Focus Mk2.5 - Are Xenons a must-have?

[havoc]

Looking at an '09 ST3 which doesn't appear to have Xenons, but otherwise is well-specced.

Are the Xenons a must-have on these, or are the standard headlights good enough?



For comparison, Becs' Golf GTi doesn't have Xenons but the lights are pretty good. All of my Hondas, except for the Xenon'd S2000, have had naff headlights though...

Thanks,

Martin.

[Red 4]

Xenons are standard on ST2 and ST3, only the ST doesn't have them.

You can tell by the washers on the bumper (little square cover under the headlight).

[theshrew]

Mine has them they are pretty good.

Didnt realise about the washers ( not had the car long ) do they work whenever u do the wiper washers ?

+ Normal lights being rubbish has a lot to do with what bulbs you fit. Dont fit your halfords poo fit a quality name bulb like Osram or Phillips etc it makes quite a big difference

Edited by theshrew on Thursday 18th October 16:59

[zetec]

theshrew said:

Didnt realise about the washers ( not had the car long ) do they work whenever u do the wiper washers ?

They work when you use the washers with the headlights on.

[simo2k2000]

zetec said:

They work when you use the washers with the headlights on.

Every third press of the button I recall. Flies through the washer fluid!

[havoc]

Thanks guys. Just checked and they are standard on -2's and -3's - main dealer not knowing his product again!

Washer jets - on my old S2000 there was a separate button for them...but hell of a jet, you wouldn't do it roof-down!

theshrew said:

+ Normal lights being rubbish has a lot to do with what bulbs you fit. Dont fit your halfords poo fit a quality name bulb like Osram or Phillips etc it makes quite a big difference

Not entirely true...tried all the so-called fancy ones in the 'teg and none are great...so did some research. And it's largely to do with the reflector area - big lamps (like the Mk5 Golf) with modern bulbs are good. Small lamps (inc. non-HID projectors) aren't ever going to be great.



BTW - back on ST's, am I right in thinking that if you want even a space-saver spare that you lose ~4in of boot depth?

[theshrew]

havoc said:

Not entirely true...tried all the so-called fancy ones in the 'teg and none are great...so did some research. And it's largely to do with the reflector area - big lamps (like the Mk5 Golf) with modern bulbs are good. Small lamps (inc. non-HID projectors) aren't ever going to be great.

BTW - back on ST's, am I right in thinking that if you want even a space-saver spare that you lose ~4in of boot depth?

Just going from experience on the cars i had with the bulbs.

As for the boot. Yes you loose some i presume i say this because i have a space saver the floor is pretty much level with the bumper. It looks like a dummy floor and fits pretty poop to. The boot space is fairly good though for a mid range car.

[theshrew]

zetec said:

They work when you use the washers with the headlights on.

Nice one thanks.

[havoc]

That's what I was worried about...not a big fan of "just tyre foam", but need the space given we've a baby in the house now.

OK, time for a rethink...

[theshrew]

I think you would get a pram in etc mate.

When my daughter was pram age i fit all the gear in my Golf's boot. The Focus has quite a bit bigger boot.

[havoc]

theshrew said:

I think you would get a pram in etc mate.

When my daughter was pram age i fit all the gear in my Golf's boot. The Focus has quite a bit bigger boot.

15 litres in it apparently. Or minus 60-some litres if you opt to have the space-saver in the Focus.

I know we'd get the pram in there - wife's got a MkV Golf - but my folks are down in Kent, so if we're loaded up with weekend bags, travel-cot, etc. etc. it could get very tight indeed. Would rather not play origami with the boot, esp. not in winter!

[Justin S]

Plenty sensible space in the boot. We dont have a space saver and managed to get all my daughters crap er I mean stuff to uni in Plymouth in September with space to spare. Boot is wide enough for a pushchair. Go on, do it !!!

[zetec]

Had 2 large, 2 small suitcases and 4 hand luggage bags in the boot of mine. OK the parcel shelf was unhooked and resting on top but it didn't impair rear view vision, no spare wheel, the boot swallows alot.

[havoc]

Without the spare I agree with you...but I'd rather not trust tyre foam -last puncture we had was a split sidewall outside some village in the back-end of Oxfordshire. If the Golf hadn't had a spacesaver we'd have had to call the RAC, WAIT FOR OVER AN HOUR, get recovered home, and the mother in law would have had to make her own way home from Heathrow. Oh, and then get a new tyre immediately, assuming one was available nearby.

Now add a baby in the back seat...

For a short-range car the lack of a spare is just a small potential nuisance. For one intended to travel distance, such as my family in Kent, it's a bigger issue.

[theshrew]

I agree with you about not trusting foam. However the difference in size with or without a spare wheel isnt that much anyway mate. At a guess i think you loose about 6 - 7 inch height. In the grand scheme of things thats nothing.

Its actually the biggest car ive im supprised how big it is. The boot and leg room is pretty good.

[KingNothing]

You lose about the width of the wheel, which is a couple of inches at most, if it's got the polystyrene inserts as well, you can use that to store some things in so you can have an empty boot, mine hasn't got them, so the space saver just lies on the boot floor.

As for xenon's, when I got my ST I was really impressed with them, if I can help it I'll probabley never get another car without them personally.

[Gareth350]

You will lose 5 inches of boot space, but as said theres plenty of extra space in the boot foams that forms the 'false' floor which brings it level with the boot sill.

[KingNothing]

Really need to get round to getting some of that for my car to smarten the boot up a bit better.

[Gareth350]

The full parts list for the space saver set up is as follows,

Space Saver Set Up

2008 Focus-Space Saver Wheel............1713584(was 1361677)

2008 Focus-Lifting Jack.....................1480006

2008 Focus-Wheel Brace....................1691674

2008 Focus-Foam Stowage For Jack & Brace..........1705551

Focus 2008-Luggage Compartment Insulator RH (For Spacesaver Wheel Fitment).............. 1344800

Focus 2008-Luggage Compartment Insulator LH (For Spacesaver Wheel Fitment)...........1724198(was1354075)

Focus 2008-Boot Carpet..............1346524

2009 Focus-Boot Floor Insulator for Mini Spacesaver wheel..............1454346

Be warned, its not cheap, best to the wheel/tyre & jack from ebay.

[KingNothing]

Got the wheel already, got it for £20 from someone from the STOC, there's ones for sale on there now, just collection only and miles away lol.