2009 Ford Focus - experience re specs and engines

[Matt UK]

Looking to get a nearly-new Focus unless a test drive tells me otherwise.

Consdiering a petrol 1.8 Zetec. Is this a good engine / spec level (sorry, I know very little about recent Fords).

And no, can't get an ST or RS I'm afraid. All others, yes.

Edited by Matt UK on Sunday 9th January 19:06

[HellDiver]

Zetec is the basic 'consumer' spec. Basically like the LX of old. If I were going for a Focus I'd go for the Zetec Climate - that gives you the Quickclear windscreen which is a godsend.

The 1.8 Duratec is probably the better petrol engine in the Focus - there's enough power but doesn't drink quite as much as the 2 litre. The 1.4 and 1.6 are useless.

[kmc1]

Have a 1.6 zetec climate and it's not at all bad. Engine has a massive 100bhp which is fine around town where mine mostly lives and will sit at 80mph on the motorway all day long.

Test drove the 1.8 and it is noticably quicker (around 125bhp) but is obviously heavier on fuel and tax. As i said mine lives on the mean streets of london and I get 30mpg so I expect the 1.8 to be a little worse than this.

spec levels (if i remember properly) are LX,Style/Sport,Zetec,Zetec climate,Ghia,Titanium.

LX - steering wheel and seats
Style - electric windows/mirrors,cd player, body coloured bits'n'bobs.
Sport - as above +alloys
Zetec - "sport" suspension, more colour coded bits.
Zetec climate - as above + heated windscreen(godsend) +heated washer jets
Ghia - velour seats and a lovely wooden dash
Titanium - the daddy has every thing + sony cd

I've probably missed a lot of stuff but you get the general idea

[thinfourth2]

I still want to know why zetec changed from a big lump of metal under the bonnet to a piece of plastic on the back

[maniac0796]

thinfourth2 said:

I still want to know why zetec changed from a big lump of metal under the bonnet to a piece of plastic on the back

Most of the duratec engines are Zetec engines. Take the engine cover off of one and it'll probably say Zetec on the rocker cover.

[HellDiver]

maniac0796 said:

thinfourth2 said:

I still want to know why zetec changed from a big lump of metal under the bonnet to a piece of plastic on the back

Most of the duratec engines are Zetec engines. Take the engine cover off of one and it'll probably say Zetec on the rocker cover.

Wrong. The 1.3, 1.4 and 1.6 Duratec are the old ZetecSE. The 1.8, 2.0 and 2.3 are all ex-Mazda MZR engines, you'll find nothing Zetec anywhere near them.

[Zoki]

Would go for the 2.0 TDCI(140) if you can, as you will be better of with that one, out of the non ST/RS ones that is.

[littleandy0410]

We've got a 55 reg 1.6 Zetec (It has A/C - not climate - and front heated screen, I assume that was an option on it's own) and it's fine. Drives well, rides well, but the engine is harsh when driven hard, and it needs driving hard to go anywhere. I regret not getting the 1.8 really, but it's my wife's car, and she's happy with it.

We get about 35-36mpg on average, with a mix of 5 mile journeys into town, to 20 mile trips across country roads, with occasional dual carriageway trips.

All this may be irrelevant, as I don't know if the engines have changed since then, but I'm looking at changing my Trophy for something more practical, and am seriously considering a newer TDCi Focus for myself.

I would definitely go for Zetec as a bare minimum, we looked at a Sport, and it seemed far more basic. Also, not sure if this is still relevant, but look out for boot space, depending on whether they fit a full size alloy or a space saver. We went for one with a space saver, but Ford fitted a huge polystyrene spacer in the boot of the ones with a full size spare, so you lose 4-6 inches of depth all over.

[Deranged Granny]

Matt UK said:

Looking to get a nearly Focus

What about a Golf?

[oilslick]

Zoki said:

Would go for the 2.0 TDCI(140) if you can, as you will be better of with that one, out of the non ST/RS ones that is.

Bit of a conclusion to jump to. OP hasn't mentioned a budget, number of miles, usage etc...

[DJFish]

Don't know if it makes a difference to you but only the 2.0 & 2.5 engined cars and estates get rear disc brakes the rest have rear drums.

Edited by DJFish on Sunday 9th January 17:40

[Zoki]

oilslick said:

Zoki said:

Would go for the 2.0 TDCI(140) if you can, as you will be better of with that one, out of the non ST/RS ones that is.

Bit of a conclusion to jump to. OP hasn't mentioned a budget, number of miles, usage etc...

The 2.0 TDCI 140 is the best engine, if he can get that I would, even if he wont be doing high miles.

[oobster]

Zoki said:

oilslick said:

Zoki said:

Would go for the 2.0 TDCI(140) if you can, as you will be better of with that one, out of the non ST/RS ones that is.

Bit of a conclusion to jump to. OP hasn't mentioned a budget, number of miles, usage etc...

The 2.0 TDCI 140 is the best engine, if he can get that I would, even if he wont be doing high miles.

I have the 2.0 TDCI engine in mine, haven't driven any other variants but the engine seems to be pretty good, along with the brakes. Only real issue i've had with mine (a 57-plate 5-door Ghia) is a waterleak into the drivers-side front footwell. I've owned the car for just over 2 years.

[HellDiver]

DJFish said:

Don't know if it makes a difference to you but only the 2.0 & 2.5 engined cars get rear disc brakes the rest have rear drums.

Also wrong. The 1.6TDCI Econetic Estates at work have rear disc brakes.

[Zoki]

oobster said:

Zoki said:

oilslick said:

Zoki said:

Would go for the 2.0 TDCI(140) if you can, as you will be better of with that one, out of the non ST/RS ones that is.

Bit of a conclusion to jump to. OP hasn't mentioned a budget, number of miles, usage etc...

The 2.0 TDCI 140 is the best engine, if he can get that I would, even if he wont be doing high miles.

I have the 2.0 TDCI engine in mine, haven't driven any other variants but the engine seems to be pretty good, along with the brakes. Only real issue i've had with mine (a 57-plate 5-door Ghia) is a waterleak into the drivers-side front footwell. I've owned the car for just over 2 years.

Check the rain cover above the pollen filter below the wipers is secured on properly, common fault that sometimes is not secured properly after a service.

[Escort2dr]

Had a 1.6 Style hire car for six weeks. Plasticky interior, noisy at speed, and a bit gutless. Handling good, spec OK, quite roomy.

[Ari]

HellDiver said:

Zetec is the basic 'consumer' spec. Basically like the LX of old. If I were going for a Focus I'd go for the Zetec Climate - that gives you the Quickclear windscreen which is a godsend.

The 1.8 Duratec is probably the better petrol engine in the Focus - there's enough power but doesn't drink quite as much as the 2 litre. The 1.4 and 1.6 are useless.

Nope, Zetec Focus has air con and quick clear screen as standard, also alloy wheels, front fogs, leather steering wheel, front centre armrest, etc.

The "Style" is the basic one, plastic wheel trims, plastic steering wheel, no quick clear and so forth.

1.6 is "fine", does the job perfectly adequately. 1.8 is better though.

[HellDiver]

Ari said:

Nope, Zetec Focus has air con and quick clear screen as standard,

My experience is different. You need Zetec Climate for the Quickclear.

Confirmed by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Focus_%28interna...

[kambites]

I thought Zetec was the "sporty" spec. That is, it had sports suspension as standard but little else?

[icepop]

Oh 'eck, I thought the Sport got a 6 speed gearbox/sports suspension. Also the Quickclear on the Zetec is part of the winter pack, not standard. Basically go for the Zetec with as many extras as the original buyer chose to spec, keep clear of the Titanium unless the original purchaser specced different wheels from those horrendous multispoke disasters fitted as standard.