Ford Focus Hatchback (2005 - 2011) 1.6 Zetec 5d (08) (2010/60) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

That I've grown up and become far too sensible.

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

Family thinks its nice. Parents own a Focus C-MAX which they're very pleased with.

Would you buy this car again and why?

Probably not. It drives very well but the overall quality is not a good as I would like. Trim, upholstery and radio are not as good as some rivals, although to be fair, it is good value for money and reasonable cheap to run. The most important thing for me is that it's good to drive.

What are you likely to buy next?

I do miss my Skoda Octavia vRS. Would love to have a BMW but the running costs are just so high.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£8,999

When did you buy the car?

November 2011

Did you get a good deal and why?

Not really. They had advertised the car as £1000 off, but I found another local Ford dealer (Dagenham motors) selling the same model/plate (with much lower mileage) for £800 less.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Read a good review.

What was the dealer like?

Okay. Friendly and reliable but not completely honest. They made out that the car was an ex-Ford car. Actually, the car was previously a rental car registered to Avis. If they had told me that to begin with, I doubt I would have bought the car.

What's it like to drive?

Excellent, its the main reason why I bought it. Loves the B-roads, surprisingly good fun for a 1.6 engine. Also, very competent on the motorway. Very responsive steering; always ready to move quickly at lights or when pulling out of a junction. I was at first worried about performance, but its more than adequate. Occasionally I might need to knock it down a gear but generally I'm very happy. If you really want a little more oomph, try to get the ZETEC S model, which has a little more BHP and should be very good fun to drive. Seat comfort could be a bit better.

What's it like to park?

Very easy although I'd still recommend rear parking sensors.

Have you had any problems with the car?

The drivers seat had an annoying squeak every time I braked or went around a corner, but it was fixed under warranty (BE AWARE, the manufacturers warranty for trim is only ONE YEAR, not three, so if you develop any similar problems, be sure to contact a dealer before the car's first birthday).

What's most practical about your car?

The size is good and it has a very large boot.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

The heated front windscreen is my most favourite Ford invention. It works really well. The bluetooth handsfree is also good, quite straightforward to use. There are some disappointments though - just some little niggles. It must be the only car I've owned that doesn't have a dimmer switch for the dashboard illumination (the dash is quite bright at night & you can't turn it down if you're on the motorway. I believe Ghia/Titanium models do have it). Also, the drivers electric window has one touch control to open, but not to close (presumably for safety) but it means I have only one hand on the wheel for a couple of seconds whilst I put the window back up (not a huge problem but its a pain when its raining or cold). Sadly, radio unit is rubbish.