Focus 18" alloys - ride/handling compromise?

[Six Days]

Bit of a long shot... Wife changing from a BMW 1 series with sports suspension, 17" alloys and run flat tyres to a Focus 2.0TDCi with sports suspension and 18" alloys (probably). We have not driven a Focus to this spec. Anyone able to comment on how it will compare to the BM in terms of ride, especially on B-roads?

[356Speedster]

Six Days said:

Bit of a long shot... Wife changing from a BMW 1 series with sports suspension, 17" alloys and run flat tyres to a Focus 2.0TDCi with sports suspension and 18" alloys (probably). We have not driven a Focus to this spec. Anyone able to comment on how it will compare to the BM in terms of ride, especially on B-roads?

From everything I've read about the 1-Series' "sport" (i.e. hard!!) suspension and run-flats, the Focus will be a magic carpet ride in comparissn! I have a Focus ST (so lower / harder suspension than a TDCI) on 18's and it's a very impressive ride. Friends have always commented how good it is compared to other big wheeled cars. I think you'll be impressed.

[oobster]

Never driven a BMW but I have a Focus 2.0TDCI with the lowered Ford springs and 18" alloys. While I wouldn't say the handling was "out of this world" the ride is fine. Certainly able to push on a fair bit before it suffers from understeer.

[bn9af]

the main selling point of the focus is ride and handling, the (2nd, after price) biggest draw back on the 1 series is ride. You'll notice a massive improvement.

[Six Days]

Thanks for your thoughts - its what I was hoping to hear. Was probably a bit much to expect to hear from someone who has conducted a back to back comparison! Anyway, looks like it will be Sept/Oct by the time we get the Focus, and if I remember I'll post my thoughts on how the two cars compare. Cheers.