MK2 Focus, Any good?
Discussion
Just had a hateful weekend in my MK1 Focus, (Amongst the list of things that are wrong with it we can now add a broken lighter socket, which is good when you're driving home and the sat-nav dies on you!)
Been looking at MK2 Focus's, they seem good for my needs (Something cheap to insure, practical, relatively fun to drive), are they a step up from the MK1? Any good alternatives?
I was also looking at the Mondeo but I think that's a bit too 'Old' for me and I don't really need a car that big
Been looking at MK2 Focus's, they seem good for my needs (Something cheap to insure, practical, relatively fun to drive), are they a step up from the MK1? Any good alternatives?
I was also looking at the Mondeo but I think that's a bit too 'Old' for me and I don't really need a car that big
ive just got one as a company car. its a tdci zetec.
only had it a few weeks so can't comment too much, however, its built well enough, no rattles or creaks. most of the plastic's inside are decent enough.
comfort seems good, seats are supportive yet comfortable, ride and handling are good, road noise is slightly high with the 17" wheels mines got fitted, but i'm happy with it so far.
its part of a cost saving mission for the next couple of years so ive got the 110bhp 1.6 tdci. sounds rough as dogs when cold but is quick enough and returns about 55mpg on average driving, book is high 60's on the motorway i think.
most of the company cars in my place are either focus or mondeo's and i've not heard of anyone breaking down or having serious problems. the mondeo's are HUGE and feel it driving so if you want something you can still enjoy every now and then, then the focus is definatley the better option.
only had it a few weeks so can't comment too much, however, its built well enough, no rattles or creaks. most of the plastic's inside are decent enough.
comfort seems good, seats are supportive yet comfortable, ride and handling are good, road noise is slightly high with the 17" wheels mines got fitted, but i'm happy with it so far.
its part of a cost saving mission for the next couple of years so ive got the 110bhp 1.6 tdci. sounds rough as dogs when cold but is quick enough and returns about 55mpg on average driving, book is high 60's on the motorway i think.
most of the company cars in my place are either focus or mondeo's and i've not heard of anyone breaking down or having serious problems. the mondeo's are HUGE and feel it driving so if you want something you can still enjoy every now and then, then the focus is definatley the better option.
Funny enough, my (until recently) reliable and trusty 2002 Focus has thrown a load of problems so I'm chucking it next week for an '08 123d
It got to 100k and everything started to go wrong on it, rear wiper, coil pack, VSS, central locking, etc etc. I've fixed them all, but I rely on my car to get me to races and testing on time, and it just dented my confidence in it.
Ironically, that was a big part of the reason I held onto it when I bought the Evo and why I subsequently got rid of that too!
It got to 100k and everything started to go wrong on it, rear wiper, coil pack, VSS, central locking, etc etc. I've fixed them all, but I rely on my car to get me to races and testing on time, and it just dented my confidence in it.
Ironically, that was a big part of the reason I held onto it when I bought the Evo and why I subsequently got rid of that too!
t84 said:
Just had a hateful weekend in my MK1 Focus, (Amongst the list of things that are wrong with it we can now add a broken lighter socket, which is good when you're driving home and the sat-nav dies on you!)
Been looking at MK2 Focus's, they seem good for my needs (Something cheap to insure, practical, relatively fun to drive), are they a step up from the MK1? Any good alternatives?
I was also looking at the Mondeo but I think that's a bit too 'Old' for me and I don't really need a car that big
Ive had 2 Mk1 Focus's (99 & 00), a Mk3 Mondeo ST TDCi (06) & currently have a Mk2 Focus ST3 (07). Going from a Mk1 Focus to a Mk3 Mondeo was a big jump in terms of car size. I found it huge and like driving a boat. I was 22 at the time & it was the biggest car ive driving. Going from the Mondeo to the Mk2 Focus wasnt quite as big of a jump, it may be shorter bit its about the same width.Been looking at MK2 Focus's, they seem good for my needs (Something cheap to insure, practical, relatively fun to drive), are they a step up from the MK1? Any good alternatives?
I was also looking at the Mondeo but I think that's a bit too 'Old' for me and I don't really need a car that big
[quote=The Wookie]It got to 100k and everything started to go wrong on it, rear wiper, coil pack, VSS, central locking, etc etc. I've fixed them all, but I rely on my car to get me to races and testing on time, and it just dented my confidence in it.
[quote]
Strange, dads rear wiper on his old 2002 Focus went at about 100k aswell
[quote]
Strange, dads rear wiper on his old 2002 Focus went at about 100k aswell
Driven quite a few of the MK2 Focuses, they are good cars. The 1.6 TDCI 110 is the pick of the range offering punchy performance and returning good fuel economy. At times you would struggle to believe its a diesel given how smooth the engine is, very petrol-like. Handling is A1 as expected really. 1.6 Ti-VCT is the best petrol unit, but these are only offered on the pre-facelift and 2008 onwards Zetec S. The others are a bit old fashioned (1.6/1.8/2.0 Duratec, 1.8 TDCi), too slow (1.4 & 1.6 TDCI 90) or just pointless (2.0 TDCI).
Best trim is Zetec, all the essentials are there - 16in alloys, CD, aircon. LX and Style more or less the same minus the alloys and dashboard slightly different, Titanium adds sony stereo and some electronic wizardry, 17in alloys 08 on.
Best trim is Zetec, all the essentials are there - 16in alloys, CD, aircon. LX and Style more or less the same minus the alloys and dashboard slightly different, Titanium adds sony stereo and some electronic wizardry, 17in alloys 08 on.
It seems to be a common story recently with mk1 focus' developing lots of problems, maybe is because they're getting old? When I had mine I didn't have a single problem with it, quite a few of my friend's have had them and none of them have had many problems either.
I learnt to drive in a mk2 focus, it was a nice drive, seemed very well screwed together and more 'premium' than the mk1 (nicer plastics etc).
The only thing I would slate it for would be an obscenely light throttle peddele, I found I would often over under rev with the thing because it was difficult to feel how much it had traveled. But then this was about three and a half years ago and may have been due to my inexperiance, I hadn't had any problems like this with my car at the time (corsa) or my parents' discoverys.
I learnt to drive in a mk2 focus, it was a nice drive, seemed very well screwed together and more 'premium' than the mk1 (nicer plastics etc).
The only thing I would slate it for would be an obscenely light throttle peddele, I found I would often over under rev with the thing because it was difficult to feel how much it had traveled. But then this was about three and a half years ago and may have been due to my inexperiance, I hadn't had any problems like this with my car at the time (corsa) or my parents' discoverys.
t84 said:
I think they're engineered to blow up at 100k
Any alternatives to the Focus within the same IG, or is it pretty much the best in its class?
It wouldn't surprise me if that was the design life, it just surprises me that they got it that close Any alternatives to the Focus within the same IG, or is it pretty much the best in its class?
I've driven a few mk2's, the original felt a step backward in terms of handling, but the facelift one I drove last year was a great car. At least as fun as my one, with better body control with the only tradeoff being a slightly harder edged ride at low speed.
TBH, if they did a 'fast' diesel one I might have had one instead of the bimmer...
Driven loads of them and to be honest I prefer the MK1. Two poor models I noticed in the range were the 1.6 TDCI estate which did the job but was sluggish and dull to drive (the 1.9 is far better) and the "worst of the bunch" 1.6 petrol - Woefully gutless. For some reason, maybe it is because they are slightly larger than the MK1? but they feel far less responsive and lively to drive. Couple that to the bland interior and exterior and I was less than impressed. That said, most Golfs, Astras, Civics and Auris' are bland s
t boxes too so I can't see the focus being any worse. As for problems, they're not that different from the MK1 in that they are reasonable in most respects
t boxes too so I can't see the focus being any worse. As for problems, they're not that different from the MK1 in that they are reasonable in most respectsI was amazed at the handling difference between a Mk1 and a Mk2. I drove both within two weeks of each other, same engine, same-ish spec. Mk1 felt supple but pointy through bends, inspired confidence in roadholding. Mk2 understeered everywhere, felt like it weighed twice as much, and felt cheaper inside.
t84 said:
Doh! Well I don't think the Titanium has sports suspension but if I do get the car I'll probably order an Eibach kit anyway!
I have the Eibachs on both my Mk1 Focus's and it was such an improvement. Just bought them, but not yet fitted, for my Mk2 ST. Bought mine from Ford & they wont affect the warrenty as its a Ford approved part.Edited by thebigmacmoomin on Tuesday 25th May 19:07
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