Ford Focus Mk 1 - what do we think?
Discussion
t84 said:
I have a 2000 1.8 Zetec, make sure it has the climate and reflex pack, aircon, heated screen, abs, rear discs.
Check for rust at bottom of doors and rusting arches which indicates a piss poor repair job. The door problem is a common on, as well as rust near the mirrors and tailgate.
Excellent advice. Check for rust at bottom of doors and rusting arches which indicates a piss poor repair job. The door problem is a common on, as well as rust near the mirrors and tailgate.
Listen to this man.
Air con condenser can get holed easy on AC fitted cars and cam belt is recommended at 60k rather than the 100 in the manual.
I really like mine but I didn't check it for faults as much as I shouldve... It's great to throw around the bends and I rode motorbikes for 3 years before passing my test and getting one as my first car.
Coil packs can go easily too, check it idles and pulls well!
I'd go for a 2.0 if you can, I think the MK1 looks nicer BEFORE the facelift but thats personal preference
I really like mine but I didn't check it for faults as much as I shouldve... It's great to throw around the bends and I rode motorbikes for 3 years before passing my test and getting one as my first car.
Coil packs can go easily too, check it idles and pulls well!
I'd go for a 2.0 if you can, I think the MK1 looks nicer BEFORE the facelift but thats personal preference
Had a 2.0 Zetec esp, great car. Sis in law has it now, I bought it with 45k, now on 120k+
Check its history though sadly now the early ones will be out of their 10 yr corrosion warranty
My old one had 2 doors, the tailgate and rear wheelarches done all under warranty.
Cambelts at 100k, though I heard from Ford they hadnt had any belt failures before that (how true??)
170's rarely deliver the whole ponys, usually only slightly better than 150 and not much between the 2.0 on the road.
Mine suffered from a faulty servo and had a strange habit of hanging revs on upshifts, making it look like you didnt get off the gas to shift.
Heated front screens superb,though eats rear pads and discs along with rear wheel bearings.
Check its history though sadly now the early ones will be out of their 10 yr corrosion warranty
My old one had 2 doors, the tailgate and rear wheelarches done all under warranty.
Cambelts at 100k, though I heard from Ford they hadnt had any belt failures before that (how true??)
170's rarely deliver the whole ponys, usually only slightly better than 150 and not much between the 2.0 on the road.
Mine suffered from a faulty servo and had a strange habit of hanging revs on upshifts, making it look like you didnt get off the gas to shift.
Heated front screens superb,though eats rear pads and discs along with rear wheel bearings.
s.m.h. said:
Had a 2.0 Zetec esp, great car. Sis in law has it now, I bought it with 45k, now on 120k+
Check its history though sadly now the early ones will be out of their 10 yr corrosion warranty
My old one had 2 doors, the tailgate and rear wheelarches done all under warranty.
Cambelts at 100k, though I heard from Ford they hadnt had any belt failures before that (how true??)
170's rarely deliver the whole ponys, usually only slightly better than 150 and not much between the 2.0 on the road.
Mine suffered from a faulty servo and had a strange habit of hanging revs on upshifts, making it look like you didnt get off the gas to shift.
Heated front screens superb,though eats rear pads and discs along with rear wheel bearings.
Did you ever find a reason for the car hanging onto revs? Mine is doing the same at times, I figured it was a sticky throttle mechanism or slightly fouled cable? Check its history though sadly now the early ones will be out of their 10 yr corrosion warranty
My old one had 2 doors, the tailgate and rear wheelarches done all under warranty.
Cambelts at 100k, though I heard from Ford they hadnt had any belt failures before that (how true??)
170's rarely deliver the whole ponys, usually only slightly better than 150 and not much between the 2.0 on the road.
Mine suffered from a faulty servo and had a strange habit of hanging revs on upshifts, making it look like you didnt get off the gas to shift.
Heated front screens superb,though eats rear pads and discs along with rear wheel bearings.
Excellent - thanks chaps, just what I wanted to hear. I'll try and get down there on Tuesday and take it for a test drive (will they let a 17 year old take it on a test drive? 
) and check that it's not a lemon.
Then it's cobble together some money, buy a new PH sticker and
My gran's had about three of the things in a row and nothing has ever going wrong with any them, so they can't be too bad!
) and check that it's not a lemon.Then it's cobble together some money, buy a new PH sticker and
My gran's had about three of the things in a row and nothing has ever going wrong with any them, so they can't be too bad!
t84 said:
I have a 2000 1.8 Zetec, make sure it has the climate and reflex pack, aircon, heated screen, abs, rear discs.
Check for rust at bottom of doors and rusting arches which indicates a piss poor repair job. The door problem is a common on, as well as rust near the mirrors and tailgate.
Listed as having both A/C and ABS. I'm sure I've got a brochure somewhere from my days of stealing one for every model from each showroom I went into between the ages of five and ten, but I'll ask here for less effort: Was it possible to spec either A/C or ABS without choosing the relevant package, or will it have the whole Reflex and Climate shebang? Check for rust at bottom of doors and rusting arches which indicates a piss poor repair job. The door problem is a common on, as well as rust near the mirrors and tailgate.
JustNeil said:
s.m.h. said:
Had a 2.0 Zetec esp, great car. Sis in law has it now, I bought it with 45k, now on 120k+
Check its history though sadly now the early ones will be out of their 10 yr corrosion warranty
My old one had 2 doors, the tailgate and rear wheelarches done all under warranty.
Cambelts at 100k, though I heard from Ford they hadnt had any belt failures before that (how true??)
170's rarely deliver the whole ponys, usually only slightly better than 150 and not much between the 2.0 on the road.
Mine suffered from a faulty servo and had a strange habit of hanging revs on upshifts, making it look like you didnt get off the gas to shift.
Heated front screens superb,though eats rear pads and discs along with rear wheel bearings.
Did you ever find a reason for the car hanging onto revs? Mine is doing the same at times, I figured it was a sticky throttle mechanism or slightly fouled cable? Check its history though sadly now the early ones will be out of their 10 yr corrosion warranty
My old one had 2 doors, the tailgate and rear wheelarches done all under warranty.
Cambelts at 100k, though I heard from Ford they hadnt had any belt failures before that (how true??)
170's rarely deliver the whole ponys, usually only slightly better than 150 and not much between the 2.0 on the road.
Mine suffered from a faulty servo and had a strange habit of hanging revs on upshifts, making it look like you didnt get off the gas to shift.
Heated front screens superb,though eats rear pads and discs along with rear wheel bearings.
As for the build quality (My wife had the car after me she liked it so much!) we looked at 55 plate Focus when they were a couple of years old. Missus sat in one for 30 seconds and decided it looked cheap. I had to agree, the dash in the MK1 is a much nicer place to be and IMO has better plastics and build quality.
Quote s.m.h
As for the build quality (My wife had the car after me she liked it so much!) we looked at 55 plate Focus when they were a couple of years old. Missus sat in one for 30 seconds and decided it looked cheap. I had to agree, the dash in the MK1 is a much nicer place to be and IMO has better plastics and build quality.
Strange? Each to their own.I find my 56 plate ST way better built then my MK1 Focus. Both are great cars though.
As for the build quality (My wife had the car after me she liked it so much!) we looked at 55 plate Focus when they were a couple of years old. Missus sat in one for 30 seconds and decided it looked cheap. I had to agree, the dash in the MK1 is a much nicer place to be and IMO has better plastics and build quality.
Strange? Each to their own.I find my 56 plate ST way better built then my MK1 Focus. Both are great cars though.
*Al* said:
Better than the MK2 Focus? I've had a couple of MK1 Focus's including the RS, my current ST-2 is by far better built imo.
Better built, yes, but comparing the normal versions (ie. not ST / RS), the Mk1 has a much more driver focused handling balance. I had a 1.8 Zetec on a W plate from 17k to 107k miles, and the only thing I had to change was the gear lever spring that makes it self-centre to the 3rd/4th plane, and the thermostat housing. I later had a Mk2 and it rode more comfortably and was a more refined motorway companion, but nowhere near as keen to turn in when having a play on a country road. It was still very good compared to the competition, but the Mk1 really did feel special for what it was.
*Al* said:
Better than the MK2 Focus? I've had a couple of MK1 Focus's including the RS, my current ST-2 is by far better built imo.
Not had a Mk1 but aside from damage I've inflicted (which would affect pretty much any car to the same degree), my Mk2 ST has been very solid. Paint has plenty of stone chips (again would probably affect anything vaguely recent) but apart from that, the only thing has been a creaking driver's seat (but I m a big lad) & a minor & easily sorted engine heat problem. Afer 75k, the interior could easily pass for a third of that, or less, after a decent valet.Way better than I expected TBH!
I've acquired my old mans, bought from new, X reg 3dr 2.0 Zetec. Full ford service history, cambelt done at 80k miles.
They are a decent enough car, very chuckable but they are not exciting in any way. I've had this one about 5 months now and it's been great....I'm terminally bored with it though.
Anyone fancy a swap for a mk1 MR2 or mk1 MX5?
In short they are competent but dull, hence why my rather non PH dad has replaced this one for a 59 plate 1.6 Zetec.
They are a decent enough car, very chuckable but they are not exciting in any way. I've had this one about 5 months now and it's been great....I'm terminally bored with it though.
Anyone fancy a swap for a mk1 MR2 or mk1 MX5?
In short they are competent but dull, hence why my rather non PH dad has replaced this one for a 59 plate 1.6 Zetec.
Edited by dave_s13 on Monday 9th August 00:12
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