difference in 0-60 time between an early 125 Focus and the Mk4 125 Focus.
I drove the Mk4 99BHP Focus straight after owning an Insignia CDTI 160 for over 2 years. Its a testament to how nippy the Focus felt that it never felt slow after the Insignia. That said, adding a couple of passengers made quite a difference, hence why I wouldn't have anything below 125BHP in the Focus, but the 99BHP one is absolutely fine in a Fiesta. The first time I went out in my mates 99 BHP Fiesta, 3 up, he booted it down the road and I was sure he had the 125 version, it picked up that well!
For an all purpose run around fit for British Urban roads and the occasional motorway trip, I honestly think you don't need anything more than a Fiesta or a Focus with the 1 litre ecoboost engine.
I drove the Mk4 99BHP Focus straight after owning an Insignia CDTI 160 for over 2 years. Its a testament to how nippy the Focus felt that it never felt slow after the Insignia. That said, adding a couple of passengers made quite a difference, hence why I wouldn't have anything below 125BHP in the Focus, but the 99BHP one is absolutely fine in a Fiesta. The first time I went out in my mates 99 BHP Fiesta, 3 up, he booted it down the road and I was sure he had the 125 version, it picked up that well!
For an all purpose run around fit for British Urban roads and the occasional motorway trip, I honestly think you don't need anything more than a Fiesta or a Focus with the 1 litre ecoboost engine.
greenarrow said:
I've heard that the early ones felt more urgent. I think they were more "boosty". Contemporary road tests in Auto express show that there's almost no difference in 0-60 time between an early 125 Focus and the Mk4 125 Focus.
.....
For an all purpose run around fit for British Urban roads and the occasional motorway trip, I honestly think you don't need anything more than a Fiesta or a Focus with the 1 litre ecoboost engine.
Agreed. The Mondeo 1.0 might not have been quite up to it, though. I'd like to have tried a Mondeo fitted with the 3 cylinder 1.5, as the 4 cylinder 1.5 (developed from the older 1.6, that was apparently better) is disappointing......
For an all purpose run around fit for British Urban roads and the occasional motorway trip, I honestly think you don't need anything more than a Fiesta or a Focus with the 1 litre ecoboost engine.
MC Bodge said:
Agreed. The Mondeo 1.0 might not have been quite up to it, though. I'd like to have tried a Mondeo fitted with the 3 cylinder 1.5, as the 4 cylinder 1.5 (developed from the older 1.6, that was apparently better) is disappointing.
Yes I can't imagine how slow a Mondeo would feel with the 1.0 engine! The current 1.5 Engine from the Fiesta ST would have been quite a good fit! Not that you see many Mk5 Mondeos on the road. Outnumbered massively by current shape Insignias. I think the Mondeo just got too big for most people. The Mk3 was a perfect size.MC Bodge said:
greenarrow said:
We have a 2005 (05) Fiesta ST150. I agree the steering is very good indeed on the Mk6. The body control is superb and it changes direction very neatly. What I don't like is driving it in the rain compared with my Focus Mk1. Usual "modern car" problem of suspension which is too stiff, very little body roll and rubber band tyres with no give, making it very hard to telegraph where the limit it. You can go from grip to slip easily and its the sort of car that goads you on to "chuck it about". The Focus on the other hand; plenty of lean, high profile tyre, you can go into a corner, "feel" the limit coming on and back off, with no harm done......on a wet, poorly surfaced B road, I reckon I'd be quicker in my Focus than the theoretically faster Fiesta.
I agree with what you say. Keeping the tyres on the ground on bumpy roads is an under-appreciated feature. Our Fiesta is not as stiff as an ST150 and on 15" rims. I do find that it eggs you on to drive it quickly, without the power to go really fast.
greenarrow said:
Yes I can't imagine how slow a Mondeo would feel with the 1.0 engine! The current 1.5 Engine from the Fiesta ST would have been quite a good fit! Not that you see many Mk5 Mondeos on the road. Outnumbered massively by current shape Insignias. I think the Mondeo just got too big for most people. The Mk3 was a perfect size.
You do still see quite a few Mk5 Mondeos about, but fewer than in the olden days and they are less distinctive than older ones. The Insigina is a very similar size to the Mondeo. The Mk3 was a good size, though, and the estate boot was nice and rectangular. The Mk4 and Mk5 are a similar size outwardly.Eyersey1234 said:
I also agree, my Fiesta was a nice car to drive but the Focus feels more sure footed on twisty roads, there's a few corners I take faster in the Focus than I did in the Fiesta.
The Fiesta isn't the last word in performance, but it feels much more engaging than modern cars and for a cheap old car is great. The mid 00's Fiesta has a, very simple, torsion beam rear suspension, and the Focus has excellent IRS similar to the Mondeo (until more recent de-specing of the lower end Focus/i).Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 22 December 10:50
MC Bodge said:
Eyersey1234 said:
I also agree, my Fiesta was a nice car to drive but the Focus feels more sure footed on twisty roads, there's a few corners I take faster in the Focus than I did in the Fiesta.
The Fiesta isn't the last word in performance, but it feels much more engaging than modern cars and for a cheap old car is great. The mid 00's Fiesta has a, very simple, torsion beam rear suspension, and the Focus has excellent IRS similar to the Mondeo (until more recent de-specing of the lower end Focus/i).Edited by MC Bodge on Tuesday 22 December 10:50
- Winter update** so, the old girl is still going ok. I try and take her out for a little drive once a week, but all the time sat on the drive means she is suffering a bit with condensation of late (more than moderns seem to suffer). The week before last, I took my daughter back to University, the 4th such trip I've completed which is a 410 miles round trip. Pleased to see that the oil change is making a difference to how the car is running. Brim to brim MPG was 42.9, compared with about 41.5 for the same trip in December. This was on a cold wintry day with lights and heater on all the way and wipers on a fair bit too. So I reckon I'd be getting close to 45 MPG if I did the trip on a warm spring day. I think that's pretty decent for a n/a petrol car without a 6th gear. I was averaging around the 75 mark for most of the journey and I doubt whether the current gen Focus Ecoboost would have done much more than 50MPG on the same run......Interesting that the economy doesn't seem to drop much below 40 MPG, even when just running local trips. Of all the cars I've owned the Focus seems to have the narrowest range between local running and motorway running. In fact it easily beats my old Insignia CDTI on local running. Another reason why these are such good run around cars.
Out and about over the last week it has struck me how many Mk1 Focus are still on the roads being used. On a 3 mile walk last Sunday, I must have seen 6 out and about and bearing in mind it was quiet and I probably only saw 30 or 40 cars in total, that was quite impressive!
In fact its hard to think of another car produced around the millenium that is still so commonplace. People will say with justification that the Focus Mk1 was the best selling car and so more survive, which is fair comment, but you don't see as many Mondeos now from the early 2000s and they were produced in large numbers too. I think perhaps people like me realise that they do the daily run around job so well, whilst providing a fun drive and they are holding onto them. I can leave my car a week in these sub zero temperatures without using it and it easily fires up when some moderns need a battery charge, so why would you not use a dependable relatively simple car as a daily at the moment?!
greenarrow said:
Out and about over the last week it has struck me how many Mk1 Focus are still on the roads being used. On a 3 mile walk last Sunday, I must have seen 6 out and about and bearing in mind it was quiet and I probably only saw 30 or 40 cars in total, that was quite impressive!
In fact its hard to think of another car produced around the millenium that is still so commonplace. People will say with justification that the Focus Mk1 was the best selling car and so more survive, which is fair comment, but you don't see as many Mondeos now from the early 2000s and they were produced in large numbers too. I think perhaps people like me realise that they do the daily run around job so well, whilst providing a fun drive and they are holding onto them. I can leave my car a week in these sub zero temperatures without using it and it easily fires up when some moderns need a battery charge, so why would you not use a dependable relatively simple car as a daily at the moment?!
Slightly later, but 00s Fiestas are even more common.In fact its hard to think of another car produced around the millenium that is still so commonplace. People will say with justification that the Focus Mk1 was the best selling car and so more survive, which is fair comment, but you don't see as many Mondeos now from the early 2000s and they were produced in large numbers too. I think perhaps people like me realise that they do the daily run around job so well, whilst providing a fun drive and they are holding onto them. I can leave my car a week in these sub zero temperatures without using it and it easily fires up when some moderns need a battery charge, so why would you not use a dependable relatively simple car as a daily at the moment?!
Update on Shed Focus. With the economy and life opening up again after lockdown, I've decided its time to buy another car. The Shed Focus was a great runaround, but having two slightly knackered old Fords in the family, I was starting to yearn for at least one car where everything worked and it had a few more creature comforts. Plus, my wife suffers badly every time she travels in it, due to what she calls the poor seat comfort, so I needed something for the family holiday. Anyway, forgive me father, I have sinned, I have gone and bought an F30 generation BMW 3 series. I've needed to scratch that BMW itch for a few years now. Anyway, like the Focus, my new car has a great mix of sharp handling and comfortable ride, so I think it will be an enjoyable family car to punt around. I realise now I value handling way above performance in my priorities.
But, fear not dear regular reader of my reports, the Focus is not going anywhere just yet... My daughter is taking it on as her car and if it passes the next MOT without another big bill it will be going off to Keele University next year, so win, win, I still see the car and maybe drive it occasionally if I put myself on the insurance!!
Oh and I am thinking of doing a new Shed report on my wife's MK6 Fiesta ST, to keep the Ford theme going!
But, fear not dear regular reader of my reports, the Focus is not going anywhere just yet... My daughter is taking it on as her car and if it passes the next MOT without another big bill it will be going off to Keele University next year, so win, win, I still see the car and maybe drive it occasionally if I put myself on the insurance!!
Oh and I am thinking of doing a new Shed report on my wife's MK6 Fiesta ST, to keep the Ford theme going!
So, quick update. The shed Focus is still going but the MOT is due in the next 2 weeks! She has developed a leak- I think perhaps one of the gutters is blocked - but haven't got that sorted yet. Anyway my daughter (the new keeper) has a job delivering for Dominos so the Focus is doing quite a few miles now, being hammered down back roads, farm tracks and so on. Anyway, she doesn't miss a beat- still. These old Focus' are like tanks, they just keep going.
Anyway, I bought a F10 3 series in May and enjoy it very much - BUT, a drive the other day in the Focus showed a few things I am missing! After I had re-adjusted to the very high driving position compared with a 3 series and the awful brakes, I quickly enjoyed the feelsome steering (loads better than the BMW), the responsive n/a petrol engine (the 318d is a typical laggy 4 pot diesel) and of course the supple ride. The BMW comes on run-flats and skips over bumps and ridges. The focus of course just flows over anything bumpy.
Honest truth, I would have more confidence pushing that old Focus down my local back roads in the wet than the BMW, which I just don't trust on slippery, bumpy surfaces thanks to those tyres. Yep, point to point on those narrow lanes I am sure the Focus would be faster!!! Go figure....
Anyway, I bought a F10 3 series in May and enjoy it very much - BUT, a drive the other day in the Focus showed a few things I am missing! After I had re-adjusted to the very high driving position compared with a 3 series and the awful brakes, I quickly enjoyed the feelsome steering (loads better than the BMW), the responsive n/a petrol engine (the 318d is a typical laggy 4 pot diesel) and of course the supple ride. The BMW comes on run-flats and skips over bumps and ridges. The focus of course just flows over anything bumpy.
Honest truth, I would have more confidence pushing that old Focus down my local back roads in the wet than the BMW, which I just don't trust on slippery, bumpy surfaces thanks to those tyres. Yep, point to point on those narrow lanes I am sure the Focus would be faster!!! Go figure....
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