Ford Focus Estate (2011 - 2018) 1.6 TDCi (115bhp) Zetec 5d (2013/13) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

Practical and has a more youthful image than Skoda Octavia estate which I was also considering.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

Looks nice.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Maybe, will see how reliable it turns out to be after three years or so.

What are you likely to buy next?

Not sure.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£17,800

When did you buy the car?

March 2013

Did you get a good deal and why?

Ford already offering £2,000 deposit contribution and fairly good finance rates relative to other franchise dealers nearby.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Wanted a practical car that was a good all-rounder; something cheaper to run than 12-year old petrol 1.4 VW Golf that was costing a lot through repairs.

What was the dealer like?

Helpful, not too pushy or forceful which I preferred as it gave me breathing space to weigh up the deals offered by various dealers.

What's it like to drive?

I think the Focus is a very agile car, not fun to drive but definitely has very precise steering and I don't notice much body roll. The gearchange is very slick and the engine pulls very strongly, never feels underpowered and cruises very quietly.

What's it like to park?

Easy, although it is quite a wide car.

Have you had any problems with the car?

No issues although only covered 1,600 miles.

What's most practical about your car?

The boot is a practical shape and even though it seems not as big as rivals it is quite wide, low and the wheelarches don't intrude into the space. The plastic sill is also an advantage when loading as it means there's no paintwork to damage.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Free appearance pack with the Zetec includes privacy glass which, along with the tonneau cover, is quite useful for keeping luggage out of view.